Spray Wax advice needed.

[Jeff Smith]

Folks, It's raining now and looks as though it will clear up by tomorrow mornng. My plan is to do up a wash then apply a Spray Wax as I just waxed last Sunday with NXT paste with the DA.

Here is my dilemma. I have only used the NXT Spray Wax 1-2 times before. I got decent results so no issues there. What I did find was that "time wise", I really did not see any major benefit to using the spray wax over applying a paste or liquid. It was a little faster but not really much. I applied it with an Even Coat Applicator let haze, then removed with a Terry.

I figured before I started tomorrow I would put out a post and see if some of you folks who have more experience might be able to chime in and offer some tips & tricks that might help me out. I'd like to speed up the process a little. Was kind of hoping to skip the DA as that would just add to the time needed as I would have to break out a cord and the DA, do the work, then put everything away. Not really what I would call a time saver.

So any advice on Spray wax application/removal techniques would be most welcome. When using NXT, pate or liquid, it goes on pretty fast anyway so I am hoping to get a good handle on NXT Spray Wax application to make it worthwhile using that product as opposed to the others.

[tguil]

I have found that I can apply and remove a thin coat of NXT paste wax by hand as quickly as I can apply and remove NXT Spray Wax.

Tom

[Jeff Smith]

Originally posted by tguil
I have found that I can apply and remove a thin coat of NXT paste wax by hand as quickly as I can apply and remove NXT Spray Wax.

Tom

I agree, at least by using my current methods. My interest in using the Spray is to gain a little experience with it and see if it will be possible for me to get my process down to a point where there is more of a time saving involved. If I can shave some time off of the process it would be nice knowing I have an additional skill in my bag of tricks to draw from. I think I have a decent grasp of applying paste and liquid via the PC and now wan't to expand my skills.

It would be great to be able to shave, say 25% off the time using a paste or liquid by using a Spray. Anything under that would just about make it not worthwhile. I am wondering if anyone has had any experience with it by just applying after a wash and before drying. I'll explain. Tomorrow I plan to shortcut things and run my Truck through the local Touch Free Auto Wash. It has the Air Dryers and I was thinking I "might" be able to run it through there and let the dryers knock the bulk of the water off and then park and go straight to a spray wax application. In other words, skip the hand drying. I could posibly even just use a Supreme Shine or a Waffle Weave to apply the Spray wax and it may draw in any small amount of remaining water that the dryers leave.

I need to come up with a way to justify using a Spray Wax. I have several bottles and have yet found a need for them. I see from the others that under circumstances, with the proper skills, there are beneifits to these but I have yet to have been able to master these necessary skills. That's waht I am after now.

[Jeff Smith]

Well, I used QuikWax today and have to admit it beat me. I applied per the directions. Washed the truck, left midley wet then sprayed onto folded Terry and wiped on.

The application went great and I thought I was on a roll. I removed with a Suprem Shine MF. Streak City. The truck looked like I had wiped it off with a soapy rag and just let it dry. Using a dry Supreme Shine I had to push down so hard to pull the streaks off that I knew good and well that I was pulling of the fresh wax and likely some stuff underneath. So I just wiped the haze off the whole truck and left the streaks then came back and QDed 2 times. I still see a streak here and there.

I still want to whip this stuff but my lesson learned for today was next time, just do a test panel and develope a techique that works from start to finish before trying to do the whole truck. I was pretty disappointed with how the application went but don't want to give up on it.

[Tim Lingor]

Hey Jeff,

I have never had good luck with any product applying it to a wet surface. I use the same method that Mike uses and do not have any issues with using the spray waxes.

How to Get Great Results Using Meguiar's Spray Waxes

Tim

[Jeff Smith]

Originally posted by 2hotford
Hey Jeff,

I have never had good luck with any product applying it to a wet surface. I use the same method that Mike uses and do not have any issues with using the spray waxes.

How to Get Great Results Using Meguiar's Spray Waxes

Tim

Tim, I used Mike's method the last time I tried this and got decent results. A little streaking here and there, but it came off easily. I barely though about it. But time wise, Mike's method really did not save me that much more time then actually using the DA with a liquid.

What I was hoping to accomplish today was come up with a slightly faster method I could fall back on as needed when either time was short or it was cold. I failed in this regard. I actually spent more time today just in streak removal than I normally would spen on applying a wax, waiting for cure, then remove.

[jfelbab]

I find that the spray is a bit faster in that I don't need to wait a half hour for it to set up like the liquid and paste versions of NXT Tech Wax. The application and removal time is the same for me. With the booster spray wax I apply thinly to the whole vehicle with an even-coat applicator then remove with no waiting.

I also disliked this product initially until I learned how to use it. If you think you are applying it thin you probably need to apply it even thinner. When I apply it I can hardly see it on the paint. I rather like this product now.

[tguil]

For quick touch ups I use the spray wax. When I'm feeling lazy or am hurried, I'll use the spray wax on the hood and sides of my big black Hemi. Shoot no one sees the top anyhow.

Tom

[MandarinaRacing]

Originally posted by jfelbab

I also disliked this product initially until I learned how to use it. If you think you are applying it thin you probably need to apply it even thinner. When I apply it I can hardly see it on the paint. I rather like this product now.

Same here, I used to have mixed feelings about this product until I got the correct technique down.....like jfelbab said !

Alex

[Jeff Smith]

I am not giving up on it yet. I still don't see the time saving benefit I am hoping for so will be trying other technique. But I won't be doing the whole truck with it until I get my technique down better. Yesterday was very aggrivating in that I had not set alot of time to the side for the detail and had to cancel some plans later in the day because I had to spend so much time getting rid of the streaks. Plus, like I said, I had to rub so hard to rid myself of the streaks that I know good and well that I removed the wax.

I followed the directions on the bottle to the letter. I think the directions have alot to be desired if this is the result.

For some of the products they seem to go very light with any directions. Likely so they can keep to smaller labels. They should consider using the example of some other folks. For Example, on some of my lawn care product bottles there is a fold out type of label. They did this to enable them give give more information. I think this would be wise for the consumer line products if nothing else.

If I were not a devoted Meguiar's user and had just purchased this for the first time and tried it out and got these results using the instructions given. To be honest, I would have pitched it and went and bought something else. Alot of folks are not into trying to figure out various technique when there are clearly stated instructions on the label.

I'll keep pecking away at it though

[Jeff Smith]

Originally posted by jfelbab
I find that the spray is a bit faster in that I don't need to wait a half hour for it to set up like the liquid and paste versions of NXT Tech Wax. The application and removal time is the same for me. With the booster spray wax I apply thinly to the whole vehicle with an even-coat applicator then remove with no waiting.

I also disliked this product initially until I learned how to use it. If you think you are applying it thin you probably need to apply it even thinner. When I apply it I can hardly see it on the paint. I rather like this product now.

For me, when I apply NXT, I usually don't have to give it any additional setup time. I just apply in a certain order then remove in the same. So time wise, the spray is not going to do anything for me there.

I have gotten decent results using the Even Coat Applicator as well. But the product directions state you should be able to apply this product to your Terry and apply and you dry. If it would work like that, then I can see the time saving benefit for me. If I can;t get it to work as per the instructions and be able to wax as I dry, I'll likely be getting rid of it. If I need to apply with an even coat applicator, I might as well do it with a liquid or paste.

[Mike Phillips]

Hi Jeff,

Spray-on waxes are not for everyone. I like them, but that's because it works for me. It could be this just isn't the product for you.

Are you applying and removing the spray-wax on your white Honda Ridgeline?

Did you have any distinct problems using the spray wax on a dry car versus a wet car?

[Jeff Smith]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
Hi Jeff,

Spray-on waxes are not for everyone. I like them, but that's because it works for me. It could be this just isn't the product for you.

Are you applying and removing the spray-wax on your white Honda Ridgeline?

Did you have any distinct problems using the spray wax on a dry car versus a wet car?

Mike,
My goal is to hopefully get this product down to where it would be a time saver for me. If I can shave a little time off of a wax application, then this product, and that skill would be a nice thing to have in the arsenal for those days where I might want to just wash and throw a quick coat on for that just waxed look.

Yes it's the Ridgeline I applied it to. I had decent results with it a few months back but I used your recommended approach with the Even Coat applicator and yes, that time the vehicle was dry. It did the trick with just a wee bit of streaking but really did nothing as far as saving any time. I had just put a fresh coat of NXT Paste on the Honda last Sunday night and that went well so I know there was plenty of wax on it. Temps the day I did it were right close to 50 degerees (F), And I was in the sun. The trick was one side was facing the sun the whole time and the other side was in the shade. Both sides streaked equally.

I am not giving up on it. I know Meguiar's would not be still producing it if it they had gotten alot of complaints on this. So I am still going to play with it. Although I will probably drop back to only doing one panel at a time until I can develope a technique that seems to wrok for me. I do hope I can shave some time off of the process though. That is what I was hoping for. I believe it actually took me longer to apply this product, remove it, then get rid of the streaks than it usually does to apply a paste or liquid via the DA. 'll keep pecking away at it though.

Can you honestly say that when you use a Spray wax that it saves you any time? Or should I say does it does it shave enough time off the process as compared to applying a paste or liqid to make using the product worthwhile? The only time benefit was that it did not really need alot of setup time. I mean I went around the vehicle and by the time I was done it was ready to pull back off. Pretty much the same as any NXT application generally goes for me. I think that there is some of my problem in that I am comparing this product to another product that is already an easy on/easy off application, the NXT. NXT is already a quick product to work with so my expecting much faster results with a spray might be a little to much to expect. This still does nothing for the streaking though.

One thing that did cross my mind as this. The last time I used the NXT Spray Wax with the Even Coat Apllicator and got decent results. This time I applied The Quik Wax Spray on top of a fresh coat of NXT right after a wash and then applied the Quik Wax with the Terry Towel as the label recommended. It cross my mind that maybe the Quik Wax does not support the NXT very well whereas the NXT Booster wax wax designed more for this. Maybe I should stick to putting the Quik Wax on Carnuba's And the NXT Spray Wax on Synthethics.

Tonight might be a slow night at work again so maybe I'll do a little side by side on the hood with Quik Qax and the NXT Spray Wax. What the heck.

[gb387]

Jeff... took me several times to get the hang of a spray wax and get the results I was looking for. I would get it out, set it aside for a few months try again and so on.... The key for me was the Even Coat Applicators but sounds like you are already using them. Don't give up, when I did my Even Coat Applicators X-3080 ~ Review I felt that the spray wax did save me time. You touched on it a little, you don't have to drag out the PC cords and such. NXT Spray Wax will sure save time over hand application of a regular wax. For me thin coat is key and easy to get with the Even Coats!

[Mike Phillips]

Jeff,

As I documented with a time stamp in one of my write-ups, I was able to apply and remove NXT Tech Wax in approximately 20 minutes. I don't think I can do this with a normal coat of wax.

For me it is fast and easy.

It is important to apply as thin and as uniform a coat as you can, and then remove using a clean, soft microfiber polishing cloth.

In a short while I'm going to wash our Pilot to test some new wash mitts and then I'll apply NXT Spray Wax and time myself again. This time, it will be a little different as I won't have to continually set-up shots, and take photos.