Why Wax Your Car?
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.
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.
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, 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.