Straight Lines or Circles

black bart

black bart

New member
Recently someone ask if they should apply LSP in straight lines or circles.
Someone posted straight lines and I thought they must have read Mike Phillips article a few months back where he made the case for using straight lines to hide the scratches.

a few years ago this question came up on MOL when Mike was working at Meguiars and at that time Mike recommended that it made no difference what direction you went if your vehicle was clean and you use a clean applicator.
He said if you are instilling scratches you need to examine you method of preparing the vehicle rather than focus on hiding the scratches.

When this question came up on DC recently Jarred Pointer who's opinion I respect very much posted that he has applied his LSP in circles for years without a problem.

While I did not post in that thread I was thinking about it today as I was getting my car ready for the show season that has already started.

I have always went in circles and in straight lines both to be sure I get total coverage and have not ever had a problem.

I find it interesting that Mike has changed his advice on this and wonder if it has more to do with the fact that he now works at AG.

So how about it DC make the case for straight lines over circles and why you think it is better to try to hide the scratches instead of correcting what is causing them.
 
I had ONE instance, where circles didn't work out for me....That is my method of choice, but I did have one time where something, somehow, got stuck in the applicator and put marks in the whole car. I had to correct the whole car all over again. But again, thats just one of those 1 in 1000 times where something will get in the applicator on a properly prepped and polished car. Sometimes I apply in circles, sometimes in straight lines, just depends on what I feel like at the time. But I will admit since that incident, the majority is straight line. The only con with straight line is if you are waxing in the sun, you do get a little streaking from the oils in the wax if it isn't laid down right.
 
I understood the just in case scenario that Mike was making and it makes sense to me, but like pander5 I am using my pc to apply waxes lately. I haven'y had issues either way. If I drop my applicator while hand applying I get a new one to finish the job.
 
Mr Miagi say right hand wax on left hand wax off. Circular :-)

I have used Zaino and Sal suggests straight lines.

I have done LSP's with both and really see no difference.
 
Since I've been using my PC and Flex to apply LSP's, it's been circles. Even if I applied by hand, I'd probably do circles or some form of orbit. I've tried both ways, and just don't really see a difference. Seeing as how moving my arm and hands in an orbit motion is more comfortable, I'll most likely apply it that way.
 
i actually apply my wax in straight lines.. i find it to be faster... im not sure why but after seeing circles from the pc all day long i like to break up the monotony with some straight lines
 
Been doing circles for over 35 years and no problems ... However, if using a cleaner wax or other one step product I apply in straight lines.
 
When I worked for a big full service car wash I would teach the kids to box in the panel and then fill it in using straight lines. This was primarily for speed and it makes it hard to miss a spot. Whenever a car would get hazed or streaky I could always fix it with circles. I think a lot of it has to do with the mechanics of your arm. When doing straight lines as your arm extends your leverage decrease and the application pressure because inconsistent. With circles most people keep their elbow bent at the same angle throughout the motion so the pressure on the applicator stays the same.
 
04Si said:
Mr Miagi say right hand wax on left hand wax off. Circular :-)

I have used Zaino and Sal suggests straight lines.

I have done LSP's with both and really see no difference.
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Mebbe time to try some good products now. :idea
 
Ronkh said:
Mebbe time to try some good products now. :idea
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You mentioning that makes me want to say in the course of 4-5 years, Zaino (and some of the most ardent Zaino followers) have went from worshiping Sal and the lineup to now-a-days that there's better stuff on the market. If you ever want a good laugh, go read some older posts about Zaino. The claws really come out in some of those.

FWIW, I like Zaino, all except the water spot issues I have had with it.
 
so what product do you all believe is better than the Zaino. I prefer a synthetic as I have found that the Arizona heat degrades the brazilian wax quickly...that should not bother me as I wax everytime I wash. But I was also having trouble with it looking great after buffing, then hazing after a day in the heat. The haze would buff out again, but...
 
04Si said:
so what product do you all believe is better than the Zaino. I prefer a synthetic as I have found that the Arizona heat degrades the brazilian wax quickly...that should not bother me as I wax everytime I wash. But I was also having trouble with it looking great after buffing, then hazing after a day in the heat. The haze would buff out again, but...
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Try Duragloss 105 not nearly as hard to apply as the Z but looks better it don't have that plasticized look and it cost just a fraction of the Z and will last for months.
 
04Si said:
so what product do you all believe is better than the Zaino.
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As I mentioned earlier, I like the Zaino pretty well, but it spots up on me and the water spots get hard to remove. If I were going to use Zaino, I'd probably do a couple coats of Z2 or Z5 and then top that with a wax. I think you'd get the durability of Zaino with the soft cover and looks of a wax (meaning better water spot and bird bomb protection).

Bart is right about the DG lineup - it works, and it's pretty cheap considering all the alternatives. And if you have a Carquest you can get anything out of the lineup locally.

The "flavor of the month" on a lot the boards seems to be the Blackfire Wet Diamond. If I were going to try a sealant anew, it would probably be that. And Autogeek has a new Detailer's Pride and/or Menzerna sealant that seems to have gotten some good reviews. Might be of interest...
 
There are plenty of good sealants out there.

Read some reviews, read the application instructions.

You may be pleasantly surprised.
 
Beemerboy said:
I a circular guy myself, I've always been that way and its hard to break.
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That's the way I was taught as a young kid when I first started detaining and I think its just stuck with me all these years. As long as you have a clean applicator I can't see one way being better then the next. Plus the circular motion helps me to train with Mr. Miyagi.
 
Stephan said:
That's the way I was taught as a young kid when I first started detaining and I think its just stuck with me all these years. As long as you have a clean applicator I can't see one way being better then the next. Plus the circular motion helps me to train with Mr. Miyagi.
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:bigups
 
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