Ultimate Wax (Liquid and Paste) don't like machine application ... for me

[Don]

I've used both waxes now, the liquid and the paste and I can honestly say that neither of them play well for me with my PC. I tried the paste first, and I had to use a ton of product to even get any of the wax onto the paint that I went through a can much faster than I should have. So when I ran out of the paste, I bought the liquid. I took a new (relatively speaking) Lake Country black finishing pad and tried the standard "X" to prime the pad and subsequent 4 drops to reapply wax to the pad. It was worse than the paste. The wax absorbed into the pad and stayed there, it wouldn't come out and spread onto the paint. I decided not to waste any more liquid wax and used the supplied applicator and applied it by hand from that moment on, which BTW worked excellently, it spread thin and seemed to go forever.

Some other facts: The black pad I have for the PC is MUCH softer and more absorbent than the supplied hand pad and where the supplied hand pad feels like a yellow polishing pad, the black pad for the PC feels more like a soft bath sponge. Could this be the issue?

I'm not really complaining, I like getting up close and personal when applying a LSP to a car, but I just completed my father in law's 1500 Silverado (with a bed cap) and applying wax, even one as cooperative as Ultimate Liquid, was a bit of a chore. Even so, I still prefer to remove LSPs by hand.


Any thoughts?

[The Guz]

Re: Ultimate Wax (Liquid and Paste) don't like machine application ... for me

Here are some real good articles to look at on applying a liquid via DA.

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?46754-How-to-apply-a-very-thin-coat-of-wax-with-a-G110v2

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?43582-Meguiar-s-Quik-Tips-Video-Series-Waxing

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?48894-Meguiar-s-Quik-Tips-Video-Series-Ultimate-Liquid-Wax-A-New-Application-Experience

Mike Phillpis has a good article on how to apply a paste wax similar to UW by machine.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/25725-how-apply-mothers-california-gold-pure-carnauba-paste-machine.html

[Don]

Re: Ultimate Wax (Liquid and Paste) don't like machine application ... for me

Here are some real good articles to look at on applying a liquid via DA.

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?46754-How-to-apply-a-very-thin-coat-of-wax-with-a-G110v2

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?43582-Meguiar-s-Quik-Tips-Video-Series-Waxing

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?48894-Meguiar-s-Quik-Tips-Video-Series-Ultimate-Liquid-Wax-A-New-Application-Experience

Mike Phillpis has a good article on how to apply a paste wax similar to UW by machine.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...e-machine.html

Good articles, I read them all in the past, but read them again in case I missed something. The problem is that even in direct sunlight at different angles, I still can't see anything being applied to the paint except for a few heavy spots, not even like the greasy smear/grabby sensation I get when the hand applicator is running out of wax. To make it worse, the pads are collapsing on me (even after only 1 or 2 applications of product), going from 1"+ thick to 1/4" thick (these are not the new thin style pads, they are the older, thicker pads).

I might go ahead and try a polishing pad to apply the ULW since it's closer in texture and feel to the hand applicator, but I hate to do it because the UW line doesn't wash out easily and effectively *wastes* the pad for other uses.

Maybe I'll just stick to hand application

[BillE]

Re: Ultimate Wax (Liquid and Paste) don't like machine application ... for me

I understand your thinking, and I'm NOT trying sound like a know-it-all.

UW (both kinds) go down ridiculously thin (you know that), a lot of times it seem like there isn't anything there, but it IS there. The first vid that Michael listed really shows it. That vid is what started me using a DA for applying wax(s).

I myself use a 4" gold LC pad, and I've had people say there is nothing there, but there really is.

Bill

[Don]

Re: Ultimate Wax (Liquid and Paste) don't like machine application ... for me

I don't know how the LC Gold pads feels etc, but I think I am going to give machine application one more try with a Meguiar's yellow polishing pad. Because like I mentioned, it has the same feel/consistency/porosity of the hand applicator.

[wifpd4]

Re: Ultimate Wax (Liquid and Paste) don't like machine application ... for me

I'm sorry to hear you're having difficulties with Ultimate Wax. I'll try to post a picture of the 4" black pads I use for ULW on a Porter-Cable set at speed three. I've tried the paste once, as it's often recommended by folks who had difficulties with the liquid. However I love the liquid and use it on nearly every car/truck I do.

Briefly, which is hard for me, here's an example of doing a hood. Starting with a fresh pad, I put a circle ULW on the pad and run the pad in a 6" diameter area to prime the pad. Then I add a bit more wax to the pad.

Standing on on the side of the car, in my mind I divide the entire hood into four sections. Now I reach to just short of the far edge and left-right center of the left quarter section closest to me. I pull the buffer towards myself, dividing that quarter in half. So now I have a line of wax down the middle of that quarter. Then I go around the perimeter of the quarter and end up on the far edge of the quarter section. Now I go right and left pulling the buffer towards me. Each pass I'm crossing over the line of wax already down the middle. Moving quickly, I go to the perimeter on the right and left sides of the box I created. Back and forth quickly, insuring coverage, trying not to go over anything more than twice. Once is best as "working" Ultimate Wax can lead to possible streaking. (although the latest formulation of ULW it is hard to get to streak)

If a black car, I can barely see the wax. If white, it's even "worse" as I can hardly see the wax at all because I've got it so thin.

I use a similar technique for the entire car, always pulling the buffer towards me going right and left or up and down on doors. Sometimes adding wax to the pad is not needed. Less and thin is better.

Using a a black foam Meguiar's applicator, my thumb is on one side and my finger tips on top of the word Meguiar's with the top of the word towards my palm, I prime 1 half of the pad and barely add any more wax to coat around mirrors, door handles, emblems or logos. I usually end up getting too much wax on the car with a hand applicator. I try to get everything possible with the Porter and a 4" black pad.

When done, I cover the pads with a towel to keep them from getting dust on them and will use them the next morning to go over the car/truck again. Thin and quickly, just to insure I didn't miss anything.

[Don]

Re: Ultimate Wax (Liquid and Paste) don't like machine application ... for me

Using a a black foam Meguiar's applicator, my thumb is on one side and my finger tips on top of the word Meguiar's with the top of the word towards my palm, I prime 1 half of the pad and barely add any more wax to coat around mirrors, door handles, emblems or logos. I usually end up getting too much wax on the car with a hand applicator. I try to get everything possible with the Porter and a 4" black pad.

I prime the hand applicator just like I do the PC pad ... 4 small drops (smaller than I do for the PC) and apply it using my finger tips and the base of my fingers either in a straight line or circular, depending on the shape of the panel I'm working. When I reapply UL to the hand pad, it's only 1 or two drops on opposite sides of the pads, so I'm using very little product to apply it to the whole car

[Bock]

Re: Ultimate Wax (Liquid and Paste) don't like machine application ... for me

I use the UPW never tryed the liquid. I use the black waxing pad for the DA power system, it works great. Since its a small pad I set the pad inside the paste can and let it spin real slow to smear the wax on. Then that's just about enough to do the whole hood. It works so well I never used aney other pad. I used to only apply wax by hand but this has worked way better. I would try some other pads that could be the problem.

[Don]

Re: Ultimate Wax (Liquid and Paste) don't like machine application ... for me

I use the UPW never tryed the liquid. I use the black waxing pad for the DA power system, it works great. Since its a small pad I set the pad inside the paste can and let it spin real slow to smear the wax on. Then that's just about enough to do the whole hood. It works so well I never used aney other pad. I used to only apply wax by hand but this has worked way better.

I started with the UPW and when the store was out of it, I grabbed a bottle of ULW. I love this stuff ... It's easier to control the amount that you put on the pad, spreads better, spreads easily and forever and I can put on a thin coat (by hand) that is a breeze to wipe off.

I would try some other pads that could be the problem.

That's what I intend to do.

[Bock]

Re: Ultimate Wax (Liquid and Paste) don't like machine application ... for me

Don, That raises a question. Would you say the paste or the liquid last longer, since you have used both. If it's faster and easyer to wipe of and last about the same I will try the liquid next.

[Don]

Re: Ultimate Wax (Liquid and Paste) don't like machine application ... for me

Don, That raises a question. Would you say the paste or the liquid last longer, since you have used both. If it's faster and easyer to wipe of and last about the same I will try the liquid next.

I don't know which lasts longer, they should be the same, the only difference is a compound in the Ultimate Paste that makes it a paste instead of a liquid.

The paste version goes on easy by hand, but with the liquid (for me) it's easier to control how much wax you put on the applicator and they both wipe of the same if applied properly, which I have not (until now) been doing.

IT WAS THE PADS!!

So like I mentioned earlier, I was going to use a Meguiar's yellow polishing pad to see if I had any better luck applying the Ult Liquid... MAN DID I EVER! 4 dime sized drops to prime the pad and that amount did the entire hood, 4 more drops, the entire roof and 2 drops the trunk lid. After that 4 drops would do two complete panels. I did have to go over each panel several times, because I couldn't really see for sure where it had been applied and where it hadn't.

For removal, there was no buffing involved, just an easy wipe with a clean microfiber, this is where I found out for sure I had covered every bit of the car, there was a light tug, then smoothness on the second pass. There were no oily swirls, streaks, dark patches, nothing but paint with a super high gloss ... I'm extremely pleased with the process and the results. My suggestion to anyone having trouble like I was ... switch to a slightly firmer pad, it makes a world of a difference