Stop it...LOL!
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Definitely not the only game like they used to be, but some will always prefer wax for a variety of reasons.
8 track is dead, cassette tapes are dead, CD`s are just about dead, but vinyl is making a comeback. So eventhough I`m a digital / sealant man, carnuba still has a place.
Reasons why coatings and/or seal might not be the best approach:
-No concealing (not every finish can be corrected well enough for the coating, or a sealant, to look OK)
-Difficulties regarding spot-correction (including the need to relayer with multiple-coat-type sealants such as KSG)
-Subjective factors (appearance, beading vs. sheeting, scent, slickness, etc.)
-Time/effort/cost/requisite application skill
Note that I`m no coating-hater, I use one on certain wheels. I`m no sealant-hater, I use one (FK1000P) on most of my vehicles. But I can`t do any more correction on the `85 Jag (not *bad* for single stage of its age) or the `93 Audi (simply awful condition due to original owner and its dark blue that shows every flaw) so those need concealing, and most sealants don`t look right *in my eyes* on those cars anyhow.
Hey, give me a sealant that conceals and gives depth/jetting on dark colors and I`ll use it on that Audi. Give me one that conceals and looks right on older single stage and I`ll use it on the Jag. Give me an Accumulator-proof coating that`s as easy to use as my current stuff, conceals marring, looks "right for the vehicle" in my eyes, and allows for easy spot-correction and I`d probably use it on everything ifit offered advantages over FK1000P. But I don`t see any of my current LSPs as being deficient in any way for their applicatons, so why would I change? What am I missing by not using a coating instead of FK1000P? What am I missing by using a wax instead of a sealant on the vehicles that get that? Hey, those are serious Qs, give me some reasons! I might not change, but I`d enjoy discussing it.
Every time Accumulator mentions Finish-Kare`s FK1000P I feel like I`m missing out not having THAT wax/sealant in my collection. ("Why do you need another wax? Use what you have.", says the household accountant.)
Oh, yes, since I am the original poster (OP), it`s more than welcomed here to debate the coatings versus sealants versus wax and the benefits of each one. What is confusing is when a wax is really a sealant and vise-versa. I`m not into the semantics/definition of what is a wax and what is sealant. I suppose technically a sealant is NOT a wax when it contains no carnauba wax (or other natural wax), yet Meg`s calls their enhanced consumer-line "sealant" the Ultimate Liquid Wax. Just saying....
Lonnie- Yes indeed, the whole "wax/sealant" thing gets murky. That FK1000P (which I`ll hard-sell again in a moment...) is labeled "High Temperature Wax". And it looks like a wax. It was developed as a "mold release wax". Wax wax wax. But everybody considers it a "paste type sealant" and it sure does look and act like one. Heh heh, it`s gotten to where I pretty much just disregard the (supposed) distinction. I`m not saying it`s a false dichotomy, but oh man it certainly seems to border one in most cases (e.g., what is Collinite 476S? Who cares, I go by its functional attributes).
I felt *exactly* the same way you do about trying FK1000P. Got a sample tin ages ago and just let it sit there unopened for (literally) years, finally tried it on a set of wheels just to use it up before it went bad. Now look at how I push the stuff! I`ll admit that its look might not please everybody, especially on certain colors (especially dark ones). But I quit using (many layers of) KSG, eh...I quit using most of my LSPs, because this stuff is just such a miracle product for me. Will it be for somebody else? I dunno. But if nothing else it saves me *so* much time because I don`t have to rewax, or even *wash* as often. And that tin will last for many, many years. OK, I`ll climb down off my soapbox. For now ;)
I`m actually tempted to sell off my (considerable) stash of M16 and Pre-VOC 476S! One can of 476S would last me forever on the `93 Audi, and much as I like the way-back effect of using M16 I`m tiring of rewaxing my wife`s car every few months.
I think Pinnacle Synergy is the best of both worlds it`s a wax with some coating ingredients that seems to hold up for me really well.
ATTENTION MODERATOR................
Lets have a memorial service for waxes, blow them off the store and close this thread since "WE: have decided waxes are dead :)
Ronny, that was for you, do you remember that day you tried to get me to try a sealant?
Waxes sure have their place at this high volume hack shop. Especially when one of my detailers is heavy handed with the rotary and leaves halos behind. A quick smear and they`re gone!
And from a manufacturing standpoint, they are certainly here to stay too. There`s no way coatings will ever be popular enough to affect the sale/manufacturing or waxes. It`s a household product that is in just about ever garage.
I agree that for a regular joe who waxes his car once a year wax is where it`s at. For anyone who takes detailing seriously or cares about protection. I think wax it dead for someone like myself who values his fee time. Why decon, clay, polish and wax only to have to repeat in 3-6 weeks when I can extend the protection 2 plus years ? That my point and again my opinion. If you like wax, be my guest and wax on my good friend.
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I prolly don`t value my free time, because I`m more than willing to spend it waxing. If you go through all the prep steps initially - you only have to top off the wax with a new coat maybe once a month (at most); but, there is no need to re-polish, decon, and clay at that time - just wash and apply another coat of wax. Takes maybe a half hour or so (depending on wax).
I don`t think any coated car approaching 2 years since application will look as good as one just waxed. Of course, the coating really doesn`t last 730 days, it`s degrading the whole time. So is wax. The difference is - wax is easily and readily renewable - where you have to go through a whole rigmarole with a coating.
I don`t think they`re obsolete, but for me I just don`t use em like I used to. In my single/child-less days, I had plenty of time to spend doing things like waxing my vehicles. Now? Not so much, which is why I`ve moved on to coatings. Now if/when I have a mustang back in my garage someday for a "fun" car, that will probably get the carnauba again.