How do you tell if wax is gone ?

[01AUDI]

I have read a lot about people using a carnauba wax over a synthetic sealant, but.. if your sealant last 6 months and your wax only last 2 months.. how do you know if your wax is gone and your just relying on the sealant now ? Both will bead up, both will shine.. right ?
Am i missing something

 

[FUNX650]

I have read a lot about people using a
carnauba wax over a synthetic sealant,
but..

Am i missing something

Perhaps reading/(re-reading?) the threads
and postings—contained in the AGO forum
archives—wherein discussions regarding the
act of “layering/topping”, of LSPs, have
previously taken place?


Bob

 

[ChrisT]

Perhaps reading/(re-reading?) the threads
and postings—contained in the AGO forum
archives—wherein discussions regarding the
act of “layering/topping”, of LSPs, have
previously taken place?


Bob

But using the search function would eliminate the need to start one or more threads every day with pretty basic questions, wouldn’t it? Lol

 

[brettS4]

In the OP's defense, I don't remember this question being asked very often. The question isn't a basic matter of beading (with sealant/wax) versus sheeting action (with no protection). It's more complex because we're talking about two separate layers of product with different lifetimes.

We all agree that a wax topper will wear off long before a sealant undercoat. The sealant will still show beading after the wax is gone. So how do you know when you're at that point of no wax left?

I'd say it's a matter of two subtle things... how the car looks and how slick it feels. You can usually feel a difference between wax and sealant. And wax will give it a different (usually deeper) look.

But I doubt most of us here allow our cars to get to the point where our wax is long gone. We put a new coat on every month or two whether it needs it or not.

 

[RZJZA80]

Perhaps reading/(re-reading?) the threads
and postings—contained in the AGO forum
archives—wherein discussions regarding the
act of “layering/topping”, of LSPs, have
previously taken place?


Bob

Pretty lame reply to just say to search, not helpful to the OP at all. This forum and so many others would hardly have any new threads if that was just the answer to everything, and may not be applicable to every new thread anyway or further discussion. Either you have direct input or you don't.

 

[RZJZA80]

In the OP's defense, I don't remember this question being asked very often.

Agreed.

 

[Rsurfer]

Pretty lame reply to just say to search, not helpful to the OP at all. This forum and so many others would hardly have any new threads if that was just the answer to everything, and may not be applicable to every new thread anyway or further discussion. Either you have direct input or you don't.

:xyxthumbs:

 

[DBAILEY]

I don't think you can tell when just the wax on top of sealant is gone. If you top a sealant with a wax then you'll have to think of it as a system and not 2 separate products. Then decide when the system is gone. So you're limited to adding more wax on top of the sealant whenever you think that the look has changed.

 

[FUNX650]

Pretty lame reply to just say to search, not helpful to the OP at all. This forum and so many others would hardly have any new threads if that was just the answer to everything, and may not be applicable to every new thread anyway or further discussion. Either you have direct input or you don't.

And you think this input of yours
was helpful to the OP?


Bob

 

[fightnews]

I have read a lot about people using a carnauba wax over a synthetic sealant, but.. if your sealant last 6 months and your wax only last 2 months.. how do you know if your wax is gone and your just relying on the sealant now ? Both will bead up, both will shine.. right ?
Am i missing something

You will know because 2 months will pass

 

[SWETM]

It's a good question and hard to get a right answer. That depends on many variables and what kind of products used.

I think if you feel and look at what the sealant does to your paint. And then take pictures of the car in a certain place of choice where you can get the same lighting again when you have waxed your car. Then look for what the wax change the looks and feel and water behavior as in beading and sheeting. Has it darkening effect to the paint or a more glass like look or what else you see it change the paint. Take pictures of it and compare them before and after every application and then with a interval of a month or so.

Then you have your car schampoo and maybe drying aid that can change the looks and behavior on the paint. And even road grime build up and other contaminants that change the looks and behavior on the paint. The bonding can be different for the wax on different sealants also so the longevity can change also. Sorry but it's a guess when the wax is completly gone and it's how you see your paint and feel like it's looks has changed. But you have guidelines on the longevity of it and if you take pictures to compare and then when you feel like it's time to do something to it.

I would go after how the base protection is doing. And as long I feel it's hanging on between washes I would apply what ever I feel to do. Either wax, spray wax or other toppers. When the claimed longevity of the sealant is coming to end I would plan to do a finish polish and apply a new protection of choice.

 

[fightnews]

There is no way to tell. If there was there wouldn't be so many arguments about when a wax is stripped or not stripped, covered by surfectants ect ect. If you could come up with a conclusive way to tell you would be a rich man.

 

[SWETM]

I don't think the op is meaning when it's stripped of the sealant he would apply it to. But when it's time for a new application of a wax. And somewhat of degrade you would see the wax has. Or you just applyied a wax to the sealant that does not to change it's look. Then it would be impossible to see if the wax and sealant has the same looks and behavior on the paint. But does it have some effect you would be able to see something changes with time.

When useing toppers on any kind of base protection you got on the car. It's a on you when it looks like to do something about it. So it's a feel when you decide to apply something new.

 

[01AUDI]

I don't think the op is meaning when it's stripped of the sealant he would apply it to. But when it's time for a new application of a wax. And somewhat of degrade you would see the wax has. Or you just applyied a wax to the sealant that does not to change it's look. Then it would be impossible to see if the wax and sealant has the same looks and behavior on the paint. But does it have some effect you would be able to see something changes with time.

When useing toppers on any kind of base protection you got on the car. It's a on you when it looks like to do something about it. So it's a feel when you decide to apply something new.

thanks for all the help to everyone posting. And yes this is pretty much what i meant. I understand the bottle says 6 months or 2 months but every vehicle is different, every climate is different and everyone stores their vehicle differently. So just because my wax says x months, I will keep that in the back on my mind, but yes i was looking for something that might tell me differently. Someone mentioned feel so that is something i can try. I was thinking of laying down a layer of wax on half the hood and leaving the other half unwaxed with only the sealant and maybe that will help me get an idea of the difference in beading and depth between the two. Maybe do that for a month and then cover the entire hood in the wax and use that month as a reference. I know its hard to give an definitive answer and my eye probably cant tell the difference yet so i was just looking for a tip from those who do this a lot more than i do. Maybe there was a look or test of sorts that i just don't know about. I hate to keep applying wax over wax that is already there. And i prefer not to let my wax run out too far after its time, so maybe i will try that test and see what it looks like. Different seasons will play differently as well but maybe that will give me a starting point. thanks for the help so far.

 

[MarkD51]

Yeah, there's one way, but some might cringe. "The Fingernail Test".

Go ahead, find any area on the paint and let your fingernail have at it in just a small spot.

No, I'm not talking about clawing your paint and leaving damage that might take some work to remove.

But I will say, that if a paint can be damaged easily when doing this, something needs to be done, you have no paint protection. Zero

Trust I do know that you can apply a carnauba, let's say Zymol, that cost you a $1000 a tub. Well sure, you can inflict damage, but to what degree? That $1000 tub doesn't necessarily mean your paint is now somehow protected better or longer than a $8 bottle of Nu Finish from Kmart.

And I know well from living in New Mexico for 14 years, and here comes some clown's cardboard box, or a Tumbleweed, flying across the road from the desert from 45mph high winds and wangs your car......well, lots of luck, nothing under the sun is going to protect.

 

[luckydawg]

But using the search function would eliminate the need to start one or more threads every day with pretty basic questions, wouldn’t it? Lol

Some people are not very computer savy-( like myself ) they dont tie up a whole lot of time on forums- they have better things to do in life.
They come to the forums to solicit help and learn what they can- and if they can offer something via a post they do. It never ceases to amaze me how many smart mouths always chime in on using the search function rather than just helping the folks out

 

[ChrisT]

Some people are not very computer savy-( like myself ) they dont tie up a whole lot of time on forums- they have better things to do in life.

Yet some find the time to start many threads about primarily basic topics that could be easily answered by doing a modicum of reading. How strange.

 

[luckydawg]

ChrisT
I can tell you I am not like that and probably most arent either. Maybe there are some guys that all they want to do is get their post count up ( for whatever reason I cant understand) I am just asking for all you guys with forum savy to take it easy on us guys that arent. I am an old man and wast born in the tech age so I struggle with anything on the computer- but I am getting better

 

[FUNX650]

It never ceases to amaze me how many
smart mouths always chime in on using
the search function rather than just
helping the folks out

I can tell you I am not like that and
probably most arent either. Maybe there
are some guys that all they want to do is
get their post count up ( for whatever
reason I cant understand)

I am just asking for all you guys with
forum savy to take it easy on us guys
that arent. I am an old man and wast
born in the tech age so I struggle with
anything on the computer- but I am
getting better

•Just the fact of me (also being an old
man, not being born in the tech age)
merely suggesting to the OP—stated in
my inherent vernacular—to consider that
his thread-starter’s subject matter is, IMO:
more related to the much discussed topic
of “Layering/Topping” LSPs;

•and, then: giving the OP a vehicle to
research, in depth, the “Layering/Topping”
subject matter...

•Is, unequivocally, not reason enough to
be labeled a smart mouth; or any other
concocted, pejorative unit-of-language,
as far as that goes.


Bob

 

[swanicyouth]

How do you know the solvents in your wax don't remove your sealant? Waxes have various solvents in them to make them spreadable (think mineral spirits / kerosene / etc...). It's a known fact these solvents will remove sealants. So, how can you even say layering various products is even possible from day 1?