waxing techniques

I

indiginous fool

New member
i have always heard that detailing was 10% product 90% how you do it. so i was wondering how you guys do it. i was always taught to but it on in a circle motion.
 
yea me too! its weird tho. it really shouldnt make any diff to put it back and forth. only product i apply back and forth has been sg. as for waxes ive always done it in a back and forth motion. i guess i like the security of overlapping previous areas in a circular motion
 
Sealants, really I go in one direction. Waxes always have done it this way. Polishes/Glazes for a little cutting/rubbing action.
 
For years I used a circular motion because that's how the instructions usually said to apply the product.
After reading about the advantages(?) of straight line application, I tried it and I honestly can't tell any difference in the look when finished.
Today, I use whatever motion feels comfortable to me given the area and position I am in.

Charles
 
I have alwys done back and forth motions. I suppose if you are concerned about which motion to use, you could always use an inspection light to see if you made any marring from your motion.
 
Bill D said:
I have alwys done back and forth motions. I suppose if you are concerned about which motion to use, you could always use an inspection light to see if you made any marring from your motion.
Click to expand...

I can picture Bill now - looking over his finish as he goes with an Uncle Scrooge monacle. Haha!! Just kidding!! :lol

Good advice, as always!! :)
 
Yep, there have been a couple of schools of thought on application methods for a long time.

In part, the back-and-forth/top-down method has been said to reduce the visibility of any spider web marks when a product is a applied to a finish that may have contaminates on it. Supposedly, any vertical or horizontal marks that might be created in this situation are less noticeable than "circular" spider web marks.

Also, it has been that the B&F/TD method also increases reflectivity.

On the other hand, there are those that say that using a circular motion "works" the product into the paint better, creating a smoother, better protected finish... therefore creating better refelectivity.

Now, I'm not saying that I subscribe to any of those theories... just what I've heard. To be honest, with waxes and sealants, if you have prepped your paint properly and are working in a relatively contaminate free environment, either method will probably work just fine. For paint cleaning and polishing, I think the circular method "works" the product and the paint better.
 
A few thoughts-
Product Directional Application:
•Polish- these products contain abrasives and should be applied in straight-line motions (Forget what Mr. Miyagi was teaching the Karate Kid) circular motions will cause circular directional marks (swirl marks) When an abrasive is applied by hand the pressure applied is uneven and the reflected light highlights the peaks and valleys differently.
•Sealant, Glaze or Wax- these products are all non-abrasive so direction of application won’t cause directional marks to the surface.
•Machine application-although a machine applies product in circular motions the pressure applied is very even (unlike a hand application) so the light is reflected evenly.
•Optimising light refraction (Sal Zaino method) - apply product in ‘direction of airflow’, horizontal surfaces hood to trunk, vertical surfaces front to back. This application technique affects the paints optical properties by optimising the surface light refraction and the reflectivity of the bodylines and contours of the vehicle
 
JaredPointer said:
I can picture Bill now - looking over his finish as he goes with an Uncle Scrooge monacle. Haha!! Just kidding!! :lol

Good advice, as always!! :)
Click to expand...

:D You should see me with that 300watt inspection light. Looks like I'm trying to intercept transmissions from outer space with it! :lol
 
togwt said:
A few thoughts-
Product Directional Application:
•Polish- these products contain abrasives and should be applied in straight-line motions (Forget what Mr. Miyagi was teaching the Karate Kid) circular motions will cause circular directional marks (swirl marks) When an abrasive is applied by hand the pressure applied is uneven and the reflected light highlights the peaks and valleys differently.
•Sealant, Glaze or Wax- these products are all non-abrasive so direction of application won’t cause directional marks to the surface.
•Machine application-although a machine applies product in circular motions the pressure applied is very even (unlike a hand application) so the light is reflected evenly.
•Optimising light refraction (Sal Zaino method) - apply product in ‘direction of airflow’, horizontal surfaces hood to trunk, vertical surfaces front to back. This application technique affects the paints optical properties by optimising the surface light refraction and the reflectivity of the bodylines and contours of the vehicle
Click to expand...
Except....
Not all polishes are abrasive and not all waxes or sealants are non abrasive.
While I don't get quite as particular as some, I don't think I can tell the difference in what method I used to apply a product. Since I now use the PC for most polishes, abrasive or otherwise, it isn't a factor for me. As far as the LSP, it would be whatever method I felt like at the time.

Charles
 
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