I need opinions on wax

[searle]

Re: I need opinions on wax

How do you feel about swirlx vs. 205?

I have been lucky and mostly kepy my cars and their finish in good shape, so the consumer line has been mostly enough for me. Also, that lets me show neighbors what I am using and why, and to keep it simple. Hence for me SwirlX has been just fine. I dont think there is a huge difference, except 205 is more difficult to find.

Also, since SwirlX is slightly more aggressive, I mostly use hand application (and/or very light DA) for my "paint cleaning", but it can be used with DA and a little pressure to go after swirls or other minor imperfections. SwirlX is still mild enough that you could do hand applications almost weekly and still have removed negligible amount of overall paint clearcoat. 205 is slightly milder.

Both 205 and SwirlX have polish/glaze in them (probably enough for most casual consumers) but I still like to spend 10 minutes and spring+fall do a nice slow hand application of M07 (or DC2). Probably overkill, but I really enjoy it and hence think I see a difference.

There are several threads comparing the various products purpose and aggressiveness and total-cut, but you would likely be happy with either of these two. Again, to keep my total product collection to a reasonably small size I tent to mostly use the consumer stuff like SwirlX (except I always use M07 instead of DC2).

Hope that helps rather than confuses (but you cannot go wrong with either).

[StevoX]

Re: I need opinions on wax

How do you feel about swirlx vs. 205?

[searle]

Re: I need opinions on wax

searle what are you using for your glaze in your spring and fall detail?

I still have some M07 ("show car glaze") since a very little bit goes a very long way, and even Meguiars says it contains the most oils. DC2 would be almost as good, same with the other professional machine-oriented glazes.

If you are buying a new bottle, I would suggest M07. But if you have DC2 or others, they are just fine. No matter which one, you will love the result.

I mostly put it on by hand since I enjoy the process and it only needs very little rubbing to work in. Remember, very thin coat since almost all it gets wiped off anyway, and it does not need to to dry (that only makes it harder to remove the excess). If you use a DA, the pad will get very oily hence I have one finishing pad I only use for glaze (if/when I do it by hand).

Hope all that helps, and let us know how all this works out for you...

[StevoX]

Re: I need opinions on wax

searle what are you using for your glaze in your spring and fall detail?

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: I need opinions on wax

I have a relatively simple system. Every spring and fall I do a full "detail" of wash+clay+cleaner(SwirlX)+glaze+wax(2). Every week or two I wash+UQW, Every month or two I wash+re-wax(2). My wax is base NXT-2.0 and summer topped with #26 and winter topped with another NXT-2.0.

Simple, but works wonderfully well. Not too time consuming hence my wife normally views me as just a "detailing moron" rather than a full fledged "detailing addict".

PS: Her car spring+fall full "detail" is a ColorX (cleaner+glaze+wax) and 2nd coat NXT2.0, which she feels gives wonderful and sufficient result.

Sounds great. Everyone has a system that works for them. It all varies by were we live.

[searle]

Re: I need opinions on wax

I have a relatively simple system. Every spring and fall I do a full "detail" of wash+clay+cleaner(SwirlX)+glaze+wax(2). Every week or two I wash+UQW, Every month or two I wash+re-wax(2). My wax is base NXT-2.0 and summer topped with #26 and winter topped with another NXT-2.0.

Simple, but works wonderfully well. Not too time consuming hence my wife normally views me as just a "detailing moron" rather than a full fledged "detailing addict".

PS: Her car spring+fall full "detail" is a ColorX (cleaner+glaze+wax) and 2nd coat NXT2.0, which she feels gives wonderful and sufficient result.

[StevoX]

Re: I need opinions on wax

Ahhh, I was going to use swirlx but decided not to. Bad choice I guess, oh well I guess it will give me something to do next weekend! By the way I have got the detailing bug and my wife hates you guys allready I have been trying to come up with a new system but haven't found just what I'm looking for.

[searle]

Re: I need opinions on wax

Just did my second coat of #21! My paint looks like a lake I noticed I do still have some fine swirls though even after applying the deep crystal polish with my new 110v2 and a yellow pad. Should I try 205 next time? I think I'm going to pick up some M26 today! I can't stop applying buttery substances to my paint

In your original post you said " just clayed, polished and applied a coat of m21 on my car". Claying and polish/glaze will NOT remove any swirls, although the glaze (DC2) will help hide them. If you want to remove them, you must use a mile cleaner such as SwirlX.

Sounds like you have caught the "detailing bug" and are now a hopeless case. A beautifully prepared car is something that just warms your heart.

[StevoX]

Re: I need opinions on wax

Just did my second coat of #21! My paint looks like a lake I noticed I do still have some fine swirls though even after applying the deep crystal polish with my new 110v2 and a yellow pad. Should I try 205 next time? I think I'm going to pick up some M26 today! I can't stop applying buttery substances to my paint

[searle]

Re: I need opinions on wax

^ +1

Do I wipe off #21 off then let cure fur 12 hours, or do I apply then let cure for 12 hours then wipe off?

Exactly as Murr1525 said (he is always right). First coat apply+dry+wipe then cure (1-12 hrs). Second coat is actually the same routine, except its cure time is all the following days while you relax and enjoy the result of your work.

PS: the cure time is to let the #21 (or NXT) synthetic polymers strengthen and bond to the paint for maximum protection and durability.

[Murr1525]

Re: I need opinions on wax

Apply, dry, wipe off.
Let sit.
Apply, dry, wipe off.

[StevoX]

Re: I need opinions on wax

Do I wipe off #21 off then let cure fur 12 hours, or do I apply then let cure for 12 hours then wipe off?

[searle]

Re: I need opinions on wax

As everyone said, #21 and NXT are extremely similar, so since you should normally apply 2 coats of any wax (to ensure no spots are thin or missed), you can to two #21, or #21 then NXT, all the same difference. That gives you the maximum durability of a synthetic sealant "wax", along with its glassy highly-reflective shine. No need to apply more than 2 coats, that makes no difference (regardless of various internet myths).

As Michael said, many of us like to do the second coat with a carnuba like #26, which sacrifices a little of that synthetic look for the slightly deeper appearance of carnuba on red or dark colors (at least some of us think we see that). In the end, whatever you enjoy as the second coat. with #21 as the base, you cannot go wrong.

PS: after your first coat of synthetic (applies to either #21 or NXT) you should ideally let it sit and let the polymers cure for 12 hours (overnight), then wipe with UQD (to remove overnight dust) and then do your second coat. If that is a problem, then even 1-2 hours of cure time is useful.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: I need opinions on wax

Mike, you are saying that we do things just because we can?


(you know us tooooo well!)

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: I need opinions on wax

Just stick with the #21. Just give it one more coat and your all set.