What does wax do besides protect??

T

themush

New member
I have read many posts about how wax improves the appearance

of finishes.



I was under the impression that a wax only served to protect the

finish that is already there??



Am I off base on this?
 
Wax can't really do much in the way of protection because it doesn't last as long. In my understanding you need something stronger, like a polymer sealant, if you want real protection. Wax is for asthetic value pretty much. I'd imagine there is a certian amount of protection but it won't last very long.
 
Wax does provide protection, and it does enhance the apperance of the paint. Most quality organic waxes I have used lasted 3-4 months, daily driven. I have had klasse on my car for 6 months now, and it still is looking great. :)



Wax, unfortunetly will not make a poor conditioned finish look great. Good surface preperation is going to make more of a difference in apperance than the wax will.
 
If I had to give the ultimate life of wax, I would say one month and a half. Past that there is probaly nothing left on your paint. A good sealent will last 6 months... after that I would re-apply. I re-apply my sealant every 2-3 weeks in the warmer weather just because I am bored.



If you ask me, the protection from wax last a little longer than the shine. I feel wax should be re-applied every two weeks, some may feel that is a little too soon but I like to be extra sure there is a layer of fresh protection/shine on my paint.
 
Yikes, a month and a half? Not very long at all.



When I tested for wax substance on my car it seamed to last much longer than that, but it might have been the quick detailer I applied after washes? :confused:



Of cource the life of wax is going to differ with temperature, quality, elements its exposed too, etc



I used the method of lightly rubbing a clean towel against the clean paint, and listening for the "squeeking".
 
The quick detailer your using contains wax in the liquid form so your "boosting" the wax content on your car every time you use it.



The "squeeking" your hearing is a paint surface that has no wax on it. If you had wax the surface would not squeek.
 
Another factor in the life-span of wax on your car is the method and frequency in which you wash your car. Since I QD on an almost daily basis, I do not need to wash my car more than twice a month and my car always looks very shiny. I often go three weeks between washes and even when I do wash, I only use a very very diluted mixture of car shampoo and that's only for EVERY OTHER wash. Other times, I just lightly spray down my car, blot dry & then QD any residual water. Using this method, I expect a good carnauba wax to last three months or more.
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by joed1228 [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>The quick detailer your using contains wax in the liquid form so your "boosting" the wax content on your car every time you use it.

The "squeeking" your hearing is a paint surface that has no wax on it. If you had wax the surface would not squeek. [/b]</blockquote>
There was no squeek, thats what I was listening for ;) Sorry for the confusion.

I don't doubt that the quick detailer I used at that time contained some wax content, but I can't beleave that the QD wax would last longer than a few days at most. I would always do the test right after drying, before I applied any quick detailer.

I agree that low and mid quality waxes are probably not going to last very long, but the blitz wax topper on my Klasse lasts at least two months.
 
Yes the Blitz does last a long time.



Umm, most QD's do contain some wax.



If your using Blitz, washing weekly and using QD to "boost" your wax protectant by a bit every weekend then I can see why your wax last's longer. You are right, the wax in QD is nothing to brag about but every little bit helps considering each time you wash you strip a little off.
 
You might be confused about the difference in WAX and SEALANT... seems like both terms are being used loosly... just thought I'd make a note of that... sealant will last a while, wax will probably not. Klasse SG is a sealant.
 
This is why I like Blackfire. You get the effect of wax but the protection of a sealant. I don't really care if the durablility is an issue. I'm sure it will last longer than any wax even if it dosen't last as long as the rest of the sealants. It just looks awesome. Its a good choice for anyone that wants the best of both worlds but doesn't want to buy a sealant and a wax seperatly. This is sort of the Pert Plus for automobiles. :) Wax and sealant in one. :up
 
Klasse SG is the polymer sealent (a chemical).



Wax is wax (oil based ......... from a plant).



I don't know if you knew but we were comparing the QD (chemical spray with a slight content of wax, as some of the labels say) to Blitz wax. Neither of those are polymer chemical sealents.
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by Jngrbrdman [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>This is why I like Blackfire. You get the effect of wax but the protection of a sealant. I don't really care if the durablility is an issue. I'm sure it will last longer than any wax even if it dosen't last as long as the rest of the sealants. It just looks awesome. Its a good choice for anyone that wants the best of both worlds but doesn't want to buy a sealant and a wax seperatly. This is sort of the Pert Plus for automobiles. :) Wax and sealant in one. :up [/b]</blockquote>
See, thats the thing, I already money invested in my wax selection as well as my sealent selection, I use one at a time and everything works in a specific order for me. BlackFire sounds nice though, I am out there every weekend, as long as the product will last a month I don't mind and I'm SURE BlackFire will last a month.

If I get my hands on some BlackFire I would try it and possibly switch my product line, I'm the same way towards Zaino, I just can't see spending money on an entire setup if I don't need it. If I get the product to test and see I like it then out comes the credit card.
 
Joed, why not split products with other users? I think Ali is splitting some Zaino with someone and I bet he'd be glad to get some of the stuff out of his hands :D
 
Besides all what is mentioned ...



Wax helps me maintain my mental sanity after a hard day at work while I get to spend some quiet time around the car
 
Well since I live so close to Ali I think I'll just have to pay him a visit some time in the near future when he gets the shipment of Zaino. I'll just use the Zaino on my hood to see how it compares.



To tell you the truth, at this point everything looks awesome in it's own way, I'm just trying to find a product that will go on and come off a little easier. The ZFX thing is holding me back due to the fact that it is kind of expensive when used often.



I am also interested in BlackFire... see what I mean, I could easily dump 150.00 right there without shipping.
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by themush [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>I have read many posts about how wax improves the appearance
of finishes.

I was under the impression that a wax only served to protect the
finish that is already there??

Am I off base on this? [/b]</blockquote>
wax's main purpose is to protect. ever see a car that has the clear coat coming off of it (ask them the last time they waxed it)

now along with that there are bonuses: shine, slickness, ease of cleaning, depth, chicks :D

all of these are sometimes more desirable then the first.
so people who look for shine and slickness, actually get protection (and may not realize it at all)

for natural waxes (carnauba) there is a limit to how long the wax, shine and protection can last; it is protected, just not for very long or as much.

a polymersealant, cures and bonds with your paint providing a different type of shine and a longer lasting protection. For Klasse, many have found it a great pallete for which to lay carnauba upon.

HTH - good luck
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by YoSteve [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>how along with that there are bonuses: ........ chicks :D[/b]</blockquote>
Could of fooled me..... I don't get the time of day from the chicks... oh well, I got betsy, she's big and she's got alot to love but she was my first big girl.
 
Hey Steve,



Which protective waxes are you talking about? I haven't really seen a carnauba wax that legitimately claims UV protection. I think you can go up to most any car's owner and ask them the last time they waxed and you'd get a funny stare back. I wouldn't really take your example as a proof of wax being protective but would agree that it protects against elements, fallout and some bird poopies.
 
we tend not work on "legitimate claims" here. we work more on "proven" methods rather than what it says on the backs of labels.



find a 15 year old car with good paint that's never been waxed



Being a natural plant by-product, that will not react with any paint or clear coat, Carnauba provides a very hard film over your bike's painted surfaces to protect against airborne contaminants such as acid rain residue, catalytic converter emissions, bugs, tar, road grime, salt and bird droppings. Carnauba also dramatically reduces paint oxidation by diffusing (refracting) UV and infrared radiation from the sun which can oxidize and dull your paint finish. UV and infrared is absorbed by the pigment in the paint causing it to overheat, dry out, dull and oxidize over time. A properly waxed bike will actually have a lower paint surface temperature than an unwaxed bike.



Carnauba is an organic vegetable wax (fat) that comes from the leaves of a Brazilian palm tree called the "Tree of Life" (Copernica Cerifera). Carnauba Wax is naturally exuded by the leaves of the Copernica Cerifera palm to conserve the moisture within the tree and its leaves. The "Carnauba Palm" grows in the northern and northeastern parts of Brazil along river banks, valleys, and lagoons where the soil is dark and fertile. The tree needs very little water to grow, they commonly grow to a height of 40-50 feet. The natives in the surrounding area use the various products of the tree for many necessities in their lives; hence the name "Tree of Life." Only in northern Brazil does the Carnauba Palm produce wax. The leaves containing the wax are harvested from the trees during the period from September to March and the color and quality are governed by the age of the leaves, as well as the care used in processing the wax. The leaves are soaked in kerosene to soften the wax, resulting in a thick liquid that can be poured into molds for shipping.



Pure Carnauba, when in its natural state, is actually harder than concrete. And one of its most interesting properties is that it swells and closes its pores when exposed to water Carnauba has the ability to retain oil and has excellent gloss properties making it applicable in many industries, including cosmetics, automotive and food. In cosmetics, Carnauba is widely used in stick applications. Carnauba is the hardest natural wax and has lustrous composition making it the leading choice for food coatings, pharmaceutical coatings and polishes. Number One Grade Carnauba, in the raw, varies from a very pale yellow (white), through a greenish brown (yellow)..



Many automotive waxes (polishes) contain abrasives and harsh petrochemicals that can damage your bikes finish over time Typical automotive Carnauba waxes contain 3 to 5% Carnauba wax (not necessarily Brazilian No. 1 Carnauba) by volume. The greater the concentration of Carnauba the greater the level of protection and the higher the level of shine.
 
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