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A guide to car waxes - protection and shine of the bodywork
(photo Moje Auto)
Car paints on our cars lose their shine and durability with use. Even though cars have increasingly modern interiors and better parameters, their coatings are not becoming thicker and more durable. Modern manufacturers assume that the useful life of an average car is approximately 10 years, which means they do not choose exceptionally durable paints for new models. Car wax is the saving grace for paint. All you have to do is look around you to easily notice that there are a large number of cars with more than a decade of experience on our roads.
Car shine techniques – wet and dry wax.
What does wax protect the bodywork against?
Regardless of the season, the paint on our bodywork is exposed to many adversities, such as:
- Atmospheric conditions – they have a very big impact on car paint. In summer it is exposed to the scorching sun, in spring and autumn to rainfall of varying intensity and occasionally even to hail. However, in winter, negative temperatures cause the paint to become covered with ice. Each season of the year reduces the quality of the paint to some extent. Therefore, with the arrival of each season, it is worth setting aside one day to thoroughly protect the paint. This is an extremely time-consuming process, requiring precision and often several hours of conscientious work. The next step is to wash the car periodically. Even if the car looks clean a week after the last wash, dirt has most likely appeared on the paint during this time, which may negatively affect the paint.
- action of third parties – a car is the apple of every car enthusiast's eye. Every day they make every effort to ensure that it is technically efficient and maintains its aesthetic value. Unfortunately, the current multitude of cars means that roads and parking lots are simply cramped. A classic of the genre is a weekend shopping trip to the supermarket. A driver parking nearby may accidentally hit our door when getting out or in. A moment of inattention may cost us several sleepless nights and financial loss. According to the saying, prudent is always safe, just in case, it is worth parking further from the entrance to the supermarket, where the parking spaces are not so crowded, and walk a few or a dozen meters, but be more sure that we have done everything we could for the paint of our car. .
What else affects the bodywork?
- Time - nothing lasts forever. Car paint, like any other part, is subject to systematic wear. It's really worth spending some time maintaining and polishing it to prolong its "young" appearance. In addition, a car that is well-maintained loses less value, so you can profit from it when selling it.
- dust from the road that settles on the paint – the current level of all kinds of pollution is simply high and – what's worse – it doesn't look like anyone will come up with and apply any golden mean to change the current state of affairs in the near future. Dust, dust and other deposits that are unfriendly to the paint are unfortunately often its natural environment. Especially in cities. Choosing the right wax and skillfully applying it to the paint creates positive visual experiences, but also serves as an invisible protective layer. All dust settles on it, and not directly on the varnish.
Paint care is a process that should be performed regularly along with washing the entire car. In addition to standard activities aimed at washing the car, we should also use products for the care and gloss of the paint. This procedure allows for the removal of finer contaminants. It facilitates the subsequent washing process, and after using hydrophobic preparations, no water drops will remain on the surface.
Let's summarize the most important information in an infographic that every driver can save on their phone.
(My Car infographic)
What is wax used for?
Waxes are available on the market in many types to protect and care for the body paint. Their action is primarily to protect the paint, especially against UV rays, and therefore prevent the color of the paint from fading. Another feature is that paint protected with wax is much easier to wash; care in this case is limited to rinsing the bodywork with water under pressure.
Choosing the right wax with such a variety of products available on the market is not an easy task. We can specify hard, natural, synthetic, coloring and scratch-filling waxes. The choice of the right wax will be influenced primarily by: the time needed for application, the durability of the wax on the varnish, the visual effect after application and the hydrophobic effect. This, of course, will translate into the driver's satisfaction with the final waxing effect. And as Akio Toyoda, head of Toyota Motor Corporation, said.
(My Car infographic)
Types of waxes
Hard waxes are one of the most popular waxes on the market. To use them, you need a special sponge and a microfiber cloth. These waxes are characterized by the highest durability and resistance to weather conditions, they provide excellent color depth. Their disadvantage is a very long application time on the bodywork. Hard waxes include natural, synthetic and hybrid. Natural waxes are waxes based on carnauba wax, obtained from Brazilian palm leaves, and beeswaxes. This wax guarantees the highest level of shine after application.
The action of synthetic waxes is based on modern polymer technology. After application, the polymers contained in this type of wax bind with the car's paint surface, providing very good protection and resistance to environmental factors.
Hybrid waxes – they are a combination of natural and synthetic waxes, as a result, after using such wax, an excellent depth of color will be visible. We will obtain a high degree of protection for the varnish and, additionally, such wax will be very durable on the surface.
Waxes in milk – they are less popular than hard waxes. They are easier to use due to their liquid formula and require less time. However, paint protection is much weaker than in the case of hard waxes.
Waxes in an atomizer – this is a very good choice if we want quick and good results. By conveniently dispensing it onto the body, using such wax is much easier and faster.
To use it, spray it on clean and dried paint and then polish it with a microfiber cloth. Most waxes of this type are synthetic or hybrid waxes, providing a very good hydrophobizing effect (repelling water) and gloss. There are also spray waxes available that can be used on wet paint, thanks to which the wax bonds with the paint and its use significantly shortens the time needed to care for the car.
Waxing process
Before starting the waxing process, every driver should learn some information on this topic and decide for themselves what is of greatest value to them. For some, it will be the accuracy of coverage and an above-average visual effect. Others will value the speed and simplicity of use.
(My Car infographic)
In each group of waxes you can find a wide range of products from various manufacturers. However, high-quality wax does not have to cost a fortune. The most important thing is that the driver or car wash employee should be able to skillfully select the preparation for the paint in such a way that the waxing or polishing effect is as great as possible. Moreover, this skill will also guarantee the highest protection of the paint. The car owner will be sure that the body will achieve the appropriate visual effect. It will also be technically protected, which will significantly extend its durability. As a result, the car will look much younger than it actually is.
Wet or dry wax? What technique should be used to shine a car?
Another important aspect in the car waxing process is the appropriate selection of the preparation in terms of the technique of applying it to the paint. The car body can be waxedwet” or “dry”. So let's analyze both of these techniques. Let's consider all the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.
