Is it Wrong?

[Elk]

I've seen it implied numerous times that it's OK to "layer" carnauba wax over a polymer sealant. Does that mean it's wrong to do the opposite?

My painter wanted me to apply pure polish and carnauba wax to my new paint to help nourish it, plus, it looks good! However reading about the polymer sealants, it says they offer the longest possible protection. So can I use a polymer sealant as a topper to my carnauba wax, say #26 yellow topped by #20 poly sealant?

[Murr1525]

Its not wrong tp layer a polymer over a carnuba, but you are losing some of the 'benefit'.

Whatever product is on top seems to give the 'look' on the paint. So if you want the look of a carnuba, it needs to be on top. So you can do 2 layers of carnuba, or polymer bottom with carnuba on top.

If you want the look from Nxt,, #21, etc, either it needs to be on top, or Nxt needs to be both coats.

The catch of course, is that Nxt and #20 have cleaners in them, so there is no reason to layer then over a different wax, when it might remove them anyway. Yo uuse two coats of Nxt, etc to get even coats , not 2 layers thick.

Personaly, if you want the most durability, I would use a cleaner, pure polish, then 2 coats of #21 or Nxt. If you picked a dark color paint, I think Nxt/#21 topped with #26 would be best.

Did I answer your question somewhere in there? Its not 'wrong', but perhaps not the best use of product.

[danielsan]

Re: Is it Wrong?

Originally posted by Elk
I've seen it implied numerous times that it's OK to "layer" carnauba wax over a polymer sealant. Does that mean it's wrong to do the opposite?

My painter wanted me to apply pure polish and carnauba wax to my new paint to help nourish it, plus, it looks good! However reading about the polymer sealants, it says they offer the longest possible protection. So can I use a polymer sealant as a topper to my carnauba wax, say #26 yellow topped by #20 poly sealant?

How new is this paint? Correct me if I'm wrong but polymer sealant is a) not a pure polish and b) not allowed/safe for 6 months after painting untill the solvents fully leech out and the paint cures.

Carnauba waxes are also no-no's to apply on new paint I believe. There are many threads around here dealing with cleaning fresh paint, I wish I had a good one at my fingertips, but I know someone else will.

[Elk]

Originally posted by Murr1525
Its not wrong tp layer a polymer over a carnuba, but you are losing some of the 'benefit'...

... The catch of course, is that Nxt and #20 have cleaners in them...

... Did I answer your question somewhere in there? Its not 'wrong', but perhaps not the best use of product.

Murr1525,
Great and meaningful reply. I do understand why it's done the way it's done now. I totally overlooked the cleaner aspect of #20. Your feedback is much appreciated.

Elk

[Accumulator]

Yeah, all the major autopaint manufacturers say to *NOT* apply a wax for at least 30 days (and usually longer). Mirrorfinishman contacted them recently to find out the straight story and that was what they *all* said.

Anyhow, you don't "nourish" today's b/c paints. That was more applicable to old-school single stage paints way back in the day. Today's b/c paint are a relatively impermeable build-film at least when it's new/freshly applied, sorta like a solid sheet of plastic.

I use #5/#3/#81/#7/Deep Crystal step #2 (listed in order of my preference) on fresh paint. Or #80 if it needs correction.

[Elk]

Re: Re: Is it Wrong?

Originally posted by danielsan
How new is this paint? Correct me if I'm wrong but polymer sealant is a) not a pure polish and b) not allowed/safe for 6 months after painting untill the solvents fully leech out and the paint cures.

Carnauba waxes are also no-no's to apply on new paint I believe. There are many threads around here dealing with cleaning fresh paint, I wish I had a good one at my fingertips, but I know someone else will.

danielsan,

Point well taken, and I guess my post was kind of confusing on that polish part. I wasn't confusing #20 with a pure polish. I just sort of skipped over that part and dove into the wax - sealant question. A pure polish will be under the wax. Anyway, I spent a lot of time searching this forum for "fresh paint" and "new paint" threads and asked a few questions of my own before beginning to detail my El Camino. I think it was Mike Phillips or a link he pointed someone to that had the most meaning for me about when to begin with new paint. To paraphrase, it said that different paint formulas need different "out gassing" periods or cure times and to follow the painter's instructions before beginning to detail a new paint job, as he knows the properties of the product he used. The range listed in the quote was between 30 days and 180 days (I think) so there was a pretty wide range depending on the paint used. In my case, I followed my painter's instructions before beginning and on how to begin (he recommended Meguiar's products).

Anyway I do appreciate your feedback because as you can see by my bone-head question, I'm still learning.

Elk

[Elk]

Originally posted by Accumulator
Yeah, all the major autopaint manufacturers say to *NOT* apply a wax for at least 30 days (and usually longer). Mirrorfinishman contacted them recently to find out the straight story and that was what they *all* said.

Anyhow, you don't "nourish" today's b/c paints. That was more applicable to old-school single stage paints way back in the day. Today's b/c paint are a relatively impermeable build-film at least when it's new/freshly applied, sorta like a solid sheet of plastic.

I use #5/#3/#81/#7/Deep Crystal step #2 (listed in order of my preference) on fresh paint. Or #80 if it needs correction.

Accumulator,

Oh it was over 30 days and I did wait as long as my painter instructed. And this is not a single stage paint job for sure. Still maybe my painter is "old school" but for what ever reason, he wanted me to apply #7 and top it with Carnauba.

This form has helped me begin to understand all this stuff and I've decided to change the painter's recommended routine to one more like you're recommending after the paint is 6 months old. That time period is not scientific or anything, it seems like most paints should be ready for "whatever" after six months. Your recommendations do seem to make more sense for clear coated paints.

Elk

[Accumulator]

I find it funny how much many painters *do NOT know* about the paints they use! Even when they know how to apply them really well, they still often miss the boat about post-application care

Oh, and FWIW, I still do like the #7/carnauba approach for some paints on some vehicles. People in my family have been using that combo since #16 came out in the 50s

[LiquidBlack]

Yeah, #7 topped with a carnauba looks very wet and deep.