Wax Test - The Looks Results!!

Discussion in 'Last Steps: Waxes, Sealants, and Coatings' started by Dave KG, Jul 27, 2008.

  1. Dave KG

    Dave KG Jedi Nuba

    Disclaimer: the results in the thread represent the opinions and thoughts of those attending this wax test. They are not designed to be hard fact, but rather opinions shared by like minded enthusiasts based on the preparation and the thoughts of folks on the day. Please take these results with the fun that they are intended, and remember they represent opinion and not hard fact :)

    Seven black sapphire three door Vauxhall Corsas were prepared identically - washed with Shampoo Plus, clayed with Bilt Hamber Soft Clay, compounded with 3M Fast Cut and finished to near perfection with Menzerna PO85RD Final Finish... Each car was then wiped down with IPA to ensure a blank canvas and then each car received three layers of an LSP (different on on each car), wiped down the following morning with purified water and rolled out into the sunlight for assessment on the day of the test.

    For full details of the preparation, see the following threads:

    http://www.detailingbliss.com/forum/f5/mega-wax-test-preparation-story-4765.html

    Now the results.

    For the first part of this thread, the cars were rolled out into the sun, wiped down and then photographed - apollogies for the slightly changing light in these shots, cannot be helped for outdoors as the sun was in and out - but a general idea can be gained here - spot a difference other than slightly changing lighting?!!

    The cars:


    Zaino Z2

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    Swissvax Best of Show

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    Collinite 915

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    ***** Royale

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    Autoglym HD Wax

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    Raceglaze 55

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    And now, shiny bonnets test in more controlled lighting:

    Zaino Z2

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    ***** Royale

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    Swissvax Best of Show

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    Autoglym HD Wax

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    Raceglaze 55

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    Collinite 915

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    And now just for fun, some random shots of the cars parked up - spotting a difference in pictures is nigh on impossible, in the flesh it was still practically impossible!...

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    Now, to the numbers... everyone attending was asked to rank the cars in order of preference, from 1 - 6 (7th, car with no LSP ignored)... this then gave the cars a points tally as follows:

    1st = 7pts, 2nd = 6pts, 3rd = 5pts, 4th = 4pts, 5th = 3pts, 6th = 2pts

    Here's how the cars scored - not everyone attending fully filled in a form, owing to not being able to see any difference at all... but these are the results we have:

    Zaino Z2: 3rd, 2nd, 6th, 1st, 4th, 5th, 3rd, 5th, 4th, 5th, 4th = 46pts

    ***** Royale: 5th, 3rd, 1st, 6th, 5th, 1st, 3rd, 2nd, 6th, 3rd, 5th = 48pts

    Swissvax Best of Show: 2nd, 5th, 2nd, 5th, 3rd, 4th, 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 1st = 61pts

    Autoglym HD Wax: 4th, 4th, 5th, 4th, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 6th, 3rd, 1st, 3rd = 47pts

    Raceglaze 55: 6th, 6th, 4th, 2nd, 6th, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 4th, 6th = 42pts

    Collinite 915: 1st, 1st, 3rd, 3rd, 1st, 6th, 3rd, 4th, 2nd, 6th, 2nd = 56pts



    These are the accurate scores:

    1st: Swissvax Best of Show = 61pts
    2nd: Collinite 915 = 56pts
    3rd: ***** Royale = 48pts
    4th: Autoglym HD Wax = 47pts
    5th: Zaino Z2 = 46pts
    6th: Raceglaze 55 = 42pts


    What I will say is this though - every wax recieved a whole variety of placings which leads me to believe personally that its all in the eye of the beholder and the above results while they show a little consistency for the top two, for the last four there's nothing but random variation. As one would expect.

    Again, I stress these results and this test are purely for fun and no serious conclusions should be drawn.

    Guys - its all in the prep!! :thumb:
     
  2. P1et

    P1et Official DB Moderator

    Thank you VERY MUCH for taking the time to conduct this test Dave, my hat's off to you!

    Fantastic to see that a "budget" wax like Collinite took second place!!!
     
  3. trhland

    trhland Nuba Guru

    ive always belived in prep as well!!!! thanks again dave your truly a great guy for doing this!!.
     
  4. Black Diamond

    Black Diamond Jedi Nuba

    Awesome test Dave!
    Thank you for the time and hard work that was put into this!
    What I find amusing is the fact that a $30 can of wax performed better in appearance than a $7500 pot of supposedly the "best" wax available.
     
  5. Reflect

    Reflect DB Forum Supporter

    Well done. I'm also glad that your test knocked a couple off their pedestals.
     
  6. Asphalt Rocket

    Asphalt Rocket Nuba Guru

    Dave, what is your opinion about Race Glaze 55. For some reason I really want to try this wax out.
     
  7. MadOzodi

    MadOzodi Nuba Guru

    Awesome test. Much props/kudos/thanks to you and everyone else who made it happen Dave. :thumb:
     
  8. Dannyk

    Dannyk Jedi Nuba

    Quite the effort put forth, i applaud the crew for taking on this task. Great job and many Thanks, very well deserved and earned.
     
  9. Charlies02GLS

    Charlies02GLS Jedi Nuba

    Dave, many many thanks to you and everyone involved. You've made my day:applause2:
     
  10. Ivan Rajic

    Ivan Rajic Any Rag Vehicle Washer

    I only wish that the 7th car with no wax was judged as well... I'm almost positive it wouldn't have finished last.

    Great test Dave.
     
  11. Brian N

    Brian N Jedi Nuba

    Great comparison test thanks for doing this Dave! Now I really want some BoS.
     
  12. supercharged

    supercharged DB Forum Supporter

    Thanks for the test, Dave!!!
     
  13. HPIA4v2

    HPIA4v2 Birth of a Detailer

    to me these two pictures tell different story.
    On the first one you can clearly see the "orange peel" which indicate the wax is so transparent (no distortion between wax-clearcoat and reveal what the paint ubderneath looks like).
    The 2nd picture doesn't show "orange peel" as clearly (assuming the similar car will have the same paint process it should have as bad as "orange peel" from one car to the other).

    I can only comment from the pictures so take it with grain of salt.
    1st is Royale and 2nd is Swissvax.
     

    Attached Files:

  14. detaildoc

    detaildoc Guest

    Great job Dave. I do have to say though that IMO, when comparing these side shots, Royale loooks deeper and seems to have better clarity than the rest, just my opinion.


     
  15. kenny1775

    kenny1775 Jedi Nuba

    I must confess that before I saw this thread I was a blind believer in the power of the LSPs.

    Dave, you've opened my eyes.

    From here on in I'm going to start focusing my attention (and resources) on properly cleaning and polishing my "babies".

    P.S. My girlfriend sends her thanks too (I'm sure all that extra cash will soon find a new home that's more to her liking :) )
     
  16. MrPolished&Waxed

    MrPolished&Waxed Obsessive Detailer

    great job!

    did the people voting know what wax was on each car?
     
  17. cwcad

    cwcad Birth of a Detailer

    Thanks for taking the time to post such an interesting thread. Pictures tell a lot but I certainly would have like to have been one of the on site reviewers for this test.
     
  18. GBS

    GBS Wax on..Wax off

    I love the test Dave. Preperation is where it's at. I guess one can spend a lot of money on a wax if it makes them feel good.
     
  19. yukonon22

    yukonon22 Wax on..Wax off

    Wow this is amazing
     
  20. er1k

    er1k Obsessive Detailer

    Thank you Dave. Great test.
     

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