Car Wax Removal! Help Please!

[draven222]

I have been looking for a good car wax removal product but cant find one specifically. i have only been using meguiars car wax, but want to take the old finish off but cant find a product to do so without taking the paint off too. could someone point me to the right product?

[Murr1525]

Re: Car Wax Removal! Help Please!

The mildest cleaner out now would be Deep Crystal Paint cleaner, if you can find it, or #9 Swirl Remover.

But what are you working on, trying to accomplish, etc? 'Wax removal' isnt usually a big concern?

[Mike Pennington]

Re: Car Wax Removal! Help Please!

Welcome to MOL

But what are you working on, trying to accomplish, etc? 'Wax removal' isnt usually a big concern?

In order to best help you, I think the above sums it up...

Is it for repainting purposes, are you just detailing your car, are you concerned about wax longevity over another product?

[speed3blackmica]

Re: Car Wax Removal! Help Please!

there are many products that will take wax off and not hurt the paint..deep crystal paint cleaner for one is very good at that..however that may take too long..a little Meguiars All Purpose Cleaner at 10:1 dilution willl do the trick, thats what i do if i want to get the surface essentialy "naked" or "bare" before polishing out swirls and defects, etc..

[roushstage2]

Re: Car Wax Removal! Help Please!

20:1 for de-waxing. Though, a paint cleaner would be a much better choice.

[speed3blackmica]

Re: Car Wax Removal! Help Please!

really ??? i been using the 10:1 with APC for a while and it works great. i thought 20:1 was only for SD since it was stronger.

[draven222]

Re: Car Wax Removal! Help Please!

actually, i want to take the wax off to do some paint detailing and touch up on some spots where the paint chipped off, then after i get all the wax off and get the paint on i want to re-wax it again. i just thought it was a bad idea to put paint on top of wax and re-wax on top of the paint, that to me is just to many layers, but thank you for all the posts, ill look in to all of them, ill be doing this next week during my spring break.

[Murr1525]

Re: Car Wax Removal! Help Please!

actually, i want to take the wax off to do some paint detailing and touch up on some spots where the paint chipped off, then after i get all the wax off and get the paint on i want to re-wax it again. i just thought it was a bad idea to put paint on top of wax and re-wax on top of the paint, that to me is just to many layers, but thank you for all the posts, ill look in to all of them, ill be doing this next week during my spring break.

The regular detail process will take care of old wax, but yes, you want the paint chips cleaned out.

If it were me.... I'd probably try to wash and clay everything. Maybe use my paint cleaner at this point as well.

Then look into some sandpaper, or a fiberglass pen to clean out the chip, remove loose paint, etc.

Then clean the area with something like APC or Glass Cleaner, or IPA to remove everything. Then dab in my coats of paint very thinly with a toothpick.

When I was done painting, I would wax the car, being carefull to avoid the fresh paint for a month or two.

[roushstage2]

Re: Car Wax Removal! Help Please!

really ??? i been using the 10:1 with APC for a while and it works great. i thought 20:1 was only for SD since it was stronger.

Yessir! 10:1 probably won't hurt it, but 20:1 should work just fine as well. I wouldn't use SD on paint since it can stain it. Maybe not at that dilution, but degreaser on paint doesn't sound to "friendly" anyways.

actually, i want to take the wax off to do some paint detailing and touch up on some spots where the paint chipped off, then after i get all the wax off and get the paint on i want to re-wax it again. i just thought it was a bad idea to put paint on top of wax and re-wax on top of the paint, that to me is just to many layers, but thank you for all the posts, ill look in to all of them, ill be doing this next week during my spring break.

If you are going to be adding paint, to even say rock chips, you should de-wax the area first. If you really want to de-wax the whole car quickly (doesn't sound like you want to go through the process with a paint cleaner?), either go to the store and get some Wax and Adhesive remover and follow the directions on the can, or clay the paint. Make sure the paint is clean first!

[draven222]

Re: Car Wax Removal! Help Please!

If you are going to be adding paint, to even say rock chips, you should de-wax the area first. If you really want to de-wax the whole car quickly (doesn't sound like you want to go through the process with a paint cleaner?), either go to the store and get some Wax and Adhesive remover and follow the directions on the can, or clay the paint.

so what you are saying is use the direct deep crystal system paint cleaner in a 20:1 dilution to remove the wax, clean it up and then touch up the paint, let it set for at least a day, and don't re-wax that part for a few weeks?

im just making sure because i am new at this, but i love to do things for myself and learning it for myself makes me feel a lot better than taking it in to someone to do it for me.

thx for all the help you guys!

[speed3blackmica]

Re: Car Wax Removal! Help Please!

i know your question was directed to Tyler so i'll let him answer your question, but just so your not confused, deep crsytal paint cleaner isnt dilutable. You use it straight out of the bottle. the whole dilution thing was for Meguiars Detailer Line Products, All Purpose Cleaner and Super degreaser were the ones we were talking about. THOSE products you have to dilute with water.

[searle]

Re: Car Wax Removal! Help Please!

so what you are saying is use the direct deep crystal system paint cleaner in a 20:1 dilution to remove the wax, clean it up and then touch up the paint, let it set for at least a day, and don't re-wax that part for a few weeks?

No, your original post was not clear what you wanted to do, and folks were talking about using All-Purpose-Cleaner, diluted, to remove wax from the whole car.

For what you want to do (clean a small paint-chip then paint it), just use a little IPA (alchol) on a clean cloth and use your finger to clean and de-wax that small area. Or use a little paint cleaner (like DC1 or SwirlX or ScratchX) on a clean cloth similarly to clean and de-wax that spot.

After touch-up painting that spot (probably 2 or 3 thin coats), you can re-wax in a few days. You must wait 2 months before waxing a large re-paint (like a damaged panel professionally re-sprayed) to let that paint cure, but for a tiny spot of touch-up paint you should be able to re-wax in a few days (or just leave it and re-wax as part of your next waxing).

Is that correct? you just want to clean out a chip and then touchup paint it?

[draven222]

Re: Car Wax Removal! Help Please!

yes, i was doing that and that helps. but i decided to also paint a design on my hood so taking the wax off my hood is appropriate but the rest of the car is just touch up paint like you said Searle. thx. but now i don't know what type of paint i should use, if acrylic with enamel is good to put on, or if it should be a lacquer based paint or if i should get a vinyl made to put on it. but what you said really helped and that is what i am going to do for my touch up paint.

[roushstage2]

Re: Car Wax Removal! Help Please!

so what you are saying is use the direct deep crystal system paint cleaner in a 20:1 dilution to remove the wax, clean it up and then touch up the paint, let it set for at least a day, and don't re-wax that part for a few weeks?

im just making sure because i am new at this, but i love to do things for myself and learning it for myself makes me feel a lot better than taking it in to someone to do it for me.

thx for all the help you guys!

I'm just saying it's one way you could de-wax your entire car is all. Dilute the car soap properly like you normally would. 1 oz. of soap per 1 gallon of water. Then, add in APC at a 20:1 ratio to the total amount of water you have in your bucket. So, for example, for 3 gallons of wash solution, you would add ~20 ounces of APC (128/20= 0.05; 128*0.05=6.4; 6.4*3=19.2 oz.).

For paint chips, I'd take searle's idea and substitute the cloth for a Q-tip so you can get into that little chip real good with the rubbing alcohol. Turn the Q-Tip over and use the dry side to dry/clean the chip out and then proceed.

[fingermouse1831]

Re: Car Wax Removal! Help Please!

ill try and keep it brief, i have checked forums without success...
so here goes, i have a vw bora need to keep it clean and want a stunning finish.
i need to buy new meguairs products
i have clay and quick detailer, but am waiting on 7 show car polish, 26 or 16 wax, scratch x to remove swirls plast x for dull headlights. this will all be done by hand as i have no machinebuffer. question is, i dont seem to know best way to start? should i use deatailer and clay before scratch x or after and then show car no.7 then 26 and then 16? some assistance in the best order to use these products would help. i need to clean car remove the scratches and then polish up to a deep glossy shine. help greatly recieved the order and what to use.