Tell me why I should like #16

[weekendwander]

In another thread I wrote about getting a tin of the mythical #16 paste wax.

I had the chance to use it today. I wish I had pictures buy my wife was at a party with the camera.

I used the wax on a 2003 Taurus with Grey metalic paint (it has a mediaum color, not dark and not light) 5 weeks ago I washed, clayed, polished with #9-2.0 swirl remover and waxed with NTX 2.0 liquid. 4 weeks ago I waxed the horizontal surfaces with Gold Class paste. Since then the weather hasn't cooperated and I have done nothing.

Yesterday I did a full (very needed) wash with Gold class soap.

I then pulled out the #16 and waxed the entire vehicle except for 1/2 of of the hood. I had read multiple times where thin coat had to be used or you wouldn't be able to remove the wax. I also read the thread about twist your applicator on the wax and that will be enough.

I will say that I was shocked how easily the wax went on. Because the tin is new and flat I couldn't spin the applicator but found that If I lightly swiped it across the tin I had more than enough for a 3X3 area. I would guess that this tin will last me forever at the rate of usage.

Here is where the problems start. I went to the where I started waxing and it looked like it was ready to be removed but with the swipe test only a little on the top came off. So I tried a small area anyway since it was 30 or more minutes, but it seems like it needed to cure more. I did some other stuff and then started to remove the wax even though it was acting the same way.

The wax was extreemely hard to remove. I don't think it was because i put the wax on to thick. I actually found in the spots where it was a little thicker it came off a little easier. But, in no way was it easy to remove anywhere.

After taking maybe an hour to remove the wax, I pull the car back so what little sun we had could hit the hood. I couldn't see anything different between the side with #16 and the side with 4 week old GC.

Not wanting to give up and put another thin coat on the entire hood and the roof. I let it cure for at least 45 minutes and then removed it again. It was still very difficult to remove but I thought maybe it was a little easier.

So in the end after reflecting on my experience I can't see why this is so special. The shine was nothing better than GC or NTX. Putting it down was maybe a little easier, but not much. Removal was a complete pain in the rear. It probably took me 4X as long to remove the wax, with 10X the effort. I really wanted to love this. I really had hoped it would make the car pop more.

One last thought I had was the temprature was pretty low. It was mid 50's. I have found that NTX doesn't seem to like to be applied in colder weather could #16 be similar.

So please tell me, is this what I should expect with #16? Is it going to make my Black Excursion look great (I can't imaging removing the wax by hand on that big of a vehicle)

[Wolf-Strong]

Re: Tell me why I should like #16

A wax will generally not make the car look better; period. This is achieved in the steps prior to waxing, being claying and polishing the paint out. The idea is that you want to get the paint to look how you want it to look before you wax the car. The wax is simply there to help protect the paint and make it easier to maintain that finish you spent all day trying to achieve in the polishing steps.

M16 seems to be really popular in that many people claim it will last a good long time compared to most anything on the market. It does go on incredibly easy, and will remove easy, however you have to put it on ULTRA thin. If this is your first time using it, chances are you put it on too thick. Believe me on this, M16 should be applied so lightly that you should barely be able to tell that it has even hazed on the paint. You are right about being in the correct environment though. The colder the environment, the longer the solvents take to dry meaning that the wax might not have dried all the way. Refer to 'the swipe test' to check to see if the wax is dry. Generally, you want to wax in weather with light humidity with a temperature in the 70s to 80s.

Others just like the fact that it is an old school wax.

[97t-bird]

Re: Tell me why I should like #16

I absolutely love 16 and I put it on super thin I use the pc I will take an applicator and rub a very small amount on a finishing pad then use the applicator and smear a small amount onto a panel and work in on speed 3 that little bit is more then enough for a door. When it seems liek the buffer is running out of it I rub a little bit more in a small spot on the panel and buff it it. I have never had a problem with removing itI usally do one side of the car wax it on the wipe that side off with no ill effects should be very easy to use like the post above I work it in till you can only see it at certain angles and it is clearish.....Greg

[Wolf-Strong]

Re: Tell me why I should like #16

Also note that in virtually every catagory, NXT is going to be a better wax; it darkens the paint better, hides minor defects better, wipes off MUCH easier (more user friendly), generally cheaper, and most importantly protects the paint better than just about any wax on the market.

[weekendwander]

Re: Tell me why I should like #16

thanks for your thought. If you let it cure longer than it should does it also get harder to remove?

On the second coat I did try to keep it evenly thin (the first coat was a little uneven). What I found is that I had some areas that were a little heavier and it was difficult to remove the wax there. But, thinking more and more about this I am starting to think that I needed to let it cure longer.

Thanks for your thoughts.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Tell me why I should like #16

But, thinking more and more about this I am starting to think that I needed to let it cure longer.

NO! Absolutely not! That is likely your problem in the first place...if you let it cure TOO long then it can become difficult to remove. Too thick will also cause problems.

[akimel]

Re: Tell me why I should like #16

Weekend, did you by any chance see this thread? You might find some helpful counsel there.

I recently acquired a tin of #16. I suspect that I will have similar problems as you. It appears to have a steep learning curve. I will wait until next spring or summer before giving it a try.

[weekendwander]

Re: Tell me why I should like #16

Weekend, did you by any chance see this thread? You might find some helpful counsel there.

I recently acquired a tin of #16. I suspect that I will have similar problems as you. It appears to have a steep learning curve. I will wait until next spring or summer before giving it a try.

I saw that thread but when it only had a page of posts or so. I have the "streaking" issue and that was part of the removal issues I had.

In the end, looking at the car today with a little more sun, it does have a nice mirror and reflection. When I put the wax on I thought I was putting it on thin but after reading this (specially the comment about the swipe test not working well in the other thread) I think that I probably had on thick (and i really thought I was putting it on to thin when doing it the first time)

With the winter here I am really looking forward to the durability. My black truck needs some TLC and a machine so I am going to stay with colorX on it until the bank account and wife permit the purchase of a DA.

[Wolf-Strong]

Re: Tell me why I should like #16

NO! Absolutely not! That is likely your problem in the first place...if you let it cure TOO long then it can become difficult to remove. Too thick will also cause problems.

My thoughts is that it was probably very humid and combined with being 50° outside could of caused the wax not to have a chance to dry properly; I have had this problem before. This is why the swipe test is so important.

The link akimel posted has lots of good information.

[PorscheGuy997]

Re: Tell me why I should like #16

Hey,

I regularly work on a fleet of Tauruses and Sables - one is in the color you described.

The problem is that the color makes the difference hard to see. I usually use #16 on these cars, so it comes from experience.

I find that the thinner the wax is applied, the easier it is to remove. Also, I usually do the whole car (twenty minutes) and by that time, the wax is ready to be removed.

What toweling are you using? Some forms of microfibers work better than others. The Ultimate Wipes are by far the best for removing any protectant.

Sometimes, it helps to slightly mist the Ultimate Wipe with a QD (two sprays of UQD) before removing the product.

[Nappers]

Re: Tell me why I should like #16

And we are talking thin coats, look at the car at an angle to see the coat, if you can see it straight on then chances are the wax is too thick. I look at the paint at an angle to see it going on.

[weekendwander]

Re: Tell me why I should like #16

And we are talking thin coats, look at the car at an angle to see the coat, if you can see it straight on then chances are the wax is too thick. I look at the paint at an angle to see it going on.

That is really thin. I was putting it on a little thicker than that but not much more.

I think I had two major problems. First was even though it was laid down thin when people say thin they really mean, barely there. I was thinking that this tin will last me about 5 years. I guess it is going to last me 10 years

The second was the weather. It wasn't very humid but it was cold (in the 50's) Because the swipe test doesn't work well unless you lay it EXTREMELY thin I think i was removing it to early. The second coat was thinner and cured longer and was easier to remove.

As for towels. I started with a Target MF. I then ran out of those and used some other brand that I had (they may have been Costco but I have found I really like them for the money). Your comment reminded me that I was going to use my Meguiars MF on the second coat to see if that helped but forgot.

Thank you all for your help. I really wanted to love this wax. I didn't love it but will try again. With such a following my first experience can't be the norm or this wax wouldn't have lasted for 50 years in the market.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Tell me why I should like #16

I detailed my mother's Yukon 2 weeks ago, and it hadn't been washed since. My mother left it outside and it was covered in dust and we had a LIGHT sprinkle that left nasty water spot collections and dirt piles on the paint.

I took it down to a local DIY car wash and with a pressure washer ONLY at a normal distance (12-16 inches away) I was able to fully wash the vehicle...never even touching the paint. It looks FLAWLESS like I did a fresh detail today.

Why was this possible? A lovely coat of Meguiar's #16 plus UQD allowed me to RINSE it to perfection.

[Nappers]

Re: Tell me why I should like #16

Did you apply M16? And, do you love it?

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Tell me why I should like #16

More than anything else it looks as though the low temperature at the time of use is the main culprit here. At 50 degrees F you are really pushing the limits for many products - the ideal temperature range for all of our products is 55~90 degrees F. Not all products are effected equally by temperature extremes, however. Humidity can also effect how a product behaves, and at this time of year we often see high humidity and low temps. Not a great combination.

We would suggest you give M16 another shot when ambient conditions are more conducive to its use.