M16 versus P21S

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Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.

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I found this post I made in July of 2002 on another forum,

Meguiar's #16 Professional Paste Wax compared to P21S

2WaxComparison.jpg


From everything I can tell, Meguiar's #16 Professional Paste Wax and P21S Carnauba Wax are very, very similar.

Things in common

* They smell the same
* They have the same feel at application
* They create the same visual appearance i.e. good gloss
* They are both pure waxes in that they should only be applied to new, or like new finishes, or paint that has been previously pre-cleaned and pre-polished.


Things that are different

* P21S is states it is a Carnauba based Wax
* #16 is a blended wax that includes Carnauba as well as other ingredients.
* P21S instructions state best results come from removing wax before it hazes
* #16 instructions state to allow wax to haze before removing
* #16 is roughly 1/3 the cost of P21S
* You get approximately twice as much wax with #16 versus P21S


For those of you that own and have used both, what do you think are the major differences from your real-world experience?


:xyxthumbs:
 
I wish I knew about detailing before M16 was discontinued. I would have bought a box full like Mike Philips. I have seen reviews that said it is a good looking wax with great durability. For the amount you pay per can, you get a lot of quality wax. I think I saw Mike Philips collection once, a giant stack of blue cans!
 
I used the last of my M16 a LONG time ago. I remember this same discussion in the DC days. I never did a side by side of M16 and P21S. Both were fantastic waxes.

I am always on the lookout at BigLots for M16.
 
Below you'll find a few pictures of my M16 Professional Paste Wax Collection. In case anyone doesn't know, M16 Professional Paste Wax was the first one of the first waxes introduced by Meguiar's.

M16Collection01.jpg


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M16LippedCan02.jpg


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The entire time I was taking these pictures my son kept trying to ham his way into the photos...

M16LippedCan05.jpg



The below is all in my collection out in California...

MyM16Collection1.jpg


MyM16Collection2.jpg



:xyxthumbs:
 
P21S was one of the first carnuaba waxes I ever purchased. It is so easy to use !!!!

I love M16 but find P21S to have a slight edge in ease of use.

I have an extra can of M16 if anyone is looking for some.
 
See Mike, with you getting married and all you have to start cleaning out the garage.... So just ship some of that my way:dblthumb2:
 
Pats300zx said:
P21S was one of the first carnuaba waxes I ever purchased. It is so easy to use !!!!

I love M16 but find P21S to have a slight edge in ease of use.

I have an extra can of M16 if anyone is looking for some.
Click to expand...

Pat I would definitely like to own a can of M16! :hungry:
 
Meguiar's UK recently posted on Detailing World that they expect to have M16 back in stock, and that "there has ben (sic) a slight change in the wax consistencey (sic) and a slight tweak to the formula". This was posted last July 6. I wonder if they've changed the formula to make it VOC compliant, and therefore eligible for sale again the US?
 
P21s was the first wax I bought when I started detailing. I still have the wax and I was given half a container of S100 the other day. I never tried M16 but I've always been curious about it
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Hmmm....that would be a good reason for the appearance of this thread.
Click to expand...


If M16 is being re-introduced I don't know anything about it but a quick post to MOL and Mike Stoops could probably answer the question.

If it is re-introduced it won't be the same formula that everyone loves. It might be better or it might be something else...

I was looking for a picture of a "collection" of my antique waxes displayed in a open shelf cabinet and found the first picture in this thread by doing a Google search. I recognized the picture as mine and tracked it down to the original thread and because there's always interest in this product I thought I would share the post I made about the two product 10 years ago...


Again, if it is being re-introduced I don't know anything about it. Last time I was at Meguiar's there wasn't anyone that worked there that cared much about M16 outside of myself.


FWIW


:)
 
Well, OK, Mike, so back to my question of whether P21S is as durable as #16? I still use #16, but I've never used P21S.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Well, OK, Mike, so back to my question of whether P21S is as durable as #16? I still use #16, but I've never used P21S.
Click to expand...


I'd give the edge to M16 as it is a hard wax, that is it's a heavy wax and in the context of the word heavy, the molecules are referred to as heavy molecules. I'm not a chemist just repeating what I've been told.

M16 is supposed to be applied using a very thin coat and allowed to fully dry before removing.

P21S is to be applied and then removed before it hazes...

M16 is used by some as a mold release wax and it was introduced in 1951 right after M08 Mold Release wax released in 1950...


2600_MoldReleasefrom1967.jpg


2600_MoldRelease1967Instructions.jpg



The above is one of my prized possessions, it's a can of M08 from 1967


Mold release waxes are interesting products.

2M-08MaximumMoldReleaseWax.gif


2600_MoldReleaseCans.jpg


2VelocityLine.jpg




:D
 
I've tried both, and they are very different.

P21S has a consistency and ease similar to Souveran, while M16 compares to Collinite.

Same for durability.
 
M#16 easily competes with many waxes that are going for $100+. One of my all time favorite waxes without question.
 
I think the main difference is that P21s is much more forgiving on plastic trim. You DO NOT want to get M16 on trim. Also application is much more forgiving with P21s meaning that if you apply a little heavy it will still wipe off with relative ease. M16 must be applied thinly to make removal easier.
 
I used M16 on my beaters for years. I have a black door that i've used to test waxes on. While M16's durability is excellent, it does milk black quite a bit. P21S is much clearer. I like Zymol Titanium better than either though. With todays sealants, i would think M16 has no place. I would never use it on a nice finish.
 
What is a mold release wax? What does mold have to do with car waxing? Am I the only one who doesn't know this?
 
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