Sealant or Wax? Why?

C

CharlesW

The Rainmaker
For years I used various waxes, but usually a Meguiar's product. I did have one brief fling with Zaino.
I probably used Meguiar's Medallion Premium Paint Protection for 10 years. From the time it was released until 2002 anyway.

Then I started reading detailing forums and after reading about all the benefits of a sealant, I pretty much switched over from waxes to sealants.

Now I'm wondering why.
The main benefit of a sealant seems to be longer durability which is not a factor for me. If the LSP lasts 4 to 6 weeks, that's plenty.
What are some of the other reasons that those of you that use sealants have for your choice?
For me, the things I want from my wax/sealant are:
1. Protection
2. Looks
3. Ease of use
4. Ease of maintenance (cleans up easily when washed)
5. 4 to 6 weeks of durability
6. Not a dust magnet
7?. Slickness is often mentioned, but I really don't spend a lot of time running my hand over my paint and I sure as heck don't want others doing it so I guess it must not be too important to me.

What other things should I be considering?

Right now, I'm thinking that quite a number of waxes or sealants would fit my criteria.
 
I use sealants more now that paste wax...for shine than anything...I like the clarity of it..better than wax..also with wax I see a lot of hazing during the hotter times of the year and not with sealants..

For my customers cars I like it for the durability factor.
 
I have a problem with some wax that most will not have,
Once at a show at a dealership with no trees around my Black car was parked in the sun and after driving 60 miles my car needed detailed,

When I applied the QD and wiped it I had horrible smears :wall

The problem was the wax was so soft that it was smearing when I tried to clean the car.

I switched to sealant no more problems plus I think it looks better it for sure has MORE GLOSS costs less and lasts longer so I say why would I want to use a wax.
 
Good question Charles. I really just have different things on hand because I like to use different things all the time. I guess if I had to pick one LSP and use it for eternity, right now I'd probably pick Collinite - the look of a decent wax and the durability and protection that rivals any sealant that I've used. It beads nicely (for looks only, of course) and does not waterspot.

One thing I have not seen mentioned - it is a lot more fun/enjoyable to me using a paste wax. Of course, this is using the easy to apply pastes we have these days. When I was a kid, Dad had me using Rain Dance paste and that stuff was a pain to apply and remove. Things sure have came a long way.
 
Charles, I've used about everything on the market at one time or another. In the end I'm a wax guy. I guess it ties me to my roots. I've always used a wax, I like the way waxs looks, I like a good paste. I have no real reason to change. Like you, I have no idea how long most products are capable of lasting, that is why my stent with Zaino was so short. Didn't look any better or even as good as what I was using and I wasn't getting my money's worth out of it for endurance. Besides I liked to put a wax over it anyway. Every month mine gets a coat of something. Usually Souveran, S100 or Natty's. Sometimes it's DG or DuraGloss sealant covered with one of the previously mentioned waxes, more often than not Natty's. They get washed weekly followed by AquaWax. 3 or 4 times a year I'll polish it as needed, most of the time it's a chemical polish occasionally PoorBoys SSR polishes. I'm a loser what can I say? I like wax.
 
[Lots of interesting and somewhat differing opinions of the qualities of each.
FWIW, I have never noticed any hazing or smearing with any LSP.
A couple of comments about preferring the look of the sealant makes me wonder why so many people feel they need to put a layer of wax over it as mentioned by more than one poster.

Originally, the early threads I read about sealants, (Not on DC), seemed to indicate that sealants provided better protection from the elements and the sun. In recent years, that no longer seems to be quite as strong a feeling.
I happen to have several sealants and several waxes and use them interchangeably with no real preference. They all look good to my eye and I'm not sure anyone could tell which vehicle had what product on it. Heck, I can't always remember. :)
I don't use a wax as a topper over a sealant. If I use a sealant as the LSP, then that's what is on the vehicle. If I use a wax as the LSP, then the wax is on its own. The exception to that is my use of Dura Gloss Aqua Wax after a wash and that does happen quite often. Since DG calls it a wax and others call it a sealant, I guess when I use it over a wax, I'll call it a wax and if I use it over a sealant, I'll call it a sealant. I only have to fool myself and that's pretty easy to do. :D

As far as preserving a finish, I used nothing but Meguiar's waxes on several vehicles for anywhere from 8 to 14 years and they all looked great when I sold them. I really think using something is the important thing rather than the product itself being a big deal.
 
You should try some FK 425 it reduces dust. Wears off after a couple of days or a rain but it applies easily and adds a nice gloss.
 
You are right, Sal. I do use 425 regularly when I use a wax -- and it does, indeed, reduce dust.

But in my experience, even with 425, when I use wax I get noticeably more dust/pollen than I do w/ sealant.

But my favorite car is black and dust is my nemesis. Hence sealant (sometime w/ 425, OID, or Z8, all of which reduce dust to a more tolerable level!)
 
I use a sealant on my car and customers unless they request wax. My choice is based on the climate here in Tampa - very hot, humid and frequent rain. While I like the look of waxes and used them for years, they simply don't last long enough for me. So I guess my main reason for using sealants is the durability. I want my customers to have the longest lasting protection because I may not see them again for 6 months to annually. I also like to spend less time on my vehicle but want it looking good all the time so customers can see what theirs could look like.

I actually give a little of the looks away for durability. Then I pick my sealant for which one looks the best and is easy to maintain. Great question BTW because we get so consumed with the individual characteristics of certain products (which makes for good discussion) but I sometimes forget to get back to the "forest for the trees" mental exercise in why I'm doing things from an overall perspective. For me detailing has become almost a rote practice of specific procedure and it's good to step back and think sometimes.
 
Durability and clarity, sealants due to their nature are more clear, and tend to have a wetter look to them. Personal preferance as far as I'm concerned
 
I think waxes are nice but for the hills of sage and sand in this central texas burb I found most waxes had embedded contaminants that most sealants did not obtain, The heat mixed with the wind that carries the dust which settles onto the surface of the paint was far more prevelant on waxes than a sealant. I deduced from this that slicker is better as far as airborne contaminents are concerned.
 
Some of the newer sealants have a much better look than a few years ago.
On a Black car if you put your favorite wax on and NXT 2.0 on 1 panel and ask people to tell you what panel has the NXT they can not tell you.
Only exception would be some OTC wax may not have as much gloss as the sealant.

Park a Black car with wax in the sun on a 90 degree day for a while and then try to clean the dust off of it.
If the wax don't wipe off or smear then you will force the dirt down into the soft wax and now your beautiful black looks a dull brown.:wall
Most people will never try to detail in the sun but at some car shows I have NO choice.
 
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