What is the Correct Procedure to Apply Multiple Coats of Wax?

C

clevo

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Should a car be washed every time a new coat of wax is applied?

I've waxed my car with Trade Secret, and want to layer on multiple coats of wax. The packaging suggests 24 hours between coats.

The car will be driven during those 24 hours - 15 miles to the garage at work and then back to the garage at home. Is washing necessary before rewaxing after waiting the 24 hours? This assumes the car is not driven in the rain during that time.

On a more basic note: is there a point of diminishing returns when layering on wax?

By that I mean:
One coat of wax = fabulous
two coats = spectacular
three coats = somewhat more spectacular
four coats = no change from three coats

Thanks for any advice you can share
 
Since you are going to drive your car between waxings, then I would recommend re-washing your car. That will help to remove any contamination that may have attached itself while your car was in use.
 
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1. Yes, wash before applying more product. Your vehicle will have some dirt/dust on it even if you left it in your driveway. You don't want to grind that stuff into your paint. Poorboy's Spray & Wipe works great for this.
2. I'm not one of the fans of layering on wax or sealants. Two applications would be my normal max. IMO, doing a second application assures coverage of any areas you might have missed the first time. My additional applications would be every 30 days to keep things looking good.

Charles
 
Re: Re: What is the Correct Procedure to Apply Multiple Coats of Wax?

CharlesW said:
doing a second application assures coverage of any areas you might have missed the first time. My additional applications would be every 30 days to keep things looking good.
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Sounds like very good advice!
 
Thanks for the advice. I had read that multiple layers of wax deepen the appearance of the paint (in this case black). But I was wondering if the difference of multiple coats was really that noticeable. Sounds like not enough of a difference for me. Unless I get really ambitious, I'll stick to the every 30 days plan for now.

Thanks again
 
I second using Spray and wipe before applying the second coat of wax. There will be no water dripping out of the cracks to contend with ... plus it will take less time to do.
Just my .02.
 
Most say that 2-3 coats is the max before you start hitting the point of diminishing returns
 
clevo said:
Thanks for the advice. I had read that multiple layers of wax deepen the appearance of the paint (in this case black). But I was wondering if the difference of multiple coats was really that noticeable. Sounds like not enough of a difference for me. Unless I get really ambitious, I'll stick to the every 30 days plan for now.

Thanks again
Click to expand...

After two coats of wax, you really can't see a darn thing different. The only time layering is useful is when its with different products. i.e. a coat of VM followed by EX and finished with Souveran. That combo would look better than putting 3 coats of any one single product. As for washing, yes you must do it. Its a pain but a necessary one. I would definately suggest that you get yourself some spray and wipe because it really will save you hours. You can wipe the car down after your 15 mi drive in about 5 minutes and be ready to wax it, as opposed to the usual 20 mins to wash and scrub wheels, another 10 to dry, then the windows have to be cleaned and the tires have to be dressed. Before you know it you just spent an hour doing something that would have taken 5 minutes with spray and wipe. Another advantage to s&w is that when you wash with water, there is always some water that remains in emblems and in cracks (unless you dry with a blower like me ;). That remaining water can make taking off a wax or sealent a PITA! It will just smear everywhere. Sorry to babble on, to sum things up....

1) Get spray and wipe
2) Use the spray and wipe
3) Come back on here next week and tell us how much easier it is now!!!

And yes, going beyond two layers is a waste of time!
 
Jeff2417 put 12 coats of Trade Secret on his car and there was a definite difference in appearance. He took pics to show(prove) it. I waited 24 hours between coats of UPP. UPP is synthetic while Trade Secret is carnuba but I still wait 24 hours before doing any layering of same product. Ask Jeff2417 about his multilayer T/S job.
 
I'm going to have to stick with 2 or 3 coats of wax. If each coat = 24 hours dry time, that's an extended project! Basically it's a time factor. Got too much other stuff going on, especially in the summer.

Definitely have got to get Spray and Wipe to do make this job doable, or as TheSopranos16 pointed out, it's a lot more time spent just to get to get ready to add another coat of wax.

Thanks for the help everyone.
 
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