To Bead, or Not To Bead...

[panicdog]

Re: To Bead, or Not To Bead...

A quality wax/sealant like M21 2.0/NXT 2.0/Ultimate Quik Wax will leave a surface that will bead on horizontal surfaces, and if the vehicle is driven the water should bunch together and sheet away. The sheeting will naturally occur on the sides of the car where gravity can do its part.

MKs statement is true. Water (especially small amounts) will bead on a relatively horizontal plane and water will sheet (especially large amounts) on a relatively vertical surface . Beading and sheeting are both the same thing, it signifies that the surface is resisting water.

I grew up in the Philippines where "taro" plants are abundant. Taro leaves are particularly resistant to water and you will clearly see that taro leaves tend to bead water if they are horizontal and they tend to sheet if they are vertical.

Check out this video of the beading/sheeting action of the taro leaf. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPM_7...eature=related
FYI: taro leaves have microscopic hairs that lift water and prevent it from sticking to the flat surface of the leaf.

[SHYNEMAN123]

Re: To Bead, or Not To Bead...

If you live near airports or large factories all the stuff in the air comes down in the rain and lays on the surface of your car in that little droplet of water. As it sits there on the surface and the sun comes out the droplet acts like a magnifying glass and burns those chemicals into your paint. ACID ffice:smarttags" />RAIN, Remember as a kid playing outside with a magnifying glass and burning things?

[TOGWT]

Re: To Bead, or Not To Bead...

What is "Melange"?

[TOGWT]

Re: To Bead, or Not To Bead...

eric son - perhaps you should look into nanotechnology coatings (Lotus effect)

[eric_son]

Re: To Bead, or Not To Bead...

Where I live (Philippines), both beading and sheeting products don't work very well. The dust combined with the sticky grime from car exhaust turns my car's paint into a mobile post-it(tm). Whenever it rains, sure it beads (or sheets), but after the rain stops, most of the car is still covered in water. When it dries, I get sticky white spots.

Whether it be by beading or by sheeting, I'd really want to minimize the time that water spends on my car's paint.

That's why Melange gets my vote!

[davey g-force]

Re: To Bead, or Not To Bead...

I'm with the OP. I've often said that beading is a pain for that same reason.
I just don't think there is much I or anybody can do about it, so I just live with it.

[JohanD]

Re: To Bead, or Not To Bead...

I'm with Ron. I do want protection, but no beading. I would like the water to roll off the surfaces with very little resistance.

Earlier this year I had a good coat of 26 on my Camry and we had one of our infrequent rainstorms. After work I was marveling at the fantastic beading on my car . I figured it would blow off during the 2 1/2 mile drive home. No such luck. There was still 90% of the water left beaded on my car.

By the way, given the choices, I had to vote for Melange.

Mike

I like the look of the beading.. but like you said I would like it to blow off easily when driving.

[VoicesInMyHead]

Re: To Bead, or Not To Bead...

By the way, given the choices, I had to vote for Melange.

Can't blame ya there! When you get the ability to fold space, let me know... I may have a trip in mind.....

[Mikejl]

Re: To Bead, or Not To Bead...

I'm with Ron. I do want protection, but no beading. I would like the water to roll off the surfaces with very little resistance.

Earlier this year I had a good coat of 26 on my Camry and we had one of our infrequent rainstorms. After work I was marveling at the fantastic beading on my car . I figured it would blow off during the 2 1/2 mile drive home. No such luck. There was still 90% of the water left beaded on my car.

By the way, given the choices, I had to vote for Melange.

Mike

[Ganesa]

Re: To Bead, or Not To Bead...

thanks, that means my car is still well waxed now

[Markus Kleis]

Re: To Bead, or Not To Bead...

is NXT 2.0 suppose to sheet the water off or more likely to bead??
sheet right??

It will bead up on horizontal surfaces, and with vertical surfaces or running water it will tend more to sheet water away.

[Ganesa]

Re: To Bead, or Not To Bead...

is NXT 2.0 suppose to sheet the water off or more likely to bead??
sheet right??

[akimel]

Re: To Bead, or Not To Bead...

I am really surprised there aren't more votes for Melange!

[SHYNEMAN123]

Re: To Bead, or Not To Bead...

We need a new version of Medallion for paint. Mirror Benz was years ahead of its time.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: To Bead, or Not To Bead...

I am quite aware of gravity (as stated in my OP and every morning by the bathroom scale )... however, I am unaware of very many truly "flat" surfaces on vehicles (although some do come close!). And by flat I will assume you mean level or perpendicular to the ground, since you are relating force to it. And, I completely understand the issue, and was not advocating that a surface could be completely clear and clean, but I believe the thousands of spots could be minimized.

Unless you are in a situation as I described in my OP, and not driving it.

I never stated that rain would cause water spots. I stated my issues was it leaving dust craters from the dust that had been captured by the beaded water. The shape is not really an issue either, it's the fact they are left behind in multitude.

umm... ok, never mentioned any issues with an un-waxed (or unprotected) paint surface.

Again, I was not discussing an unprotected surface. So, we do agree that a protected surface is best, I just want the best water management from that protection.

Hi "Voicesinmyhead," let me first state that I am sorry if I offended you in my post, believe it or not, I completely missed your post and my reply was based on the OTHER posts below yours. I must have scrolled down too quickly and totally missed your opening post.

For that, I am sorry... now that I am reading your post and how you too mentioned gravity I can see how you possibly misunderstood what I was writing.

I was writing PURELY in a general sense, and not as a reply to your specific situation. I think that should address/explain basically everything in your reply.

To touch on one part though, (the section I added BOLD to), I guess I would ask what exactly did you have in mind for a possible solution? Or were you mostly just explaining a problem with no known solution?

I myself have thought about it, as I can see why it bothers some people, but as I explained, waxing a surface creates a double-edged sword... there simply is no way that physics and science can solve this problem that I know of. Aside from adding a mechanical arm with a large blower on it that crawls out from under the car after it stops raining to the blow the car off, I think we are stuck with pooled groups of dust!

That is one reason I wipe my vehicle down (with care and caution) almost daily...then there is nothing to form "spots" if it does get wet