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? 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 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? 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. P21S, Authentic Premium and Excellent 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 waxes listed above are unusual as they wipe on and buff off with ease.
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. Menzerna FMJ, Autoglym Super Resin Polish 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.
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.
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