kepani

when i'm ready to do a full clay and wax job on my car, i wash the car using dawn. from what i hear, it is imperative to get all of the "old" wax off of the paint before claying and rewaxing the car. in some angles in sunlight, i see a haze of "old" wax on the paint. it's very subtle, but i can see where the "old" wax was run off of the car while some of it stayed on the surface. sorta like water spots.

my question:
is there a good technique to get all of the "old" wax off, or should i just wash the car multiple times to ensure complete "old" wax removal?

thanks!

kepani-who hopes he made sense.

uNF$@#!

that sounds more like clearcoat peeling off

are you sure you can see the wax like that?

anyhow, sure. wash it with dawn. better yet, just use regular car wash soap, and add 2 tbsp of ammonia to the mix. that should make it acidic enough to eat the wax away, but not damage the paint.

WalkmanX

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Soup **** &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">that sounds more like clearcoat peeling off

are you sure you can see the wax like that?

anyhow, sure. wash it with dawn. better yet, just use regular car wash soap, and add 2 tbsp of ammonia to the mix. that should make it acidic enough to eat the wax away, but not damage the paint.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

um...don't do that.

Just wash with dawn. Clay. Wash with dawn again. Wax

uNF$@#!

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by WalkmanX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

um...don't do that.

Just wash with dawn. Clay. Wash with dawn again. Wax</TD></TR></TABLE>

uhm. why not?

are YOU the one who works at a detail shop?

kepani

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Soup **** &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">that sounds more like clearcoat peeling off
</TD></TR></TABLE>

i hope not! actually, the paint is in GREAT shape. i'm sure it's not the clearcoat. the surface is mirror-like.

however, at a slight angle, and also on a hot day, did i notice it. again, very subtle, but definitely something i noticed.

sounds like i just didn't let the dawn "dig" into the "old" wax?

walkmanx - i'll try out your tip next time i get to wash the car. (in about a month )

Ivan

the dawn method works fine but depending how much wax you've accumulated, you may need to do it a couple of times.

WalkmanX

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Soup **** &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

uhm. why not?

are YOU the one who works at a detail shop? </TD></TR></TABLE>

do you work at a detail shop? I don't but I'm an avid detailer and visit autopia.org, a detailing forum, daily. Based on what I've read and personal experience, I do believe a dawn wash will be good enuf.

kepani

thanks guys for the input and replies! and thank you walkmanx for the link. looks like i'll be splitting time between h-t.com and there.

kepani-who enjoy's washing his car...

Big Business

use regular car wash soap. dawn leaves a haze behind.

kepani

back from the other site

i found this quote here.

"Additionally, Carnauba waxes can be temperamental, occasionally streaking under certain temperature or humidity conditions."

referring to one of my above observations about how it was a hot & humid day, could this be the cause? :scratchinghead:

WalkmanX

probably, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Claying will remove everything so if even you don't wash it thoroughly, you should be fine to wax. Keep looking through that forum, especially the "learn" option on top, its one of the best forums out there!

AoiGSR

if you want, i can show you since I was an apprentice under Yoshi234 for car care with Zaino stuffs that we bought. especially on black, it will look


I have Zaino clay, dawn, zaino car wash, and the whole regimen. No, I do not work for Zaino, but I am a client :B

-aoib0t, who will be setting up his area for the 4th of July day for a day at the beach

hatchback

I dont mean to thread jack, but when you use dawn frequently w/o waxing does that destroy the paint?

AoiGSR

i am sure it basically exposes the paint when it should not. you must wax after stripping with dawn otherwise, I think it will expose the clearcoat, etc to contaminents it does not need to deal with. remember, they tell you never to wash your car with dishwashing liquid as it strips the wax off. that is good but then you must clay, and replenish the waxing.

-aoib0t who thinks autopia.org is

PatrickGSR94

iTrader: (1)

I'm pretty sure the clay bar will remove the old wax. If it can remove contaminants that car washing can't (and yes it does), then it sure as hell will remove any old wax. If you're going to use a clay bar, just wash the car as normal before using the clay.

iam7head

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Big Business &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">use regular car wash soap. dawn leaves a haze behind.</TD></TR></TABLE>

read the question first

IntEGNYC

thoroughly wash the car with a car safe detergent. I use mothers car soap for the job. Dry the car completely.

Then detail using a clay bar. Work panel to panel and wipe the excess clay streaks as they will leave marks. Your panel should be clean and smooth to the touch before moving to the next. Remember to mead the clay occassionally.

After you finish the entire car. use a thin coat of wax using the same per panel method. The entire car can be waxed in 15 minutes. You should use several thin coats of wax versus one thick layer.

It will offer a longer lasting shine.

DarthLuder

dawn, car shampoo, clay, car shampoo again, polish, glaze, then wax.

PatrickGSR94

iTrader: (1)

dawn or any other harsh detergent is not needed if you use a clay bar, as I stated above.

Frozen E

tide. Hehehe