Spray Wax/QD Abuse Is Real—But It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way.

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yakky

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Every day, someone out there is unloading 8 ounces of detail spray onto their SUV and wondering why it streaks like a toddler with a Sharpie.

It starts with a simple wash. Then a little extra gloss. Then maybe a second hit—just to “top it off.” Next thing you know, they’re soaking their entire vehicle like it’s a marinade. Their towels are saturated. Their trim looks like it’s been dipped in armor-all.. The windows? A greasy horror show. Then comes the bad product review...

Look—I get it, slick is awesome. But there is a point where it doesn't get any slicker!

Here’s the truth: Even a big car only needs 1–2 ounces. That’s it. Me? Half an ounce to maybe one ounce on a small SUV. I wipe, it shines, we move on with our lives.

So if you're out there struggling with haze, smearing, or wondering why your car feels like a glazed donut, I’m here to say: Put the bottle down. Step away. It’s gonna be okay. Less is MORE.

Your car doesn't need more product. It needs more restraint. Let’s spray responsibly out there!!!
 
yakky said:
Every day, someone out there is unloading 8 ounces of detail spray onto their SUV and wondering why it streaks like a toddler with a Sharpie.

It starts with a simple wash. Then a little extra gloss. Then maybe a second hit—just to “top it off.” Next thing you know, they’re soaking their entire vehicle like it’s a marinade. Their towels are saturated. Their trim looks like it’s been dipped in armor-all.. The windows? A greasy horror show. Then comes the bad product review...

Look—I get it, slick is awesome. But there is a point where it doesn't get any slicker!

Here’s the truth: Even a big car only needs 1–2 ounces. That’s it. Me? Half an ounce to maybe one ounce on a small SUV. I wipe, it shines, we move on with our lives.

So if you're out there struggling with haze, smearing, or wondering why your car feels like a glazed donut, I’m here to say: Put the bottle down. Step away. It’s gonna be okay. Less is MORE.

Your car doesn't need more product. It needs more restraint. Let’s spray responsibly out there!!!
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Haha, completely agree. Although I haven't gone marinade on our DDs, I've definately done streaking (no, not that 60's and 70's thing), along with the colorful language that would accompany my over use of product.
 
You are a blasphemer and should be smitten with stones . . . or at least stone fruit. How dare you violate the most basic tenet of marketing . . . if a little is good, more is better! Ever wonder why shampoo bottles all have the same instructions . . . Lather. Rinse. REPEAT. Does your hair REALLY need double washing (and wouldn't you notice during that first rinse-out)? No, of course not, but that tiny, simple admonition has millions and millions of people using twice as much shampoo as they need on a daily basis. Don't hold your breath waiting for Unilever and P&G to start a campaign to limit needless water use by pointing out their products are so effective they don't need double-washing.

More shiny solution = more shinier car, any scientician will tell you that.
 
yakky said:
Put the bottle down. Step away. It’s gonna be okay. Less is MORE.

Your car doesn't need more product. It needs more restraint. Let’s spray responsibly out there!!!
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I sometimes believe excessive use of detail spray can lead to more marring. Any time you touch the paint there is a risk and with poor technique one is just asking for trouble.
 
yakky said:
Look—I get it, slick is awesome. But there is a point where it doesn't get any slicker!
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Personally, I don't get the fascination with slickness. I look for clarity of the clearcoat and gloss. Swiping the paint surface to feel the slickness of the surface only adds fingerprints! Often some of the coatings with the highest water contact angles and best water behavior are not the most slick.

Here’s the truth: Even a big car only needs 1–2 ounces. That’s it. Me? Half an ounce to maybe one ounce on a small SUV. I wipe, it shines, we move on with our lives.
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True. I use very little when doing a wipedown after a wash. My 16oz bottles of QD last years and that's even when maintaining two vehicles.
 
Texchappy said:
Your innards would be clean and your car wouldn’t be thirsty — or something like that. Maybe you’d be dead and the car would be sticky — or something like that?
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The other day I did notice that my teeth were glossier and had greater lubricity, and I had this strange urge to slap a polishing pad on my palm sander. I'm not sure what that means.
 
Less is more. Most of the TWHS products I use state 2 sprays per panel. Any more than that can introduce streaking.
 
So I decided to get a little scientific about it today. I weighed my spray bottle of Tec582, before and after. 15.5-14.7=0.8 oz used on a mid size car as a drying aide. I wasn't being stingy with it either, glass and wheels, and I even hit the horizontal panels..... TWICE.
 
On this topic, how do you disperse on a panel? I KNOW im using too much Amplify as a drying aid. I just always let the intrusive thought win that says "You arent getting coverage" I use maybe 2-3 oz per wash Spray the panels and every quarter of the car 2 sprays into the drying towel.
 
04lss said:
On this topic, how do you disperse on a panel? I KNOW im using too much Amplify as a drying aid. I just always let the intrusive thought win that says "You arent getting coverage" I use maybe 2-3 oz per wash Spray the panels and every quarter of the car 2 sprays into the drying towel.
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That's the difference in using under and ounce and using 2 or more. Most products you can drag around as you dry without getting the product down on every inch. For example I dried a car today with Tec582, spray on the center of the panel and wipe around. Going back and fondeling the slickness, its not like the center of the panel is slicker than the edges. Generally you can tell when there isn't active product on your towl when it behaves differently, with Tec, it doesn't feel as slick.

I was over on slick deals reading this gem:

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I use TEC 582 on a semi regular basis. Mine is diluted 1:1 with distilled water. I don't spray it on wet panels. I dry the vehicle with drying towels and then apply to the dry panels. I typically use maybe 4 oz of the diluted 582 on my pickup. Doesn't feel like I am over applying it and I don't get streaking. I do apply it w8th a microfiber so I would probably use a bit less if I used a microfiber apppicat9r pad.
 
BLM said:
I use TEC 582 on a semi regular basis. Mine is diluted 1:1 with distilled water. I don't spray it on wet panels. I dry the vehicle with drying towels and then apply to the dry panels. I typically use maybe 4 oz of the diluted 582 on my pickup. Doesn't feel like I am over applying it and I don't get streaking. I do apply it w8th a microfiber so I would probably use a bit less if I used a microfiber apppicat9r pad.
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So I have to ask, why not apply while drying? Seems like a bit of time savings.
 
yakky said:
So I have to ask, why not apply while drying? Seems like a bit of time savings.
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Well it requires more product than applying dry and spraying on a wet panel dilutes the product even further.
Might save some time (10-15 minutes) but I feel dry application is the better way to apply.
 
BLM said:
Well it requires more product than applying dry and spraying on a wet panel dilutes the product even further.
Might save some time (10-15 minutes) but I feel dry application is the better way to apply.
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I agree dry is best but.... If you have access to a leaf blower, you can get 95% of the water off and then use Tec full strength.
 
It works pretty good diluted 1:1 which turns 1 gallon into 2 gallons. Also less likely to streak when diluted 1:1
 
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