Alternative to ULW?

[buck91]

Big fan of meguiars products especially their Ultimate Wax paste but im now in need of something i can apply with a mechanical spreader. Obvious choice is the same wax in liquid but what other options do i have without speading over $20/bottle (looking for competition, not, say nxt2.0). Main goals are economy, durability and water beading.

 

[sciphi]

Collinite 845, also known as Insulator Wax. Pretty good stuff based on the raves on here.

 

[qwertydude]

There's no rule that says you can't apply the paste with machine. In fact pastes apply by machine even better than liquids because it's easier to put less paste wax than liquid. When it comes to a machine, less is more. When applying you should pretty much barely be able to tell there's anything on at all. It should just resemble a smeared fingerprint on the paint, if you can see a waxy layer, that's too much.

If you can't pop the wax out of the can then simply use a an old credit card to scrape a small amount of the wax out of the can and use it to spread the wax on the pad.

Using pate wax by machine really lets you work the wax onto the paint. The added friction really helps to bond the wax to the paint so it tends to last just a little bit longer. And the thinner more even application a machine will do will mean removal is easier.

But if you're looking for an economical, durable wax with excellent water beading. Collinite 476S, if you want a little bit better looking version that's a little easier to apply and remove Collinite 915 but it won't last as long as 476S. It's a paste but like I said nothing should stop you from using a paste by machine. The tiny amount of wax you end up using by machine means one $18 can will last you multiple years. In fact when I was professionally detailing and doing 3-4 cars a weekend one can of 915 would last about a year. Now that's economical almost 200 cars out of one can of wax!

And the durability is perhaps one of the longest on the market. And also I find it tends to attract less dust than Ultimate Wax because it doesn't leave as much of an oily film on the car like Ultimate.

 

[jimbrewer]

I second what QWERTY says. Paste is a lot easier to use with a mechanical polisher at least a dual action polisher. I can't get Qwerty's phenomenal numbers of cars out of a can of paste wax, but its much more economical and easier than using liquid product with a DA.

 

[Robenstein]

Collinite 845 or Duragloss 105 would be economical and long lasting alternatives as far as liquid.

Collinite 476 or Finish Kare 1000 High Temp Wax would be alternative paste waxes.

 

[The Critic]

I'm going to disagree with all of you, and say that any liquid or paste wax/sealant is more economically and efficiently applied by hand. Unless of course, you're hoping to get that minor bit of paint correction from the DA foam pad that you will be using.

Alternatives to Meguiars ULW would include Menzerna PowerLock, Blackfire Wet Diamond or HD Poxy. I've used the first two with great results. I just got a bottle of the 3rd one and have found that it is extremely cheap and hides defects extremely well, but have not had experience with its durability (yet).

 

[Robenstein]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
I'm going to disagree with all of you, and say that any liquid or paste wax/sealant is more economically and efficiently applied by hand. Unless of course, you're hoping to get that minor bit of paint correction from the DA foam pad that you will be using.

Alternatives to Meguiars ULW would include Menzerna PowerLock, Blackfire Wet Diamond or HD Poxy. I've used the first two with great results. I just got a bottle of the 3rd one and have found that it is extremely cheap and hides defects extremely well, but have not had experience with its durability (yet).


Well unless you are a cynic and believe they want to sell you more wax, even several of the wax companies say that using a machine is best, and that by hand you may need two coats for optimum performance.

 

[qwertydude]

Although it is possible to use less waxes when applied by hand it is tougher to get a more even and thorough application. Applying by machine can get what little wax you need to apply to really bond and last. Generally with a machine waxing I only have to reapply wax to the pad once or twice and the friction the machine can generate can really bond the wax to the panel for efficient application. While by hand I'm sorta forced to take light swipes every couple panels to rejuvenate enough wax to get even application without having to keep rubbing and rubbing to force the wax onto the panel.

But if you're careful you can get more control by hand with wax application. But most people aren't quite that patient and careful. And it's a lot easier to over apply by hand vs machine which can apply evenly and quite economically as long as you don't overload your application on the machine's pad.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Robenstein

Well unless you are a cynic and believe they want to sell you more wax, even several of the wax companies say that using a machine is best, and that by hand you may need two coats for optimum performance.


I have never seen such a recommendation on the products that I'm using -- Menzerna Powerlock, Blackfire Wet Diamond, or HD Poxy.

This must be a Meguiar's recommendation for their consumer line?

 

[buck91]

Found a sample bottle of Blackfire Wet Diamond that came with an AG order last year or the year before. Applied it with a cheap foam bonnet on a cheap orbital spreader after a nice shampoo wash and some spot claybarring. Looks phenomenal! I'll be curious if it holds up as well as it looks- might be worth the astronomical price tag?

 

[buck91]

Quick little up date after some rains yesterday. Great beading action at least as good as the megs stuff, though interestingly despite the smooth finish and nice beading the water does not blow off while driving as well as with megs ultimate. Also does not seem to show water spots from standing rain water drying.