The Swipe Test

[Mike Phillips]

The Swipe Test (http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2166)


How to tell when a Meguiar's wax is ready to remove


A good rule of thumb for knowing when a Meguiar?s wax is ready to remove, is to wait until the wax dries to a haze and swipes clear using the Swipe Test. In most cases, in most climates, this should be approximately 10 to 15 minutes after application. In warmer climates, it will hedge towards the 10 minute range, and in colder, wet climates, it will take longer and hedge towards the 15 and even 20 to 25 minute range. Other factors include how thick of a coat you applied, relative humidity and air flow.

Another way to test if the wax has set-up long enough besides measuring with time, is to perform the Swipe Test.



"Swipe Test"

The swipe test is where you take your clean finger, and swipe it briskly across the finish with the wax on it. If the paint is clear, without residue where your finger made the swipe, the wax is ready to wipe-off. If the area you have swiped is smudgy, or streaky, or there is noticeable wax in the swipe area, then the wax has not set-up long enough and you should allow more time for the wax to set-up before your remove it.

If you remove it before it has set-up, you will risk removing too much of the wax from the surface and thus leave less than engineered to remain behind on the finish.

Once enough time has passed and your coating of wax swipes clear, remove the wax using a clean, soft premium microfiber polishing cloth such as Supreme Shine Microfiber polishing cloths (http://meguiars.com/newproducts05/accessoryproduct_page.cfm?SKU=X-2010), or with a clean, 100% cotton, terry cloth towel like our Ultra Plush Terry Cloth towels (http://meguiars.com/newproducts05/accessoryproduct_page.cfm?SKU=X-2040),


Here's some pictures that show the swipe test

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/650/SwipeTest02.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/650/SwipeTest01a.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/650/SwipeTest01.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/48RollsSwipeTest001.jpg


:)

[thuban2]

I use NXT put the wax on by hand, it dries for about one hour. Remove with PC7424, the finish is real good but i get a lot of powder ? Any reason.

[Dmitriy15]

Reason why you powder is because you are letting the wax dry too much and another reason when using same pad around the hole car instead of picking that powder/wax left over like you would with clean microfiber towel you are just swirling it around the car and possibly embedding new swirls in to your paint.

I can see you applying wax on the car using PC, but removing it?

Mike, what's your opinion?

[Murr1525]

You can definately remove with the PC and a MF bonnet, tends to get a nice shine.

A lot of powder would likely come from applying too thick of a wax coat.

[roushstage2]

You can definately remove with the PC and a MF bonnet, tends to get a nice shine.

A lot of powder would likely come from applying too thick of a wax coat.
:iagree:

[ahooah48444]

So if you put wax on with a pad and it leaves a thin layer, how often should you clean the MF bonnet before it starts to clog up? What's the easiest way to do this? Would it be easier to just change bonnets and wash them later? I use DC three step and only have 6 bonnets and a large car. I could remove step 1 and 2 by hand and use the bonnet for step 3 or would using a bonnet on all steps benefit?

[Tim Lingor]

Morning,

I usually use 2 MF bonnets for LSP removal on a normal sized car. Once the bonnet looks to be clogging up, I turn it inside out and use the inside of the bonnet as they are reversible. Then about halfway through the car, I will switch to a fresh bonnet. :) As for compound or polish removal I use Meguiar's Ultimate Wipe MF Towels as they will give more bite to remove the compound or cleaner/polish residue.


Tim

[Andy M.]

Tim pretty much nailed it, AGAIN! Using the bonnets not only IMO gets a better end result but also is a lot faster than taking everything off by hand. I normally do a final wipe down with a microfiber towel after using the bonnets for product removal. If you have 6 bonnets and you are using DC1,2, and 3 you should be good to go.:)

Andy
101impala

So if you put wax on with a pad and it leaves a thin layer, how often should you clean the MF bonnet before it starts to clog up? What's the easiest way to do this? Would it be easier to just change bonnets and wash them later? I use DC three step and only have 6 bonnets and a large car. I could remove step 1 and 2 by hand and use the bonnet for step 3 or would using a bonnet on all steps benefit?

[Mike Phillips]

While removing wax using a bonnet on a foam cutting pad, periodically lift the polisher off the paint and quickly hold your fingernails lightly against the bonnet allowing the pad to spin and all the while move your fingernails in and out from the center to the outside of the face of the bonnet, (on the pad), and this will act to kick off any built up wax residue by lifting and separating the nap of the bonnet. You can do this quickly and often as you move around a panel or the car when removing the wax.

By doing this often you can remove all the wax with one bonnet if you like.

If you don't have any fingernails at all, then this technique doesn't work very well.

:)

[omegabenz]

Mike, just to clarify. Do you let the bonnet turn into your finger nails (so the underneiths of the finger nail clean out the bonnet) or do you let it graze your fingernails?

Im thinking option 1.

[ment]

thanks for the great info mike ... :) am learning here .....

[danponjican]

Great article. I love your write-ups! Have you every considered posting them on DetailingWiki.com (http://detailingwiki.com/index.php5?title=Main_Page)?