Is GC liquid wax hard to remove?

[mb12345]

Hi,

I just finished applying GC liquid wax to my car today. I found it easy to apply but removing it needed a lot of effort. I was under the impression that applying and removing GC is almost effortless. Is my impression wrong or is my technique wrong? I had applied a coat of GC to the entire car, then removed it in the same order that I had applied.

I have used Meg Cleaner wax prior to this and that one was more easier to apply and remove.

I'd just like to understand if I did anything wrong while applying and removing. Would it be easier to remove if I had done each panel instead of the whole car, giving the wax less time to stay on the car?

Thanks for your advice.
-MB

[mb12345]

After I had finished posting, I saw this note from Mike Phillips in another thread:

The Gold Class wax can be applied using circular motions, or straight-line motions, it's really about your preference. Meguiar's Gold Class wax is non-abrasive, so it' not going to instill any scratches no matter which way you move you applicator over the surface. It is important to work the product in well, then allow it to fully dry before removing. Also, only apply a thin coating, a thin coating will give you just as good as results as a thick coating. It's a case of more isn't always better as thick coatings are more difficult to remove.

I did try to keep the coating thin, but I guess it might have been thick. How thin can the thin coating be? I have seen that a nickel sized drop of the wax on the applicator pad can be enough for a door, but then its hard to differentiate whether the coating is actually the wax or just the oiliness from the applicator pad.. Please pardon me if the questions sound silly, but I am new to this and still in the learning process.

Thanks again!

[Tim Lingor]

Hey MB,

It sounds like you applied the product too thick. You want to apply the GC in a very thin and even coat. Also, make sure you do the application and removal in the shade and not in the direct sunlight.

Tim

[Tim Lingor]

Oops! You posted while I was still typing!

To apply the product thinly, I use side to side motions. I keep applying the product until the applicator starts to drag. Then I apply more product to the applicator and continue applying.

Tim

[Murr1525]

Well, as a start, I assume you used the other prep steps, paint cleaning, polishing ,etc. These of course help with application/removal.

Did you let the wax dry completly? Depending on your conditions, it may take longer than just finishing applying, and then starting removing. I can sometimes finish waxing, walk away, get a drink, rest the arm, then get back to removing it. This is espeacialy true if you applied it too thick, and it takes longer to dry.

And then of course, there is how thin did you apply it? I'd bet it is still a little too thick. I just changed over to some of the Nxt products, and use the Nxt paste as I think I can get thinner coats with a paste. But man, when I started using it, I still used way too much. One little swirl does your whole roof. And I still havent got the hang of the Nxt booster.. takes almost nothing to spread over half your car. Well, maybe not half, but it really spreads.

If you are worried about coverage, two thin coats does a lot more than 1 thick one.

[rusty bumper]

From my experiences with waxing, I find that a wax will dry quicker on an unprepped finish, than on a prepped one.

When I am applying wax with the PC, I notice that the wax is somewhat hard to see. But a hand application tends to look heavier................At least with my experiences.

Even after prepping the paint, I've seen days that the wax wanted to be a little stubborn to remove, but not usually.

Maybe the weather had something to do with it.

[Mike Phillips]

If you apply a thin coating, allow it to dry till it swipes clear, then the only other two factors that will affect ease or difficulty of removal would be surface condition or removal material, assuming the finish is in new or excellent condition and doesn't need to be clayed or cleaned with a paint cleaner, what are you trying to remove it with?

Something with a nap works best.

A thin coating is easier to show in person than it is to explain with a keyboard, but I'll try...

After applying the wax and working it in, you can see a layer of product over the entire surface, but no so much that you cannot see the paint color underneath, (that would be too thick). It should be enough that you can see a layer of wax over the entire surface, but this layer is thin, lacking excess substance.

Just as I thought... it doesn't really work with a keyboard. A thin coating should be just that, a thin coating, not so little that you see bare areas, but not so thick you can see a film-build.

How's that?

[Mike Phillips]

Also, when you go to remove the wax, first you break the wax, this is a term used to describe breaking up the continuous film of wax in one area exposing the clean, glossy paint underneath. After you have broken the wax, you then creep outward from this area as it will be easier to creep outward from the broken area taking off bite of wax then it will be to continually breaking new areas spot at a time.

Doe that make sense?

Break through the wax in one area, and then move out from that area clearing more territory. Remember to do this gently and with care as the goal is to make the paint look great, not instill scratches during the removal process using gorilla aloofness.

[mb12345]

Thanks to everyone for responding. I had clayed my car last week and applied the Meg cleaners wax. I had received feedback that the cleaner wax won't last long, so I decided to apply another coating of GC wax this week. Since GC is supposed to be a polish/wax, I found it ideal for my needs.

So, I didn't do any other prep work this week. Just washed my car and waxed it.

Mike,
Thanks for your great explanation on how thin can a thin coating be. Now I am sure that I had applied a bit thick coat and hence it was difficult to remove. I'll try to keep it more thin next time. When I apply a very thin coat, I am afraid that not enough wax is being applied to the surface and I don't want my effort to go waste. Hence I may have applied a little too much. I guess I cannot differentiate between the thin coat of wax on the car's surface vs the oiliness from the applicator when it has run out of wax. Maybe I'll learn with experience.

Thanks for your feedback. Appreciate it!

[Murr1525]

Experience counts.. just consider the first bottle for learning.. You'll get the hang of it quickly though.