Waxing Woes
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Waxing Woes
I have a black car with good paint,
I set out to wax it so I used meguires, I stared with the paint cleaner-wax and a fair amount of funk came off then I used the polish, then sealer carnuba wax, well I apply the wax by hand and then let it dry to a haze and using a clean terry towel go to wipe if off by hand and it leaves "wet" looking swirls, not the scratch swirls you see with electric buffing but a wet looking swirl that almost looks like you hit it with an armor all type product , these swirls are very hard to buff off,
What am I doing wrong???
Thanks,
P.
I set out to wax it so I used meguires, I stared with the paint cleaner-wax and a fair amount of funk came off then I used the polish, then sealer carnuba wax, well I apply the wax by hand and then let it dry to a haze and using a clean terry towel go to wipe if off by hand and it leaves "wet" looking swirls, not the scratch swirls you see with electric buffing but a wet looking swirl that almost looks like you hit it with an armor all type product , these swirls are very hard to buff off,
What am I doing wrong???
Thanks,
P.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 949
Likes: 0
From: smithtown ny
i have a white vette and what i did is i clay bared the whole car then i used meguiers 80 speed glaze then i used there show car #7 polish then i used the nxt wax holy sh-t what a diffrence. i did use a porter cable machine. but you can do it by hand.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 362
Likes: 0
From: Morristown Tn
wax swirls
Just wash the car again and dry like you normally would. I had the same problem and asked the guys in the detail shop of the dealership I work at. Washing afterward also gets all the wax powder off.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,653
Likes: 428
From: Melbourne Florida
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Mine is black also...Meguire's NXT solved all the problems...I also hit it with the Booster wax in between and Quick Detailer after every wash....clay bar once a year as well... all done by hand with no problemo's...
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
My experience: 4 black sportscars; very picky about cleaning
Points to remember:
1. Everything done in shade can be fixed in shade.
2. Swirls mean you let it dry too long/used too dry a wipe cloth.
Start with car that has not been in sun yet that day. Clean with water, then wax. Clean and wax in shade. Do not try to do a portion too large on your car. Do not let it dry too long on your car. Use a barely damp cloth to wipe off wax. If swirls are visible after wiping, use more wet wax on area and wipe immediately.
Points to remember:
1. Everything done in shade can be fixed in shade.
2. Swirls mean you let it dry too long/used too dry a wipe cloth.
Start with car that has not been in sun yet that day. Clean with water, then wax. Clean and wax in shade. Do not try to do a portion too large on your car. Do not let it dry too long on your car. Use a barely damp cloth to wipe off wax. If swirls are visible after wiping, use more wet wax on area and wipe immediately.
Last edited by ls5454; Apr 22, 2005 at 08:11 AM.
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Pro
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 542
Likes: 1
From: Stuck in the 80's
Seeing that you are in Florida, I suspect the high humidity is affecting the 'drying' time. I used Meguires for years, good wax that lasts, but now I'm stuck on Zaino products, especially on Black, best shine I ever had and absolutely zero swirls.
http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc
See my website, gallery of my black car for example.
http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc
See my website, gallery of my black car for example.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
I've always sworn by Meguairs products for years. I tried the cleaner/wax too on the vette and wound up with some fine swirls like you said. I found the Zymol wax at Pep Boys, tried it and they are all gone! Car looks like it has 10 coats of clear on it. 
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,477
Likes: 87
Virtually every thing will scratch your finish IMO. Use only super soft 100% American (not pakistani etc) terry cloth towels. Even the bindings on the edges of towels will scratch. Black is just about my favorite color, but you gotta earn that finish when you own a black car. Invest in a couple good quality bath towels for you car.
fwiw, I used Zaino quite a bit over the last few years, and got tired of the expense and hassle of ordering it so I switched to Mequires and was dissapointed with the results, went back to the Zaino and will stick with it. Z5 is good stuff for swirls.
fwiw, I used Zaino quite a bit over the last few years, and got tired of the expense and hassle of ordering it so I switched to Mequires and was dissapointed with the results, went back to the Zaino and will stick with it. Z5 is good stuff for swirls.
Last edited by F1Fan; Apr 29, 2005 at 01:35 PM.
Racer
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 354
Likes: 0
From: Beach Cities SoCal
Tech Wax goes on easy comes of easier...
leaves no swirls, leaves a butter soft finish. I also use the speed detailer with microfiber towels...no scratch from this! My paint is only 6 months old so I've yet to clay bar it but I'll be doing that every 6 months once I get up to about 6 layers of shinola! 
The NXT really does bring out the white diamonds in my paint!
I let a buddy who's got a red SL500 AMG use the tech wax and the difference is unbelieveable. The best part about the new NXT wax product is it's a single stage process...no need to put a prep layer under the wax or a polish layer on top.
Zaino is good stuff, but NXT tech wax is soooo easy.
The NXT really does bring out the white diamonds in my paint!
I let a buddy who's got a red SL500 AMG use the tech wax and the difference is unbelieveable. The best part about the new NXT wax product is it's a single stage process...no need to put a prep layer under the wax or a polish layer on top.
Zaino is good stuff, but NXT tech wax is soooo easy.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Originally Posted by ls5454
1. Everything done in shade can be fixed in shade.
2. Swirls mean you let it dry too long/used too dry a wipe cloth.
Start with car that has not been in sun yet that day. Clean with water, then wax. Clean and wax in shade. Do not try to do a portion too large on your car. Do not let it dry too long on your car. Use a barely damp cloth to wipe off wax. If swirls are visible after wiping, use more wet wax on area and wipe immediately.
2. Swirls mean you let it dry too long/used too dry a wipe cloth.
Start with car that has not been in sun yet that day. Clean with water, then wax. Clean and wax in shade. Do not try to do a portion too large on your car. Do not let it dry too long on your car. Use a barely damp cloth to wipe off wax. If swirls are visible after wiping, use more wet wax on area and wipe immediately.
I think you'll find your answers in that post.
By the way, cornstarch works well, but only if you use it when you are taking the wax OFF!
Larry
code5coupe
