sealant

[andikendall]

Evening all, this weekend I shall be spending time on my car giving it the going over! Recently I purchased some carnauba wax because I have read alot that you will get the best deep gloss look! But I also read that it needs a sealant on top to lock it in? Not sure on this so was wondering if I do need to put sealant on and if so what do you guys use? I do have nxt gen 2.0 wax! Hope you's can help

[Marc08EX]

Re: sealant

Generally speaking, you need to put a sealant on first and then wait some time for it to cure. Afterwards, you can apply the carnauba wax.

This is because the sealant will be able to bond to the paint first and provide you with the long lasting protection. At the same time, the carnauba on top will give you that warm glow that carnauba users are looking for.

[andikendall]

Cheers Marc! Would you recommend a sealant to use or will next gen 2.0 be do it

[BillE]

Re: sealant

NXT 2.0 is a great choice. Ultimate Wax (liquid or paste) is a step up.

Just remember, Wax first THEN sealant, IF you want to go down that road.

Bill

[Marc08EX]

Re: sealant

Cheers Marc! Would you recommend a sealant to use or will next gen 2.0 be do it

NXT2.0 is a sealant. Sealants are the same as synthetic waxes.

NXT 2.0 is a great choice. Ultimate Wax (liquid or paste) is a step up.

Just remember, Wax first THEN sealant, IF you want to go down that road.

Bill

It should be sealant first then carnauba on top.

[BillE]

Re: sealant

NXT2.0 is a sealant. Sealants are the same as synthetic waxes.



It should be sealant first then carnauba on top.

You are correct!!!

That's what I get for not proof reading. Thanx for fixing that Marc...

Bill

[Michael Stoops]

Re: sealant

Looks like we might a tiny bit of confusion happening here.

First off, let's look at what these two products, carnauba wax and sealant, really are. Essentially, both do the exact same thing but in slightly different ways; they are last step products (ie, the last product you apply to the paint in the detailing process) and both provide a level of protection and gloss to the finish. Neither is the primary source of gloss, however, as that primarily comes from all the prep work you do before hand. Sealant, which can be looked at as synthetic waxes, will tend to last longer than carnauba waxes do, and may tend to impart a brighter and crisper shine than carnaubas do. Visual differences between the two groups, provided your eyes can detect them, are really a matter of preference.

There is no "need" to use both - one or the other should be able to stand on its own merits. There is a population of folks who like collecting waxes and sealants and trying them out in different combinations to see what sort of visual differences they might achieve, especially on different colored vehicles. As a very general rule of thumb, sealants are often regarded as imparting the bright, crisp shine noted above (some will negatively comment on how certain sealants can make a paint look like plastic, or like it's been wrapped in plastic wrap) while carnauba waxes are usually considered to give a warmer, deeper, perhaps wetter look, especially on darker paints. None of this is good, bad or otherwise, it just is. If you prefer the look of a bright, crisp shine on a black car, then that's your opinion and it's what you like on your car. Nobody can tell you you're wrong.

Now, when using both type of product on the same car it is generally accepted that the sealant is applied first, allowed to haze before wiping off, and then allowed to cure for 12 to 24 hours before applying either a second coat or a carnauba wax. This is due to a few factors: with the synthetic sealant being the longer lasting of the two it makes sense to lay it down first and then put the sacrificial layer on top of it; people often use both in order to get the longevity and protection of the sealant and the look of the carnauba, so the carnauba needs to be applied last if you want to enjoy its visual characteristics; some sealant manufactures state that their sealant must be applied to completely bare paint or it won't bond properly (Meguiar's does not make this claim, by the way).

So, again, there is no real "need" to use both types of products, although you certainly can if that's what makes you happy. And for the record, our NXT Tech Wax 2.0, Ultimate Wax, and M21 are all 100% synthetic sealants with no actual carnauba wax in them.

[Meticulous-Detail]

Re: sealant

Looks like we might a tiny bit of confusion happening here.

First off, let's look at what these two products, carnauba wax and sealant, really are. Essentially, both do the exact same thing but in slightly different ways; they are last step products (ie, the last product you apply to the paint in the detailing process) and both provide a level of protection and gloss to the finish. Neither is the primary source of gloss, however, as that primarily comes from all the prep work you do before hand. Sealant, which can be looked at as synthetic waxes, will tend to last longer than carnauba waxes do, and may tend to impart a brighter and crisper shine than carnaubas do. Visual differences between the two groups, provided your eyes can detect them, are really a matter of preference.

There is no "need" to use both - one or the other should be able to stand on its own merits. There is a population of folks who like collecting waxes and sealants and trying them out in different combinations to see what sort of visual differences they might achieve, especially on different colored vehicles. As a very general rule of thumb, sealants are often regarded as imparting the bright, crisp shine noted above (some will negatively comment on how certain sealants can make a paint look like plastic, or like it's been wrapped in plastic wrap) while carnauba waxes are usually considered to give a warmer, deeper, perhaps wetter look, especially on darker paints. None of this is good, bad or otherwise, it just is. If you prefer the look of a bright, crisp shine on a black car, then that's your opinion and it's what you like on your car. Nobody can tell you you're wrong.

Now, when using both type of product on the same car it is generally accepted that the sealant is applied first, allowed to haze before wiping off, and then allowed to cure for 12 to 24 hours before applying either a second coat or a carnauba wax. This is due to a few factors: with the synthetic sealant being the longer lasting of the two it makes sense to lay it down first and then put the sacrificial layer on top of it; people often use both in order to get the longevity and protection of the sealant and the look of the carnauba, so the carnauba needs to be applied last if you want to enjoy its visual characteristics; some sealant manufactures state that their sealant must be applied to completely bare paint or it won't bond properly (Meguiar's does not make this claim, by the way).

So, again, there is no real "need" to use both types of products, although you certainly can if that's what makes you happy. And for the record, our NXT Tech Wax 2.0, Ultimate Wax, and M21 are all 100% synthetic sealants with no actual carnauba wax in them.

Thanx Mike, good to know.

[andikendall]

Thank you micheal for that detailed response! Will defo take that on board. Read so much out there about it's has all come intangled! I have a dark car (metallic grey Audi) so I am looking for that wet look personally but I also what the protection like water beeding when raining! Thanks again

[transambrotha]

Re: sealant

I use the NXT 2.0 as my sealant and currently I've been using Dodo Juice Purple Haze carnauba on top of that. Gives a nice shine, when that runs out I'm gonna try the mirror glaze yellow wax on top of my sealant.

[thurman]

Re: sealant

Nice information. I feel empowered!!!

[imz4n]

Re: sealant

The prep work will make the most difference IMHO. Use you compound to correct the paint, because the compound will actually put fine scratches in the clear coat, ( fine scratches is what helped remove the larger and deeper scratches ) , you then need to remove the fine scratches with a polish that has some correcting properties ( Ultimate Polish ) , for the wet, stick your arm into the paint to your elbow look , follow the first 2 steps with a pure polish like ( m07 ), no cutting power here it is only polish. When the car is looking great after the steps above then seal it and wait a day and wax it. IMHO

[Motorsports-X]

Re: sealant

guess i have been doing it wrong.. i always put the carnuba on first.. i figure the oils in it would bond to the paint and then the nxt would "lock it in"... eh lol. ill try it the other way.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: sealant

The prep work will make the most difference IMHO. Use you compound to correct the paint, because the compound will actually put fine scratches in the clear coat, ( fine scratches is what helped remove the larger and deeper scratches ) , you then need to remove the fine scratches with a polish that has some correcting properties ( Ultimate Polish ) , for the wet, stick your arm into the paint to your elbow look , follow the first 2 steps with a pure polish like ( m07 ), no cutting power here it is only polish. When the car is looking great after the steps above then seal it and wait a day and wax it. IMHO

Excellent advice, Bob!

Wax or sealant alone is not going to make the paint look super deep, wet and shiny if it's full of swirls and other defects. That's not the purpose of a wax or sealant. For maximum gloss and depth, it's all the things Bob outlined above that really do the trick.

[imz4n]

Re: sealant