I should also add that priming your pads before waxing is really helpful in reducing the amount of wax wasted.

How does one prime the pads?

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You want to apply product to the working surface of the pad by hand, prior to adding more product for doing the actual work. Some folks like to use detailer spray instead of the wax to prime their pads, since detail spray is cheaper and soaks into foam easier. With paste wax, it might be easier to use a detail spray to prime.

Also, adjust what your expected wax haze looks like -

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/fo...avy_waxapp.jpg

You should be aiming for the coverage on the left, not the right. Image is just for reference; I don't apply wax in circles.

OK, I'm about to learn ANOTHER lesson here, I guess....

I thought you were supposed to apply wax in a circular motion. What's your recommendation and technique, jawn?

Barry

I think it had to do with the wax being white and being so fine I could barely see if I had any one there so I probably ended up caking it on there thinking there was barely any on there. The 3X paste wax is yellow and I could see where I applied it.

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This is topic of much debate, but I prefer to do it in overlapping lines. If it's a good paste wax and doesn't have any abrasives or cleaners, you really don't need to do the circles. It's not a polish - you're not buffing anything out with wax.

It's a paste wax - it's supposed to go on super easy - and applying it in circles only introduces the possibilities of swirls if your pad picks up any contaminants. The other side of this debate will be quick to point out that your pads should be clean and shouldn't have contaminants. I don't live in a perfect world, so I go with the method that's easier on my arms.

I'll probably get some hate for this but what's wrong with regular old Turtle Wax? Works fine for me. Am I missing out on something? Serious question.

edit: yeah, what jawn said. It's just a coating, not a polish.

Good points. I confess I'm not an obsessive detailer; never used clay or compound (other than a combination compound/wax on a decrepit sailboat to try and revitalize the gel coat .. it worked surprisingly well, actually.. but the sailboat crowd scoffs at the all-in-one products, too... deservedly so). I wash my cars very thoroughly, dry'em w/ chamois, then hand apply paste wax. As I apply the wax, I always end up finding the odd little piece of crud that I missed, but the wax seems to help lift off those remnants easily. For my lackadaisical approach, maybe I should stick w/ circular... or maybe bite the bullet and REALLY learn how to get a beautiful finish eventually.

I'm all ears... or eyes, as the case may be.. thanks.

Barry

I use the off-the-shelf stuff sometimes (I really like a lot of the Meguiar's products), but I've always found Turtle Wax stuff to be a little greasy and harder to remove, and the results aren't quite as OMGSHOWCAR as the specialty stuff.

If you're just looking for a little protection from the elements and some shine, basically any wax will do. Next time you run out of Turtle Wax, try something new! It's not like it's a long-term lifestyle commitment.

Chemical Guys says that all there 8oz paste waxes should last through 100 waxes. But thats provably if you do the thinnest coat known to man

Do you mean buffing off the haze? It is kind of a PITA. I always worry about creasing the roof but I just figured it was a part of what made it relatively durable.

As much as I fear change, I will find a way to soldier through and try something different. :D

Yeah, buffing off the haze.

If you're looking for durable, try a sealant. Meguiar's Ultimate Wax (despite the name) is all synthetic, and lasts a surprisingly long time.

I'm on it like a fat kid on a Mars Bar.

I used Turtle Wax Ice spray. Mostly because I'm lazy and finished the whole car in what...15 minutes? Still looks good and water just flies right off now (very little dirty water left behind from the constant rain here). But pretty sure it'll wear off faster than the other product out there.

But like jawn mentioned, it was pretty greasy for the first couple of days after application.