I ONR'd the car this afternoon. Used some Lusso Oro rej. creme and then topped it with Victoria's Concours. I was thinking about how most pastes work better when you apply them really thin. The thinner the better. My question is this. What characteristics do you guys look for when apply a paste really thin? Does it haze over quickly (if you are using something like souvie)? Basically how do you tell when you have it then enough. I know its been discussed about applying pastes thin all over the internet but I really cant remember anyone getting more in depth about the topic. :meditation:
Souveran is a bad product to use as a comparison since it is a wipe on wipe off product. But for purposes of this thread any paste wax I have other than Souveran I apply thinly then I employ the swipe test after it hazes. If it wipes clean with no smearing using my index finger over a MFtowel then it is ready to be buffed off.
not just Souveran. I just used it as an example as one because of its application being different than say 5050 or a paste wax thats not taken off before drying. However, the point i was trying to get to was this. When you're applying a paste of any type, how do you judge how thin youre applying it or how do you tell you're applying it thin enough.
When I've applied Natty's Red, I've used a polishing pal with a 4" bevelled gray pad. To make sure it was thin, I just "dipped" the pad into the container a couple of times to make sure the whole pad was covered (not saturated, or course). Then I'd go to town making overlapping 8" (approx.) circles over a roughly 2 sq. ft. area. Pretty easy to cover that much ground, so I'd go back to where I started, do the same circles, but "pull" whatever excess I'd pick up over another sq. foot or so. It'd really depend on the panel. The whole time I'd check back to the beginning of my work to see if the NR had dried to a haze at all. Working in high heat and humidity, I figured if it dried to a haze by the time I reached the end of the 2 sq. ft. area I was waxing, I'd applied it thinly enough. Let me just say that I'm looking forward to the WOWO Souveran this year.
It's easy for me to apply thin on dark colors, because i can see the wax being applied. On light colors, I tend to apply a bit heavier. I don't really know what I could do about that
Wax Application – like most car care products Carnauba wax is designed to provide maximum results with minimum product application, most Carnauba waxes work well using the WOWO (wipe on wipe off) method while still slightly damp but not completely dry, generally apply a very thin layer, preferably with a distilled water primed foam applicator; allowing it to haze, then wiping off. I would suggest you do a swipe-test (swipe the surface with your finger, if the wax is still liquid (ensure your not applying too much wax) wait for a while and repeat Allowing a Carnauba wax or Glaze to set-up for 45-60 minutes (see manufacturers instructions on specific products) is usually more than sufficient, as wax doesn’t form a molecular bond like a polymer does this will allow the solvents to outgas, which will be dependant upon ambient temperature / humidity) As a wax ‘sets-up’, it goes through a number of stages. 1.The first stage is the application of the liquid product; friction will cleanse the dirt, oxidization, old waxes etc. In effect you are lifting the dirt away from the paintwork and into the liquid wax and then into the applicator. 2.The next stage is that you leave the wax to haze. This is where the solvents and oils out gas (evaporate) and leave the resin and fillers behind to dry and set-up on the paint. 3.The best way to determine if it is ready to be removed is to do the swipe test. Run your bare finger across the paint and if the product doesn't smear it is dry enough to be removed. 4.Next you remove the excess. Anything that is has not adhered to the paint will be wiped away with the buffing towel and as you wipe away you will end up giving the resin a slight buff to bring out its gloss A good technique is to buff the wax with a 100% cotton micro fibre cloth and then spritz the paintwork with cold distilled water and wipe down, this helps to set the wax and will add that little extra gloss. Allow the solvents to vaporise (outgas) in the suns heat (2 – 4 hours dependant upon climatic conditions) and then buff to a gloss. Carnauba wax provides better protection from bird / insect excrement than a polymer. Humidity affects the application because Carnauba is inherently hygroscopic (absorbs moisture) if you notice dark streaks during the application of Carnauba waxes, it tells you that the humidity is high. This will also retard the set-up time, usually, if the car is left in the sun for a few minutes after the wax has been applied the streaks will disappear. Windy conditions affect the curing of the wax because winds move more oxygen across the waxed surface, curing it faster. If you must wax your car on a windy humid day, wax smaller sections at a time (one foot by one foot, 1ft = 12"). Surface Temperature (Actual surface temperature of the vehicle) between 50oF (10oC) and 80oF (26oC) products will work well within a much broader temperature range, i.e. 45° to 90° F (4.5-32oC) but at 45 degrees it will take much longer to dry, perhaps as much as two to three hours) but the best results will be achieved in the 60° to 70° F (15-21oC) range surrounding air temp (ambient or room)
Since I do all LSP application inside, I use a halogen light to see where I've applied product. If the product is visible on the paint under the halogen light (even if it just appears as a "smear"), than it's enough product. Your car looks fantastic, BTW.
