Sealant/Wax Bonding Issues?

CharlesW

The Rainmaker
For years we have been told that sealants won't "bond" to a waxed painted surface.
We needed to "Dawn wash, do an alcohol wipe down, use a paint cleaner to remove the old wax".
Or did we?
Now we have the new wipe on, walk away sealants that can even be applied directly over a glaze or a carnauba wax. It's even suggested.
Since it preserves the appearance of the carnauba, it must still be going on top of it rather than penetrating it to "bond" to the paint.
How is this happening now when it was supposedly impossible a short time back.
Wasn't it?

Klasse AIO was considered an excellent prep or base for about any sealant. It left an acrylic finish on the paint. How did the sealants "bond" through the KAIO.
The same thing seemed to happen with Poorboy's Polish with Carnauba, sometimes referred to as KAIO on steroids. Sealants seemed to have no problem "bonding" to it, either.
Poorboy even has a sealant adverised to contain carnauba. It's been on the market for a long time for it to have problems.
I'm using Poli-Seal that contains carnauba with what appears to be no problem.
Meguiar's has long said something to the effect that their polishes, waxes, and sealants are compatible.
Did they have some magic formula that allowed the sealants to "bond" that others have just now discovered?
I doubt it.
Was/is this really a problem or is the "bonding" somewhat of a merchandising thing?

How about some discussion?

Charles
 
Maybe "bonding" doesn't exactly mean what it has come to mean via the detailing boards. I don't really have an answer, but as long as the product is applied and can "set up" for a bit, I think it would attach itself to whatever is underneath it, be that wax, glaze, or bare paint. The issue of durability would be related to how well the underlying product would last, not the fact that the sealant didn't "bond."

In my own personal experimentation, I have put sealants over waxes without the paint dissolving off the car and a portal through time opening up, so I tend to believe that a lot of the whole bonding issue (like a ton of other issues people talk about on detailing forums) is blown out of proportion and carried on by a lot of people who repeat things they hear just because it sounds scientific.

Again, in my personal opinion, a lot of this detailing business is just that - a business. People are trying to sell a good, and there's a lot of marketing involved. While it's good to know as much as you can, don't believe everything you read on the internets.
 
In my own personal experimentation, I have put sealants over waxes without the paint dissolving off the car and a portal through time opening up, so I tend to believe that a lot of the whole bonding issue (like a ton of other issues people talk about on detailing forums) is blown out of proportion and carried on by a lot of people who repeat things they hear just because it sounds scientific.

I am going to go try and put a sealent over a wax, but if a time portal opens, and I get sucked through it, I am going to have to have a chat with your alternate self.:D
 
I am going to go try and put a sealent over a wax, but if a time portal opens, and I get sucked through it, I am going to have to have a chat with your alternate self.:D

Just be careful not to use Simple Green and Dawn together in the same detail - it would end existence as we know it. :eek:
 
good point brought up on this thread. i,ve put sealant over waxes albeit not that often but i've done it on more than one occassion and loved the outcome, problem is i would'nt mention doing such a thing because of the repruccussions i might hear on some forums, so i kept it to myself. i still think there's some truth to the bonding thing if you're looking for long term durability because you don't have the time to devote to the car as much as you'd like, but in my case durability is not an issue, i'm fortunate enough to be retired and can spend hours a day on my car if i choose, so i'm constantly experimenting with different combos and products and you might be right when you say it might be a marketing thing, i mean no disrespect when i say i wonder what all these maurfacturers of all these polishes and car care products must think when they read these forums, "wow if they only knew" and laugh all the way to the bank. don't misunderstand there are alot of wonderful products made by some very good people but this is like a drug to some of us and we keep coming back for the next best thing out there. sorry if i went off track.
 
I bring this thread up since it is a subject that comes to my mind every once in a while when I am choosing a glaze or polish to go under a sealant .

I first think of their compatibility then remember this thread and have to tell myself not to worry too much about that ,try and see it for yourself is the best policy.

The only draw back I have found is if the paint shine looks dull or muted ,then I know somewhere I did something I shouldn't have or used too much etc. ,which will give me the excuse to wash &clean the paint and start a different process.

It would be nice IF I had an acrylic glaze to go under an acrylic sealant or wax but I don't worry about that and would try any good glaze under any good sealant/wax and see what I come up with.
 
I'm glad to have this brought up. I am considering putting Meguiars Show Glaze #7 down but I am not sure where it belongs: before or after Poorboys PwS. Then a good carnuba over the top.
 
I'm glad to have this brought up. I am considering putting Meguiars Show Glaze #7 down but I am not sure where it belongs: before or after Poorboys PwS. Then a good carnuba over the top.

The "P" part of PwS (being polish) will remove anything that's under it. Don't have any experience with #7 specifically though...
 
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