I am going to start waxing my own vehicle. I am in a quandry of just putting on one coat and then waiting till water stops beading before doing it again. Or- Putting on a coat every time I have the opportunity. Is there any advantage or disadvantage to either method?
Multiple coats or just one?
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If you have the time and energy, do it every time you have time. You're just ensuring that your paint is well protected from the elements and you're giving your car that much-needed ego boost being shinier than the neighbors. 
It's been my experience that waxes typically don't layer...or they don't for me anyway. If they did, I'd probably wax it every night for a month and then I'd have protection for 10 years. It just doesn't seem to work out that way. I experimented with this years ago using Liquid Glass, which I believe claims on the back of the can that it can be layered. So, I applied the entire can to my car over a 3 month period. It still wore off in the same amount of time.
It's been my experience that waxes typically don't layer...or they don't for me anyway. If they did, I'd probably wax it every night for a month and then I'd have protection for 10 years. It just doesn't seem to work out that way. I experimented with this years ago using Liquid Glass, which I believe claims on the back of the can that it can be layered. So, I applied the entire can to my car over a 3 month period. It still wore off in the same amount of time.
Personally, I think it greatly depends on the color of the car, climate, etc.
It was made VERY obvious to me last night, that we had not been prepping/waxing our *white* truck very well these last 4yrs, mainly because it never really looked bad, i.e. white paint.
Until we had it sitting next to another dodge cummins WHITE truck of the same year, major difference in paint texture & overall cleanliness. And we do keep our vehicles VERY clean, compared to most - or so I thought, hehehehe!
In the last 2 days, we used Nufinish Polish, shined her up real good, let that cure for 24hrs, followed by Mother's Synwax last night - BIG DIFFERENCE! That truck's WHITE now.
One reason we had not taken as much care of it's *color* - if you will, is because we didn't realize the difference versus say a rich, deep color.
For our 2 burgundy rigs, I've always been more cautious about waxing them at least 3 times a year. But again, I'd never thought to use an actual cleaner wax, specially after our harsh winters, prior to waxing.
So, from now on, every spring, all trucks will get a cleaner/polish wax treatment, followed by a good synthetic wax. Then, just before winter, I'll put on a good coat of synethic wax, wait a few days, and do it again.
This magnesium chloride is wreaking havoc on the 2 richer colored vehicles.
It was made VERY obvious to me last night, that we had not been prepping/waxing our *white* truck very well these last 4yrs, mainly because it never really looked bad, i.e. white paint.
Until we had it sitting next to another dodge cummins WHITE truck of the same year, major difference in paint texture & overall cleanliness. And we do keep our vehicles VERY clean, compared to most - or so I thought, hehehehe!
In the last 2 days, we used Nufinish Polish, shined her up real good, let that cure for 24hrs, followed by Mother's Synwax last night - BIG DIFFERENCE! That truck's WHITE now.
One reason we had not taken as much care of it's *color* - if you will, is because we didn't realize the difference versus say a rich, deep color.
For our 2 burgundy rigs, I've always been more cautious about waxing them at least 3 times a year. But again, I'd never thought to use an actual cleaner wax, specially after our harsh winters, prior to waxing.
So, from now on, every spring, all trucks will get a cleaner/polish wax treatment, followed by a good synthetic wax. Then, just before winter, I'll put on a good coat of synethic wax, wait a few days, and do it again.
This magnesium chloride is wreaking havoc on the 2 richer colored vehicles.
Forgot to add: In my honest opinion, after having lived in the hot desert of Vegas for 5yrs with a burgundy truck that is now 10yrs old, and STILL looks new - multiple coats, if given enough time to cure in between, creates no harm, what-so-ever.
In your neck of the woods, I would definitely use a cleaner wax, followed by a good *synthetic polymer* wax, they last longer in the heat, then natural Caranuba wax does.
If you have a rich color, I'd top up at least every 5-6 months, but, if prepped right (from what I'm reading here), a synthetic wax should last 6-9 mnths.
As I'm learning myself, however, most waxes are not designed to brighten/revive the color, they only protect what's there; thus use a cleaner wax first to bring the color back out.
In your neck of the woods, I would definitely use a cleaner wax, followed by a good *synthetic polymer* wax, they last longer in the heat, then natural Caranuba wax does.
If you have a rich color, I'd top up at least every 5-6 months, but, if prepped right (from what I'm reading here), a synthetic wax should last 6-9 mnths.
As I'm learning myself, however, most waxes are not designed to brighten/revive the color, they only protect what's there; thus use a cleaner wax first to bring the color back out.
What I used to do was wax a section of the car every time I washed. Since I was washing every 7-10 days, the whole car got rewaxed every two months or so and was always protected.
If you end up doing the whole job only a couple times per year, consider applying two coats. The shine and protection will be evened out after the second coat and you'll be sure to hit the spots missed the first time.
If you end up doing the whole job only a couple times per year, consider applying two coats. The shine and protection will be evened out after the second coat and you'll be sure to hit the spots missed the first time.
Sealants crosslink so multiple coats is beneficial. Waxes (Carnuba and other) do not stack so don't waste your time. If you use wax better to do it more often as oppossed to two coats. At least every month or twice a month for a black car.
Here's a question: I just picked up some NuFinish polish today and the bottle seems to indicate that it's a good idea to apply the polish, then wait 30 days and do it agian. When I wait 30 days, should I just wash it with regular car wash, or with Dawn? Isn't the Dawn, which I'd normally use before waxing a car, going to remove any NuFinish on there?
The more I think about detailing my car, the more confused I get. I used to use cheap turtle wax and some old rags and had no problems. Now I don't even know what I'm doing anymore!
The more I think about detailing my car, the more confused I get. I used to use cheap turtle wax and some old rags and had no problems. Now I don't even know what I'm doing anymore!
Wax = every other month
Sealant = every 4 months or so
sealants can also be layered since they bond together which created a stronger protection layer. Waxes do not.
I'll wax the hood at least 2x as often as the rest of the car. Sides just are not punished as much and are not as noticable. I dunno if that answers the qustion about layering, but imo makes it most effort/effective. After the car has one coat of wax on it, the next comes off more easily.
Washing a car with Dawn dish soap is probably the dumbest thing I've heard in recent times.
Since NuFinish has been mentioned, is it a sealant or a wax?
Let's not overreact. A one-time wash with a dish washing detergent isn't going to hurt anything. Most detergents will remove any old wax and get the paint reasonably clean. The only legitimate concern is with regular use, dishwashing detergent could affect rubber seals over time.
This is one of those internet hype deals that started as sensible advice and has been perpetuated by those who think they know more than they do. Some people read it on a web forum instead of testing and experiencing it for themselves but the ---- grows like a weed anyway.
There are a lot of dumb things said on the internet. Washing with dish soap has to be low on the list. Don't believe the hype. Don't perpetuate the hype.
This is one of those internet hype deals that started as sensible advice and has been perpetuated by those who think they know more than they do. Some people read it on a web forum instead of testing and experiencing it for themselves but the ---- grows like a weed anyway.
There are a lot of dumb things said on the internet. Washing with dish soap has to be low on the list. Don't believe the hype. Don't perpetuate the hype.
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