How long for M26 to setup?

[tiSS'er]

I know it is stated that M26 needs to haze. Typically I find removal works best on my car if do a couple of panels and then wipe off. Think of it as sort of a longer version of WipeOnWipeOff. The wax has not hazed at this point, so it this a useless exercise? The car looks great afterwards, so I like to believe that there is protection left behind, but I don't know for sure.

[Joe Dragon]

Re: How long for M26 to setup?

If you put it on really thin you may not even notice when it's hazed. If that's the way removal works best for your car then it's OK, not useless. How are ya good guy? Getting warm in the desert by now?

[tiSS'er]

Re: How long for M26 to setup?

Thanks. It seems with all the Meguiars waxes I use, UPW, GCCP+ or M26, they never fully haze. Even in the summer months after a few hours they don't pass the swipe test. I do apply very thin. On the vertical panels I usually need to pull out my detail light to see if I covered the whole panel. Horizontal panels are much easier to see.

Last night I was testing on some new product/procedures on a panel. I picked up some M26 paste and tested it. Easy on, easy off after a few minutes or even after an hour. I cleaned the panel and tried M26 liquid, I had better luck using it more like WOWO product. I have found with both products I prefer to apply be hand. The paste is so buttery, and reminds me of an old school wax. Chemical smell and a tin you need to open with a screw driver...loved it . I would say my favorite method would be to apply wax to 2 small panels or 1 large panel and then wipe off. With either the liquid or the paste, the results were easy on/easy off.

Lately I have been contemplating buying more expensive, boutique waxes. I just can't do it, not after applying the $13 M26. I applied M26 to my non-metallic black car last week. In the garage I was not sold. It didn't look any better to me than UPW, but it required a bit more work. The next day in the sunlight, I was blown away how M26 not only showed reflections, but how it enhanced the curves of my car. The bonnet rolls off about 4" before it meets the fender flare. The shaping was really apparent as I could see the sun highlighting this line. Same with the way the rear rolls down to the rear fender flare. These lines were excellently highlighted and gave the car a very "3D/glassy" look for lack of a better term.

Since I wax my car monthly, durability is pretty low on the priority list. Making the application a bit easier is the goal here, though it wasn't that difficult, just not as easy as UPW. I prefer M26 to GCCP+ as I like to lay down a layer of glaze before waxing. I plan to throw a second coat on tomorrow to get a bit more familiar with the paste.

Weather hasn't been too bad. I'm acclimated. I have no issue working or exercising outdoors mid day.

[drumdan]

Can't go wrong with M26! I have a few decent waxes, Autoglym HD, Turtle Wax Platinum Paste, Mother's Pure Carnauba, Surf City Garage Barrier Reef Paste, Eagle One Pure Carnauba, 3M Show Car Wax Paste, and a variety of Zymol waxes. M26 and Gold Class stand up to all of them. The only other past wax I really, really enjoy using is the Zymol Carbon, specifically because of the wipe on/wipe off feature. I found that M80 is an excellent prep for it too. But from a price perspective, considering performance M26 is a real value, especially considering it's performance capabilities.

And yes, the smell is fantastic! Takes me back to the mid late 90's, when I got my first tin, for my first dealer purchased car - a 1999 black Chevy Cavalier. I used the M07/M26 combo on it all the time. My car looked GREAT!

[The Guz]

Re: How long for M26 to setup?

Glad to hear you are liking M26. It's a great wax. It holds it's own even against the boutique waxes. Are you still seeing the ghosting effect with this one? I found durability around 2-3 months for me. Of course the hot Az weather can have an effect on it.

One day when you have time you should experiment with M21/M26 or UW/M26. It will look great on your lexus.

[tiSS'er]

Re: How long for M26 to setup?

Glad to hear you are liking M26. It's a great wax. It holds it's own even against the boutique waxes. Are you still seeing the ghosting effect with this one? I found durability around 2-3 months for me. Of course the hot Az weather can have an effect on it.

One day when you have time you should experiment with M21/M26 or UW/M26. It will look great on your lexus.

No ghosting with the liquid version yet. It was not the hottest week here. I am going to throw another coat of the paste on tomorrow. I'll report back.

[gclark26]

There is a really good recent thread at autogeek about M26.
M26 gets high marks

[The Guz]

Re: How long for M26 to setup?

No ghosting with the liquid version yet. It was not the hottest week here. I am going to throw another coat of the paste on tomorrow. I'll report back.

Well that's good news. Seems like M26 will be your goto. Post a pic if you ever get the chance.

[tiSS'er]

Re: How long for M26 to setup?

I threw another coat of M26 paste on this morning and I just love this stuff. I find the paste spreads much easier than the liquid (I prefer to wax by hand) and I can get it much thinner. I applied to 2 panels and then removed. I did head out this morning and there was quite a bit of ghosting, but nothing that some QD can't take care of. M26 just looks so darn good, I'll go so far to say much better than UPW. I'm going to have to throw a coat of UPW maybe next month and see how it compares. Please keep in mind that this car is not perfectly detailed, it is a daily driver.

A few photos from this morning. I am already finding it is looking better as the wax cures.

[The Guz]

Re: How long for M26 to setup?

Your lexus looks great.

[LS1BERLINA]

Re: How long for M26 to setup?

Wow, that looks awesome!! I also found the durability of m26 paste to be much better than expected. I really should pull it out again after seeing your pictures.

[tiSS'er]

Re: How long for M26 to setup?

Are you still seeing the ghosting effect with this one?

So it seems that the paste version of this is ghosting terribly. I cleaned it off once, went out again this afternoon, and had some more ghosting. Just a guess, but it seems that maybe paste is my issue. GCCP+, UPW, and M26 paste versions have all ghosted on me. I put on the M26 liquid last week and had no issues at all. Next month I will put use the liquid once again and see how that works out. I really like the looks of this wax, hopefully I find a solution with the liquid.

[The Guz]

Re: How long for M26 to setup?

I have only used the liquid and not the paste but maybe you are on to something. There could be something in the formulation that could be reacting to the environment. It might not be as fun waxing with liquid but sometime we have to work with what we have.

[tiSS'er]

Re: How long for M26 to setup?

I have only used the liquid and not the paste but maybe you are on to something. There could be something in the formulation that could be reacting to the environment. It might not be as fun waxing with liquid but sometime we have to work with what we have.

I'm thinking the same thing. A test with the liquid will be coming up soon, and that should hopefully provide some answers.

[drum1026]

Re: How long for M26 to setup?

Your Lexus looks great! Congratulations and thanks for sharing. I am hoping to use some M26 this weekend on our black Mercedes. Should be fun!