Temperature and Humidity??

[PPLd]

Hello everyone,

I got a few questions about the weather condition when applying wax.
(I did tried to search on google but then most of the results appears to be about "durability" of wax affected by weather conditions "after application", while I want to ask "during application"...)

1. Does weather condition like a low temperature and/or low humidity cause liquid wax to bond better?
2. How about presence of wind? Will dust get blown onto drying wax and get stuck when wax cure? (well I wont wax my car in dust-free room, just wonder if I should wax in places like underground, closed area)
3. What is the ideal weather for applying wax?
4. Does weather affect the application of paste wax?

I found that the wax I applied in 2009 Xmas last longer than those I applied in 2010 Summer.
I did the same prep work on my Nissan:
Clayed the paint, and then cleaner Wax (Consumer line)...
[Smooth Surface Clay kit]. All done by hand.
Therefore I am wondering it might have something to do with the weather?

[greg0303]

Re: Temperature and Humidity??

Weather condition is a factor to consider while doing car detailing.

You don't want your paint surface to be too hot and you don't want it to be too cold either. Air temperature between 50*F - 86*F (10*C - 30*C) would be ideal. Also high humidity level is an obstacle.

Therefore in summer time is good to work in a shadow. Black car's hood exposed to hot summer sun may register surface temperature even 180*F. You can imagine how quickly your products would dry out/ vaporate. High humidity levels make wipe-off of products quite difficult as well. Low temperatures make product spread pretty hard and less effective.

If you have no choice and you have to work in hot/ cold weather then work on super small areas, maybe like 12" x 12". Wind makes products dry faster.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Temperature and Humidity??

The temperature limits Greg mentioned are right on. At lower temperatures products like waxes, polishes, compounds, etc don't flow like they should and sort of "stiffen up", making them less workable and generally less effective. Higher temperatures can cause flashing of the solvents used (don't let that word "solvent" freak you out - if you dissolve sugar in water then the water is effectively the "solvent") and a serious degradation in usability and effectiveness of the products.

Humidity can play a big role with this too. Very low humidity will cause products like paint cleaners and polishes to dry out as you use them. This can lead to very short buffing cycles, dusting, and a reduction in performance. Very high humidity can cause waxes and sealants to take a very long time to dry, or cause other products to become a bit sticky.

To answer your specific questions though:

1. Does weather condition like a low temperature and/or low humidity cause liquid wax to bond better?It shouldn't, as long as you're within the recommended temp range when applying. There are a huge variety of factors that could have contributed to the variations you've seen.

2. How about presence of wind? Will dust get blown onto drying wax and get stuck when wax cure? (well I wont wax my car in dust-free room, just wonder if I should wax in places like underground, closed area)If it's very windy, then no, you shouldn't try to wax, polish or even wash outside. Of course, a lot has to do with how dusty it is in your area, but a lot of wind can create all sorts of problems. Best to work inside if at all possible during high winds. And yes, dust can get blown onto the wax while it's drying and cause issues during wipeoff.

3. What is the ideal weather for applying wax?
The temperature range that Greg stated. The key thing is that you want the surface temp of the vehicle you're working on to be cool. Even on a 100F day, a car parked in the shade is not really hot to the touch. Move that same car, especially if it's a dark color, out into the sunshine and in short order it becomes painful to lay your hands on it. If a car has been out in the sun all day, pull it into the shade and let it cool down before working on it. On the opposite end of that spectrum is working in direct sunlight on a cool day. A light colored car sitting in the sun on a 60F day is not going to be even warm to the touch. You can work on that surface in direct sunlight without issue. Temperature is the most critical thing, but by that we mean surface temp of what you're working on. If it's hot when you touch it, don't work on it.

4. Does weather affect the application of paste wax?Yes it can, and for the exact same reasons as stated above. In some cases a paste may be more resistant to temperature extremes, but we still recommend sticking in that roughly 50F - 90F range.

[PPLd]

Re: Temperature and Humidity??

Thanks greg0303 and Michael Stoops!!
Thats useful information on the relationship between weather and waxing.
I will pay more attention to the surface temperature when I wax my car next time

[TOGWT]

Re: Temperature and Humidity??

How Temperature and Humidity affects Product Application

Detailing products should be applied to a cool dry surface out of direct sunlight (actual surface temperature of the vehicle) ideal range between 50 - 80.oF (10.oC - 26.oC) the carrier system for waxes is solvents, while polishes (and waxes) use oils for surface lubrication. At lower temperatures they tend to solidify and at higher surface temperatures they evaporate allowing products to dry out and you risk ‘dry buffing’.

Humidity and dew point saturation temperature (the temperature which water vapour will condense into water) will also affect the application of waxes and sealants. Micro particles of moisture will form on the horizontal panels and due to the oil content in waxes it will inhibit the adhesion process, water will interfere with the cross-linking of a polymer sealant

Excess humidity will also affect ‘how’ a wax or sealant dries (i.e. it may cause hazing or clouding of the surface) and will also prolong product drying and curing times

The other climate related condition that should be avoided when applying car care products is direct sunlight, as this will dramatically increase the surface temperature compared to ambient temperatures causing the product to dry prematurely and may render it ineffective.

These are the temperatures and conditions that are relative to the application of car care products; the most important is the actual surface temperature of the vehicle.

• Surface Temperature - (actual surface temperature of the vehicle) between 50 (10.oC) and 80.oF (26.oC) products will work well within a much broader temperature range, i.e. 45. °F to 90.° F (4.5-32.oC) but at 45 degrees it will take much longer to dry, perhaps as much as two to three hours) but the best results will be achieved in the 60° to 70° F (15-21.oC) range.

• Cross-linking times- (Polymers) approximate cross-link period at various temperatures; at 60.oF - 48hours, 70.oF-36 hours, 80.oF - 24 hours (cross-linking is a function of temperature, humidity and time

• Humidity and dew point - saturation temperature (the temperature which water vapour will condense into water) will also affect the application of waxes and sealants. Micro particles of moisture will form on the horizontal panels and due to the oil content in waxes it will inhibit the adhesion process, water will interfere with the cross-linking of a polymer sealant

• Hot ambient temperatures- most detailing products contain solvents that if used on a hot surface will flash (evaporate) and will negatively affect the product used. The oils and waxes used in polishes to provide surface lubrication will evaporate, leading to dry buffing and surface scratches

Using cold water on hot metal will cause heat stress, which will lead to the metal deforming, cracking and failure (rotors, engine parts) once they are warped the brakes cannot work, thermal shock could also cause the engine block structurally fail. The same principle applies to hot water on a cold surface (i.e. defrosting ice from a windscreen)

• Cold ambient temperatures - (40.°F >) - water- based products (polish, wax, fabric cleaners, etc) will be negatively affected at lower temps i.e. some polishes use wax or oils as a lubricant, which will solidify during lower temp conditions, causing the polish to 'clump' and become unworkable