The "Wax Line"

[techjazz]

This question has been plaguing me since I started detailing, and maybe I can finally reach a conclusion about it...

Here's a picture from one of the Meguiar's classes, which later this picture was used for the "How to apply a very thin coat of wax using a D/A" thread.



If you look at the path the D/A took, you'll notice there are darker spots, where the pad traveled next to already laid down wax and from what I'm thinking, picked up some of the wax, leaving the darker line, In some cases it looks like there isn't any wax at all left - hence creating what I call a "wax line".

It's really apparent in the left side of the photo.

Here's my question: because the surface of the paint had already been covered with wax/sealant, does it still have an adequate amount of protection on the paint?

If the wax really does work on this kind of microscopic level, I should have nothing to worry about, but I wanted to get some people's opinions on it.

I've always done two coats of wax to ensure uniform coverage, and I've never seen parts of the paint that didn't bead/sheet water better than others. I've never been able to avoid this problem, and it seems to be a natural side effect of laying down a thin layer of wax or sealant. I definitely wouldn't want to use too much product not to have this happen.

Thoughts?

[ffboy]

Re: The "Wax Line"

There is more than sufficient waX coverage, i think the reason there are dark areas (which look like unwaxed areas) is not the lack of wax, but due to the angle in which light is hitting the surface, and the wax pattern of the DA polisher. ALso, since the paint has been coated with wax, even another pass on top of the wax won't really affect it in my opinion becasue while the applied wax may be removed by the pad that passed on top of it, it is immediately replaced by the wax that's been on the pad..

[Michael Stoops]

Re: The "Wax Line"

The image you posted may make it look like some areas have been "missed" but there is wet wax on the paint in all areas. Remember, when the wax is hazed and you wipe off the excess, what's left behind is essentially invisible, right? But there's still something there, protecting the finish.

In theory, if you could lay down just two to three times the amount of wax that is actually left behind when you wipe off the haze, you should be fine. And imagine if you actually could do that - what would that wax look like sitting on the paint when it hazed? Odds are, you'd barely be able to see it. But in the real world, we just can't lay down a wax that thin, that uniform. It you work at it, you can cover an entire car with just half an ounce of liquid wax - but even then the applied wax drying on the surface is not going to look 100% uniform. But the important thing is not that the hazed product looks uniform, but that you've gotten full coverage on the paint and that you've only used a very small amount. Remember, no matter how light or heavy you apply a wax or sealant, only so much is going to be left behind when you wipe off the excess.

[techjazz]

Re: The "Wax Line"

But the important thing is not that the hazed product looks uniform, but that you've gotten full coverage on the paint and that you've only used a very small amount. Remember, no matter how light or heavy you apply a wax or sealant, only so much is going to be left behind when you wipe off the excess.

Perfect, that answers my question. I've never had a problem post wipe off with insufficient protection, so that's exactly what I needed.

Thanks, Michael.