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Hey everyone,
Wanted to wait a week before posting these questions as I thought some time might have solved some of the issues I had but it hasn't.
Seven or eight days ago I received my M27 and set apart a few days to follow the recommended instructions for application on the bottle (decon if needed, polish, maybe panel wipe) onto my 3 year old, but new to me, car. My house has enough shade for a wash and driveway detail, so I started washing with Shampoo Plus and towel drying, then felt the paint didn't need any decon because this was done about 6 months ago before application of M21, so I prepped for polishing. Using a Makita rotary, Rupes yellow rotary polishing pads, and M205 I went over the entire car got a really good finish - virtually swirl free (No access to DA yet, been using a rotary for a few years now). Following the polish, I wiped the panels down with a 10% IPA solution to prep the surface and on went the M27. So working about 3 panels at a time, I used a foam applicator and waxed on as thin as I possibly could, so thin I had to use a headlamp and watch behind the applicator to verify the trail of product left on the panels. After about five or 10 minutes (noting the instructions said a 'minimum' of two to five minutes before removal), I wiped the panels down - I say wipe down and not remove because the self - leveling technology made it look like I didn't wax the panels and there wasn't anything there. After finishing I went around a second time to ensure even coverage. All went well and I felt pretty proud after all the work.
The next day I came out to feel the car and it didn't feel all that slick, not much more than after I polished (before I panel wiped). I didn't think too much of it but then we got some rain here in NorCal these past few days (days after I applied the wax so I was sure it cured my then) and now the paint feels grabby and bare - still beads decently but isn't slick. Also note that the car has barely moved since I polished it because everything is closed for now and there's no where to go hahaha. This is when I started to second guess my application process and cure time after application. I detailed my car outside, but in the shade, and by the time I finished polishing it was later in the day, around dusk, so the panels weren't hot - this is when I applied the wax. The days themselves were sunny at about 70 degrees and no wind. I made sure to wipe off all oils with the IPA wipe to aid with the wax adhesion.
Did I apply something incorrectly or inaccuratly? My wife's car was sealed with M21 about 2 months ago and it still felt slicker and beaded water better than the day of application or next day after the cure time of the M27. When I applied it I was concerned with condensation that night and its effect on M27 curing, but stepping outside at about 11pm I only noticed a patch of condensation on the roof and some hood, and various areas of the car didn't feel different. The wax wasn't exposed to any daylight until the next morning because it was applied late enough in the day the day of to avoid it.
I really tried to follow the instructions on the bottle and prep the car in as best conditions as I could get, I've been taking care of cars for years so I feel like I have a good idea on how to apply a wax properly, I prepped as best I could, and I don't want to knock anything other than my process as of now because its totally possible I did something wrong, after all M27 is part of the professional line and I would expect it needs ideal conditions for application and cure - tried to replicate these as best I could.
To verify my expectations on the product weren't too high I went out and bought HCW applied it on a panel of my car, and that was extremely slick and felt very good. Maybe I'm expecting something M27 wasn't designed to give? It's also possible HCW is just slicker by design?
Thanks for the help, sorry for the long post.
Wanted to wait a week before posting these questions as I thought some time might have solved some of the issues I had but it hasn't.
Seven or eight days ago I received my M27 and set apart a few days to follow the recommended instructions for application on the bottle (decon if needed, polish, maybe panel wipe) onto my 3 year old, but new to me, car. My house has enough shade for a wash and driveway detail, so I started washing with Shampoo Plus and towel drying, then felt the paint didn't need any decon because this was done about 6 months ago before application of M21, so I prepped for polishing. Using a Makita rotary, Rupes yellow rotary polishing pads, and M205 I went over the entire car got a really good finish - virtually swirl free (No access to DA yet, been using a rotary for a few years now). Following the polish, I wiped the panels down with a 10% IPA solution to prep the surface and on went the M27. So working about 3 panels at a time, I used a foam applicator and waxed on as thin as I possibly could, so thin I had to use a headlamp and watch behind the applicator to verify the trail of product left on the panels. After about five or 10 minutes (noting the instructions said a 'minimum' of two to five minutes before removal), I wiped the panels down - I say wipe down and not remove because the self - leveling technology made it look like I didn't wax the panels and there wasn't anything there. After finishing I went around a second time to ensure even coverage. All went well and I felt pretty proud after all the work.
The next day I came out to feel the car and it didn't feel all that slick, not much more than after I polished (before I panel wiped). I didn't think too much of it but then we got some rain here in NorCal these past few days (days after I applied the wax so I was sure it cured my then) and now the paint feels grabby and bare - still beads decently but isn't slick. Also note that the car has barely moved since I polished it because everything is closed for now and there's no where to go hahaha. This is when I started to second guess my application process and cure time after application. I detailed my car outside, but in the shade, and by the time I finished polishing it was later in the day, around dusk, so the panels weren't hot - this is when I applied the wax. The days themselves were sunny at about 70 degrees and no wind. I made sure to wipe off all oils with the IPA wipe to aid with the wax adhesion.
Did I apply something incorrectly or inaccuratly? My wife's car was sealed with M21 about 2 months ago and it still felt slicker and beaded water better than the day of application or next day after the cure time of the M27. When I applied it I was concerned with condensation that night and its effect on M27 curing, but stepping outside at about 11pm I only noticed a patch of condensation on the roof and some hood, and various areas of the car didn't feel different. The wax wasn't exposed to any daylight until the next morning because it was applied late enough in the day the day of to avoid it.
I really tried to follow the instructions on the bottle and prep the car in as best conditions as I could get, I've been taking care of cars for years so I feel like I have a good idea on how to apply a wax properly, I prepped as best I could, and I don't want to knock anything other than my process as of now because its totally possible I did something wrong, after all M27 is part of the professional line and I would expect it needs ideal conditions for application and cure - tried to replicate these as best I could.
To verify my expectations on the product weren't too high I went out and bought HCW applied it on a panel of my car, and that was extremely slick and felt very good. Maybe I'm expecting something M27 wasn't designed to give? It's also possible HCW is just slicker by design?
Thanks for the help, sorry for the long post.
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