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Why Wax Your Car?
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Predating the automobile, it was European coach builders that first
applied coatings of animal fats and wax to protect the custom paintwork
on their horse drawn carriages. This tradition has endured over 100
years and is still the best way to protect the paintwork on modern-day
coaches. Today, the multi-layered finish on your car, from the primer
through the top (clear) coat, is only .006 to .008 of an inch thick.
Regardless of how fine the finish is now, it will deteriorate and dull.
Radiant and ultraviolet energy, acid rain, salt, atmospheric pollution,
insect fluids, and bird droppings wage a constant war on your car’s
finish. Waxing provides an easily renewable, transparent barrier between
the finish and a hostile environment.
Waxing also makes your car, new or old, look better. Quality waxes now
combine enriching oils that “wet” the surface with Brazilian Carnauba
Wax and/or modern polymers for a high gloss shine. This brings us to the
subject of selecting a wax. Waxes can be made from a natural wax,
usually Brazilian Carnauba, or synthetically made with polymers and
acrylic resins. In choosing a wax, here are some points to consider:
Carnauba Waxes
Carnauba comes from the fronds of the “Tree of Life” (Copernica Cerifera)
native to northern Brazil. It is nature’s hardest, purest, and most
transparent wax. Carnauba car waxes tend to produce a deeper, darker,
richer shine that is often described as “three-dimensional”.
Many enthusiasts and show-car owners prefer the shine of carnauba waxes,
especially on black, red, and dark color cars. Carnauba waxes bead water
nicely, absorb the acid content in rain and hide minor swirls in the
paint. Pinnacle Paste Glaz, Pinnacle Souveran, and P21S Carnauba Wax are
excellent examples of modern carnauba waxes.
On the minus side, carnauba waxes are not as durable as synthetic waxes.
Depending on your climate, they typically last 90 days. (Paste carnauba
waxes will outlast liquid carnauba waxes due to their higher wax
content.) Some carnauba waxes are a little harder to apply and buff off.
And, carnauba waxes can be temperamental, sometimes “streaking” under
certain temperature conditions. The four waxes listed above are unusual
as they wipe on and buff off with ease. The Pinnacle waxes are also
fortified with modern polymers making them very durable and resistant to
hazing and streaking.
Synthetic Waxes
Made from modern polymers and acrylic resins, synthetic waxes offer
maximum durability and ease of application. Synthetic waxes can last six
to nine months or longer and typically wipe on and buff off with very
little effort. These waxes, sometimes called sealants, create a very
bright shine and are resistant to clouding and streaking. Klasse
All-In-One, Autoglym Super Resin Polish, Liquid Glass, Meguiar’s No. 20
Polymer Sealant, and Stoner Polish & Seal are all in this synthetic
family of waxes.
On the down side, many enthusiasts feel synthetic waxes lack depth and
richness. Black cars can look a sterile silvery-white in direct
sunlight. And, the mirror-like polymers can collect in minor swirls and
actually highlight paint flaws. Of all the synthetic waxes we offer,
Klasse All-In-One and it's companion High Gloss Sealant Glaze are our
favorite. Klasse wipes on and buffs off with an absolute minimum of
effort, produces a mirror-like shine and is exceedingly durable.
One-Step Cleaner/Waxes
Many brands of carnauba and synthetic waxes can be purchased with or
without cleaning agents. If you are using a polish before you wax,
select a “pure” wax without cleaners. These formulas should produce a
higher gloss and last longer. If you cannot devote the extra time for
separate polishing, select a one-step cleaner/wax. One-step waxes can do
an excellent job of maintaining newer finishes but cannot restore older
cars with dull, oxidized, or neglected paint. The best one-step
synthetic cleaner waxes we have found are Klasse All-In-One and Stoner
Polish & Seal. The best carnauba cleaner/waxes we offer are Meguiar’s No
6 Liquid Cleaner/Wax and Eagle One Paste Cleaner/Wax.
Keep checking back for more tips to keep your vehicle running smooth!!
