Too Cold to WaX?

R

ragtopgolfer

New member
This weekend the high is going to be about 40 degrees (Washington D.C.) and I was wondering it that is too cold to apply paste wax? Thanks.
 
Generally, temperatures below 50° are considered too cold. I've never read why, but my guess is because what is used as a solvent in the wax doesn't evaporate as well as it does when the temperatures are warmer. This is purely a guess on my part, so I could be wrong. From my own experience, I once waxed my wife's car with Blitz when the temperature was in the 40's and I had a lot of streaking. Since I've switched to Souverän and S100 which are both rub on/rub off types of waxes, I'd at least give them a try on sub-50° days.



I was going to suggest leaving your car in the sun to warm up, but I just checked the weather for DC for the next few days, not good. :eek:
 
Alright thanks for the insight. If anyone feels as though Meguiar's would be an okay choice of sub 50 degree weather please let me know.
 
It can be done, the only way I have found that works is to apply a very thin layer of wax. Leave it on as long as possible and then buff off.



Steven
 
I just finished using Meg's at around 30-32 degrees! I had to wipe the frost of the wife's van before I could start. It is really hard to get the polish and compounds off at that tempearture. I had to use QD once in a while to mist the area to get the residue off.



If you have read any of my other posts, you would see that I am having trouble with pads grabbing. It could be the cold weather doing it as the polish etc can not flow properly.



If you are desperate , or a polishing nut like me, give it a shot. I have used Meg's #20 Poly in very, very cold Temps with only minor streaking.





Here is a picture taken a couple days before Christmas, beautiful day, no snow on the ground (that is VERY RARE), but a little cold(30 degrees or so). Notice the heavy jacket???

Good Luck!!!
 
i'm still waxing myy truck until it freezes during the day. I'm near frederick Md. and it hasn't gotten too cold for carnauba.
 
I just waxed my car on New Year's Eve in 35 degree weather. It was probably a little warmer in my garage, but not by much. The door was open and I don't have heat in there. It still felt more like 40 in there though. I think that as long as its dry outside and you are able to work in it then temperature doesn't matter much. I'm sure wax wouldn't work well in 20 below zero conditions, but you wouldn't be out there waxing in that temp now, would you? ;) ...ok, maybe some of us would. lol I may have to rethink this statement... lol
 
is my personal limit. Things just don't dry easily before that. Our area has quite a bit of humidity in the air in the winter, and it gets much more difficult to try. So with most carnaubas I do the entire car before I start to buff. With Sealants, I have to let them dry 2-3 times longer when in the 40s.



I 'll jump after a good storm series if it clears up and gets into the forties.



Frankly though, it is much faster at 50 Degrees.
 
2hotford said:
I just finished using Meg's at around 30-32 degrees! I had to wipe the frost of the wife's van before I could start. It is really hard to get the polish and compounds off at that tempearture. I had to use QD once in a while to mist the area to get the residue off.



If you have read any of my other posts, you would see that I am having trouble with pads grabbing. It could be the cold weather doing it as the polish etc can not flow properly.



If you are desperate , or a polishing nut like me, give it a shot. I have used Meg's #20 Poly in very, very cold Temps with only minor streaking.





Here is a picture taken a couple days before Christmas, beautiful day, no snow on the ground (that is VERY RARE), but a little cold(30 degrees or so). Notice the heavy jacket???

Good Luck!!!
Click to expand...



You don't like to use the handle on the makita?



Also, looks like you've got more pressure applied to one side of the pad than the other :p
 
Thank you fellas, the answer was more than adequate !



Since the car still beads off I think I'll hold off for one of those mild days in January and just wash the car. Thanks again.
 
Before a winter detail, I'll bring the truck out of the garage and let it sit in the sun for a bit and it seems to help warm the waxing surfaces up. I've even waxed in direct sunlight before when the temps were frigid in January.



I'd wash the car at a "no-touch" auto wash (my hose was put away) then I'd limp it home for a half mile, QD it, paint cleaner and wax it.



(Any kind of wax application was better than waiting for the spring).
 
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