Mike Phillips
Active member
- Dec 5, 2022
- 51,004
- 6
Review: Collinite No. 845 Insulator Wax
What is it?
A user-friendly liquid version of the No. 476s paste wax, which is a carnauba/polymer blend.
What does it do?
Seals and protects car paint while adding incredible gloss, depth and shine.
When do I use it?
After first washing and drying paint in new condition or after first doing any claying and paint correction to older cars.
Why should I use it?
To protect your car's paint with a durable carnauba/polymer blended wax while also creating and maintaining a high gloss finish.
From the manufacturer
A user-friendlier version of the No. 476s paste, No. 845 stands as Collinite’s most legendary product to date. Famous for its versatility, durability and DIY ease of use, “IW” is ideal for both small and large surface area jobs where lasting protection and timely job completion are desired, but hard buffing and frequent reapplication are not practical. Leaves behind carnauba shine and durable polymer coating that preserves finish and shields against the elements; UV, rain, snow, salt, dust, dirt, grime, bugs, staining and more..
Review
I've never used this wax before. In the year 2021, when I tell people this and they know how long I've been detailing cars, they are surprised because this product has a loyal and strong following. And the reason it has a loyal and strong following is real simple, it's a really nice wax. I say this from the application, wipe-off and end-results point-of-view. This car I applied it to has left the building and went home with the owner so I can't talk about longevity and protection.
Initial thoughts
Here's a picture of a full bottle at 74 degrees.
You can see the product has separated out with what I'm guessing is the carrying agent settled to the top while the solids have settled below it.
I respect any manufacturer that KNOWS their product separates out and knowing this the put the product into a CLEAR BOTTLE so their customer can see the product has settled out and thus NEEDS to be shaken well before use.
Here's the bottle after sitting in my fridge for a few hours and it has completely solidified.
If your bottle has been stored in a cold location and you need to use it, then simply run some hot water at the kitchen sink, fill a bowel or cooking pot, some kind of container with hot water and then place the closed, sealed bottle in the hot water and in just a few minutes it will warm-up and re-liquefy so you can more easily use it. (cold temperatures are not a normal problem here in South Florida
)
Application
The company description for this product reads,
a user-friendly liquid version of the No. 476s paste wax
First a disclaimer - I have also never used the Collinite 476s Paste Wax. That said, I've used a lot of paste waxes and typically when it comes to a paste wax you have soft and hard paste waxes and this usually means the form the wax is in in the can. In other words, the wax is solid and hard in the can or jar or the wax is semi-sold and soft in the can or jar. Sometimes a company that makes a soft paste wax will describe it as pre-softened.
I believe the reason some waxes are formulated to be soft is simply to make them more fool-proof for the end user application experience. A soft wax is easier to get out of the can or jar and spread, thus making it more fool-proof for the masses that may or may not have a the knowledge and skill level to correctly get a wax out of a can or jar and get it onto their car's paint. Yep, the masses are that dumbed-down. :dunno:
The real fact of the matter is, if you correctly know how to use a HARD wax then then getting it out of a can or jar is simple. All you have to do is spin your wax applicator over the top of the wax, (in the can), and this tiny amount of friction will soften or liquefy the wax so that it will flow into and onto the wax applicator and now you can transfer it and spread it over a body panel on your car.
With a soft or pre-softened paste wax you can actually SCOOP some of the wax out of the can or jar and then spread it. Me? I would still spin my applicator over the top of the wax (in the can or jar) and liquefy it to get some wax to apply to my car. It's a simple simple technique but until someone shows you the technique you will likely try to scoop the wax out like most newbies.
I'll use and review the Collinite 476s Paste Wax sometime in the future and in the process share the techniques mentioned above for getting this wax out of its can.
Back to the liquid version of Collinite 476s...
So this product at 74 degrees is quite liquid, that is it is quite thin. It shakes up very easy and pours out of the bottle very fast due to the large bottle opening and the fact that this bottle of wax does not come with a dispenser type cap like many liquid car care products on the market. This is why on the Autogeek.com store page for this product, below it there's a picture and a link to a basic flip top cap with small hole to limit or control the volume of wax coming out of the bottle. This helps to keep you from dumping too much wax out (because the product is very thin), and thus wasting product.
I used this wax just the way it came and found I had to be very careful when pouring some wax out and onto my wax applicator or too much can easily come out and if your not careful, end up on the car or the ground.
I strongly recommend spending the extra one dollar bill and get the flip-top cap and avoid the entire issue.
This is the cap that comes from the factory.
If you're not careful, it's easy to accidentally pour out a LOT of wax when using this product because at room temperature, the liquid wax is fairly thin.
Here's an optional flip-top cap you can "add to car" when shopping for Collinite Insulator Wax No. 845 on the Autogeek.com store.
Smaller hole makes using this product a lot gooder.
Even with the flip-top cap, the product is quite thin and little goes a long way so get used to how it pours out.
Fairly thin after shaken well.
Spreading the wax
Because the product is thin but also very WAXY - it spreads out like butter over a hot pancake. That is to say... it spread out EASY!
This was is very slippery to apply and it's easy to spread out to lay down a thin application and this is exactly what you want - a thin coating of wax.
A little bit goes a long way. I used your basic round, yellow foam applicator pad and it worked just fine.
It took me about 10 minutes to coat this HUGE car with wax because it spread out so easy and so thin...
That includes waxing all the britework too....
Drying time
In our air-conditioned garage, temp set to 74 degrees, it took about 10 to 15 minutes for the wax to dry to a haze. I turned an air mover on to speed up the process and also to
Wipe-off
I've read and heard this wax wipes off hard if you lay down to thick of a coat. I didn't see this characteristic. For picture value, that is so the wax would show up well in pictures, I tend to apply products like this a tick on the heavier side simply so my camera can capture the product on the paint. In areas where I applied it thick and in areas where I applied it thin - both scenarios - it wiped of SUPER EASY. In fact, I'm not sure I know of a wax that wipes off this easy. So if you're older with worn out shoulders, (or younger with worn out shoulders), you'll love how this wax wipes off.
More important - they work GREAT!
And the final results? Freaking amazing!
Final comments...
There simply is no downside to this product. My guess is, this is why it has such a strong following for so long. The product simple performs as advertised and it's easy to apply and wipe-off with a clear, high gloss shine famous to carnauba style waxes. And the price? At the time I'm writing this article, the Autogeek.com store has it listed for $18.99 - call it 20 bucks. It's a simple product at a great prices and a solid performer.
There was no dusting, zero streaking and after the final wipe the paint felt smooth and slippery. I should have tried this wax years ago. I know I'll be using it again in the future unless... I find I like the 476s better.
On Autogeek.com
Collinite Liquid Insulator Wax No. 845
White Flip Cap
Yellow Round Foam Wax Applicators - 6-pack (always stock up on these)
The towels you see in the pictures...
Here's the link to the towels I used to remove the wax. These are brand new to the AG store. I really liked them for removing the Collinite 845 wax. The thing about these super fluffy towels and any towel that's going to "touch" car paint - you need to have a protocol in place to keep your towels clean and uncontaminated from start to finish. That means, have a clean place to store them when not in use. Have a clean place to put them after use. Wash them, dry them, inspect them and then put them back in the clean place you store your microfiber towels.
These towels are very plush and luxurious.
Speed Master Cloud 9 Microfiber Buffing Towel - Blue - 6 Pack
What is it?
A user-friendly liquid version of the No. 476s paste wax, which is a carnauba/polymer blend.
What does it do?
Seals and protects car paint while adding incredible gloss, depth and shine.
When do I use it?
After first washing and drying paint in new condition or after first doing any claying and paint correction to older cars.
Why should I use it?
To protect your car's paint with a durable carnauba/polymer blended wax while also creating and maintaining a high gloss finish.
From the manufacturer
A user-friendlier version of the No. 476s paste, No. 845 stands as Collinite’s most legendary product to date. Famous for its versatility, durability and DIY ease of use, “IW” is ideal for both small and large surface area jobs where lasting protection and timely job completion are desired, but hard buffing and frequent reapplication are not practical. Leaves behind carnauba shine and durable polymer coating that preserves finish and shields against the elements; UV, rain, snow, salt, dust, dirt, grime, bugs, staining and more..
Review
I've never used this wax before. In the year 2021, when I tell people this and they know how long I've been detailing cars, they are surprised because this product has a loyal and strong following. And the reason it has a loyal and strong following is real simple, it's a really nice wax. I say this from the application, wipe-off and end-results point-of-view. This car I applied it to has left the building and went home with the owner so I can't talk about longevity and protection.
Initial thoughts
Here's a picture of a full bottle at 74 degrees.
You can see the product has separated out with what I'm guessing is the carrying agent settled to the top while the solids have settled below it.
I respect any manufacturer that KNOWS their product separates out and knowing this the put the product into a CLEAR BOTTLE so their customer can see the product has settled out and thus NEEDS to be shaken well before use.
Here's the bottle after sitting in my fridge for a few hours and it has completely solidified.
If your bottle has been stored in a cold location and you need to use it, then simply run some hot water at the kitchen sink, fill a bowel or cooking pot, some kind of container with hot water and then place the closed, sealed bottle in the hot water and in just a few minutes it will warm-up and re-liquefy so you can more easily use it. (cold temperatures are not a normal problem here in South Florida
)Application
The company description for this product reads,
a user-friendly liquid version of the No. 476s paste wax
First a disclaimer - I have also never used the Collinite 476s Paste Wax. That said, I've used a lot of paste waxes and typically when it comes to a paste wax you have soft and hard paste waxes and this usually means the form the wax is in in the can. In other words, the wax is solid and hard in the can or jar or the wax is semi-sold and soft in the can or jar. Sometimes a company that makes a soft paste wax will describe it as pre-softened.
I believe the reason some waxes are formulated to be soft is simply to make them more fool-proof for the end user application experience. A soft wax is easier to get out of the can or jar and spread, thus making it more fool-proof for the masses that may or may not have a the knowledge and skill level to correctly get a wax out of a can or jar and get it onto their car's paint. Yep, the masses are that dumbed-down. :dunno:
The real fact of the matter is, if you correctly know how to use a HARD wax then then getting it out of a can or jar is simple. All you have to do is spin your wax applicator over the top of the wax, (in the can), and this tiny amount of friction will soften or liquefy the wax so that it will flow into and onto the wax applicator and now you can transfer it and spread it over a body panel on your car.
With a soft or pre-softened paste wax you can actually SCOOP some of the wax out of the can or jar and then spread it. Me? I would still spin my applicator over the top of the wax (in the can or jar) and liquefy it to get some wax to apply to my car. It's a simple simple technique but until someone shows you the technique you will likely try to scoop the wax out like most newbies.
I'll use and review the Collinite 476s Paste Wax sometime in the future and in the process share the techniques mentioned above for getting this wax out of its can.
Back to the liquid version of Collinite 476s...
So this product at 74 degrees is quite liquid, that is it is quite thin. It shakes up very easy and pours out of the bottle very fast due to the large bottle opening and the fact that this bottle of wax does not come with a dispenser type cap like many liquid car care products on the market. This is why on the Autogeek.com store page for this product, below it there's a picture and a link to a basic flip top cap with small hole to limit or control the volume of wax coming out of the bottle. This helps to keep you from dumping too much wax out (because the product is very thin), and thus wasting product.
I used this wax just the way it came and found I had to be very careful when pouring some wax out and onto my wax applicator or too much can easily come out and if your not careful, end up on the car or the ground.
I strongly recommend spending the extra one dollar bill and get the flip-top cap and avoid the entire issue.
This is the cap that comes from the factory.
If you're not careful, it's easy to accidentally pour out a LOT of wax when using this product because at room temperature, the liquid wax is fairly thin.
Here's an optional flip-top cap you can "add to car" when shopping for Collinite Insulator Wax No. 845 on the Autogeek.com store.
Smaller hole makes using this product a lot gooder.
Even with the flip-top cap, the product is quite thin and little goes a long way so get used to how it pours out.
Fairly thin after shaken well.
Spreading the wax
Because the product is thin but also very WAXY - it spreads out like butter over a hot pancake. That is to say... it spread out EASY!
This was is very slippery to apply and it's easy to spread out to lay down a thin application and this is exactly what you want - a thin coating of wax.
A little bit goes a long way. I used your basic round, yellow foam applicator pad and it worked just fine.
It took me about 10 minutes to coat this HUGE car with wax because it spread out so easy and so thin...
That includes waxing all the britework too....
Drying time
In our air-conditioned garage, temp set to 74 degrees, it took about 10 to 15 minutes for the wax to dry to a haze. I turned an air mover on to speed up the process and also to
Wipe-off
I've read and heard this wax wipes off hard if you lay down to thick of a coat. I didn't see this characteristic. For picture value, that is so the wax would show up well in pictures, I tend to apply products like this a tick on the heavier side simply so my camera can capture the product on the paint. In areas where I applied it thick and in areas where I applied it thin - both scenarios - it wiped of SUPER EASY. In fact, I'm not sure I know of a wax that wipes off this easy. So if you're older with worn out shoulders, (or younger with worn out shoulders), you'll love how this wax wipes off.
More important - they work GREAT!
And the final results? Freaking amazing!
Final comments...
There simply is no downside to this product. My guess is, this is why it has such a strong following for so long. The product simple performs as advertised and it's easy to apply and wipe-off with a clear, high gloss shine famous to carnauba style waxes. And the price? At the time I'm writing this article, the Autogeek.com store has it listed for $18.99 - call it 20 bucks. It's a simple product at a great prices and a solid performer.
There was no dusting, zero streaking and after the final wipe the paint felt smooth and slippery. I should have tried this wax years ago. I know I'll be using it again in the future unless... I find I like the 476s better.
On Autogeek.com
Collinite Liquid Insulator Wax No. 845
White Flip Cap
Yellow Round Foam Wax Applicators - 6-pack (always stock up on these)
The towels you see in the pictures...
Here's the link to the towels I used to remove the wax. These are brand new to the AG store. I really liked them for removing the Collinite 845 wax. The thing about these super fluffy towels and any towel that's going to "touch" car paint - you need to have a protocol in place to keep your towels clean and uncontaminated from start to finish. That means, have a clean place to store them when not in use. Have a clean place to put them after use. Wash them, dry them, inspect them and then put them back in the clean place you store your microfiber towels.
These towels are very plush and luxurious.
Speed Master Cloud 9 Microfiber Buffing Towel - Blue - 6 Pack
