how do you gauge a wax's durability?

[steveo3002]

okay ive just switched over to nxt wax, ive been using zaino before but got tired of its fussy aplication and cost

so, ive gone out and put on some nxt a few weeks back, it went on easy and i liked the shine.....BUT i dont see much water beading after the first few days...and i used to with zaino

what method should i be using to see if the wax has gone?

say if 1 coat lasts 6 weeks, does 2 coats last 12

i love keeping my car nice in the summer, but i need something that will offer some protection over the winter when i cant wax

[jfelbab]

Stevo3002

I've posted these images before but let me post them again. These are photo's of water beading on my RX330 after 68 days.

http://meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/559NXT_68-1.jpg

This beading action continued on for 90 days before I reapplied NXT not because the beading stopped but because winter was coming.

I wash my cars with Gold Class wash using a two bucket method with softened filtered water. I dry with a ww microfiber after streaming most of the water off using a hose with the nozzle removed.

Since that initial three month test I have been using NXT Booster spray after every other wash to maintain the "just waxed" look while the weather permits. NXT did last throughout the winter season (4 1/2 months) for me. Wisconsin winters are long and ugly with lots of road salt. The shine degraded but the protection hung around.

My vehicles are garaged evenings but are out in the elements 10-12 hours a day.

Hope this helped.

[steveo3002]

thanks for the reply

so is beading regarded as the best way to gauge protection?? and what should i look for in beading? height,diameter or what

is there any point in me building up layers in the good weather to help get through winter?

[Mike Phillips]

Hi Steve,

An accurate indicator of whether there is a protective wax coating on the surface of your car's paint or not is a test Meguiar's has been teaching for probably close to 50 years if not longer. We teach this at all of our detailing classes here at Meguiar's on Saturdays' also, it's called the Squeak Test.

Note: It's vitally important that you first wash your car before performing the squeak test, the paint needs to be clean and free from any dirt or dust. Wiping with a quick detailer may give you a false reading as most quick detailers add gloss and slickness, thus adulterating the test

Here's how you do it, you get a clean, soft 100% cotton terry cloth towel. In this case, I'm using Meguiar's new Ultra Plush Super Terry polishing towel.



Lay the towel out flat,



Then fold it in such a way as to ball it up, in my case, I fold each corner into the middle, and then repeat that a second time.



This gives you a ball of terry cloth toweling that provides a flat surface against your finish, plenty of cushion between your hand and the paint, and something for your hand to grasp onto.



Now, twist the towel firmly against your car's finish in a circular back and forth motion and listen...

If there is silence, and the towel glides and slips on the paint, then there is wax present.

If you hear a squeaking sound, (as in squeaking clean), then there is no wax present, (or very little) and it's time to apply more wax.

Here's how this works,

Your coating of wax acts as a dry lubricant, it creates slip and decrease friction, if there is wax present on the finish, your towel will slip instead of grab and you wont' here any noise, in other words, you won't hear any friction.


If thee is no wax on the surface, then the circular twisting motion will create friction and you will hear a squeaking noise.

Like Meguiar's Swipe Test, is a more accurate indicator of whether a wax has fully dried and is ready to remove, Meguiar's Squeak Test is a more accurate indicator of whether or not their is wax on the surface.

By the word wax, we mean anything that is intended to protect the finish, whether it's labeled polish, or paint protectant, or sealant, or whatever... If it's a product designed to be applied to the paint to protect it, it can generically be placed into the wax category, or the 4th step of Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle.

Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle

Step 1 Wash

Step 2 Clean

Step 3 Polish

Step 4 Protect

Step 5 Maintain


Hope this helps...

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by steveo3002
thanks for the reply

so is beading regarded as the best way to gauge protection?? and what should i look for in beading? height,diameter or what

See my above reply on the Squeak Test

is there any point in me building up layers in the good weather to help get through winter?

Despite what you read on other forums, 2-3 coats of wax in any one detailing session is the most you can expect to apply before your reach the point of diminishing returns. After 2-3 coats of product, it's time to stand back and admire the results, not continue to apply more and more products. 2 coats of a quality wax will protect the paint through the winter, if in doubt, apply another coat sometime in the interim.

I've never seen someone post their paint fail off their car after the winter months because the wax failed. Modern clear coat finishes are pretty tough in and of themselves.

[steveo3002]

okay mike thanks, i'll see how i get along with meguiars products

right now i only have gold class wash and some nxt wax liquid, id like to get a few more items ,but as a newbie to meguiars there seems to be alot of products to choose from

can you suggest where i might start to look so i can decide what to get btw im in uk ,are all products avail overseas??

i look after 3 vw's that are over 10 yr old, clearcoat paint ,just needing paint care/protection

[bluemoon]

I have always wondered will microfiber towels work with the squeak test also, or does this only work with terry towels?
Thanks

[bluemoon]