Got Wax?

Troy@Protekt

Troy@Protekt

a.k.a. Troy@DetailCity
I would like to know your methods for determining whether a car has any protection on it.

I will rub with my finger and listen for a squeek.

What do you do to tell?

:dcrules
 
nikro000 said:
Water beading - the only thing I know
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Not the best way. Water beading can be a sign if it's your car and you can tell the difference in beading from before you applied your lsp.

Cars with no protection will bead too especially when the paint has been cleaned. If you use a polish that has no protection in it, you will get some nice beading too but no protection.

In fact some one-steps can decieve you if you use the water beading to determine whether it needs another coat. They do a good job of cleaning the paint but leave minimal protection behind which will wear off but your paint will still bead after it's gone.
 
Troy@DetailCity said:
I would like to know your methods for determining whether a car has any protection on it.

I will rub with my finger and listen for a squeek.

What do you do to tell?

:dcrules
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Troy,a master detailer such as yourself would take one look at a car and can tell if it has any wax on it or not.:bow:bow:bow:bow:bow
I remember Steve(PB) mentioned a pad dampened with alcohol would remove any wax off the paint ,so I'm thinking if the pad is white ,wouldn't it show any trace of wax on it?Just a thought:confused:
 
CharlesW said:
Only once on my paint.
Then you would have a broken finger. :D

Since I only wax my own cars, I just do it every 4 to 6 weeks and there is no doubt in my mind.

Charles
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My finger is non-abrasive.:redface:

I guess I need to clarify. I rub my finger on the paint after it is clean (finger and paint). ;)
 
distrbd said:
Troy,a master detailer such as yourself would take one look at a car and can tell if it has any wax on it or not.:bow:bow:bow:bow:bow
I remember Steve(PB) mentioned a pad dampened with alcohol would remove any wax off the paint ,so I'm thinking if the pad is white ,wouldn't it show any trace of wax on it?Just a thought:confused:
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Well I guess that's the point I am trying to make. A pro will not determine whether a car has protection on it by just looking at it. But thanks for feeding my ego.;)

The alcohol method is good for getting a good look at the condition your paint is in. I'm referring to when someone asks me if their car needs to be "waxed". You don't want to go up to their car and wipe it with alcohol to tell.:rofl The answer would always be "yes, atleast the part where I just took it off.":crazy2:
 
I run the back of my fingers over the finish to see how it feels, if my fingers are grabbing the surface, it feels feel rough or they don't glide easy... that's one way I determine protection...Next for me is what dose the over all finish look like....a million swirls, dull looking clear, hazy looking finish...All point to me that the car has little or no protection on the surface.

Of course these are all just guide lines for me but I can usually look at a car and see if its cared for on any regular basis
 
Troy@DetailCity said:
Not the best way. Water beading can be a sign if it's your car and you can tell the difference in beading from before you applied your lsp.

Cars with no protection will bead too especially when the paint has been cleaned. If you use a polish that has no protection in it, you will get some nice beading too but no protection.

In fact some one-steps can decieve you if you use the water beading to determine whether it needs another coat. They do a good job of cleaning the paint but leave minimal protection behind which will wear off but your paint will still bead after it's gone.
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Well thanks Troy - I didn;t know that!!!
 
Beemerboy said:
I run the back of my fingers over the finish to see how it feels, if my fingers are grabbing the surface, it feels feel rough or they don't glide easy... that's one way I determine protection...Next for me is what dose the over all finish look like....a million swirls, dull looking clear, hazy looking finish...All point to me that the car has little or no protection on the surface.

Of course these are all just guide lines for me but I can usually look at a car and see if its cared for on any regular basis
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I do the same as the front of my fingers have alot of oil, and will leave a mark.
 
Is there really a deffinate way to tell this. Could you trust just asking the person "have you ever waxed the car?" i wouldn't (only because they think a coat of wax without cleaning the car is protecting it lol)

customer "o cool a cleaner wax"
chris :crazy::crazy::passout:

I too use the back of my fingers (guess i picked it up from steve)
 
I'm trying to remember where I first heard to listen for a squeek. I believe it was someone at Meguiars or a trade magazine years ago that said use a folded 100% cotton terry towel and rub it over the finish. If it squeeked there was no protection. This was before microfiber.

I've always just been in the habit of using my finger making sure it is not oily, dirty or sweaty.
 
PEI Detail said:
Wax it again. Then I know for sure.
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Sounds good to me :D

To me it's not if there is still protection, but whether it still shines to your liking...long after the shine of a wax is gone the protection will still be there until it is polished off ;)
 
I check the feel of how the wash mitt glides over the surface during a wash, or if there is a lot of 'drag' while drying the car (with a microfiber) after a wash are good indicators for me.
 
How easy the QD process is. If the MF is "draggy" it's time for some LSP.

Another one I use is how well dirt "attaches" in between washes. Just from experience I know that when my vehicle has rather fresh LSP it gets cleaner a lot easier than when it has been a while since LSP was applied.
 
In the case of sealants, you can tell when the product is history when after a rinse, the water puddles instead of sheets. If the water immediately breaks away into small groups or just flies right off leaving hardly a trace, you have protection

When it rains the water will bead, if the beads are really tiny or very high, you have protection
 
I think you can only tell if a car has been "recently" waxed by the feel of it. Some polymer sealants will last 12 months or so, but the surface will not be as slick as when it was first applied.

I reckon there is no reliable way to determine it....:confused:
 
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