I have wax my past cars for 10+ years, and in fact for one of my civic, it shine better at 10+ year old than new. Now that we get that out of the way, here is my question.

Each time we wax the car, does it (in theory) removes a microscopic layer of clear coat (or paint)? If there are scratches that can be buffed out, we are in essence removing a layer of surface. Correct or not?

 

waxing fills the paint with wax to appear as if the scratches are gone in which they are not

buffing for the past 10 years might have gone through your clear

but you were just waxing which is normal maintainance.

no worries

 

Unless you're using a cleaner wax every single time you aren't removing any of the clear. Cleaner waxes have micro abrasives to help polish while it protects.

 

as the others have said waxing won't do anything in terms of clear coat thickness. even hand applied cleaner waxes would do anything over 10 years. i'd be surprised if polishing with a real polish by hand over 10 years would make a real impression in overall thickness on a car painted at least 10 years ago - cars back then didn't have refined paint application process like they do now, in terms of the bean counters. they didn't have it financially measured down to the very last drop like they do now. clears also, at least for honda, were not nearly as soft as they are now. so that makes it even harder to wear it down.

if you have any doubt before you tackle a high speed buff or wetsand and buff, you can have someone do a paint depth check on it.