WHY is it so hard to get that THIN layer?!

[gollums_friend]

I apply everything by hand under a carport in an apartment complex.

The first time I ever used NXT paste (May 2006) I despised it. Such a pain to get off the car, and I'd find "white specks" for days after. (Switched to three other Meg waxes during that time). Tried NXT paste again about a year later, tried really hard to apply a thinner layer. Only a little easier to apply/remove......no white specks hanging around. But I KNOW that my layer is still not thin enough. Still too much effort to apply/remove.

One strange thing that always happens with the NXT paste for me....the yellow app pad quickly accumulates "bumps of wax" on the pad. Don't know why. But this tends to make the wax go on thicker and thicker. So I swap for a new pad. I do this about FOUR times, and it's only a 4 door Pontiac G6 (crimson red, so it's not like I can't see the wax!) I have around 20 of Meg's yellow foam app pads.

If I try to use a teeny amount on the pad, then it seems like I have to put more onto the pad about every 30 seconds.

ONE TIME last year, I acheived massive success.........one of the yellow app pads didn't build up "bumps" of wax. The wax went on to thinly and easily, same with removal!! I thought "Ha! I've finally figured it out!!!"

That was the first and last time it worked out that way.

Yesterday, I bought a bottle of liquid NXT 2.0 for the first time. I don't tend to have quite as much difficulty with the liquids (ColorX and #26 yellow)....but I know they are still going on the car thicker than they should.

I know this is a really weird question........but I've been waxing by hand for 3 summers now......and I can't seem to get the THIN layer necessary to make this a whole lot easier on me!! Can someone give me any tips at all?? Thanks in advance!!

[VoicesInMyHead]

Re: WHY is it so hard to get that THIN layer?!

Having waxed motorcycles by hand for the last 15~ years, and not knowing exactly how you are applying the wax, my guess would be there is too large of a working area, and/or too much wax on the pad.

The wax on the applicator should be a thin film, not a thick film. Just enough to wax an area of about 1'x1' or 2'x2' if you're adventurous. If the wax is not starting to thin out once you hit that 2' area, you have too much on the pad, try putting less on for the next working area, until you get to know how much you should put on the applicator to get just that small working area covered.

Always work small areas, don't put a thick amount of wax on the applicator and try to wax 1/4 or 1/2 of the vehicle thinking that if you can smear it far enough it will be a thin coat... it won't work out, and will act kinda like what you are describing. Of course, there is always where you are doing the work, shade, sunshine, indoor garage, what is the humidity, etc... Hope I helped in some small way!

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: WHY is it so hard to get that THIN layer?!

You have not mentioned if you have ever clayed your car. You could be transferring the contaminants from the paint to the applicator pad. I would give claying a try.By removing the contaminants from the surface that may enable you to get that thin smooth layer of wax down.

[gollums_friend]

Re: WHY is it so hard to get that THIN layer?!

Always work small areas, don't put a thick amount of wax on the applicator and try to wax 1/4 or 1/2 of the vehicle thinking that if you can smear it far enough it will be a thin coat... it won't work out, and will act kinda like what you are describing. Of course, there is always where you are doing the work, shade, sunshine, indoor garage, what is the humidity, etc... Hope I helped in some small way!

Voices..........I wouldn't say that I'm attempting to wax 1/4 to 1/2 of my car with a massive amount of wax on the pad in one go. I will admit that you are correct in a way though.......let's say I'm doing a door. I am guilty of putting (what I think is) enough wax on the pad to do half of the entire door (from left to right, and halfway down it). Then, repeat the process for the bottom half of the door.

Maybe instead of attempting half the door in one go, I should focus only enough wax to allow me to cover 1/4 of the door instead of half of it.....

PS.......I am entirely in shade under the carport. I don't work in the sun. I don't wash in the sun, either. I wait until the community water hose area is shaded by the trees---either before 8 am or after 4:30 pm. Humidity can sometimes play a factor here in NW Indiana.

Thanks for the advice, any and all is appreciated!

[gollums_friend]

Re: WHY is it so hard to get that THIN layer?!

You have not mentioned if you have ever clayed your car. You could be transferring the contaminants from the paint to the applicator pad. I would give claying a try.By removing the contaminants from the surface that may enable you to get that thin smooth layer of wax down.

Yes, I clay the car once a year, in the spring---before my official "wax season" begins.

However.........while I *do* have Meg's clay kit, I don't use it. Why? Because instead I have used the uh...."Paint Protection" bottle of stuff from when I bought the car new from dealership in '06. The second ingrediant in it is clay.

I decided before starting this thread that before I tried out my new NXT 2.0 liquid, I was going to use MEG'S clay---at the very least, on the horizontal surfaces. I did that once after using this dealership stuff, and the clay didn't pick up a thing.....so I assumed the stuff with clay ingrediant worked decent enough.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: WHY is it so hard to get that THIN layer?!

I think claying the horizontals with the Meg's clay kit will be the ticket. I hope. Good luck.

[TH0001]

Re: WHY is it so hard to get that THIN layer?!

With NXT paste I have found that placing the appicator in the tub and giving it a 1/4 turn is plenty. If you get any flakes (or bumps) scrape them off on the side of the tub. A 1/4 turn of the pad will get you atleast half a hood. You should not really see the product going on.

A little tip is that if you are not sure you applying any wax, wipe a quick smudge on the window and look for any streaking.

[mcox]

Re: WHY is it so hard to get that THIN layer?!

I have also noticed if the surface temp is rather warm I too will get "bumps" on applicator pad. I find it when I am using # 7. I would supposed that it is a combination on surface temps and little product left on the pad. Don't know if that helps or not but...

[Andy M.]

Re: WHY is it so hard to get that THIN layer?!

Try this. Split the hood of your car into 4 sections or 1/4's. Lets say you a doing the drivers side of the hood first. You are visually looking at 2 sections, the one near the windshield and the one near the front of the car. Load your applicator as you normally would. Swipe your applicator on the front part of the car. Proceed to your other section and wax like you normally would. When you have waxed that section move forward to the front of the car without reloading your pad. This should help keep you from applying to much product.

The only other thing I would suggest is to make sure your wax is dry before removing it.

Make sure you use The Swipe Test

Hope this helps a little. Let us know how you make out.

Andy

[gollums_friend]

Re: WHY is it so hard to get that THIN layer?!

Thanks for the suggestions and tips, everyone!

One thing that made me smile---someone said "You should not really see the product going on"......and THAT is a large part of my problem, I think. If I can't see it then I'm not sure it's there....know what I mean? And it's that kind of thinking that gets my layer too thick, I think.

Yes.......I always do the swipe test.

I'd like to use the paste again to see if I can improve my technique with it.......but oooooooohhhh...I gotta try that new NXT 2.0 liquid. Just can't make myself wait!! Of course, I've been known to do the liquids too thick too, so I'll really concentrate on "little amounts/little areas" and try not to over-do it!! I'll be working on the car either late this afternoon or tomarrow morning.

[yalerd]

Re: WHY is it so hard to get that THIN layer?!

Maybe you could have more luck with the liquid version as you can have a little bit more control over the amount of product you are using.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: WHY is it so hard to get that THIN layer?!

Good luck. Hope you have better luck. Keep us posted.

[gollums_friend]

Re: WHY is it so hard to get that THIN layer?!

Used the NXT 2.0 Liquid wax for first time last night.........and LOVED it!! Much easier for me to apply than regular NXT paste, and easy removal as well!! Kept my layer thin as possible, and as long as I did, it was easy on/easy off. I could tell where I got slightly heavy handed, as those spots I had to rub just a tad more for removal. Still nowhere near as tough for me as the NXT paste is.

It's just a shame that I have a good 1/4 can of NXT paste left after 3 years that I definately no longer want to touch now!! LOL

[Andy M.]

Re: WHY is it so hard to get that THIN layer?!

Used the NXT 2.0 Liquid wax for first time last night.........and LOVED it!! Much easier for me to apply than regular NXT paste, and easy removal as well!! Kept my layer thin as possible, and as long as I did, it was easy on/easy off. I could tell where I got slightly heavy handed, as those spots I had to rub just a tad more for removal. Still nowhere near as tough for me as the NXT paste is.

It's just a shame that I have a good 1/4 can of NXT paste left after 3 years that I definately no longer want to touch now!! LOL

Glad it worked out for you. Just throw the can away. If it is 3 years old it is probably the first version NXT. Nothing wrong with it, but why use 1.0 when you can use 2.0.

Andy

[Alfisti]

Re: WHY is it so hard to get that THIN layer?!

It's just a shame that I have a good 1/4 can of NXT paste left after 3 years that I definately no longer want to touch now!! LOL

Give it a friend or neighbour...no use wasting a good product.