At wits end...

[Don]

...and about to blow...

It seems that no matter what LSP I use, I get uneven smearing when I remove the wax from the paint...mostly on the top surfaces, but sometimes on the sides too.

Truth is, I'm getting so fed up that it's really killing my desire to wax my car and tonight I felt a sudden urge to slam my PC into my hood (I didn't).

I've tried everything from Mike's wiping little bites at a time to putting a MF towel on the buffer to using UQD and UQW. My paint is single stage & I'm wondering if that has anything to do with it

[Mike Phillips]

Re: At wits end...

Paint related problem maybe?

Have you ever used M20 Polymer Sealant? It dries fast and wipes of super easy to leave a hard, clear shine.

Have you been polishing the paint a lot with a pure polish?

[Bounty]

Re: At wits end...

...and about to blow...

It seems that no matter what LSP I use, I get uneven smearing when I remove the wax from the paint...mostly on the top surfaces, but sometimes on the sides too.

Truth is, I'm getting so fed up that it's really killing my desire to wax my car and tonight I felt a sudden urge to slam my PC into my hood (I didn't).

I've tried everything from Mike's wiping little bites at a time to putting a MF towel on the buffer to using UQD and UQW. My paint is single stage & I'm wondering if that has anything to do with it

Typically, smearing of your LSP is due to one of three things: environmental factors (heat, humidity, etc), putting it on too thick, or remnants of a polish/glaze still on the surface prior to LSP aplication.

If you have used a variety of different waxes and sealants and experience the same thing every time, it's obviously not the product's fault. Are you doing it out of direct sunlight and dry/temperate conditions? Are you laying on a paper-thin coat and "kissing" the pad to the paint over your section rather than applying it thick at the beginning of a panel with a loaded pad? Did you perform an IPA (isopropyl alchohol) wipedown after your polishing steps to remove all oils/lubricants/product etc?

[Don]

Re: At wits end...

Paint related problem maybe?

That's why I was wondering about the paint being SS

Have you ever used M20 Polymer Sealant? It dries fast and wipes of super easy to leave a hard, clear shine.

Yeah, it's good stuff, I just figured the 21 2.0 would be better

Have you been polishing the paint a lot with a pure polish?

No not at all

[Mike Phillips]

Re: At wits end...

What are you working on?

Picture?

[Don]

Re: At wits end...

Typically, smearing of your LSP is due to one of three things: environmental factors (heat, humidity, etc), putting it on too thick, or remnants of a polish/glaze still on the surface prior to LSP aplication.

If you have used a variety of different waxes and sealants and experience the same thing every time, it's obviously not the product's fault. Are you doing it out of direct sunlight and dry/temperate conditions? Are you laying on a paper-thin coat and "kissing" the pad to the paint over your section rather than applying it thick at the beginning of a panel with a loaded pad? Did you perform an IPA (isopropyl alchohol) wipedown after your polishing steps to remove all oils/lubricants/product etc?

Tonight was ~70* I was in the shade & no real humidity. It doesn't matter if I apply by hand or with the PC & I never load up the applicators.

I know that if I continue to rub over the surface, eventually it gets clear, but at what expense? Too much rubbing isn't any good for the finish.

[Bounty]

Re: At wits end...

Tonight was ~70* I was in the shade & no real humidity. It doesn't matter if I apply by hand or with the PC & I never load up the applicators.

I know that if I continue to rub over the surface, eventually it gets clear, but at what expense? Too much rubbing isn't any good for the finish.

Ok, so temperature/humidity isn't the issue nor is application. All that's left is paint issues...

First up, were there any polishing steps in between wash/clay and wax? If so, what products were used? Was an IPA wipedown performed afterwards? How many applications of product? How long after polishing was wax applied? Was there a wash or soak of the paint after polishing?

[AeroCleanse]

Re: At wits end...

Sounds like too much product or your not letting it dry long enough. I guess it could also be a contaminated MF towel.

[akimel]

Re: At wits end...

May I ask which LSPs you have been using?

[Don]

Re: At wits end...

What are you working on?

Picture?

[Don]

Re: At wits end...

After calming down, I went back into the garage and of course in the flourecent light, I couldn't see the smears, nor could I see them under the halogens. Still, I buffed the hood with some DC-1 until it was squeeky clean, then reapplyed a thin coat of 21-2.0 (picture a few strands of angel hair pasta on the pad).

I'll see tomorrow I suppose when I have sunlight.

[Don]

Re: At wits end...

May I ask which LSPs you have been using?

Lately? Nothing but Megs NXT 2.0 and 21/2.0

[Alfisti]

Re: At wits end...

Lately? Nothing but Megs NXT 2.0 and 21/2.0

Maybe it's time you stepped up to Turtle Wax.

[Bostonsfavson]

Re: At wits end...

Don, I've had smearing issues with NXT 2.0 as well. It got to the point where I was convinced it was the bottle I had (from 2007--possibly a bad batch?). Anyways, I picked up a new bottle of NXT at Pep Boys for the comically low price of 9 dollars (on sale for 10, minus 10% discount). I'm going to give it a whirl sometime this week and see how it goes.