Minivan: Estimated Time to Wax

Jaddie

Jaddie

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Dear Friends

Would any of you care to estimate how much time it should take me to wax my new minivan, a Honda Odyssey, by hand?

I don't know for sure, but I guess I'd use a carnauba paste wax.

Would using a dual-action polisher save time? If so, would you please estimate how much time it'd save?

I appreciate your input.

--Jaddie
 
By hand, about 20-25 minutes.

With a DA polisher, 7-10 minutes.

This is assuming you can wax the whole vehicle and allow for the wax to haze before removing. Not all waxes behave the same, and not all conditions are the same (humidity, heat, etc.)

Not only do you save time using a DA, but you same your arms from the trouble of having to apply to the whole car, and then turn around and remove by hand.
 
Dear Stephan

That's great news! I was thinking it'd take at least two hours of focused, hard work and was about to give up on the whole idea of detailing our new van myself.

I think I'll get a polisher and get to work.

If I might lean on you again, which wax(es) would you suggest to wax a 2012 Odyssey in white?

--Jaddie
 
Jaddie,

As I'm sure you know there are numerous options for a wax or sealant.

I would suggest Collinite 845. Its cheap, pretty easy to use and lasts for a long time.
 
Dear 215Detailing

215Detailing said:
I say for me Hand is faster ( using collinite 845 )...... see link of scottwax below
Scottwax-Man vs Machine pics also search facebook that's my detailer look in photo gallery ( CURRENT WORK ) HONDA ODYSSEY I did by hand with COLLINITE 845
Click to expand...

I couldn't get any pictures to show up in the meguiarsonline thread, and I can't find your current work album on Facebook, just "Recent Work," and in this album I don't see an Odyssey.

Thanks for responding, though.

--Jaddie
 
Dear Stephan

LuxuryMobile said:
As I'm sure you know there are numerous options for a wax or sealant.

I would suggest Collinite 845. Its cheap, pretty easy to use and lasts for a long time.
Click to expand...

That's right. They're are a gazillion options available nowadays.

I'll give Collinite 845 a go. Thanks a bunch for responding.

--Jaddie
 
New van or not, you should really consider claying the paint before applying a wax or sealant. Even brand new vehicles can be chock full of rail dust that will eventually imbed itself into the paint and cause rust issues. I suggest going with Ultima's Paint Guard Plus, turning a 30-45 minute waxing into a 10-15 minute sealant application. Also remember that these guys suggesting that it take 25 minutes or so to wax a mini van are seasoned professional or enthusiast detailers with lots of practice at it. If you are new to this stuff it will certainly take you longer to achieve the same results.

Oh yeah...Welcome to the site.
 
Dear Dave

Thanks for responding. I read somewhere else on this forum that the Ultima product was a good way to clay.

How long do you believe it'd take me to apply the Ultima claying product?

UPDATE 1: I was mistaken. Dave is referring to claying in general and using Ultima's product afterward. I'll clay if it won't take over an hour. Though an Odyssey is referred to as a minivan, it's only mini compared to a 747.

UPDATE 2: What is rail dust?

UPDATE 3: Which claying product offers the best compromise of ease of application and quality?

UPDATE 4: The Ultima Paint Guard product says all I'd have to do is wipe it on and forget about it. That seems too good to be true. Is it? How does it dry to a deep, lustrous shine without any buffing?
 
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Jaddie said:
Dear Dave

Thanks for responding. I read somewhere else on this forum that the Ultima product was a good way to clay.

How long do you believe it'd take me to apply the Ultima claying product?
Click to expand...
I was referencing the Ultima paint sealant UPGP or Ultima Paint Guard Plus. That's for the protection and gloss of the paint. It is a clear paint selant that is wipe on walk away rather than wipe on let haze and buff off like #845 from Collinite. #845 is a great product and very durable but UPGP is the easiest applying sealant that I have ever used and it is durable too and the fact that it's clear means that if it gets on trim it doesn't change the look of it so it can be easier for a newbie to do.

Ultima Paint Guard Plus 4oz., paint sealant, liquid wax, car wax, paint sealer

As far as claying is concerned, any quick detailer spray can be used as a clay lubricant. If you're interested in Ultima however, they have an elastrofoam clay alternative that is sweet.

Ultima Elastrofoam Paint Cleaning System, paint cleaner, paint cleaning foam

Properly decontaminating a minivan, I would guess would take maybe an hour with Ultima's Elastrofoam system if the vehicle was heavily contaminated but on a brand new vehicle it would probably take half that time.
 
Dear Dave

Thanks again for responding.

Do you prefer Ultima's Elastrofoam product over Griot's clay?
 
Jaddie said:
UPDATE 1: I was mistaken. Dave is referring to claying in general and using Ultima's product afterward. I'll clay if it won't take over an hour. Though an Odyssey is referred to as a minivan, it's only mini compared to a 747.
Click to expand...
Missed this.
UPDATE 2: What is rail dust?
Click to expand...
Rail dust is metallic dust that comes from the brakes and wheels of the trains that a lot of vehicles are transported on between the factory and the dealerships and possibly from distribution centers to dealerships. It gets on the paint and begins to imbed itself into the paint. This can be easily seen on white vehicles as it appears as tiny rust specks on the paint. If left go it will imbed itself further and further into the paint eventually becoming a rust bubble under the paint. This is something that occurs over years not weeks.

Some will say that there is plastic protection installed on new vehicles before they are loaded onto the trains for shipment and this is true but the vehicles are rarely wrapped 100% in this protective film.

UPDATE 3: Which claying product offers the best compromise of ease of application and quality?
Click to expand...
Definitely the Elastrofoam system from Ultima. While it is more expensive than Meguiar's smooth surface clay kit, it is easier to use as no kneading is required and it's more fail safe because if you drop clay on the ground it is ruined because it will pick up dirt and tiny stones that will scratch the heck out of paint if used after hitting the ground so it must be thrown in the trash. If you drop the elastrofoam bar you simply rinse it off and continue. you can pay in cash up front or in effort in the end. Seems to me you would rather pay in cash than in time and effort.

UPDATE 4: The Ultima Paint Guard product says all I'd have to do is wipe it on and forget about it. That seems too good to be true. Is it? How does it dry to a deep, lustrous shine without any buffing?
Click to expand...
For ease of use purposes I use a bit more than directed. I use about 3 to 5 pumps of the product right onto the supplied applicator and quickly rub it onto the paint being sure not to miss any spots then take a clean, dry microfiber towel and very quickly wipe the car down (this wipedown takes 60 seconds) Using more product ensures quicker coverage and doing it this way I can do about 30 cars with a single 4 ounce bottle of the product. Wiping over the car with the microfiber towel is not to buff the product back off but rather to smooth down any areas that are heavy with product such as where I began wiping the applicator on the panel immediately after spraying the product onto the applicator. There is no need to remove the product. It does cure fully in about 12 hours but the car can be driven in a few hours after application. the following day the vehicle appears to have a candy coated gloss to it that I just love. It is not too good to be true, it works and lasts. More coats look better and better and it literally takes 10 to 15 minutes in total on a properly prepped vehicle.
 
Opti-Seal----->less than 12 minutes

Maintenance with Optimum Spray Wax------->less than 11 minutes


Your free-time-------->PRICELESS!!

:dig:

Bacon
 
I think for a beginner Dave has hit the nail on the head. Not to mention UPGP Looks fantastic.
 
Dear Dave

Okay. I'm going with your suggestion.

Do you have any questions about Macs, iPods, iPads, iPhones, Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, WordPress, digital SLRs, and/or photography studio gear? If so, I'd like to help you like you've helped me.
 
Dear tw33k2514

Are you a Cobra rep? If so, you'd love to see my wish list on the Autogeek store.

Thanks for responding.
 
Jaddie said:
Dear tw33k2514

Are you a Cobra rep? If so, you'd love to see my wish list on the Autogeek store.

Thanks for responding.
Click to expand...
I wish I was a Cobra rep. But I am just a fan of their towels sadly.
 
Dear Dave

I just tried to order the Ultima Elastrofoam, but it's on backorder here. Autopia has it, but shipping would cost too much without hitting the minimum order total to qualify for free shipping.

I guess I'll check back every day until it's order able.

UPDATE: I checked on it on Ultima's site, too, but it'd cost nearly US$10 to ship it to me camel-rate. Maybe Autogeek will get it in stock this week. Then I can hit the minimum order to qualify for free shipping.
 
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Dear 215Detailing

Shiny!

Is that a scratch or a reflection on the front bumper?
 
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