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**Mike Phillips** · Mar 8, 2005, 10:07 AM

Re: Topping #20 with wax, need to wait???

Hi smprince1,

Welcome to Meguiar's Online!

Originally posted by smprince1
For vehicles with light swirls, I am currently using #80 via PC followed by #26 or #16.

Some have suggested you can get improved durability and appearance by adding a sealant to the mix, such as #80/#20/#16 or #80/#20/#26.

Is this a good idea?

The idea here is to sandwich one type of paint protectant under another type of paint protectant. Than as the second paint protectant, (typically a waxy type product), wears away, you still have the synthetic type paint protectant on the surface. At least that's what's hoped for.

This is also a type of layering.

Is it a good idea? It certainly cannot hurt anything. How much benefit will there be? No way of knowing because every car is going to be subjected to different climates, work environments, and maintenance plans. As long as the second coating is a non-cleaning product then it certainly can't hurt to try to sandwich one product under another. Meguiar's doesn't specifically teach this as a recommended procedure, but we do recommend applying two thin coats of any wax over one sloppily applied thick coat. If you want to mix and match the products you use when applying two thin coats there is certainly nothing wrong with this.

If yes, do you need to wait after applying #20 before adding a wax?

How long to wait?[/i]

Here's a related answer I posted to NXT Cure Time?, in the Hot Topics forum.

Originally posted by mis3
I am aware of the 12 hour cure time of the NXT tech wax.

My question is by cure time, does it mean I have to keep the car in a closed garage? I am sure I should not drive it if it's raining, how about driving the car is a nice, sunny day? Will the NXT cured during driving?

The idea behind waiting to apply a second coating is to allow a window of time to pass, to insure that all of the polymers have fully set-up. Anytime you introduce water or other liquids to the surface before the polymers have fully set-up you risk disrupting the polymers.

Some people cannot wait, or do not want to wait this long before applying a second coat, I know many times I don't have the luxury of time to wait until the next day to apply a second coat. If you are in this position, then it's completely fine to apply a second coat sooner. The 12 hour window of time is just a best case scenario for those people that want the maximum results possible. It's like giving the benefit of doubt to the process.

After applying the Tech Wax to your car's finish, it's perfectly fine to drive again in sunny weather. It's liquids you want to avoid for the first 12 hours for best possible results. I've been told that this is true of most paint protection products.

Another thing I notice once in a while at the clinic is for someone who has just applied Tech Wax, or any wax is to continually wipe the surface, you know, they have already removed the wax but they continue to keep wiping and polishing on the finish. This disrupts the polymer coating on the surface. Instead, wipe off the excess and leave it alone. When you continue to wipe the surface before the polymers have fully set-up, you are moving the polymer coating around, potentially moving it off the finish and onto you polishing cloth.

Stop. Let the polymers set up.

Any other suggestions?

Two thin coats of any wax will always look better and provide more uniform protection than one application.

Many customers are reluctant to leave a vehicle for more than a day, so a wait might now work for these customers (I am a neighborhood part-timer).

Thanks in advance.

In most cases, you should be able to apply your second coat within 20 to 30 minutes after removing the first coat and obtain close to 100% of any benefit from waiting any longer.

Mike

**smprince1** · Mar 9, 2005, 09:57 AM

Thanks for your response, Mike.

I appreciate all the information and the promptness.

Since I don't have any #20 right now, I am considering using Poorboys EX-P pure sealant over the #80. Hopefully, there will be no boding issues. Then I will wait overnight, and apply #16 or #26 over the EX-P, based on the color and condition of the paint.

Thanks again.

Steve

**Mike Phillips** · Mar 9, 2005, 10:02 AM

Originally posted by smprince1
Since I don't have any #20 right now, I am considering using Poorboys EX-P pure sealant over the #80. Hopefully, there will be no boding issues. Then I will wait overnight, and apply #16 or #26 over the EX-P, based on the color and condition of the paint.

Thanks again.

Steve

Hi Steve,

Here's a related question and my reply,

Originally posted by Nightwalker
So question. If I use Last Touch as a QD will I be able to apply additional coats of UPP after using it? Any idea if there will be bonding issues?
Thanks,
Ozz

Hi Nightwalker,

This questions has been asked before and I'll duplicate it below as well as include the link to it.

Quick Detailer Burning Question

Forum member SteveOsts asks...

Originally posted by SteveOst
Meguiar's has a confusing list of seemingly similar products that is very hard to sort out. So I'm coming to the horse's mouth for the definitive answer. :-)

I imagine that with your expanding line of quick detailers that for some functions it wouldn't matter which one you used. Such as claying lubricant or QD'ing over a Carnauba finish. However, what I need to know is that if you use a polymer or acrylic based synthetic finish, which one would be safe to use so that the synthetic can be reapplied? What I'm getting at is that, sure you can put any Carnauba over a synthetic, but then you have to strip it all down to reapply the synthetic again because the Carnauba would prevent the syn from bonding to the paint.

Again, which QD'r would be used to maintain a sterile surface in conjunction with polishes and paint cleaners?

My reply,

Hi Steve,

I understand your question and have seen questions like this before.

Here's what I think.

A quality wax, whether it is a natural, synthetic, or blended product will adhere to a properly prepared finish. I think to the degree that any product already on the surface would interfere with this adhering process would be nominal to the point that no one could tell the difference in a side-by-side test of a chemically cleaned surface versus a surface as you describe.

Would there be a difference? Maybe, but not enough to make a difference. This entire subject is really focusing on the minors, not the majors. Again, this applies to a quality product. The quality of some products, (read as the technology behind them), handicap them from adhering really well in the first place.

I've been detailing cars for over 15 years, (longer than some, not as long as others), I prefer to stay within one company's line of products because the chemist who make the products understand the chemistry involved with the formulas and can therefore insure compatibility. I'm a real system kind of guy, so that's what works for me.

I think a quality wax is going to adhere to the paint as long as the paint is properly prepared. If wiping the finish down with a quick detailer is part of the process, then the product should adhere.

For example:

Final Inspection is body shop safe. This means there are no ingredients in this formula that will adversely affect surface adhesion.

Last Touch contains some ingredients that are not body shop safe, this product is not recommended for use in a body shop environment. Same thing applies to Quik Detailer.

What I'm saying is, if you use a quality wax, and apply it over a car's finish after using either of these two products, a quality product is going to adhere equally well regardless of which quick detailer was used.

That said, if you want to take things to the extreme, then #34 Final Inspection would probably be the best choice as it is body shop safe.

1. What's the difference between Quik Detailer, (A-33) and Final Inspection, (M-34)?

Hope this helps...

Mike

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Topping #20 with wax, need to wait???

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