Does the new layer of wax last longer if old wax is stripped off first?

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prr

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I'm wondering how helpful it would be, to use a harsh soap to strip the old wax layer off the car, before putting on the new layer. Let's just assume that the same wax is being used for the old and new application (which will be the case, when I run out of the stuff I currently have). Does removing the old layer allow the new wax to bond better with the paint, allowing it to last longer? Or would it really not make a difference?
 
Probably somewhere between "no" and "yes"; which is enough for most to strip the old layer and ensure maximum longevity of the new layer.
 
Now that's an interesting reply. :o

How about this--has anyone here who has started stripping off the old wax layer, seen their new wax jobs last longer?
 
Then you have the argument that soaps can't strip wax. This also may depend on how harsh of a cleaner you plan to use and how old the wax is.

Caustic cleaners may etch the paint if not used carefully.

I would put my efforts into using a light polish. This will lightly clean the paint, add some gloss, and should remove any remaining wax. Clay first if needed.

I think you should get better longevity from a properly prepared surface, but then again this also depends on the current condition of paint and possibly your choice for an LSP.
 
What I used today is the generic Turtle Wax soap. I used it at double strength, and there was a lot of beading last week when I washed the van, and this morning when I rinsed it off initially, but virtually none today after rinsing off the soap, so I interpret that to mean that a lot of the wax that was there, was washed off. It is a liquid solution, nothing that I think would harm or etch the paint in any way (unless I'm mistaken).
 
Do car Waxes bond to car paint?
Or do they only adhere to them?


•Some may consider a re-application
of the same Wax to a vehicle to be
likened unto getting a "booster shot"...
where getting the injection site clean
(sterile) is of the utmost importance.

•For me?
-Clean; but not so much
having to be sterile.



Bob
 
FUNX650 said:
Do car Waxes bond to car paint?
Or do they only adhere to them?
Click to expand...

I would have no idea. At this point, whether they bond or adhere, my concern is if putting wax on paint, rather than on an old layer of wax, will increase the life of the wax layer, before it wears away.



FUNX650 said:
•For me?
-Clean; but not so much
having to be sterile.
Click to expand...

Have you stripped the old wax layer off on your cars first? And if so, have you noticed any difference in the length of time it lasts?
 
prr said:
I would have no idea. At this point,
whether they bond or adhere,
Click to expand...
I asked only because you brought
bonding up in your earlier posting:
prr said:
Does removing the old layer allow the
new wax to bond better with the paint
Click to expand...

*************************************

prr said:
Have you stripped the old wax
layer off on your cars first? And
if so, have you noticed any difference
in the length of time it lasts?
Click to expand...
Sure...
I've removed Waxes, via polishing,
on many occasions. However:
I've never witnessed any Car Waxes'
expected life-cycle (I'll be generous
and say ~4-8 weeks) being either
significantly increased, or decreased,
using that particular cleaning process.
FUNX650 said:
•For me?
-Clean; but not so much
having to be sterile.
Click to expand...


Bob
 
So far, two votes for "it makes no difference."
 
I would try a cleaner wax like Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing Lotion and then apply your wax and it will be up to you if it is worth it. According to Mike Phillips this is necessary to remove road grime that hinders your wax from really sparkling it's best. If your car passes the baggie test then skip the clay or Nanoskin and go straight to the cleaner wax. When I did the cleaner wax after the clay on what looked like perfect paint (smooth and clean) the yellow applicator became soiled looking and then the buffing towel revealed even cleaner smoother paint. If you are just trying to wax but not impress then never mind.
 
prr said:
Now that's an interesting reply. :o

How about this--has anyone here who has started stripping off the old wax layer, seen their new wax jobs last longer?
Click to expand...

no but you could just clay the car, im pretty sure that takes the wax off
 
On my car, I'll do a complete cleaning (wash , Nanosponge, AIO, and wax) in the spring. Then just apply a coat of wax when I feel it needs it.
 
wing commander said:
I would try a cleaner wax like Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing Lotion and then apply your wax and it will be up to you if it is worth it. According to Mike Phillips this is necessary to remove road grime that hinders your wax from really sparkling it's best.
Click to expand...

Wholeheartedly agree. In one of the posts where Mike discusses the topic he shows pictures of a car he is working on. There is a highly noticeable difference in the color between the area that hadn't been worked and the area he's lightly polished. I'm not even talking about the gloss/shine which was also better, but the actual color of the paint itself. The images are great for pointing out how a few years of embedded grime and layered LSP's will dull the surface of a vehicle.

On my own vehicles, I can see a difference when I simply hit them with a light polish when prepping them for a fresh coat of LSP. Dark colors have more depth, and light colors really gleam.

As many have said already, I'd at least use a cleaner wax/AIO, but highly recommend claying and then doing a light polish before waxing again.
 
Another factor to consider is the type of wax you are using. Those with stronger cleaning content such as those label as cleaner wax wouldnt matter as much since you will be cleaning and protecting at the same time.
 
prr said:
What I used today is the generic Turtle Wax soap. I used it at double strength, and there was a lot of beading last week when I washed the van, and this morning when I rinsed it off initially, but virtually none today after rinsing off the soap, so I interpret that to mean that a lot of the wax that was there, was washed off. It is a liquid solution, nothing that I think would harm or etch the paint in any way (unless I'm mistaken).
Click to expand...

After washing with the Turtle Wax if you had given the car an IPA wipe down the beading would have returned. The soap leaves surfactants behind that make the water sheet and the IPA removes the surfactants. There is no "wash" solution out there that will remove LSPs--only a light polishing or perhaps a cleaning product.

Have a read through this thread--long but informative http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/66896-lsp-stripping.html
 
Just to chime in....


Assuming you're using a quality brand wax then YES stripping off the old wax before applying a fresh application wold enable the fresh coat of wax to last longer.

Why?

First - Because a quality chemist, the guy or girl behind the quality wax formulates their wax to STICK to PAINT not a film of dirt that's on the paint or old wax.

Second, wax wears off, so depending on how long it's been since the previous application of wax was applied and just as important, HOW THE CAR WAS WASHED and by washed I mean TOUCHED it's possible there's no wax left at all.

A brush style automatic car was his very aggressive to car paint. The spinning bristles scratch the paint and this means they will also remove any wax.

Third - If the car in question is a DAILY DRIVER and the car is exposed to any type of wet weather then the paint will have a DIRT FILM on it as that's the effect of ROAD GRIME.

Probably one of the most important articles I've ever written... I shared this all over FB last week


Road Film - If you drive your car in the rain your car has road film


Driving in the rain - For most of us it's unavoidable

Road_Film_From_Driving_in_the_Rain_01.jpg





Read the article above and look at the pictures in the article and it should make sense to you.


Next read this article and also look at the pictures and it will also make sense to you...



Here's why you need to polish paint...


Dirty_Old_Ford_006.jpg





In my opinion, NOT properly prepping paint for a fresh coat of wax is a negative in every way.

One option for people that are lazy or just not that into their car is to use a one-step cleaner/wax and be done with it.




How to choose and use a one-step cleaner/wax by Mike Phillips






:)
 
dschia said:
Another factor to consider is the type of wax you are using. Those with stronger cleaning content such as those label as cleaner wax wouldnt matter as much since you will be cleaning and protecting at the same time.
Click to expand...


Correct.


And this is also why MOST of the car waxes you buy at your local auto parts store of places like Walmart and Target are in fact cleaner/waxes even if they don't say or use the word

Cleaner/Wax or AIO

On the front label.


I explain why in this article,


The Difference Between a Cleaner/Wax and a Finishing Wax



Here's the pertinent part



Mike Phillips said:
When you go to your local auto parts stores, most of the retail waxes on the shelves do in fact fall into the cleaner/wax category as they are targeted at the average person and the average person is driving what we call a daily driver, that is the car they drive back and forth to work each day and most of the time it’s parked outside.

Over time, the finish quality deteriorates and in order to restore it with just a single product you’ll want a cleaner/wax.

A cleaner/wax is also what we in the detailing industry call a One-Step product or an AIO.

AIO stands for All-In-One. AIO products will do multiple processes in one step, that is they will,


  1. Clean the surface
  2. Polish the paint to a high gloss
  3. Leave behind a layer of protection



The problem for the average Joe Consumer is that most retail products don’t specifically state what type of product they are? The tell you how to apply it, how long to let it dry and then how to remove it but they leave it wide open as to what the product is and how its best used.


Because the majority of people in this world look at their car as a mode of transportation instead of an extension of their personality, its' easy to understand that most people want and only need a one-step cleaner/wax.
Click to expand...





:)
 
I think the pictures of that yellow car would serve as the answer to this discussion without having to say anything else. It always comes to mind when I start thinking about being lazy and just hitting one of my cars with another coat of LSP.
 
its a lot of work, i just spent 12 hours yesterday doing mine and im still not done, i didnt even touch the roof and i still have another coat of wax to put on the car. not to mention, the inside, the windows, the tires ect ect ect. it never ends. you're never really done its more of an ongoing project. i didn't even have to compound it
 
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