Pads and waxing and applying wax and buffing...

[Pablo]

My head is spinning. I obviously have always done this by hand. I have even applied wax just with my bare hands - wood projects.

I bought the Griots 6" unit and I just bought one Griot 6" RED applicator pad.

I don't need to polish my new car, just want to apply waxes and buff them out at least now the weather is warm and then mid and end of summer. I have the prep stages all worked out, save that for another thread. And no sealant/wax discussion. I'm using WAX and that is that.

I want to know the best pads and technique are to apply the wax and maybe some science behind that portion, then should I buff the wax by hand or get a buffer bonnet? What kind?

 

[Robenstein]

I have a bad arm so I always remove with a buffer if the wax is stubborn to remove. But you may have to change out terry/microfiber bonnets so you dont rub any dust that settles on the car as the wax dries. Doing it by hand allows you to just fold the cloth and present new surfaces.

 

[qwertydude]

Even for a new car I would still clay. You don't want any random bonded grit getting lifted by the machine and ground into your paint causing random swirls.

After claying, any finishing or waxing pad can be used to apply wax. There's no real technique for waxing, a few drops of wax on the pad and apply it by machine you don't have to go slowly or anything. The machine will be plenty strong enough to work the wax in. You only need to go slow when working with a cleaner wax or AIO so you can let them polish up your paint in the process of waxing.

Before applying on a section be sure to wipe down with some detail spray and a microfiber to clean the section of dust that may have settled. When applying wax by machine it will be nearly invisible and that's what you want. It'll make removal easier and heavy application will mean you end up muscling the stuff off which can mar your paint. To test if you're still applying wax, simply press the pad, with the machine off, onto your car window. If it leaves a stain on the window you're still good to go. When you apply it, it should look so thin as to be nearly invisible, about as obvious as a smeared fingerprint.

Let that dry for a few minutes, depends on what wax it is some need more time than others. If it wipes off clean with your microfiber that's good enough. Wipe clean by hand so you can turn to fresh sections so dust that settled while the wax was drying doesn't scratch your paint. Removing wax by machine means you might end up grinding settled dust into your paint since you can't just fold the bonnet to a clean side like a towel by hand. Plus machine application will make hand removal a breeze.

One important question is what wax will you be using? Because if you're not polishing, a good light cleaning wax like Meguiars Ultimate Wax will really help the gloss on your vehicle because it will lightly polish the paint too while applying quite long lasting protection.

But if you want ultimate durability the Collinite waxes would be one of the best in the market for durability. The paste wax applied by machine just have outstanding durability and are not nearly as bad as people make them out to be since when applied by hand many people overapply the paste wax and have a miserable time removing it.

 

[sxg6]

I have a 6" griots unit too. I think mine came with a dvd with instructions how to use it, the best way to apply wax, etc. See the video link below starting at 7:18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAWQdqNJS18

Personally I apply the wax with the red pad, and buff it by hand with a microfiber towel.

 

[The Critic]

I really hope you did not buy a DA just to apply wax. That's a huge waste of money.

With that said, I am not familiar with the Griots 6" pad. If it's one of those soft foam pads, they need to be primed with a lot of product...which is sort of a big waste.

I like the stiffer finishing foam pads for applying wax...such as the Rupes white or LC crimson.

There's little technique to this. Apply 4-6 drops to a fresh pad, spread it across a 2x2 area at speed 2 or 3, and make 1 pass to ensure even coverage. Allow to haze per the mfg.'s instructions. Wipe off with MF towel. done.

 

[sxg6]

I bought my 6" griots random orbital strictly for waxing purposes, and it's some of the best money I have ever spent. I'm only 30 years old, but I don't have the kind of energy that I use to have. After meticulously washing and drying a car, hand waxing and hand buffing a car is a lot of work, especially if you really try to do a good job working the wax into the paint. Having the griots machine makes waxing a car much more enjoyable, easier, and faster. Not to mention, I know the machine can apply the wax far better than I ever could by hand. I can only imagine that the older I get, the more I will appreciate the griots orbital.

 

[heynow]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
I really hope you did not buy a DA just to apply wax. That's a huge waste of money.


What machine would you recommend for applying only wax?

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: heynow
Originally Posted By: The Critic
I really hope you did not buy a DA just to apply wax. That's a huge waste of money.


What machine would you recommend for applying only wax?


Just apply it by hand using a foam applicator pad.

By the time you drag out the machine, prime your pad, clean-up, etc....it really isn't worth the trouble or the wasted product.

 

[Turk]

Originally Posted By: sxg6
I have a 6" griots unit too. I think mine came with a dvd with instructions how to use it, the best way to apply wax, etc. See the video link below starting at 7:18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAWQdqNJS18

Personally I apply the wax with the red pad, and buff it by hand with a microfiber towel.


Correct.

1) I put many dots or lines on the Red pad.
2) Ensure the speed is set to "3".
3) Turn GG Machine with the pad 1/2" from the surface & push down right away with medium pressure.
4) Go in one direction in a 3' area, then go the other in a 3' section.
5) Wipe off with a MF Cloth.

Done!

 

[qwertydude]

Originally Posted By: heynow
Originally Posted By: The Critic
I really hope you did not buy a DA just to apply wax. That's a huge waste of money.


What machine would you recommend for applying only wax?


http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-compact-palm-polisher-90219.html

Hands down the best machine for just waxing. In the detailing community it's jokingly referred to as a wax spreader but just for wax it's definitely the most convenient. You don't need high power to apply wax and that machine certainly doesn't have high power. But what it does have is just about the best NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) characteristics. It's nearly silent, no hand numbing high frequency vibrations, and no annoying harsh gearbox sounds. And it's easier to handle since it's lighter and has an easy to grip body and top.

Rip off the foam backing and remove the sticky glue with gasoline and apply velcro and you can use the machine with dedicated polishing pads. That vastly improves it's performance and usefulness to the point where I haven't taken my DA out in a year. Since I don't need to do regular heavy corrections. An AIO or a wax is pretty much what my car sees and the wax spreader polisher with the velcro mod is perfect for simple maintenance waxings.

 

[Vikas]

Where do you buy a velcro disk of appropriate size?