The power of White Wax

[Michael Stoops]

Re: The power of White Wax

Is it just me or are the new DA's and pad choices really giving the heavier compound 'starting points' a real run for their money?

It really is amazing how DA paint polishing has changed in the past 4 or 5 years. With the introduction of our DA Microfiber Correction System, compounds like M105 and D300, and then the new crop of more powerful DA tools, it's all pretty incredible. We know so many guys who were just hard core rotary users that now say they haven't touched their rotary in a year or two. Or they may use the rotary just for spot work, tighter areas where a no stroke small pad works best, etc.

The new MT300 DA buffer we just introduced is another example. It may still be an 8mm stroke tool, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's not up to the task of a $400 tall stroke tool. Stroke alone is not the determining factor, and this new tool proves that very well. For edge work a shorter stroke is actually preferable. That said, virtually all of the top guys we know use a variety of tools when working on any car.

[szladob]

Re: The power of White Wax

This post is a true testament of the capabilities of this product, without a doubt!
However, since I have started using a DA polisher (Megs 220v2), I find that putting a coat of ULW takes so little time (not to mention the lack of worry about white residue), however going through the whole car with many passes, small areas, slow arm movement is massively time consuming. So in other words, if one wants to correct paint to this degree as described above, wouldn't you recommend to use a more suitable combo (newest pads, or MF with D300), which may even get the correction job done quicker, and the few minutes extra to lay down a coat of ULW which will undoubtably give a better protection? In other words, is this really a time saving to use a AIO for such a job?

[Selectchoice]

Re: The power of White Wax

...however going through the whole car with many passes, small areas, slow arm movement is massively time consuming. So in other words, if one wants to correct paint to this degree as described above, wouldn't you recommend to use a more suitable combo (newest pads, or MF with D300), which may even get the correction job done quicker, and the few minutes extra to lay down a coat of ULW which will undoubtably give a better protection? In other words, is this really a time saving to use a AIO for such a job?

Michael mentioned this was after just ONE section pass, so 'quicker' couldn't really be improved upon especially considering this was a correcting and protecting step. Plus, he was using the White Wax with the new Cutting Disc so he was all over the new technology on this job.

Are there more steps you could do to eek out more shine, or remove some of the rids? Probably, but the client said they weren't after a true multi-step, 'show car' shine. The result Michael posted is far in excess of the owner's expectations. And all in ONE step! Success in my book!

[davey g-force]

Re: The power of White Wax

Looks like Mike has been keeping secrets from us!

I remember seeing those pics of the Jag above a few months ago - well before there was any hint of the new foam discs being released!

I could've sworn he said it was done with MF pads at the time!!

[Michael Stoops]

Re: The power of White Wax

This post is a true testament of the capabilities of this product, without a doubt!
However, since I have started using a DA polisher (Megs 220v2), I find that putting a coat of ULW takes so little time (not to mention the lack of worry about white residue), however going through the whole car with many passes, small areas, slow arm movement is massively time consuming. So in other words, if one wants to correct paint to this degree as described above, wouldn't you recommend to use a more suitable combo (newest pads, or MF with D300), which may even get the correction job done quicker, and the few minutes extra to lay down a coat of ULW which will undoubtably give a better protection? In other words, is this really a time saving to use a AIO for such a job?

So much of what you use and how you use it comes down to both the current condition of the vehicle and the final expectation. If, for example, your goal is a true show car shine, then even with a rotary you're going to be doing multiple steps and it's going to take a lot of time. End of discussion.

But look at every single "high end" detail that is being shown off on detailing forums around the world, and if you talk to the guy who did the work, 95% of those will guys will tell you that the vast majority of their work is minivans and SUVs that the owner just wants to get clean and shiny again. The customer is simply not willing to pay for the time it takes to achieve a show car shine, nor do they care for that level of correction and finish.

There are times when a three step is called for, and product combinations such as a microfiber cutting pad and D300 (or other compound) will speed up the initial defect removal process. Then, a quality finishing polish step is generally called for, meaning M205 and foam polishing or finishing pad (depending on how the paint responds) and, finally, a wax/sealant/coating is applied to finish everything off. Such a process might take 10 to 15 hours or more to accomplish. If it's a true concours level project, you could be looking at several days or even weeks to do the job. Yes, weeks; much of the vehicle will actually be disassembled for such a project.

But the bread and butter work, the minivans and SUVs, are often taken care with a simple one step process. Yes, some defects are left behind, but the customer simply does not care - and likely can't see the defects anyway. These projects rarely get posted because, let's face it, we all get much more enjoyment looking at pictures of Lamborghini Aventadors, McLaren 12Cs and Ferrari F12s than we do Chevy Tahoes, Dodge Caravans and Ford Escapes.

In the case of this particular Jaguar, the customer was not willing to pay for the multi steps (and therefore time) needed to dial his car to perfection, nor did he expect anything other than "to bring back the shine". Looking at the severity of the defects in this paint, and knowing from a quick test spot how badly the DA Microfiber System hazed it (it was pretty horrible, actually!) my decision to test White Wax on the new burgundy foam cutting disc was in hopes of literally getting the job done in a single step. The fact that the paint hazed so badly told me it was pretty soft and therefore reasonably easy to correct. That gave me confidence in the White Wax, but what really shocked me was the level of clarity and the total lack of marring yielded by this new pad. Crazy cut AND a killer finish in a single step???? I'll take that all day long. But in this case, it took just a few hours. In fact, a rinseless wash with D114, claying, paint correction, full interior vacuum and cleaning (the very light cream colored leather was very dirty), cleaning the glass and dressing the tires and wheel wells took all of 6 hours, including a break for lunch. And this is a big car!

While you are spot on about the incredible speed of applying wax with the DA, in this case all it took was a single section pass with the cutting pad and White Wax and I was done. I will add this, however: every time I detail a car I always give it a once over after doing the correction and wax removal just to make sure I haven't missed a spot, that there's no residual dust anywhere, no residue around emblems or trim, etc. In doing so, I usually have a bottle of quick detailer with me to aid in cleaning up all these little spots. I assume most of all of you do something similar, correct? Well, in the case of a one step like this, I use D156 Synthetic Express Spray Wax instead of a more basic quick detailer. And I make sure every panel gets a quick spray and wipe in the process. This takes no more time that the usual post-detail inspection, and it lays down an additional coat of what is an extremely durable polymer to finish things off. Sort of killing two birds with one stone, in a way.

[szladob]

Re: The power of White Wax

Many thanks for the detailed explanation, Mike! Much appreciated. I should have clarified, that I was thinking more of the white truck project, where you described the:

"But our process here was not typical for applying a wax. Oh no. Here, we treated White Wax almost as if it were a compound:

1. speed setting 5 on the DA buffer
2. a foam polishing pad
3. moderate to slightly heavy downward pressure
4. 3 large dollops of product for each 3' x 3' section covered (yes, we went a little bit larger than usual for heavy defect removal with a compound - but we were not chasing a show car shine here; it is, after all, a work truck!)
5. slow arm movements over the paint
6. each area covered in slow and repeated (3 or 4 times) side to side, then up and down motions
7. smaller areas covered with each section pass (as much as 3' x 3' as noted above)
8. product residue wiped off immediately following buffing of the section
9. pad was cleaned with a pad brush after every couple of sections"

The single pass on the Jag with the new pad looks truly amazing. How would you compare the results if you would have used M205 e.g (granted one would need the extra step of waxing..) ie. which cuts/hazes more? Many thanks again for your most valued answers!

[The Guz]

Re: The power of White Wax

But our process here was not typical for applying a wax. Oh no. Here, we treated White Wax almost as if it were a compound:

• speed setting 5 on the DA buffer
• a foam polishing pad
• moderate to slightly heavy downward pressure
• 3 large dollops of product for each 3' x 3' section covered (yes, we went a little bit larger than usual for heavy defect removal with a compound - but we were not chasing a show car shine here; it is, after all, a work truck!)
• slow arm movements over the paint
• each area covered in slow and repeated (3 or 4 times) side to side, then up and down motions
• smaller areas covered with each section pass (as much as 3' x 3' as noted above)
• product residue wiped off immediately following buffing of the section
• pad was cleaned with a pad brush after every couple of sections

White Wax performed beautifully on this project, even though we were forced to work in full sunshine on a pretty warm day. Thankfully the vehicle in question was white and not black, and we still highly recommend working in the shade on a cool surface.

I had the chance to play around with white wax a little. Mike thanks for this write up. I basically followed your steps up above. Of course I cleaned and clayed the areas prior to using white wax. I worked on the hood and the two front fenders using your write up. I was not looking for a show car finish but just to have something on the paint until I receive my MT300.


Here is a before shot. It's a little hard to see but there were some water spots on the hood from the palm tree in the drive way dripping rain water on it some months ago.



After. The water spots are gone and the shine is great. It cleaned up some of the love marks. Not all of them but I was not expecting that as I just wanted something on the car for a few months until a polish with M205 and MT300. It brought out the metallic flakes in the paint.



A couple reflection shots. I was impressed with it as I was working along. The surface is slick.





Here's what the pad looked like as the SMAT within white wax was doing it's cleaning thing. This is a 5.5" tangerine Lake Country Hydro Tech Polishing Pad.

[Eldorado2k]

I does indeed look slick!
Great results, Guz

[davey g-force]

Re: The power of White Wax

Nice work Guz

It would be interesting to see what WW is capable of (in terms of correction) with a MF pad!

[The Guz]

Re: The power of White Wax

I does indeed look slick!
Great results, Guz

Thanks

Nice work Guz

It would be interesting to see what WW is capable of (in terms of correction) with a MF pad!

Thanks. If I saw your comment earlier I would have tried it.

Here's a couple more as it corrected the love marks on the pillars.

Before



After



And a close up.




It worked great. Followed it up with some D156.

[davey g-force]

Re: The power of White Wax

Nice!

Yeah, those B pillars marr so easily!

[Eldorado2k]

Reminds me to look at my pillars to see what condition they're currently in. Lol.

[The Guz]

Re: The power of White Wax

Here are a couple 50/50 sneak peaks of white wax on black paint. Will have a write up soon about this vehicle.

Used a light cutting pad and the MT300 at 5800 OPM's.

[Don]

Re: The power of White Wax

Looks like I'm going to have to get some White Wax for those jobs that don't require a full compounding or for that case jobs where all that's wanted is a one-step or as a two-step of WW + Ult Wax/UQW

[davey g-force]

Re: The power of White Wax

Looks great Mike