Why Should You Wax A New Car
You should definitely wax your new car as soon as possible in order to protect it from the elements. While you drive safely inside the interior of your car, the exterior of your car is subject to rain, snow, sleet, bugs, dust, dirt, debris, rocks, moisture, smog, sun and whatever else the outdoors might throw at it.
Waxing helps protect your cars paint job, which means its less likely to chip or peel and leave the metal underneath vulnerable to premature rust. Not to mention, waxing gives your car a nice, shiny look as if it just left the showroom floor!
What Is Natural Carnauba Wax
Carnauba wax is derived from the oils found within the common Palm Tree .
Packed into round metal tins, and rocking one hell of a lengthy stint in the automotive detailing arena, carnauba wax is without question one of the most instantly recognizable automotive surface protectants in the world. But despite its popularity and prolonged presence in our lives, few people know exactly where this all-natural substance comes from, or how it is manufactured.
Why Wax Your Car
Whether you wax your car yourself or pay someone to do it, it is important to understand the benefits of waxing. Applying wax involves a couple positive benefits.
- Avoid scratches: Your cars clear coat is susceptible to scratches. Wax adds an additional layer of protection.
- Keeps paint fresh. Waxing your car keeps the paint job looking new. It also keeps dirt and other particles from becoming embedded in the paint. Oils in the wax also add shine, giving your car a sleek look.
- Safer from the sun. Exposure to the sun can cause faded paint spots due to damage to the clear coat. Consistently applying wax to your vehicle can help prevent sun damage.
If you want your car to look shiny and new as long as possible, you can add wax to your car maintenance routine. This makes it all the more important that you ensure the waxing is done effectively.
Recommended Reading: Florida Lost Title
What Car Wax Does
Wax technology has undergone many advancements over the years. The best car waxes can offer a brilliant, deep shine while protecting your cars paint from minor environmental hazards. In this blog post, we will look at some of the benefits and limitations of car wax.
Today, car waxes are typically made of Carnauba, a yellowish wax produced by the leaves of the Carnauba Palm found in northeastern Brazil. It is this wax which gives the leaves of the palm their water beading and repelling properties.
A good paste or spray wax can protect your paint for 1 3 months, depending on how you care for your car between waxing. This sacrificial layer will protect a car from some of the damage from environmental factors, such as overspray, rail dust, etc.
Wax is often preferred by Show Car owners because of its brilliant luster. When you are trying to win Best of Show you want the deepest shine you can get. However, show cars are not typically daily drivers. They are stored out of the elements when not at a show, and they are rigorously maintained between events.
Waxing Your Car Vs Not Waxing Your Car: What Happens
You might wash your car regularly, but do you wax it, too? If not, its probably because youre not convinced that your car could really benefit from being waxed. But there actually is quite a difference between a waxed car and an unwaxed one. Waxing your car not only makes it look nicer, but it also protects the paint. If youre still not sold on the idea of waxing your car regularly, check out the benefits of this habit, as well as the consequences of not waxing your car.
Recommended Reading: Vaseline Interior Car Scratches
How Does Car Wax Work On Water
You may have noticed that water beads up on the surface of a freshly waxed car. This happens because wax is hydrophobic, meaning that it does its best to avoid absorbing water .
But why is wax so hydrophobic? Because it’s water’s polar opposite. Water is made up of polar molecules, which are asymmetrically charged particles that are easily attracted to dirt and metal. So when rain falls on an unwaxed car, the water starts to spread out.
On the other hand, wax is nonpolar. That means that if a car has been treated to a coat of wax, water has nothing to stick to but itself, causing it to scatter into round beads that easily roll right off the surface.
Pro Tip #: Use A Soft Brush For Gaps And Molding
No matter how hard you try to keep wax off of molding and out of cracks its almost inevitable that this will occur. Thats why it is a good idea to keep a soft brush handy while you are waxing your car. The brushes can be purchased at most auto parts stores and only cost a couple of dollars. Removing wax from a cars molding after it has dried can be difficult and sometimes the wax will leave permanent staining. Wax left in the cracks and crevices between body panels will harden and become very noticeable once dry. To avoid both of these situations, use a soft brush to remove any wax from moldings or cracks and crevices before it dries.
Waxing your vehicle is a great way to ensure that it stays shiny and looking great. Waxing will work to protect your cars paint from damaging sun rays, abrasive dirt, and chemicals in the rain and snow. Properly maintaining your cars paint by regularly waxing can extend the life of your cars paint and help keep your car looking good long into the future. Using the tips in this article, youll be able to wax your car like a pro and feel proud of your hard work when you drive around in your glossy car.
helpful
Read Also: How Much Does A Car Salesman Make Per Sale
Ways To Buffing A Car
There are three ways you can buff your car. This includes using a manual buffer, high-speed buffer, and orbital buffer.
As the name suggests, a manual buffer is performed by hand. It involves applying a sufficient amount of rubbing compound or polish to a microfiber towel then using it to scrub your car paint. You may prefer orbital buffer in case you have little experience and want better faster results. Orbital buffer can repair scratches and minor swirls.
The other car buffing method is a high-speed buffer which is done by professionals to repair deep scratches and restore the aesthetic beauty of your car. If your car has dull-looking paint, minor scratches, or paint flaws, then it may require buffing out so that it looks shiny and new again.
Before we know How to buff a car, lets know first about car buffing is good or not?
How Do I Know When My Car Needs A Wax Job
Some people may see a wax job as an extra for their car, something you do on special occasions to provide a little extra shine. But waxing your car is actually something that should be done on a regular basis. Too often car owners provide regular maintenance on the engine of their vehicle and ignore the exterior altogether, save for a few trips through the gas station car wash. The exterior of your car needs regular care as well. While neglecting the paint job may not lead to mechanical performance issues, it will result in a lower resale value, just like if you never changed your oil or got a tune up. Regular exterior maintenance will keep your car looking new for years after purchase.
And it’s not just a cosmetic benefit either, regular waxing helps to protect the paint job and clear coat on your car by preserving oils in the paint that help to prevent oxidation. This is when the oxygen molecules in the air react with, and in this case burn up, the free radicals in the paint. The result is a dulled finish, and waxing can help to prevent this ugly process. Regular waxing also protects the paint from the daily wear and tear our cars get from being exposed to the outside world. Bird droppings, wind, rain, hail, tree sap, smog, ultraviolet rays from the sun — you name it. There are a host of threats to your car’s shiny finish.
Read Also: Can A Car Salesman Make Six Figures
The Problem With Natural Carnauba Wax
Unregulated carnauba tree harvesting and unethical car wax production labor violations are but a couple of the problems that have come to light in recent years. Photo Credit: UEBT
While a carnauba wax will protect the exterior of a vehicle from the elements, it only works for about six weeks on average before it begins to break down, at which point it must be stripped away and reapplied. Carnauba wax also does not have a very high scratch resistance rating, and is prone to becoming hazy when submitted to excessive levels of air pollution or airborne contaminants.
Another issue with carnauba wax, is that because it is a plant-based item, people presume that they are doing the environment a favor by purchasing these products. But no one really stops to think about where carnauba wax comes from, or the labor conditions that people are subjected to in order to cultivate this palm-based product.
Environmental and social challenges have come to light in Carnauba wax extraction areas in northeast Brazil, including high rates of deforestation, degradation of local biodiversity, persistent drought, rapid expansion of invasive species, as well as poor working conditions and low pay.
Initiative for Responsible Carnauba
Quick Nerd Note: Carnauba wax can be found being used as a hardener or as a gloss-inducing protectant in many of the products that we take for granted every day, including candy, pills, dental floss, sunscreen, floor polish, and even printing cartridge ink.
How Often Should You Buff Your Car
Car experts recommend that you detail your car every four to six months which is equivalent to 2 to 3 times per year. This is just a rule of thumb and the number of times you want to detail your vehicle will depend on the car you have and of course the owner. In case your car is not as shiny as it once was, or it has scratches and chips then you should consider buffing it out. Bird droppings, sunlight, rain, and dust may take a toll on your vehicle. This is why you should know how often you need to buff your car. To avoid damaging the coating layer of your vehicle, you must buff your car once a year.
Recommended Reading: Repairing Clear Coat On A Car
The Flitz Guide To Car Wax Vs Car Polish
After a fresh wash, maintaining your cars shine is a top priority. You may be deciding whether you need to polish or wax your car or perhaps both. Some may be unsure of which method is better for their cars needs and often wonder whats the difference between polishing and waxing your car?Heres our car polish vs wax guide that will show you the advantages of both and when to use each product on your car.
What Does It Do
Wax is – for the most part – about protection. Youre putting a barrier between the clearcoat and the outside world to protect it from nasty stuff in the air, UV rays, and water. Water is of particular concern – rainwater and spray from the roads is full of all sorts of pollutants which can easily transfer onto the paint, so the best way to protect against it is to make sure water quickly runs straight off your bodywork – something that wax will do by making the surface hydrophobic.
Take a look at the video above of our Jaguar XE S longtermer: the left-hand side of the bonnet has been given a layer of wax, so the water runs off very quickly. On the unwaxed right-hand side of the bonnet, the water sticks around for a lot longer.
In fact, as youll see in the video below, wax is so efficient at repelling water, that its possible to dry a waxed car using water – specifically, from an open hose. This is far safer than contact drying using towels, as it eliminates the possibility of scratching.
If youve ever used car wax, youll also know that it gives the car a nice shiny finish. The diagram above should give you a good idea of why: what the wax is doing is filling in all the gaps in the clear coat caused by scratches and other imperfections. It will help you with your colour, and it will help you with your blemishes because micro scratches will be filled. You effectively get a new surface on the top, Paul explains.
You May Like: Do Car Salesmen Get Paid Weekly
Different Types Of Car Waxes And Their Various Benefits
24th Apr 2020
To bring out your cars best, waxing is an absolute must. It is the perfect way to seal in the paints luster, deflect dirt and debris, and make it look brand new. If you are new to the world of waxing, however, it can be tricky to figure out. There are tons of different types of car waxes, each with their own unique properties. To find what works best for you, take a more in-depth look at each wax and their unique benefits.
What Is Car Wax
The most obvious starting point is to look at exactly what the stuff youre slapping on your car is. At its core is – well, wax actually. But wax is a term that encompasses a wide variety of materials. Wax refers to a hard hydrocarbon at room temperature. The waxes can come from natural sources like carnauba – which is made from the wax on the leaves of the carnauba plant – or you can have palm waxes, and you can even find waxes in hydrocarbons like coal. Or you can have synthetic waxes, such as waxes from silicones, Paul explains.
The problem is, spreading a hard material over a car isnt possible, which is why solvents and oils are then added to the mix to make a more malleable substance. More than one kind of wax can go into a car wax product, and the oils and solvents can vary greatly.
You May Like: Car Registration Fee In Texas
Nano Ceramic Coatings: Ultimate Car Wax Alternative
Nano ceramic coatings are concocted from a silica formula, that once allowed to fully cure on a clean, hard surface, becomes both extremely slick and strong as all hell. The word nano refers to the microscopic silica molecules contained within the coating itself, which once allowed to solidify, both increase gloss and reject contaminants.
In contrast to car wax, the average DIY nano ceramic coating has the ability to last upwards of 25 years, and is both far more scratch resistant and visually appealing. Application merely requires a simple wipe-on, buff-off experience, which once allowed to cure, will repel more filth than any car wax on the market today.
Since nano silica particles are so small, they have the ability to seal all of the microscopic peaks and valleys found within hard materials, thus creating a flat hydrophobic surface that can resist UV rays, scratches, chemicals, extreme heat, and even graffiti.
Quick Nerd Note: If youd like to learn more about this revolutionary surface protection product, be sure to check out the ultimate AvalonKing ceramic coating blog article. That particular article contains everything youll ever need to know about nano ceramic coatings and then some, all packed into an easy-to-follow outline.
What Does Polish Do
Firstly, its really important to understand what a polish does.
Polish is abrasive. This means that it cuts away a layer of paint on your car. Your car has several layers to its finish. Check out this diagram.
The two most important layers you need to worry about, are the base coat and the clear coat.
The base coat is also known as the colour coat and gives your car its actual colour. The clear coat sits on top.
The function of the clear coat is to protect the base coat from UV rays which cause fading, acid rain, and other potential sources of damage.
The clear coat is quite susceptible to damage though and can get tiny little scratches from washing improperly, for example using a sponge. Check out this post to find out why you should never use a sponge to wash your car.
So in reality, your clear coat isnt smooth which causes it to look duller.
However, you can remove these scratches using a polish, either by hand or using a machine, to flatten the paint surface and make it shinier. Take a look at this diagram to demonstrate.
You should be careful not to over-polish your car, or youll be left with very little clear coat, and therefore protection on your car. Take a look at this article Ive written about when you should polish your car.
Don’t Miss: Car Rentals That Accept Aarp
Wax Or Polish By Hand
Once your car is washed and clay-bar’d you can proceed to polishing or waxing. Many folks are confused about the difference between polishing and waxing, as many products appear to do the same thing. A polish has actual cutting compound in it and is made to remove swirl marks, fine scratches and haze by cutting into and creating a new sheen surface. Most polishes do not have wax in them, and are strictly a compound for shining. While you can use a polishing compound by hand, it is extremely difficult and is recommended to always use a machine, such as the Griot’s buffer/polisher to do so.
As far as wax goes, applying by hand has been done for decades and is still a popular method. Apply wax with a clean applicator pad one area at a time and don’t attempt to apply wax to your entire vehicle at one time. Once you’ve sprayed or applied wax to a single area and waited for the wax to dry to a haze, rub it with a damp microfiber or cotton buffing cloth to remove and shine.
Turn the cloth or pad over and buff out the remaining product with the other side. Be sure to use circular motions and to work slowly to ensure every area is covered and excess wax is removed as you work. Once you’re finished, you can expect car wax to last between three and six months, depending on the weather and your driving habits.
