do you apply wax w/ pc

mustanginky · 07-22-06, 12:58

do any of you guys apply your wax w/ the pc, or do you do it by hand? I was wondering, i was gonna use 3m perfect it paste wax, and wondered if it would work best if applied by pc using a blue finishing pad

chicagoVTX · 07-22-06, 06:58

It can be done

lp2137 · 07-22-06, 07:43

i've heard that using a PC helps to keep the wax layer thin

mustanginky · 07-22-06, 07:52

yeah it makes it real thin, just wondered if its okay to use it w/ a blue finishing pad, b/c thats what i was told when i bought teh pads, but i have heard that it might cause some swirl marks

Accumulator · 07-22-06, 08:05

I do about 99% of my waxing by machine, usually with the Cyclo which is a pretty aggressive way to do it compared to the PC. Works great.

As long as a) the panels and pad are clean, b) you use a pad with no cut, and c) you use a non-abrasive wax, then you won't get swirls or any other marring. What you will get is a thin, evenly distributed application that's worked into the pores of the paint.

Just make sure you a) apply wax evenly on the pad so there aren't any dry areas, b) then scrape as much wax as you can back *off* the pad (you don't need much on there), and c) only reapply to the pad was as truly needed (not as often as most people think), always scrape off any excess.

With the PC I use speed 4-4.5. I don't like super-soft finishing pads for this, but rather soft polishing pads (note that most fine polishing pads don't have any cut of their own, and certainly won't cause micromarring when lubricated with wax). The one "finishing" pad I *do* like for wax-by-PC is the red one from Griot's.

With the Cyclo, I use the white Cyclo "finishing pads", note that I put that in quotes because they're pretty aggressive for finishing pads, much more like light polishing ones.

When you're finished, evaluate your quantity-of-wax-used by how much is still in the pad. If there's an appreciable amount of wax in the pad then you used way too much. There's really no way for me to overstate how little wax (or other LSP) you really need.

Buffing the wax *off* by machine, with MF bonnets, works great too.

scooterguitar · 07-22-06, 08:22

I use it if I have it out, if not I do it by hand.

Accumulator · 07-22-06, 08:56

Heh heh, in the time it takes to get out the machine, set up the pad and then put it all away when you're done...a lot of guys could wax a whole 'nother car doing it all by hand

toyotaguy · 07-22-06, 12:03

i just finished a car today....i started on the truck lid and the rear sides by hand....I will always use a PC....so much faster

tdekany · 07-22-06, 12:29

always by pc - I am terrible applyiung LSPs by hand. Very uneven.

xfire · 07-22-06, 10:12

Hmmm...intersting. I find that using the PC takes too long to apply waxes. I have yet to find an application technique that allows me to wax a vehicle faster than P21S by hand.

abbeysdad · 08-03-06, 09:40

I can't really speak to wax, but...

I just got my PC 7424 last week and used it on my new Rendezvous - I washed, clayed and applied Meguiars NXT liquid (ok, polymer, not a wax) with the PC. I used the foam pad that came with the PC and used a setting of 3.5.

It went on real nice and very thin. I wiped off by hand with micro fiber towels - the resulting shine was/is amazing! The finish was like polished glass. I'm very pleased. I believe it was faster and better than if I'd done it by hand.

BigAl3 · 08-03-06, 10:51

i've applied paste wax with the pc via 4" cyclo pad (fits perfect into the tin) and it works great! applying wax by machine gets the into the paint more evenly, and it saves me from having sore arms later...