How to test wax

[Wesley B]

Re: How to test wax

I use would measure my light source alone and then measure the light's reflection off the paint, right? Basically the more reflected the better, am I right?

[Justin A]

Re: How to test wax

I use would measure my light source alone and then measure the light's reflection off the paint, right? Basically the more reflected the better, am I right?

Correct - but again you're using the term 'better' .
The more light reflected, the higher the reflectivity of the surface.

Measure the light source directly at the same total distance as your test set up - for example if the light source is 1m from the surface, and you're measuring reflections at 1m from the surface, you're going to want to take your control measurement at 2m from the source, or correct for distance. Remember, light intensity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source.

[Wesley B]

Re: How to test wax

Correct - but again you're using the term 'better' .
The more light reflected, the higher the reflectivity of the surface.

Measure the light source directly at the same total distance as your test set up - for example if the light source is 1m from the surface, and you're measuring reflections at 1m from the surface, you're going to want to take your control measurement at 2m from the source, or correct for distance. Remember, light intensity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source.

Thanks for your help! It seems like you definately know your stuff. I would have never thought about the reflection part. I think this should make my project shine if it works out well.

[Justin A]

Re: How to test wax

Thanks for your help! It seems like you definately know your stuff. I would have never thought about the reflection part. I think this should make my project shine if it works out well.

I've never actually performed any of these tests myself, I actually just designed all those experiments in my head when I read your post, with the exception of Cost analysis - Mass used per waxing vs. mass purchased vs. cost of purchase gives you a cost per waxing figure and a number of waxings per container figure.
I'm just a science major is all .

Be sure to post your results here when you're done, I can't wait to see them!
If you need any more help just shoot me a PM, I'd be happy to help!

Edit: I was just thinking, you could also use a computer program such as photoshop or Aperture (Mac) to measure any color shift in the paint imparted by the wax.

[Wesley B]

Re: How to test wax

I'm thinking of going with the cleaner waxes of each brand. Since it will be the cheapest. Most people don't know much about car care and probably pick that up at the auto parts store anyways right. What do you think? BTW this project is consumer science.

[Justin A]

Re: How to test wax

I'm thinking of going with the cleaner waxes of each brand. Since it will be the cheapest. Most people don't know much about car care and probably pick that up at the auto parts store anyways right. What do you think? BTW this project is consumer science.

Sounds reasonable - if it's consumer science, definitely do a cost analysis too.

[Eddie6th]

Re: How to test wax

Test criteria that I use:

mass used per waxing
price vs. mass per container
from that you can solve for price per waxing
You could also measure density - measure a mass of the wax, put it into a known volume of water and measure the displacement. This gives you the needed information to calculate density.

Durability - self explanitory
Sheeting ability - a stopwatch and a fixed volume of fixed temperature water are used. Measure the amount of time that it takes for the water to stop flowing off of the test area - you can add a fixed mass of an observable substance to the water to make measurements more visable.
Beading - the number and average diameter of beads that remain on the surface after sheeting has ceased.

You could use a light meter to measure the amount of light reflected from a fixed source at a fixed difference from the surface. This would provide an objective measurement of reflectivity.
Use a typed sheet of paper (like an eye doctor chart) propped near the test area (same distance and relative position on each test spot) and use a camera and/or the naked eye to record how many lines down are readable in the reflections - an objective measurement of reflection clarity.

You also have subjective criteria such as ease of application, ease of removal, odor, etc.

Maybe a bit more than you were looking for?

I'm going to have to get a junk hood to perform these tests myself...

They're all great ideas. I'm just wondering what my neighbours would think if I was standing in the back garden,facing a glossy panel,pointing a doctors eyechart with one hand and holding a camera in the other.