Car wax

[Alan Frame]

I fall into the really-can't-be-arsed-to-polish camp, but I have to admit that on the sole occasion I Pledged a Saharan sand dune off the bonnet and roof of my car, it did seem to slip through the air a lot more easily.

 

[Drago]

[QUOTE 5005898, member: 45"]I've not had a rust problem with a car since owning proper minis in the 80s/90s.

The only car I've ever owned which showed signs of discolouration was a red Fiat Punto, and that was the least of its problems.[/QUOTE]

Neighbours 54 plate Vectra, starting to get lacy round the rear arches. Directly over the road, 56 plate Picknoseo, blisters on the leading edge of the bonnet. I've never broken my hip, doesn't mean I won't one day.

I'm completely cool if people don't want to look after their cars - its their call. However, it takes me minimal times, has the potential to save a great deal of money, its therapeutic, so I'm willing to do it.

 

[Electric_Andy]

I'd say keeping a car clean and dry (especially underneath and in the nooks and crannies) was more important than waxing it in terms of keeping away rust. However, waxing the paintwork will still make it look nicer, and makes it harder for dirt and bird poop to stick. In the latter case it can help form a protective layer. Depending on the quality of the finish, wax can actually make a poor clear coat (i.e. orange-peel effect) stand out, but that is in the realms of obsession really.

 

[NorthernDave]

That would be TFR.

Not that, the stuff they spray on that makes the water bead - must be some sort of wax?

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Not that, the stuff they spray on that makes the water bead - must be some sort of wax?

This type of stuff:

https://www.carparts4less.co.uk/cp4...6rhjr27uoRQAX-nPl6FpthzM-AVvBdJcaAqahEALw_wcB

 

[NorthernDave]

This type of stuff:

https://www.carparts4less.co.uk/cp4...6rhjr27uoRQAX-nPl6FpthzM-AVvBdJcaAqahEALw_wcB

Aye, but they have it on tap in a pressure washer.

 

[Drago]

Does anyone use any of the expensive boutique waxes, or the posh stuff like Swissol? How do they justify those prices?

 

[screenman]

Not that, the stuff they spray on that makes the water bead - must be some sort of wax?

That could be Tango by Autosmart, I use it myself sometimes.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Does anyone use any of the expensive boutique waxes, or the posh stuff like Swissol? How do they justify those prices?

Used to, back in the day. Nothing uber-exotic, but some nice Zymol Titanium, still got it, I think. The key to this is really good preparation and polishing, rather than exotic waxes and glazes IMHO.

 

[Nonethewiser]

I can't be arsed to clean the car all that much but when it does get a polish I've used Autoglym and Simoniz products at various times during its life - it's a 2003 model and getting a bit long in the tooth now, a bit like its owner!

 

[Drago]

That could be Tango by Autosmart, I use it myself sometimes.

I got a big box of Autosmart stuff and 250 sachets of AutoGlym that I won in a raffle a couple of years ago

 

[NorthernDave]

Does anyone use any of the expensive boutique waxes, or the posh stuff like Swissol? How do they justify those prices?

A colleague at work does - mind you, he thinks nothing of spending 4 hours washing, waxing, polishing and detailing his car on a weekend. His car is very shiny, but it still needs cleaning again a week later.

 

[Profpointy]

It's all very well washing and waxing a car, but the bits that go rusty are all the nooks and crannies underneath and inside box sections. I'm unconvinced that all this waxing or whatever actually preseves the bodywork much. If anything, aren't you just scratching or at least rubbing off the paint

 

[screenman]

It's all very well washing and waxing a car, but the bits that go rusty are all the nooks and crannies underneath and inside box sections. I'm unconvinced that all this waxing or whatever actually preseves the bodywork much. If anything, aren't you just scratching or at least rubbing off the paint

No.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

It's all very well washing and waxing a car, but the bits that go rusty are all the nooks and crannies underneath and inside box sections. I'm unconvinced that all this waxing or whatever actually preseves the bodywork much. If anything, aren't you just scratching or at least rubbing off the paint

Yes, but you are scratching it with much finer scratches than the ones already on there, which is why it looks shiny. You are also removing microscopic amounts of paint, or more likely the clear coat over the paint.