Teach me how to wax with perfection

[Alexandre]

Ok. I have a few problems with the rotary buffer but now my car is really nice and swirl free, but since then I didn t have the courage to wax it. I am afraid of my inexperience, you know?

I do wax dad's car, also my sister's car, but it has been a while (few weeks) since I started to get Meguiar' s products (a loooot) and learn with the help of "how to videos and articles, magazines, and reading day after day other users experiences throughout the forum. As you can see, I practice with other people cars, not mine.

Well, the point is, I did got the NXT Tech Wax 2.0, and I want to wax my car, I also got the G110 (still need to buy the pad).

What I want is you guys help to know how to do, what to use and how to avoid swirls.

How many foam pads do I need? Should I use one for each section? How to remove the wax? I' ve been using MF cloth, but also, it seens to be needed a few to get the job done. (I don' t want to ruim the suprime shine towels, cause they are very expensive here).

Well. Tips? Secrets? Techniques?

PS: I guess I am going to wax by hand

[davey g-force]

Re: Teach me how to wax with perfection

You really don't have much to be afraid about. Providing your applicator pad and towels are clean, there's not much that can go wrong.

Apply to the whole car using the foam applicator pad provided and the secret is a THIN coat(s). A heavy coat just means more to remove and extra work for you.

After the wax has cured, simply gently remove with a MF towel. You will probably need two of these - one for the initial wipe and one for the final wipe.

Enjoy let us know how it goes!

[Murr1525]

Re: Teach me how to wax with perfection

If you are going to wax by hand, you should just need one smooth foam pad, maybe a second one incase you drop it.

Just put on a very thin coat, let dry, and then wipe off. Let sit for a bit, then apply, dry, and wipe off.

As long as the SS towel is kept out of greasy areas, the wax will wash out of the towel just fine. If you apply it thin, you can probably use 1 per coat.

If you keep it thin, and let it dry, all will be well.

[tcope1]

Re: Teach me how to wax with perfection

I learned from the best... his name is Mr Miyagi.

[Clutch34]

Re: Teach me how to wax with perfection

"wax on, wax off"


hahaha!

[BobbyG]

Re: Teach me how to wax with perfection

One of the tricks to a great shine is using a quality product and keeping the coats thin. It's really amazing just how much, or in this case little, wax you really need to add a coat of protection that makes the finish shine.

The G110 is a great polisher. I have to Porter Cable 7424 and in this case would use a LC blue or red pad for applying wax. I'm not implying that Meguiar's doesn't make a great pad it's simply what I've been using for a while on my DA polisher.

I generally apply 4 penny sized dots along the outer edge of the pad and spread it around on speed 3. This allows you to put a nice even thin coat on the panel. Once this is done I generally bump the speed up 5 and work the polish in to a light haze.

Let it dry, and buff with a Microfiber towel to a nice shine.

[RGP]

Re: Teach me how to wax with perfection

Don't over think things. Apply NXT 2.0 by hand, very sparingly to the entire vehicle. Just enough to "smudge" the surface. Wipe it off with a quality micro fiber or two. Wait 24 hours and then apply another coat just to insure total coverage if you wish.

Toss your enclosed applicator and towels into the washing machine.

Viola! That's about it...

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Teach me how to wax with perfection

Bluher, you're getting great answers from the guys here.

Don't be afraid to use your G110 to wax your car, just make sure you use the proper pad (foam finishing) and apply a very thin coat. "Thin" can be hard to define, but when we say "thin" we really mean "thin"!!

The car in the image below has NXT applied waaay too thick. In fact, the pad used to apply wax to this side was subsequently used to wax the other side, but we never put more product on the pad for the rest of the car!!!




The image below shows a properly applied coat of NXT, nice and thin.



The image below shows just how thin you can apply NXT if you're careful (yes, you have to look very closely to see it):



What's important is to apply not only a thin coat, but as even a coat as you can. Yes, that last image looks crazy thin but keep in mind that no matter how heavy you apply a wax, only so much is going to bond to the paint and stay put once you wipe off the hazed residue. So applying a wax really heavy only wastes product, extends drying time, can potentially cause streaking, and just makes it more difficult to remove the wax.

A bottle of NXT Tech Wax 2.0 contains 18 ounces (532 ml) of product. All you need to cover a full sized American sedan is 2 ounces (60 ml).

[RGP]

Re: Teach me how to wax with perfection

I applied 18, yes eighteen coats, to my Miata and still had enough left to give the remainder to my neighbor to do her car a few times. Only reason I didn't finish off the liquid is that I now find the paste NXT 2.0 a tad easier to apply thinly. Once the enclosed pad is covered by the first two or three product applications, I just blot the primed pad against the paste wax and it gives an impressively uniform and thin application.

[Alexandre]

Re: Teach me how to wax with perfection

thank you guys. now a quick question.

liquid or paste? i mean, is it ok to apply liquid wax by hand?

[Murr1525]

Re: Teach me how to wax with perfection

Yup, whichever you like.

[Alexandre]

Re: Teach me how to wax with perfection

I applied 18, yes eighteen coats, to my Miata and still had enough left to give the remainder to my neighbor to do her car a few times. Only reason I didn't finish off the liquid is that I now find the paste NXT 2.0 a tad easier to apply thinly. Once the enclosed pad is covered by the first two or three product applications, I just blot the primed pad against the paste wax and it gives an impressively uniform and thin application.

18 coats? all of the same wax? o.o

I read your topic with the combination of the NXT 2.0 and a carnauba wax, guess I am going to do the same here. NXT 2.0..

If I want to apply the wax again, do I need to avoid rains? I mean.. I wax my car now.. let him in the garage untill the next day, than I apply the wax again? I mean, I need to avoid rains before this second application?

What about the carnauba wax, when do I use it? Can I use the UQD before the wax? for example:

1 - Wash
2 - Dry
3 - UQD
4 - NXT 2.0 on the entire car
5 - Take off the wax with suprime shine MF
6 - After a day wax it again using NXT 2.0
7 - After a day wax it again using the 26

I can't use my car during thoose three days? Or else I may not get the best results, right? I am asking you that because of the rain, two months of raining where I live.

[Murr1525]

Re: Teach me how to wax with perfection

If the car gets dirty between coats of wax, you'll want to either wash or QD the surface so you are working on something clean. Dont have to avoid moving it, just clean if needed.

Are those all the steps you will be doing?

I would at least try for:

1. Wash
2. Something like Cleaner/Wax, ColorX
3. Wax - Nxt 2.0
4. If you want another coat, then use the #26.

[benhui86]

Re: Teach me how to wax with perfection

since you have a G110.... might as well get the most out of it....

1. wash
2. clay
3. cleaner/polish (80, UC, 105 or whatever) on a w8006 pad
wipe off w/ MF right after finish buffing
4. NXT (i do it by hand bc i dont have another pad for the buffer)
wipe off w/ MF after it dries for maybe 15 minutes
5. wait 24hrs
6. QD or wash depending on how dirty the car is
7. wax again w/ whatever wax you want
wipe off w/ MF after dries for 15 minutes

[Alexandre]

Re: Teach me how to wax with perfection

I did use 3M cleaner wax about a week ago, I guess I should try the Meguiars Cleaner wax this time, but tell me, a "cleaner wax" requiers more repetitive pressure and circular motion? If that is true, should I get the paste version?