Wax vs Sealant = Confusion!

[Reecard]

I`m new here so please cut me some slack. I am really confused which is better to use, wax or sealant. I plan on claying my car and then I know I need to put something on the paint. There are so many of each I have no idea where to even start looking, can someone please aim me in a direction?

[MattPersman]

You are in MI I see is it for a daily driver car? Real "beauty" waxes (carnauba and Montan) typically do not last for protection very long.

A sealant think it of more of a synthetic wax so to say that should easily out last a beauty wax. There are lots of products called wax that are hybrids and are more toward the sealant realm. Think collinite, FK1000p, dodo supernatural, fusion. Etc

You will get a ton of replies for what a good sealant or wax

First you have to consider budget and needs. Then narrow down one you like to try. There are so many good ones it`s really quite hard to pick a popular one and not be happy with it.

Some are wipe on wipe off, some are wipe on walk away, some are wipe on leave to cure for some time and buff off, some are spray on when wet and shock with more water off.

Let us know if you have any requests for an actually product or two. It can be quite fun and addicting to buying and seeking out more and more of these. Would be nice to have a mountain of 1-2 ouNce bottles and send them around to people to try different things.


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[trashmanssd]

I am Lazy, I prefer Sealants. They usually last longer and are there are ones that are silly easy to apply. Spray and wipe style sealants are extremely easy to apply and many work just fine with a little water on the car as you are doing your final drying after a wash. Others like Hydro2 and Wet Coat, you just spray on during your last rinse at end of a wash and hit with water to spread and lock them on. Even easier is those products new cousins, Hydrofoam and Bathe+ which have almost same exact product mixed in with soap as a wash and seal product. Those you just wash your car and your done, you just did wash and seal in one step easy peasy.

[trashmanssd]

Carpro Hydro products page. CarPro CQuartz Innovative Nano Coats

Gyeon Wet coat and bathe+ page GYEON Car Care

[garbledwords]

Sounds like you`re a noob (which is fine, we all were once). When I started caring about my care I was overwhelmed with all of the different advice but I found the information at Car Detailing How To Information to be really helpful and got me on track.

Personally, I use a sealant (Blackfire AFPP) and then top it with a spray wax for the shine.

[SGM2008]

Personally, I use a sealant (Blackfire AFPP) and then top it with a spray wax for the shine.

The BLACKFIRE Wet-Ice Over Fire Combo (BF Wet Diamond AFPP topped with BF Midnight Sun Ivory Carnauba Paste Wax) is also a great combo.

It`s super easy to apply, looks great, and it won`t break the bank.

[tom p.]

There are so many of each I have no idea where to even start looking, can someone please aim me in a direction?

Reecard, it`s important for you to decide how often you`d like to tend to the vehicle. Monthly? Annually? Every other year, for example?


Range: wax (potentially short-lived) >> sealant (a superior product should be good for 6 months) >>> coating (potentially several years)

[Raymoche]

I always prefer a sealant with a "beauty" wax topper (carnauba).
I like to "reapply" beauty wax on maintenance washes... during "clean weather," its meditative.
I like to apply spray sealant on dirty weather, its nasty out, might as well just get the protection on and go go go!

(real) wax is beautiful and fragile. It gives off a more "wet" look and warmth.
sealants looks great and is durable. sealants give off a glassy or high polish plastic look, some people prefer this.
Hybrids will mess up newbies. (I had the hardest time figuring it out and thought some hybrids I had was wax, and couldnt for the life of me understand its durability). but many times they can be the best of both worlds but wouldn`t be a top player in either category.

Then there is coatings .... these things are so interesting because you can get both looks depending on brand, and their durability puts sealants to shame, still not sure if I can say that their appearance tops a high end carnauba (subjectively) but some products have a very natural appearance that might be nearly impossible to distinguish.

But in the end, unless you have a 50/50 panel, coatings, sealants, and wax all looks the same, after all, your eyes probably can`t distinguish 2 color shades such as RGB of 255, 12, 10 and 253, 14, 12, and the difference is probably that subtle in most cases.

This is just my opinion of the products and does not have any scientific backing. lol So if you are not in the market for a coating, then a sealant probably makes the most sense as its durable and looks great! Waxes are really just for that one Sunday where you wanna really spend the time to prettify your car.

I personally think
Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant is a great place to start since its easy and durable.
P21S is a great wax to start with (carnauba).
and Polish Angel Cosmic kit for coatings (applies like traditional wax and sealants)...

[Reecard]

Reecard, it`s important for you to decide how often you`d like to tend to the vehicle. Monthly? Annually? Every other year, for example?


Range: wax (potentially short-lived) >> sealant (a superior product should be good for 6 months) >>> coating (potentially several years)

Thanks everyone for the information, it is all great. I think I am more along the lines of monthly, I like to wash my vehicles a lot in the summer months. So with that being said I think I am leaning toward a sealant. I am narrowing it down, not just to figure out what sealant I want to try first.

[Reecard]

I always prefer a sealant with a "beauty" wax topper (carnauba).
I like to "reapply" beauty wax on maintenance washes... during "clean weather," its meditative.
I like to apply spray sealant on dirty weather, its nasty out, might as well just get the protection on and go go go!

(real) wax is beautiful and fragile. It gives off a more "wet" look and warmth.
sealants looks great and is durable. sealants give off a glassy or high polish plastic look, some people prefer this.
Hybrids will mess up newbies. (I had the hardest time figuring it out and thought some hybrids I had was wax, and couldnt for the life of me understand its durability). but many times they can be the best of both worlds but wouldn`t be a top player in either category.

Then there is coatings .... these things are so interesting because you can get both looks depending on brand, and their durability puts sealants to shame, still not sure if I can say that their appearance tops a high end carnauba (subjectively) but some products have a very natural appearance that might be nearly impossible to distinguish.

But in the end, unless you have a 50/50 panel, coatings, sealants, and wax all looks the same, after all, your eyes probably can`t distinguish 2 color shades such as RGB of 255, 12, 10 and 253, 14, 12, and the difference is probably that subtle in most cases.

This is just my opinion of the products and does not have any scientific backing. lol So if you are not in the market for a coating, then a sealant probably makes the most sense as its durable and looks great! Waxes are really just for that one Sunday where you wanna really spend the time to prettify your car.

I personally think
Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant is a great place to start since its easy and durable.
P21S is a great wax to start with (carnauba).
and Polish Angel Cosmic kit for coatings (applies like traditional wax and sealants)...

This is perfect, thanks so much. Your descriptions have helped a ton. All good stuff.

[Angus]

All great replies so far. The only thing I`d elaborate on is what MattPersman mentioned about sealants being synthetic wax. The way I usually explain the difference between sealants vs traditional carnauba waxes is think of the difference, between conventional motor oil and fully synthetic oil. The later has been engineered to have a more consistent molecular size and therefore tends to have somewhat more uniform properties which helps it to last a lot longer than the former. Make sense?

[Reecard]

All great replies so far. The only thing I`d elaborate on is what MattPersman mentioned about sealants being synthetic wax. The way I usually explain the difference between sealants vs traditional carnauba waxes is think of the difference, between conventional motor oil and fully synthetic oil. The later has been engineered to have a more consistent molecular size and therefore tends to have somewhat more uniform properties which helps it to last a lot longer than the former. Make sense?

Yes, makes perfect sense. Thanks for explaining.

[Accumulator]

The dividing line between "wax" and "sealant" can get blurry...FK1000P is called a "high temp wax" yet for all intents and purposes it`s a sealant. Ditto for Collinite`s 845 Insulator Wax.Note that some waxes like Collinite offer *MUCH* better durability and protection (especially against etching from birds/bugs) than many sealants.Regulars here already know that my most common recommendation is FK1000P (which works so well I`ve basically quit using Collinite despite having tons of it). Its look won`t please everybody on every paint, but the durability, protection, and dirt-shedding are simply superb even without extensive layering. One tin oughta last for many years and I don`t mean just four or five. Sooner or later all my vehicles will be wearing Fk1000P..well, except the Jag

[silverfox]

Amen on the FK1000p. It`s simply outstanding

[Migue]

+1 on the FK . My silver car has not been washed in over a week and it`s been raining.....I hit it with the pressure washer then air dried this morning and it looks clean except very minor dirt around rocker panels which will be taken care of once i give it an actual wash this weekend.