Hey guys I've searched and can't find the answer to my problem. I've used jescar poylmer plus a few times now,
and each time I've been getting only a week or so of protection.
felt dry and didn't bead for a wash a week later.
Just a couple of comments...
Water beading is a sign of surface tension and it can indicate longevity in that if water beads up after each time you wash the car and rinse, but over time you see the water beading diminishing as more time goes by and you pay attention to it after the rinse.
Meguiar's chemist use to tell me that some of the best protecting ingredients for paint don't actually bead water very well.
Wow I didn't think I get a response from Mike Philips, thank you for taking the time to read my post.
I try to get to as many as I can but sorry to say I can't get to every post on this forum.
Since my first reply to this thread I've written two more articles and I'm finishing a third after I hit the [Submit Reply] button and it's just now lunchtime.
I personally will pressure wash all the loose dirt off, do the wheels, use the two bucket method, start at the top work my way down, and pressure wash off, then use a shami to dry. I was using meguirs gold wash up until last week when I got foam cannon.
The above is all good and I do some of the above. It's also very thorough.
As for built up layers of wax and such claying and polishing, should of removed it.
Correct.
Polishing would have obliterated any previously applied products.
And IPA wipe down before sealing should of got rid of the oils.
I would not have wasted time doing this but to each their own. See my article here,
Miscible and Immiscible - Wax and Paint Sealant Bonding
Only thing I can think of is I putting it on thick, or it was just a tad bit cold, when I put it in 55degress. Also I didn't let get wet for 12 hours.
A thin coat will do everything a thick coat will do while wasting less product and requiring less effort to remove. Plus it will dry faster.
Water beading is tricky thing... years ago at Meguiar's during the
NXT vs Zaino Wars Mike Pennington did some experiments with simply how water FALLS or lands on a horizontal surface and this by itself can affect water beading.
One thing for sure that I know...
Everyone loves how water beading looks!
But... water beading can lead to Type II Water Spots if you not around to dry off the water, (like when it rains and your car is outside in the parking lot at work), and in my opinion, Type II Water Spots are the worst type of defect to have to remove.
3 - Types of Water Spots - Type I, Type II and Type III
It could be something in your process is diminishing the surface tension and this is causing the water beading to lessen.
I use a paint coating on our Mercedes-Benz and water beads-up like crazy. I use a one-step cleaner/wax on my truck and water beads up for a few weeks and then starts to lay flat.
:dunno: