Does NXT Tech Wax need 12 hours drying time before applying a second coat?

[mis3]

I read that the NXT tech wax, it needs at least 12 hours fot the polymer to bond with the car surface.

Now, what if I need the car to go out? What if it rains?

[mopar]

i think that might mainly apply to applying a second coat.if you truly want to layer this product it has to cure or esle are you are doing is replaceing the previuos coat with the next coat.now that being said you should apply to thin coats at first to make sure you have even coverage and havnt missed any spots .this is my opinion you should pm one of the mods for an exact answer

[fiberrich]

One coat of NXT Tech Wax looks great!

The application as I know it, is to apply the product, let it haze for approx. 20 minutes and wipe off. Although the finish will look nice after the wipe down, there is no doubt that as the product "cures/bonds" over the next several hours, the finish just continues to become deeper and wetter looking!! Now, whether getting the finish wet with rain, etc. over those next couple of hours affects the product's ability to "cure", I'm not sure. I would defer that answer to someone from Meguiar's.

That being said, I do find a second coat helps even things out. Therefore applying two thin coats ensures that you have totally covered the surface of the cars finish, thus acheiving an even better look as to the depth/shine/wetness on the finish.

Suggestion: If this is your own personal car, plan your detailing session on a day that you don't need to go somewhere that evening or early the next day. Start your detailing session so that you end up in the evening with NXT as your LSP, wait the 20 minutes and then buff off.

Let the car sit overnight (hopefully you have it in a garage to keep it fairly clean) and apply another coat of NXT first thing in the morning (after the 12 hours have passed), wait your 20 minutes and do your final buff!

Of course, you still have the 12 hour "cure/bonding" issue to contend with and I guess I haven't helped you out with your question. However, this is what I do when I want to apply two coats of NXT and it works out great! I just drive the car if I need to after that second coat, but now you have me wondering!

[Mike Phillips]

Hi mis3,

Good question, but let's put things in perspective...

The wipe off time for NXT Tech Wax is approximately 10-15 minutes. In most climatic conditions, the wax will have dried to haze in this amount of time. In a hot climate, it may dry faster, in a cold and humid climate, it may take a little longer. For most people, after 10 to 15 minutes you should be able to remove your application of NXT Tech Wax.

After you have removed the application of Tech Wax, over the course of the next 24 hours, the polymers will set-up. Notice how the before sentence was structured. It did not say,

It takes 24 hours for the polymers to set up

It said,

Over the course of the next 24 hours, the polymers will set up.

See the difference?

The 24 hour time period is a window of time that is necessary for the polymers to set-up. It might be completed in 20 minutes, it might be completed in an hour... it might be completed in 6 hours, it might be completed in 21.3 hours. It depends on different variables that Meguiar’s has no control over.

The point is, the polymers set-up and no one knows exactly when full cure is achieved. That's why a window of time is recommended for time to pass to insure that after this time period has passed, you can know for sure the polymers have completely set up.

Please don't make this more complicated than it is because it's really not all that complicated. You apply the wax, after 10-15 minutes you remove it. Over the course of the next few hours and up to as much as 24 hours approximately, the polymers will have fully set-up. I’m as detailed oriented as anyone, but I don’t fuss over the application of a wax. The most important part of any detail is the preparation of the paint, not the application of the LSP, (last step product).

It takes time for the chemical reaction to start and finish, it doesn't happen in the blink of an eye. The 24 hour time period is a Maximum, it is an extreme. For most people, in most climatic environments, the polymers will have set-up much, much sooner. But… there are no readily available tools for measuring this curing process, thus the window of time variable.

There have been many times when I don’t have the time to wait before applying a second coating of wax, in these instances; I apply the second coat within minutes of removing the first coat. The purpose of a second coat is to insure maximum coverage for maximum protection and a uniform look.

Here’s an example,

1999 Corvette - Repair compound scouring in finish

After performing all of the prep work, I applied one coat of the Tech Wax, this was late at night. The next day, I applied a second coat at approximately 11:00am. This was the window of time I personally had to work within before returning the car back to the owner.

Two coats of anybody’s wax, will usually look better, and last longer than one coat. That’s because two coats insures a uniform appearance level and thorough and even coverage of the product.

Don’t make waxing your car more complicated than it is. Striving for the maximum potential is a lofty goal, but not always practical or feasible. In situations like these, you need to have confidence in the company, and their products, to do what they claim they will do.

If you need to drive your car after applying a coating of Meguiar's Tech wax, or any companies wax, well then, that's how things go. For most waxes on the market, maximum protection and appearance value will be obtained if the wax is allowed to dry/cure/set-up for a period of time before it is exposed to washing, inclement weather, or any other environment that has the potential to interfere with the curing process. These other variables are out of the control of the wax manufacture.

If you have to wash and wax your car and then drive it in the rain, that's life. Your car's finish will be better off with a fresh coat of wax before exposed to the rain than nothing at all.

Something is better than nothing in most cases, and in fact, in a lot of cases. I lived in Oregon most of my life, so I know all about washing and waxing a car only to have it rain immediately afterwords.

Mike

[tgara]

I applied two coats of NXT a week apart.

On the first coat, I applied NXT to the entire vehicle, then took a break for lunch (about an hour). I came back and wiped off the dry NXT.

In my case, the polymer set-up following the first NXT application took about 4-6 hours. I could actually see it happening! As soon as the NXT was wiped off, there was a glossy finish, but it became noticeably glossier over the course of about four hours.

The next weekend, I washed the car with NXT wash, then applied a second coat of NXT wax. I again followed the same routine: applied to the whole car, took a break for about an hour, then wiped off. The finish is outstanding.

[fiberrich]

No doubt that NXT's results get better as the polymers set-up. I also have seen the finish on my car "change". At first it looks nice, but after it sits on the car overnight and I look at it the next morning, it's like WOW!

It's also very important to start with a clean finish (clay/cleaner) for the first application. Applying two coats provides even better results due to a more even application of the product.

I personally think it's a great product. There are some on other forums that knock NXT, but I really wonder if they have taken the time learn that it needs a clean surface, give it enough drying and set-up time, application of a second coat, etc. to get the results the product is designed to provide.

Of course, some are "elitist" and just have issues due to it being a consumer product and mass marketed vs. the boutique products.

Which reminds me, I read early on that Meguiar's was going to come out with a professional version of NXT. Sort of a NXT on steroids. Anyone know the status of the pro version?

[tgara]

There are some on other forums that knock NXT, but I really wonder if they have taken the time learn that it needs a clean surface, give it enough drying and set-up time, application of a second coat, etc. to get the results the product is designed to provide.

This is a very important point and cannot be overstated. When I detailed my car, applying the NXT wax was the easiest part. The HARD part was thoroughly washing the finish, removing bonded junk, cleaning the paint, and polishing it. Those steps alone took me about 5 hours, and my car was not that dirty.

Its analogous to painting a room.... the hard part is the prep work.