Spray wax?

[paudashlake]

What are your thoughts on spray wax? I have been using it for a few years now, but am I really waxing? Would the claybar take it all off for me so I can start new with a real wax?

[cardriver]

Re: Spray wax?

I use a spray wax as my "maintenance wax" to boost the protection of my normal wax, after a typical wash of the car.

Personally, I just rinse with NXT/Gold Class wash, then follow up with a rinse of Dawn and that strips off all old wax, oils and protection, giving you a fresh surface to do what you want with it.

[paudashlake]

Re: Spray wax?

So dawn is the same as a claybar? Hm. Very simple. But I haven't used a normal wax in a few years so do you think I should do it now? I mean the swirl marks are crazy!

[Tuck91]

Re: Spray wax?

So dawn is the same as a claybar? Hm. Very simple. But I haven't used a normal wax in a few years so do you think I should do it now? I mean the swirl marks are crazy!

Waxing a car will not remove swirl marks.

[paudashlake]

Re: Spray wax?

But if you take all of the wax off, which mine probably doesn't have a lot left, doesn't it take the swirl marks with it because the swirl marks are in the wax? Here: Why don't you explain this to me. I'm sorry but I don't know about how to get swirl marks out or how people take scratches out either.

[fe91]

Re: Spray wax?

So dawn is the same as a claybar? Hm. Very simple. But I haven't used a normal wax in a few years so do you think I should do it now? I mean the swirl marks are crazy!

they are not the same

its just that dawn and claybar both will take off the wax

claybar will take off embedded surface contaminants
dawn wont

[akimel]

Re: Spray wax?

But if you take all of the wax off, which mine probably doesn't have a lot left, doesn't it take the swirl marks with it because the swirl marks are in the wax? Here: Why don't you explain this to me. I'm sorry but I don't know about how to get swirl marks out or how people take scratches out either.

The swirls marks are not in the wax; they are in the paint. Swirls are micro-scratches in the paint, and the only way to remove them is to level the paint surface by abrasive polishing: What it means to remove a scratch out of anything...

[cardriver]

Re: Spray wax?

Here's some clarification for you:

*The swirls are not in the wax-- They are in the clearcoat .

*I don't use a claybar to remove wax-- I use a claybar to remove those mostly-invisible surface contaminants that remain after you wash your car. (Let's say you wash & dry your car, then run your fingers along the paint. Your finger will catch on many invisible bumps and contaminants. After claybarring, your paint will feel more like smooth, clean glass. Less bumpy.

*When I want to strip wax (usually prior to polishing, or prior to testing out a new brand/type of wax), I use Dawn because it's cheap, it works, it's easy, and I don't have to spend money on the dedicated Citrus Wash which accomplishes mainly the same thing. Oh, and as much as people will argue that Dawn harms paint...well gosh, it sure isn't harming anything if you only do it 3x/year.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't want to give out too many pointers because I don't want to confuse you too much .

And yes, I think you should use a dedicated wax as your base layer of protection . You can get a bottle of NXT wax in the purple box at your auto store and it will last you a few years, for $18. Darn cheap!

And after you finish your weekly washes, you can simply finish up with your maintenance spray wax, if you wish.

[tcope1]

Re: Spray wax?

While opinions vary, I see little reason to wash with dawn. Meg products will "layer" so it's find to add wax on top of wax (which most people do when they put two coats on).

[paudashlake]

Re: Spray wax?

tcope1, poeple say you are supposed to clay bar your car twice a year, but I agree. Wax on wax is fine

[ziggo99]

Re: Spray wax?

@tcope1
The purpose of using Dawn in addition to a clay bar is to strip all wax and polish off so you start with a very clean surface, where the new wax can bond more uniformly with the clean surface, not 6 months to maybe even 4 year old wax.

[paudashlake]

Re: Spray wax?

Well my van is 15 so it must really need a clay bar or two. So dawn and clay bar is the best?

[cardriver]

Re: Spray wax?

Well my van is 15 so it must really need a clay bar or two. So dawn and clay bar is the best?

At this point, assuming you just want to protect the paint (not remove swirls, which is a whole separate beast to tackle);

I'd pick up the $20 clay kit from your auto store, along with a jug of Gold Class wash and a box of NXT liquid.

Wash the car with a MF sponge, dry the car with a MF-type towel (never a home towel),
Clay the car, use lots of lube (included in the clay kit), lube the paint and the claybar itself (cut the claybar into 3's--you really don't need a fat pancake of clay),
wash and dry car again,
apply 1 thin coat of NXT with included foam app pad, let dry 30 minutes,
remove wax slowly with a different, twice-folded MF cloth
reapply a 2nd coat and remove after 30 mins.

[paudashlake]

Re: Spray wax?

But I do want to remove the swirls. I'm planning on putting it in a car show and it needs to look it's best!

[akimel]

Re: Spray wax?

But I do want to remove the swirls. I'm planning on putting it in a car show and it needs to look it's best!

If you want to remove the swirls and achieve a show car finish, then you need to invest in a DA polisher, pads, and polishes. There simply is no other way for you to achieve the level of paint correction that you need and desire.