I thought I would post a few notes up about spray wax, since I have recently tried 2 of the more expensive brands.
Like a lot of guys, I stood in the "wax and wash" isle of my local auto place for ages as I read over all the labels! I wanted a something easy, that I could apply quick, while getting the best shine possible. Each brand has the same nonsense about "micropolymers" etc, and its tough to guess the best one.
In the end I grabbed 2 kinds of spray wax: MOTHERS FX ENGINEERED SPRAY WAX and MEGUIARS ULTIMATE QUICK WAX. I applied and buffed out with a few new microfibre cloths, as per the instruction on both bottles.
MOTHERS ENGINEERED SPRAY WAX:
First of all, I have to say that the mothers product SMELLS good. It smells kind of like wax, so you feel like your actually applying something good!
I did a small area with this product and was REALLY pleased with how well it turned out, It did a nice job bringing out the shine. It also left the area I had done feeling smooth... not AS SMOOTH as a real wax job, but pretty close.
On the down-side, I found that I really had to buff quite a bit to actually achieve that stellar shine. I also found that I had to buff fairly hard. By the time I had finished the whole truck I started to feel like it was quite a bit of work! In some areas that I didnt buff enough, the spray wax left some "smudge" marks. These look bad. They were in areas that I did not buff as hard, but they can be buffed out as you notice them (and you will).
MEGUIARS ULTIMATE QUICK WAX
Unlike the Mothers, the Meguiars spray wax has no smell at all. I found myself a bit disappointed about that!
Like the Mothers, it went on easy. Unlike the Mothers, however, I found it MUCH easier to buff out to a shine. Using the Meguiars was just about as easy as wiping windex on and off of a piece of glass. I really liked how easy this product was to use. If you miss buffing an area well it will still look fine.
On the downside, I don't think the Meguiars product gave quite as nice a shine as the Mothers. It also didn't seem to leave the paint feeling as "waxy" smooth as the Mothers FX did. Having said that, it still does a nice job, and may actually be the one I prefer because it is SO MUCH easier.
THOUGHTS
In the end, I don't know if the mothers actually MAKES the truck shine more, or if the high shine is simply because the Mothers made me buff SOOOO much to avoid leaving waxy smudge marks.
I HAVE to say that the truck LOOKED a bit better after the Mothers, but it probably took 2-3 times as long. Once you start with the Mothers you HAVE to buff fairly hard. If you don't you will see the weird smudge marks appearing. Once you buff past those, however, it does look pretty darn good. If it takes an hour or more to do your truck in the Mothers though, perhaps you are better to invest that time and effort into doing a REAL wax job?
The reason I wanted a spray wax was for a quick shine after washing. The Meguiars product is really easy to apply, in much less time. If you miss a spot it doesn't seem to leave the same "residue" that the Mothers does. Although the Mothers ultimately left a better shine and smoother feel, I have been thinking that perhaps if I had buffed with the Meguiars for that long it would shine more too. I will have to try that.
Anyhow, I thought I would give my thoughts on those... bring on the argument!
Like a lot of guys, I stood in the "wax and wash" isle of my local auto place for ages as I read over all the labels! I wanted a something easy, that I could apply quick, while getting the best shine possible. Each brand has the same nonsense about "micropolymers" etc, and its tough to guess the best one.
In the end I grabbed 2 kinds of spray wax: MOTHERS FX ENGINEERED SPRAY WAX and MEGUIARS ULTIMATE QUICK WAX. I applied and buffed out with a few new microfibre cloths, as per the instruction on both bottles.
MOTHERS ENGINEERED SPRAY WAX:
First of all, I have to say that the mothers product SMELLS good. It smells kind of like wax, so you feel like your actually applying something good!
I did a small area with this product and was REALLY pleased with how well it turned out, It did a nice job bringing out the shine. It also left the area I had done feeling smooth... not AS SMOOTH as a real wax job, but pretty close.
On the down-side, I found that I really had to buff quite a bit to actually achieve that stellar shine. I also found that I had to buff fairly hard. By the time I had finished the whole truck I started to feel like it was quite a bit of work! In some areas that I didnt buff enough, the spray wax left some "smudge" marks. These look bad. They were in areas that I did not buff as hard, but they can be buffed out as you notice them (and you will).
MEGUIARS ULTIMATE QUICK WAX
Unlike the Mothers, the Meguiars spray wax has no smell at all. I found myself a bit disappointed about that!
Like the Mothers, it went on easy. Unlike the Mothers, however, I found it MUCH easier to buff out to a shine. Using the Meguiars was just about as easy as wiping windex on and off of a piece of glass. I really liked how easy this product was to use. If you miss buffing an area well it will still look fine.
On the downside, I don't think the Meguiars product gave quite as nice a shine as the Mothers. It also didn't seem to leave the paint feeling as "waxy" smooth as the Mothers FX did. Having said that, it still does a nice job, and may actually be the one I prefer because it is SO MUCH easier.
THOUGHTS
In the end, I don't know if the mothers actually MAKES the truck shine more, or if the high shine is simply because the Mothers made me buff SOOOO much to avoid leaving waxy smudge marks.
I HAVE to say that the truck LOOKED a bit better after the Mothers, but it probably took 2-3 times as long. Once you start with the Mothers you HAVE to buff fairly hard. If you don't you will see the weird smudge marks appearing. Once you buff past those, however, it does look pretty darn good. If it takes an hour or more to do your truck in the Mothers though, perhaps you are better to invest that time and effort into doing a REAL wax job?
The reason I wanted a spray wax was for a quick shine after washing. The Meguiars product is really easy to apply, in much less time. If you miss a spot it doesn't seem to leave the same "residue" that the Mothers does. Although the Mothers ultimately left a better shine and smoother feel, I have been thinking that perhaps if I had buffed with the Meguiars for that long it would shine more too. I will have to try that.
Anyhow, I thought I would give my thoughts on those... bring on the argument!