picture of 'smears' Clouds?

[Don]

It's kind of hard to see in the pic, but the two X's show where it starts and the rest looks like a cloud in the picture just over my head between the trees. The "darker" area is where it looks like the wax still hasn't been removed (it actually resembles the pattern of how the wax was removed), but if I rub fairly hard on a small area, it will clear up but I don't really like having to rub that had or that intensly on my paint. Trust me, it's severe in person and it's driving me insane to the point where my next car will be white. I originally posted HERE about the LSPs leaving behind smears, but now that I think about it, perhaps "cloudy" is a better description.

I've completely cleaned the finish with DC-1 until it was squaeky clean and applied NXT 2.0 paste w/PC so thin I couldn't see what I was doing and it still did it.

I'm also noticing that they are the most visible when the car is in the shade on a bright day (such as in the shade of a building or a tree). I know, I know "Just keep it out of that kind of lighting"

[Andrew C.]

Re: picture of 'smears' Clouds?

How long are you waiting to wipe the NXT off.You should wait at least half an hour, at least. You could let it sit for 5 hours and it would be fine, there is not harm in letting it sit with wax on it. It also depends on if it is a cloudy and damp day, that won't allow it to dry as well so you would need more time to let it dry.

I'm very surprised the paste would be doing this, as it is more often the liquid that does. You said you are applying it very thinly, but try to do it as thin as possible. It has happened to me before wit the liquid when I applied it too thick, so give it another try. That is the best way to get rid of it is re-wax and wait the proper time and it should be gone!

[Don]

Re: picture of 'smears' Clouds?

How long are you waiting to wipe the NXT off.You should wait at least half an hour, at least. You could let it sit for 5 hours and it would be fine, there is not harm in letting it sit with wax on it. It also depends on if it is a cloudy and damp day, that won't allow it to dry as well so you would need more time to let it dry.

I'm very surprised the paste would be doing this, as it is more often the liquid that does. You said you are applying it very thinly, but try to do it as thin as possible. It has happened to me before wit the liquid when I applied it too thick, so give it another try. That is the best way to get rid of it is re-wax and wait the proper time and it should be gone!

I usually go around the car in a circle applying the wax, then make a second circle to take it off

[Bounty]

Re: picture of 'smears' Clouds?

I usually go around the car in a circle applying the wax, then make a second circle to take it off

First mistake right there...you need to allow the wax to dry to a nice haze and give time for the polymers to begin the surface-bonding process. I would say, dependent on atmospheric conditions, that 15 to 30 minutes after you complete the entire LSP application process would be the minimum time allowed for this process.

[Don]

Re: picture of 'smears' Clouds?

I just buffed the whole car out with SwirlX and applied a coat of 21-2.0 I went out a bit later ~hour and it still won't pass the "finger swipe test," but I was able to buff off the hood with a mf and so far it appears clear, but I won't know until tomorrow when I can get it in the shade.

BTW I put it on so thin that I wasn't able to see where I had waxed & where I hadn't so I had to try and follow a pattern to make sure everything got covered...makes the concept of multiple coats to ensure complete coverage more meaningful.

[Andrew C.]

Re: picture of 'smears' Clouds?

What was the weather like today when you applied it? That can have a very large influence.

[Don]

Re: picture of 'smears' Clouds?

mild, upper 60's low humidity

[blackt00th]

Re: picture of 'smears' Clouds?

How long are you waiting to wipe the NXT off.You should wait at least half an hour, at least. You could let it sit for 5 hours and it would be fine, there is not harm in letting it sit with wax on it. It also depends on if it is a cloudy and damp day, that won't allow it to dry as well so you would need more time to let it dry.

I'm very surprised the paste would be doing this, as it is more often the liquid that does. You said you are applying it very thinly, but try to do it as thin as possible. It has happened to me before wit the liquid when I applied it too thick, so give it another try. That is the best way to get rid of it is re-wax and wait the proper time and it should be gone!

The same thing also happen to me as well.
Could it also be the wax was applied unevenly.

[Bounty]

Re: picture of 'smears' Clouds?

I just buffed the whole car out with SwirlX and applied a coat of 21-2.0 I went out a bit later ~hour and it still won't pass the "finger swipe test," but I was able to buff off the hood with a mf and so far it appears clear, but I won't know until tomorrow when I can get it in the shade.

BTW I put it on so thin that I wasn't able to see where I had waxed & where I hadn't so I had to try and follow a pattern to make sure everything got covered...makes the concept of multiple coats to ensure complete coverage more meaningful.

This last point you made is very interesting. I know I asked it several times without being answered in your other thread on the subject...are you using an IPA wipedown after your polishing steps or going straight to wax? If not you may be suffering from "polish contamination" or "polish interference" with the wax.

Polishes have lubricating oils and fillers. If too much of this is left on the surface, it will not allow the wax to properly dry. An IPA (isopropyl alchohol) wipedown will not only insure you have a virgin surface free of oils to check your defect removal progress but also that no lubricants, oils, fillers, or polish remnants remain. No wax should go an hour without being able to pass the "swipe test" regardless of how thin or thick it is applied...

[blackt00th]

Re: picture of 'smears' Clouds?

This last point you made is very interesting. I know I asked it several times without being answered in your other thread on the subject...are you using an IPA wipedown after your polishing steps or going straight to wax? If not you may be suffering from "polish contamination" or "polish interference" with the wax.

Polishes have lubricating oils and fillers. If too much of this is left on the surface, it will not allow the wax to properly dry. An IPA (isopropyl alchohol) wipedown will not only insure you have a virgin surface free of oils to check your defect removal progress but also that no lubricants, oils, fillers, or polish remnants remain. No wax should go an hour without being able to pass the "swipe test" regardless of how thin or thick it is applied...

What if no polish was use? what could be the cause?
example for my case- wash,clay, colorx and wax?

[tincan]

Re: picture of 'smears' Clouds?

I experienced the same thing before and one thing that i learn from Mike P. is to do the final wipe sloooooooowly. I tried it and it was too slow for me. So i did it sloooowly not only for the final wipe but as soon as i start removing the wax until the final wipe. It works for me.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: picture of 'smears' Clouds?

A smear is residue not wiped off

Mist on a little quick detailer, or even use a lightly dampened with water microfiber polishing cloth and gently wipe the affected area.

[Don]

Changed applicators

For starters, I've never done an IPA wipedown so maybe I'll try that next time. This time I buffed off the application I put on last night (still failed the finger swipe test), but it came out looking great (under flourescents).

I had already decided to put on a second app. but this time, instead of a straight foam applicator, I used a terry cloth applicator with a soft foam center. It made a huge difference as the wax was much more evenly applied. After taking a nap ~ 3 hours, I came out to buff it off. Yet another FST fail, but this time when I took it out into the light, there was still some cloudiness but, very little and no where near as visible.