How to tell if your wax is dry - The Swipe Test

[Murr1525]

Re: How to tell if your wax is dry - The Swipe Test

As long as it isnt showing any signs of separating, should be fine.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: How to tell if your wax is dry - The Swipe Test

Which got me to thinking.... Is there any kind of "drop dead" date/age beyond which a product should no longer be used and discarded. I have an almost full can of this wax that is at least 15 years old. It has been stored in its own tightly sealed container, in a horizontal position, and not exposed to any freezing temperatures. It has a crack across the middle and is just slightly loose in the can.

What do you think? Still Ok to use?

Paste waxes, when properly sealed as you've described, can have extremely long usable life spans. A crack across the middle and a little pulling away from the side of the can (a bit of shrinkage, if you will) is perfectly normal and the wax should still be completely fine. If it's crumbling and falling apart then probably not.

For liquid products of a lotion like viscosity (liquid waxes, paint cleaners, compounds, etc) we usually expect a shelf life of 3 to 5 years provided they aren't exposed to long term temperature extremes. One solid freeze/thaw cycle will usually kill these products, and prolonged exposure to high heat (sitting in the trunk of your car for a week in 100F temps, for example) will, too. But without this sort of exposure we've seen these products still perfectly viable after 10, 15 years or more. The tell tale is this: shake up the product thoroughly and if it pours out of the bottle in a smooth, consistent flow like you expect it to, then it should still be good regardless of age. But if even prolonged, vigorous shaking won't mix it together and it pours out either watery or lumpy, then it's shot. If it has a horrible odor to it, it's shot.

Liquid products of a water like viscosity (glass cleaners, quick detailers, etc) are a bit more resilient to temp extremes, but even they can be damaged by very prolonged exposure.

[jhhodges]

Re: How to tell if your wax is dry - The Swipe Test

Thanks, Murr1525.

Thanks, Michael.

It still looks and "feels" good except for the crack and "looseness".

The address on the can includes Newport Beach instead of Irvine. I have shoes that are 30 years old.

Thanks, again.

[Quaza75]

Re: How to tell if your wax is dry - The Swipe Test

okay I had no idea how to wax my car never did it before today I came here and seen this wonderful writeup and thought I'll try it. I was pleased with the result to say the least, I like doing it all my hand myself I tried the machine I got from a friend didn't like the results as I did when I did it by hand Little note about the car and where I live I live in Michigan this Nov day it was about 55 out little warmer for us this time of year, my car is a 97 Chrysler Sebring Convertible cherry red paint I did some rust removal on the back quarter panels and wanted to buff up the areas where I worked on so I decided to do the whole car focusing mainly on those 2 areas. This car seen almost 250k miles of Michigan roads and yes the car runs and drive like new and looks like it too after I put some time and work and waxing her but I do have couple questions first I used your Meguiar's Cleaner Wax paste did the entire car then waited for about 10 to 15 minutes then wiped it all off with a microfiber cloth that itself left a great shine that I have never seen on this car (I owned it for about four years), my question is this after applying the Cleaner Wax I went ahead for the second coat I used the Ultimate Compound, was this too much too soon or was this okay?? also near the tire wells on my car mainly the 2 front wells because those are the drive wheels I have tar and other road junk built up on the bottom on the paint, anything in your product closet you recommend to clean that area up back to the original paint

[davey g-force]

Re: How to tell if your wax is dry - The Swipe Test

^^ No harm done, but you used the products the wrong way around (in the wrong order). You should go back and re-wax the car now after using UC.

Use the Cleaner Wax if that's all you have, but something like NXT or Ultimate Wax would be better.

[Quaza75]

Re: How to tell if your wax is dry - The Swipe Test

I used the cleaner wax first then the ultimate compound you saying I did it backwards?

I thought the cleaner wax removes any wax that was on the car so I figure using the cleaner first the using the UC would bring the car closer to the show room shine which what I was after

[Murr1525]

Re: How to tell if your wax is dry - The Swipe Test

Perhaps we should have this moved to a new thread, or start a new one if you want to go more in depth, but here is a basic answer:

first I used your Meguiar's Cleaner Wax paste did the entire car then waited for about 10 to 15 minutes then wiped it all off with a microfiber cloth that itself left a great shine that I have never seen on this car (I owned it for about four years),

OK, good.

my question is this after applying the Cleaner Wax I went ahead for the second coat I used the Ultimate Compound, was this too much too soon or was this okay??

Yes, this is backwards.

Generally, you want to have your detail look like:
1. Wash
2. Clay if needed
3. Clean
4. Polish - Optional
5. Wax
6. Wax - 2 thin coats are best
7. Maintain - A spray wax is nice after future washes inbetween details.

So, with those products, what you should look at is:

1. Wash
2. Clay - Smooth Surface clay kit
3. Clean - Ult. Compound is a stronger cleaner, to remove dirt and then can remove swirls/some scratches if worked in enough/properly.
4. Cleaner/Wax - This product is a mild cleaner/polish/wax, so kind of covers steps 3-5 above. It would make sense to use the mild cleaner after the strong one, and this product leaves wax behind, so you would want to use it last, not use it and then remove the wax.
5. Wax - Many people will buy a regular wax, like Ult. Wax, Nxt 2.0, Gold Class +, etc to use as the second coat of wax. If you used the cleaner/wax twice in a row, the cleaner would work to remove the wax from the first coat.

3. also near the tire wells on my car mainly the 2 front wells because those are the drive wheels I have tar and other road junk built up on the bottom on the paint, anything in your product closet you recommend to clean that area up back to the original paint

I would look at TarX or TRIX (tar + iron dust [usually brake dust]).

So Wash, TRIX, clay, clean, polish, wax, wax.

[Murr1525]

Re: How to tell if your wax is dry - The Swipe Test

I thought the cleaner wax removes any wax that was on the car so I figure using the cleaner first the using the UC would bring the car closer to the show room shine which what I was after

As noted above, the 'cleaner' part of the Cleaner/Wax would work to remove wax, but then the 'wax' part would leave wax behind on the surface.

Then the UC just removed the wax right away.

[Quaza75]

Re: How to tell if your wax is dry - The Swipe Test

I did as you have suggested Murr I reapply the cleaner wax waited the time frame then put on a coat of the Ultimate Wax (of course all from the same company) looks good

but when applying the final Wax what the best way to do it, do the entire car then using the microfiber cloth buff it up or do one section or panel at a time?

[davey g-force]

Re: How to tell if your wax is dry - The Swipe Test

Ultimate Wax is a bit different, in that you apply to a panel or two at a time, then buff off.

Any other Meguiars wax, you would apply to the whole car, wait a while for it to haze, then buff off.

[Murr1525]

Re: How to tell if your wax is dry - The Swipe Test

Ultimate Wax is a bit different, in that you apply to a panel or two at a time, then buff off.

Any other Meguiars wax, you would apply to the whole car, wait a while for it to haze, then buff off.

Ult. Wax Liquid that is.

[benzw205]

Re: How to tell if your wax is dry - The Swipe Test

Thank you from a newbie, I will try not to apply too much of the liquid wax.

Can I know what is the risk of letting it dry too long ? Any risk for the paint / result ?

[The Guz]

Re: How to tell if your wax is dry - The Swipe Test

Thank you from a newbie, I will try not to apply too much of the liquid wax.

Can I know what is the risk of letting it dry too long ? Any risk for the paint / result ?

If you are referring to ultimate liquid wax, it doe snot haze like a traditional wax. It can be removed after 3-5 min. on the area it has been applied to.

[billddrummer]

Re: How to tell if your wax is dry - The Swipe Test

I believe my wax application was half way between the recommended and not recommended. Normally I remove by hand but today I

[Parkman]

Re: How to tell if your wax is dry - The Swipe Test

Thank you for the excellent advice. I