Gold Class Canauba Plus

[leon_xness]

After applying on the wax, do you have to wait for it to haze before buffering it off?

[FRS]

Re: Gold Class Canauba Plus

Yes, it needs to dry before buffering it of.

Use finger method to determine if the wax is dry ..

[Andrew C.]

Re: Gold Class Canauba Plus

Check out this Article:

How to tell if your wax is dry - The Swipe Test

Q: Do I let Meguiar's waxes dry completely before removal, or do you take them off right after application?
A: Let them dry fully before removal.

Q: OK, so how do I know if my wax is dry and ready to remove?
A: Do the swipe test!

Q: Uh, OK, but what the heck is the swipe test?
A: Glad you asked!


But before we answer, let's take a quick look at the waxing process itself. The two most common, and biggest, mistakes people make when waxing a car is to apply the wax too heavy, and take it off too soon. Much of that comes from using old school, heavy paste carnauba waxes. Back in the day these waxes could be a real challenge to use because if you did let them dry they could be very difficult to remove. And the thicker you applied them, the harder the removal. And, like we said, most people tend to apply wax too thick in the first place. It becomes a vicious cycle!

So you want to apply your wax in as thin a coat as possible, but also in as uniform a coat as possible. Whether you apply wax by hand or with a tool such as an orbital buffer or dual action polisher like Meguair's G110v2 makes no difference - the bottom line is you want a thin, uniform coat. No matter how thick you apply any wax, only so much of it can bond to the surface. Using too much just wastes product, lengthens the drying process, and makes removal more difficult. That's a lose-lose-lose proposition.

If you find simply waxing a car to be hard work, and your arms are dead tired when you're done, you're doing it wrong.

Applying a thin coat of wax to a well prepared surface is like spreading warm butter on a china plate. Removing that thin layer once it's dry should be almost effortless. A quick wipe with a clean, dry microfiber towel is all it takes.

So what's too thick, and what's thin enough? Look at the picture below - on the left side is a thin coat of wax, on the right is a heavy coat of the exact same wax. Too heavy. Far too heavy. Do NOT let your car look like the right side of this test panel next time you wax.




All right, now that you're putting down a properly thin coat of wax, let it dry. Yes, you can cover all the painted surfaces of a full sized car or SUV and then wait 10 to 15 minutes before doing the swipe test. If the weather is hot and dry, like Southern California in July, the wax may dry much faster than that. If it's cool and humid, like Detroit in September, it may take a bit longer to dry. Also, some waxes just dry faster than others. There are too many variables involved to give an exact time frame, so use the Swipe Test to your advantage. And here's how:

Using your index finger, and making sure it's clean and dry (that's really important!) quickly and briskly swipe it against the dried (drying?) wax to reveal the paint below. If the resulting swipe is smeared and streaky, that means the wax is not yet dry. If the resulting swipe is clear and glossy, however, then you know the wax is dry and you can begin the simple task of wiping it off. Looking at the image below you can see two swipe marks. The one on the bottom is noticeably smeared and streaked - it was done just a couple of minutes after applying the wax. The one on the top is clear and streak free - it was done about 10 minutes later. This is the look you're going for, this is the indicator that your wax is now fully dry and will wipe off easily with that clean, dry microfiber towel.



Waxing does not have to be a difficult, painful task. Apply a thin coat and use the Swipe Test to determine dryness and you'll find yourself completing the task in less time, with less effort, and getting a better result in the process.

It's a win-win-win proposition.

[Zack Benji]

Re: Gold Class Canauba Plus

Hello guys!

You will need a quality wax, soft sponge (some waxes come with them), and a soft towel or cloth. Cloth baby diapers work great for removing wax. If none are available, use a terry cloth or something similar. Waxing works best when your car's surface is cool, so park in the shade. Test the wax in an inconspicuous area to ensure it will not ruin your paint.
Apply a small amount of wax to the sponge. Start at the top of your car and work down to the bottom panels. Working in one small section at a time, apply a thin layer of wax by using small, clockwise circular motions.

[akimel]

Re: Gold Class Canauba Plus

Personally, I would never use a terry cloth towel to remove wax. I have found that terry cloth can swirl my soft Honda paint. My favorite towel for wax removal is Megs' Ultimate Wipe. But any high quality short nap microfiber towel seems to work well for me for wax removal.

[FRS]

Re: Gold Class Canauba Plus

+1, cotton terry towel caused swirling on my wife's car.

Microfiber is the way ..

[Aeolis]

Re: Gold Class Canauba Plus

Personally, I would never use a terry cloth towel to remove wax. I have found that terry cloth can swirl my soft Honda paint. My favorite towel for wax removal is Megs' Ultimate Wipe. But any high quality short nap microfiber towel seems to work well for me for wax removal.

also have a honda with soft paint. would never think of touching it with anything short of a high quality MF. even the vrooms make me nervous with the soft paint.