How long before a re-wax?

[I CU2]

Just clayed, polished and waxed a car for the first time!

My little Accord is very happy, I applied the 2nd coat of wax after a 24 hour cure time and was just wondering when would I have to re-apply the Ultimate Liquid Wax?

Also, how long do I have to wait for the second coat of ULW to cure before I can drive my car :l

Thanks

[ricadodetail]

Giving the right temp wax should bond to the paint after 15 20mnts tops. Then re apply the second coat to ensure good coverage after another 15.
Correct me if im wrong but it seems to me that waiting 24 hours is too much, once again if the temp and humidity is right.
I live in cali so if i apply wax on a regular day takes me 10 mnts for it to bond then do another coat no more than a half hour to do it.
Ive hears that higher himidity, lower temp takes really longer, guess we have it good here.

[Murr1525]

Re: How long before a re-wax?

24 hours would be for best looks. 20 minutes or so would be the minimum recommended.

You can drive right away.

Hard to say how long it will be till you need another coat, really a lot of factors involved there. But using something like Ult. Quick Wax after future washes will help.

[I CU2]

Re: How long before a re-wax?

Oh, how I'd love to visit Cali - or any part of America for that matter.

[greg0303]

Re: How long before a re-wax?

Synthetic waxes/ sealants have this 12-24-hour cure time to ensure full bonding (polymers are still very active withing curing period).

When you use one of quick detailers and it seems to be hard to spread it around - it's the indication that fresh coat of wax is needed.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: How long before a re-wax?

Just clayed, polished and waxed a car for the first time!

My little Accord is very happy, I applied the 2nd coat of wax after a 24 hour cure time and was just wondering when would I have to re-apply the Ultimate Liquid Wax?

Also, how long do I have to wait for the second coat of ULW to cure before I can drive my car :l

Thanks

Looks like you've got a couple of questions here

• Q: after a final coat of wax how long before I can drive the car
  • A: get in and show it off, no need to wait
• Q: how long will my coat of wax last before I need a fresh layer of protection
  • A: in depends. Exposure is everything, so if it rains a lot where you are, or the car sits outside 24/7 then no wax will last as long as it would on a car that's always garaged, sees no rain, and is generally limited to exposure to the elements. Generally speaking, you should wax 3 or 4 times a year, more if exposure is high

Giving the right temp wax should bond to the paint after 15 20mnts tops. Then re apply the second coat to ensure good coverage after another 15.
Correct me if im wrong but it seems to me that waiting 24 hours is too much, once again if the temp and humidity is right.
I live in cali so if i apply wax on a regular day takes me 10 mnts for it to bond then do another coat no more than a half hour to do it.
Ive hears that higher himidity, lower temp takes really longer, guess we have it good here.

There are a couple of things going on here:

• Dry time: the time it takes for a wax or sealant to haze over following initial application. This will vary with temperature and humidity but it describes the time between applying the product and wiping off the haze.
• Cure time: the time it takes for the product to fully set up and bond to the paint. With carnauba waxes this is virtually the same as the drying time, but with synthetic sealants it can range from 12 to 24 hours as the polymers need to cross link and bond, both to each other and the paint. It is often recommended that you allow a fully synthetic product to crosslink fully before applying a second coat. For a mobile detailer this is usually just not practical so second coats, if applied at all, are often done immediately following the first. While not the absolute ideal situation, it also does not mean total failure of the product.