top coat wax

Hmm, that's a billion dollar question... Maybe there will be a billion posts?

i recommend you delete all these post and create one methodical thread for ALL your questions...

It is indeed the billion dollar question. Everyone will have their preference, usually based on what they've tried, as well as what they can afford and other criteria (durability vs appearance).

A couple I've tried that I remember:

Collinite 845 IW: Not sure how true it is, but they saw it's been used to cover power lines (where the IW, insulator wax, comes from). Either way, it's one of the more durable waxes, as well as rather affordable at ~13 dollars a bottle. Relatively easy to apply with easy-medium difficulty in removing (applying thin really helps). It's good for lighter colors, or for people looking for a "shiny" wax.

BlackFire Wet Diamond Sealant: This is a sealant. It has pretty good durability, and is very easy to remove. Since my friend bought a couple jugs of it, it's our go to topper product because of ease of use, slick feeling, as well as pretty good looks. It seems to work pretty well with all paint colors. It is a little more expensive, though, at 30 bucks per 16 fl oz.

Autoglym HD: My friend seemed to like it on the dark gray colors, since it had a pretty good shine to it. Durability is, at least in our experience, more on the lacking side. It was alright on my white Expy, though I wish it had lasted a little longer than it did.

Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant: Heh, I think they're up to version 3.0 on this. We started using it when it was 2.0. This was another go to topper. Durability was very good, as well as slickness and looks. The only downside was the 45 minute wait time that you had to leave it on before wiping it off. Once set, though, it was a breeze to remove. I don't know how many months this last on the Expy before I retopped it with something else. A lot of people liked the look of this one. Price is a little more than BFWD, at $40 per 16 oz.

There's other stuff we've tried as well like Natty's Red and Blue (yum, bubble gum), Collinite 476, Collinite Marque D’Elegance (not a fan), Klasse (a PITA to remove), Wolgang Fuzion, Finish Kare 1000P, DP's Poli-Coat, S100, Pinnacle Series II and Souvenir, Meg's #26, as well as a few others I don't really remember right now.

Some of these, we only use a handful of times, so I don't really remember much about them. The key to remember, though, is the the LSP will only be as good as the prep and finishing you did prior to getting to the waxing step. You can't just throw wax on a swirled or neglected finish and expect miracles.

ELVATO said:

It is indeed the billion dollar question. Everyone will have their preference, usually based on what they've tried, as well as what they can afford and other criteria (durability vs appearance).

Click to expand...

Or how easy / hard it is to wipe off?

I love the pink carnauba. It is a pain to pull off if it goes on too thick (hot weather) but soooo worth it... I usually like to judge a top coat wax by it's ability to bead water and how small the beads are... (This stuff will make water stand up so tall it almost completes the sphere.) but what's really nice about it is you can put two coats on (or more) and each application will build up on the other (full depth)... I suppose in theory, you could build up a 1/2" thick coat of wax on your car! / I wonder if you'd end up with a pink car though?

What pink carnauba?

I like beading, but I prefer sheeting. Nothing like seeing water being poured on, and have it sheet off, leaving behind a dry surface. Either of them are good, though

You can't get that stuff to sheet water... The water is gone before it has a chance to pool... All you're left with is a fine mist of water spheres rolling off like beebees...

(but you gotta put 2 or three coats on after you polish to get it that way)

OK another dummy question. Can I assume top coat wax is kind of like a sealant which you apply AFTER you've applied a regular layer or wax (such as Fukken wax), which I've just placed an order for? Cheers!

Normally, you apply the longer lasting wax on first (usually sealants), let it cure (as in apply, leave for specified time, buff off, then let paint sit before applying another product), then you apply the top lay, or LSP (last step product).

Before, it used to be putting a sealant on first, then a carnuba wax since they usually gave a deeper, wet look. Now a days, there are many sealants that are both long lasting and look pretty good, so really, only one layer is needed.

UGH! too much work! haha i think one day this summer im going to go pay to have this all done. washed, polished, waxed, and everything else to make her like a show car. i bet i can find a mexican to do in a few hours.

Weenee :

theres not enough shade where i live to do it. it always just turns out like crap. but yes i dont feel like doing it. haha

i have too much az pinstriping. i used to wax my corolla before a expy totalled it

I've tried quite a few high dollar and low budget sealers and waxes, and finally have my own favorite for the last few years. I mainly use Rejex sealant, and sometimes top it with Poorboys blue/dark carnauba for a little extra show/gloss.

Living in Florida I've always had trouble keeping wax on my paint. The problem with most "waxes" is they literally melt right off the paint just sitting in regular sunlight. Once the paint gets over 120 degrees in the sun the wax turns to mush, and a quick rain storm washes it right off. Also simply washing the car takes regular wax off while your drying it.

I only got about 3-4 weeks out of a coat of regular wax, or carnauba wax. Then if you get some synthetic waxes they last 3-4 months, but they're not as glossy. I tried a two part product called Jeff's Werkstatt, beautiful wet finish but expensive and takes a long time to wax the car twice in a row with both parts. Then there was the Zaino product, another pain in the ass that is. You gotta mix a couple drops of hardener into the wax, then have a time frame for applying it, then wait 1/2 hour before removing it, then do the whole vehicle a few more times to fill in scratches/swirls....screw zaino.

My customers use Rejex on their airplanes so I tried it. It's bad ass stuff. It's the slipperiest stuff I've ever used. It goes on and comes off super easy, even in direct sunlight. When you're done the paint looks wet. It lasts for 6+ months which is great because the Expedition takes forever to wax. Love bugs don't even stick to it. It's a synthetic sealant but also has an ultra glossy finish. Some paint jobs have a slightly orange peel finish from the factory- those aren't good for Rejex because it's such a hard gloss that it makes microscopic imperfections like orange peel stand out, it's just so glossy.

I use Meguiar's Swirl X and Gold paste wax. My pics were right after i detailed it and i think it puts on a nice shine and its not a pita to get off.

joezek said:

I've tried quite a few high dollar and low budget sealers and waxes, and finally have my own favorite for the last few years. I mainly use Rejex sealant, and sometimes top it with Poorboys blue/dark carnauba for a little extra show/gloss.

Living in Florida I've always had trouble keeping wax on my paint. The problem with most "waxes" is they literally melt right off the paint just sitting in regular sunlight. Once the paint gets over 120 degrees in the sun the wax turns to mush, and a quick rain storm washes it right off. Also simply washing the car takes regular wax off while your drying it.

I only got about 3-4 weeks out of a coat of regular wax, or carnauba wax. Then if you get some synthetic waxes they last 3-4 months, but they're not as glossy. I tried a two part product called Jeff's Werkstatt, beautiful wet finish but expensive and takes a long time to wax the car twice in a row with both parts. Then there was the Zaino product, another pain in the ass that is. You gotta mix a couple drops of hardener into the wax, then have a time frame for applying it, then wait 1/2 hour before removing it, then do the whole vehicle a few more times to fill in scratches/swirls....screw zaino.

My customers use Rejex on their airplanes so I tried it. It's bad ass stuff. It's the slipperiest stuff I've ever used. It goes on and comes off super easy, even in direct sunlight. When you're done the paint looks wet. It lasts for 6+ months which is great because the Expedition takes forever to wax. Love bugs don't even stick to it. It's a synthetic sealant but also has an ultra glossy finish. Some paint jobs have a slightly orange peel finish from the factory- those aren't good for Rejex because it's such a hard gloss that it makes microscopic imperfections like orange peel stand out, it's just so glossy.

Click to expand...

Yup poorboys is good stuff! Im gonna try the Rejex stuff hmmm.... is this it
http://www.autogeek.net/rejex-16oz.html

panda24619 said:

UGH! too much work! haha i think one day this summer im going to go pay to have this all done. washed, polished, waxed, and everything else to make her like a show car. i bet i can find a mexican to do in a few hours.

Click to expand...

j/k

I prefer dodo juice supernatural on top of zaino. Which reminds me I have to make a new order of zaino so I can do the expedition

Sol, Go to rejex.com you can buy 2 bottles there for $24.90 I paid 20.00 for auto geek and got one bottle....I am ordering this combo...I did the Impala twice and I know there aint enough left to do the beast....that stuff is the whip...I hope my truck looks as good as the car does...got pictures in my album..

by the way this is zaino and supernatural on my old 300c show car

nice 300...is it flat orange?