Liquid Wax vs Paste Wax

[Chronos]

Liquid Wax or Paste Wax which one do you use and why? Tell us why you use one over the other. Is it habit, price, ease of application, durability? Is there any difference in your opinion?

 

[StangPower05]

I have always been a fan of Paste wax. It's pretty much a habit now lol. My grandfather, from way back always used paste wax and pretty much uses it on all my family's cars. We personally love the Mothers "California Gold" Caranuba wax and Cleaner wax. Dont get me wrong, ive used liquid wax before, but IMO, it just doesent give the car the same shine as Paste wax does.

 

[Croft]

I have always been a fan of Paste wax. It's pretty much a habit now lol. My grandfather, from way back always used paste wax and pretty much uses it on all my family's cars. We personally love the Mothers "California Gold" Caranuba wax and Cleaner wax. Dont get me wrong, ive used liquid wax before, but IMO, it just doesent give the car the same shine as Paste wax does.

+1, except I use the Mcguires 2.0 wax. Good stuff IMO. But I think all do well.

If I am in a hurry or want to do a quickie for a car show, I'll use the liquid wax.

 

[Steedman07]

+
If I am in a hurry or want to do a quickie

yES!!!!!!!!!

 

[Croft]

yES!!!!!!!!!

Get your mind out of the gutter, silly!!

 

[matt texass]

Do a google search on Poorboys or Zaino. You will not be disappointed.

 

[Chronos]

The reason I asked was because I found myself standing in the wax isle wondering that question. Up till now I had a buddy in the detailing biz and he would give me liquid carnuba wax. We'll all good things come to an end. So I was looking at the myriad of waxes and thought "What the heck is the difference?" I also noticed that for the same price it seems as if you get more paste wax as opposed to liquid wax. This isn't one of those things where you can compare ounces because liquid and solids can't be compared. I'm glad Stanpower05 and 07caliGTstang like the paste, it gives me a direction. I'm always for the best performance at the best price.

So do you glop it onto the pad and apply or build a small film on the applicator and apply? I know liquids are easy. Pour out a little to cover the area, and spread out, but what techniques do you use for paste?

BTW what gives the best protection, the cleaner wax or the carnuba? I don't want to have to wax the car every week. I have three cars to maintain, I want it to last a little.

 

[matt texass]

I like using sealants.

 

[thecarter13]

To start (heh):

Most liquid style waxes you find are more sealants than carnuabas, and have the benefits of being cheap and also very durable. On the other hand, most carnuabas come in a paste form and are normally pricey (depending on frame of refernence) and offer far less durability. However most paste waxes or carnuabas (this is what I think) are able to achieve a much greater shine and what not. I just dont think a true carnauba based wax can be bottled up and used in liquid form. This is just me but I have tried various products in both paste and liquid and I really dont think its the same.

Now there are a couple of ways to go about paste waxes, you can use a hand applicator, or you can slide the wax out of the can and smear small amounts of it onto a very light pad with no cut (a blue or red LC pad) and use a da or orbital to do so. I use a clean rubber/latex (w/e they are) and push it out slowly.

If your looking to really last and offer a good shine go with Klasse High Gloss Sealant, that will last you roughly six months or so.

Also, the mothers cleaner wax is kind of a pre wax thingy, it will help fill some swirls and small minor stuff and offer a clean slate to wax on top of, plus it will add some more depth. I do believe it does have to be topped with a wax though.

 

[flaming70vw]

+1 on the Klaase. Just got it last week, used it on my wifes car and very impressed. Should look even better on something darker.

 

[SteveP]

I think liquid wax is easier to work with. I love using it. But i don't just use wax now but polish, gloss, compounds, ect... When you do everything, it looks so much better then just waxI think.

 

[thecarter13]

Ha I am on the other side of the fence skeeter. I always like working with the paste more. I think its easier to use then most the other stuff but that is how I am.

 

[Chronos]

I think liquid wax is easier to work with. I love using it. But i don't just use wax now but polish, gloss, compounds, ect... When you do everything, it looks so much better then just waxI think.

Yes, I agree, but you can do that every time do you? I just spent all day Sunday detailing the wife's SUV. A day later, it's all dirty again. She works in an industrial area, wow there is so much crap around there. I'll tell you one thing, Japanese cars have a lot softer paints than American cars. The wife has a RAV4 and that paint gets surface scratches so easily. The Mustangs have a harder paint.

 

[thecarter13]

Yes, I agree, but you can do that every time do you? I just spent all day Sunday detailing the wife's SUV. A day later, it's all dirty again. She works in an industrial area, wow there is so much crap around there. I'll tell you one thing, Japanese cars have a lot softer paints than American cars. The wife has a RAV4 and that paint gets surface scratches so easily. The Mustangs have a harder paint.

It depends, I do a good full detail and paint correction on my own every six months or so. It normally takes two days includes taking all the wheels off, cleaning the engine bay, doing a 3-4 step polish, sealing, waxing, glazing and what not. I normally wash 2-3 times a week along with quick detailer and wax every other week or so. The more you do it and the more systematic you get the faster it will go.

Yes very true about the paints. Not all American made cars are that way, most of the dodges I have run into seem to be in the middle and have some that are hard and some that are soft. I actually think the Mustang is got to be one of the top 10 hardest paints. Most of the European cars however, bmw and mercedes have really hard paints too, now that they are painted with this ceramic clear shit. I actually like working with the soft paints, a simple 2 step polish is normally all you need where as the hard paints it can be grusome tiring work. This is why you really gotta test everything you do and carry several different compounds and polishes around with you.

Look to Optimum Hyper and Polish II for the softer clears and the Megs combo (105/205) or Menzerna SIP/PG/IP to take care of the harder stuff. Using the right product for the right paint makes a world of difference.

 

[gothamite302]

I think liquid wax is easier to work with. I love using it. But i don't just use wax now but polish, gloss, compounds, ect... When you do everything, it looks so much better then just waxI think.

I agree with this mostly. when i started waxing my car, i used paste cuz it was what my dad used. then i decided to try the liquid and application was much easier with very similar results. now i converted to zaino and will never go nack to just a wax cuz it lasts so long and it i can do a quick wash and my car is just as shiny.