A case for Carnuba??
- Thread starter Lone Wolf
- Start date
I've almost exclussively gone over to synthetics. The only vehicle I ever use a carnuba on anymore is my Thunderbird which mostly sits in a garage. Every once in a while I still put Blitz over a synthetic. I feel I can get comparable shine out of a synthetic vs. a carnuba and the durability of synthetics blows carnubas away.
Not really on the topic of waxes, but a QD with carnuba is still my favorite choice. So to me carnuba does still have some value.
Not really on the topic of waxes, but a QD with carnuba is still my favorite choice. So to me carnuba does still have some value.
Stripping carnauba may be a little easier than stripping
a polymer. Like when you want to clean up your paint a little.
A little Dawn does the trick.
Also, I may be wrong but carnauba based waxes have been
used for centuries so they are well tested. Polymers especially
in the auto industry are pretty young compared to carnauba.
I was thinking of getting some Briwax for my interior wood
dash. It says this on their website :
" Since Henry Flacks discovery in 1860, wood craftsmen around the world have used Briwax to protect, restore and recondition fine furniture and antiques "
Both are great! It just comes down to taste and needs.
Mobil 1 came out more than 20 years ago and many thought
it would take over the industry but it hasn't. I think the same
thing will happen with polymers. Polymers and carnauba's
will live together. It would be interesting to see what the ratio
is in 2010 and 2020. I think it will be 50/50 but if we keep
screwing up this planet then all of us will be using polymers.
a polymer. Like when you want to clean up your paint a little.
A little Dawn does the trick.
Also, I may be wrong but carnauba based waxes have been
used for centuries so they are well tested. Polymers especially
in the auto industry are pretty young compared to carnauba.
I was thinking of getting some Briwax for my interior wood
dash. It says this on their website :
" Since Henry Flacks discovery in 1860, wood craftsmen around the world have used Briwax to protect, restore and recondition fine furniture and antiques "
Both are great! It just comes down to taste and needs.
Mobil 1 came out more than 20 years ago and many thought
it would take over the industry but it hasn't. I think the same
thing will happen with polymers. Polymers and carnauba's
will live together. It would be interesting to see what the ratio
is in 2010 and 2020. I think it will be 50/50 but if we keep
screwing up this planet then all of us will be using polymers.
DETAILKING
New member
i started using Mobil one synthetic in my Z-28 a few years ago. I noticed the engine ran smoother, and cold starts / idles, where a lot smoother as well.
The reason it has not made its way into more of the market share is because the OEM's do not use it in most production cars and do not call for it in the owners manual. Also, it is more expensive and old timers can't justify it when their cars in the past ran 200K miles on regular oil, as long as they changed it every 3,000 or so. My BMW uses synthetic oil and is only changed every 15K / or once a year.......... The filter has a lot to do with it too............
The reason it has not made its way into more of the market share is because the OEM's do not use it in most production cars and do not call for it in the owners manual. Also, it is more expensive and old timers can't justify it when their cars in the past ran 200K miles on regular oil, as long as they changed it every 3,000 or so. My BMW uses synthetic oil and is only changed every 15K / or once a year.......... The filter has a lot to do with it too............
I think it just comes down to longevity. I can't justify putting only Carnuba waxes on my vehicles because two of the three are outside in the harsh elements 24/7. I feel <strong class='bbc'><em class='bbc'>so much[/i][/b] more at ease when I know they have that hard polymer seal on them.
I can't wait until I get my 65 Mustang back in my hands..... it's a garage-queen, so I plan on using the synthetic sealant with a quality carnuba topper.
Mmmmm, carnuba.
I can't wait until I get my 65 Mustang back in my hands..... it's a garage-queen, so I plan on using the synthetic sealant with a quality carnuba topper.
Mmmmm, carnuba.
imported_BretFraz
New member
Actually, if you look closely at all the product in the marketplace, synthetic polishes have overtaken carnauba waxes by a large margin. There simply aren't very many carnauba-based products on store shelves any longer. Next time you're at Pep Boys or a decent auto parts store, do a mental inventory of synthetics vs. carnaubas.
Carnauba products have always been pricey but the thought process was that they lasted the longest so that somewhat justified the price. When chemists finally developed a synthetic version of carnauba and did it cheaper than adding the real thing to car polish, the end of carnauba-based products was at hand.
Polymer sealants have been around for as long as I can recall. Who remembers Polyglycoat? But it's only been in recent years that the sealant category has expanded. Good timing for them; the car care products industry has been growing substantially since the 1980s.
As long as there is a price advantage to synthetic polishes over carnauba, you won't see a comeback of carnauba. I think the product type will always be around since there is a market for it until regulations push the price of carnauba so high that most every product mfr drops it from their line.
On the subject of motor oil, I'm not sure there is a balanced correlation to car polish. Motor oil has to meet various global standards and mfr requirements whereas nothing even remotely resembling a standard exists in car care products. I have a 9 page report from Unocal detailing the test requirements for API SL/ILSAC GF-3 service category and the impact of these requirements on motor oil formulation. The EPA plays a big part in the improvements in motor oil in terms of exhaust emissions and CAFE requirements. Nothing of the kind exists for car polishes.
Carnauba products have always been pricey but the thought process was that they lasted the longest so that somewhat justified the price. When chemists finally developed a synthetic version of carnauba and did it cheaper than adding the real thing to car polish, the end of carnauba-based products was at hand.
Polymer sealants have been around for as long as I can recall. Who remembers Polyglycoat? But it's only been in recent years that the sealant category has expanded. Good timing for them; the car care products industry has been growing substantially since the 1980s.
As long as there is a price advantage to synthetic polishes over carnauba, you won't see a comeback of carnauba. I think the product type will always be around since there is a market for it until regulations push the price of carnauba so high that most every product mfr drops it from their line.
On the subject of motor oil, I'm not sure there is a balanced correlation to car polish. Motor oil has to meet various global standards and mfr requirements whereas nothing even remotely resembling a standard exists in car care products. I have a 9 page report from Unocal detailing the test requirements for API SL/ILSAC GF-3 service category and the impact of these requirements on motor oil formulation. The EPA plays a big part in the improvements in motor oil in terms of exhaust emissions and CAFE requirements. Nothing of the kind exists for car polishes.
in the car care industry. Decades ago there would be no need to make a case for carnauba, as it was the standard for shine AND protection, end of story, no arguments. But, modern technology (synthetics) have made carnaubas for one purpose only, varying degrees and different types of shine. Now, a good carnauba is nothing more than makeup for your car IMO, a way to alter it's appearance. It's obviously obsolete in terms of protection (UV or otherwise), so the only modern case for carnauba use is if one wants a carnauba shine. With all the new (and old) synthetic products out there, carnaubas are no longer needed for their protective qualities, so the only reason I see to continue using carnaubas and glazes is for their unique shine properties only...if it weren't for this one redeeming quality, they would have been extinct long ago... Well, that and the fact that carnaubas still make pro detailers lots of money... 
Shine period. Nothing, even Blackfire (which is the closest) can match the perticular shine of a good show wax. Sure polymers are stronger, and make more sense on a daily driver. But waxes will always have their place. Plus, I just like working with them, someting old fashoned about it.
Preachers Sheets
New member
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >
<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by Brad4rdHay [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>Plus, I just like working with them, someting old fashoned about it. [/b]</blockquote>
I was hoping someone else felt the same way as I.
<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by Brad4rdHay [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>Plus, I just like working with them, someting old fashoned about it. [/b]</blockquote>
I was hoping someone else felt the same way as I.
Tradition!
Like Major League Baseball declining on the aluminum bat.
Right! LOL
I think for the average person most off the shelf waxes
will be polymers in 2020 but for enthusiasts like many of us
the carnauba option will always be there.
I see companies like One Grand, P21s, Zymol, Collinite
staying around for a very long time.
Also I wonder if the Pebble Beach players will migrate
to polymers on their beautiful vintage paintwork.
Like Major League Baseball declining on the aluminum bat.
Right! LOL
I think for the average person most off the shelf waxes
will be polymers in 2020 but for enthusiasts like many of us
the carnauba option will always be there.
I see companies like One Grand, P21s, Zymol, Collinite
staying around for a very long time.
Also I wonder if the Pebble Beach players will migrate
to polymers on their beautiful vintage paintwork.
Blitzing a vehicle has some sort of unexplainable calming therapeutic value to it.
But honestly, with a high quality polymer like Zaino or Klasse or my favorite - Liquid Glass, I don't see all that much difference in shine and depth.
Even the two longest lasting carnubas I've ever used (Blitz and Collinite 845 Insulator) can't compare in durability.
Does anybody know what the #1 selling (in volume) paint protectant product is? I'd guess something like Nu-Finish.
But honestly, with a high quality polymer like Zaino or Klasse or my favorite - Liquid Glass, I don't see all that much difference in shine and depth.
Even the two longest lasting carnubas I've ever used (Blitz and Collinite 845 Insulator) can't compare in durability.
Does anybody know what the #1 selling (in volume) paint protectant product is? I'd guess something like Nu-Finish.
Lowejackson
New member
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >
Caranuba for therapy</blockquote>
:xyxthumbs 100% agree
Steven
Caranuba for therapy</blockquote>
:xyxthumbs 100% agree
Steven