Black Wax Prep

[spoiledred94]

I want to black wax Betty and would like to know if Dawn dish washing detergent will be right to use to remove the old wax?

[gweg_b]

That's how I go about it.

I try at least twice a summer to wash with Dawn and do a full clay before waxing.

[crash93ssei]

Dawn will work just fine.

[spoiledred94]

Thanks a bunch. I have a little clay bar left too

[Backhoe]

I think you can use a weak Dawn solution to float your clay as well, if you're out of the accompanying spray.

[spoiledred94]

I haven't had my paint care stuff out since last summer. I'll have to see if I have spray left.

[yourgrandma]

Dawn doesnt have the best lubricity. Make sure the car is already clean before the dawn wash. I prefer a wipedown with isopropyl alcohol to remove old LSPs, but dawn does seem to work on most stuff.

[spoiledred94]

MY Grand Ma I'll do the the prewash if I have to but the wipe down with alcohol I am going to miss. My paint is scratched a lot and there's a point of diminishing returns, ya know?

I do have plenty Mother's Clay Bar Wax lubricant spray left. I have about 3/4 of a cup of clay left. Should be just enough right? It does have wafts of My 94 Bonny's red paint in it. From what I read the clay only picks up so what I got should work.

What's my procedure here?

1-double wash with Dawn with a hand dry the last time.
2-Then clay bar it using the lubricant spray and the clay.
3-Apply Black Wax to entire car in the shade. (per my Meguire's Black Wax instructions)
4-Reapply for better results
5-Buff with clean dry microfibers

[yourgrandma]

Don't bother with a second coat. The solvents in the wax will just strip the last coat off. There are products that can be layered, but most waxes really don't layer well.

[gweg_b]

Yeah, I just did the Black Box once, and it's holding up nicely. I got amazing shine from just one application (and then used quick detailer to keep it clean).

According to Turtle Wax, applying this wax several times throughout the year will allow for some minor paint correction. Whether that's true remains to be seen by me (have only used it once). So, I'll continue using the stuff, but it takes so freakin' long to apply. I dread doing it again, but I do love the shine!

[spoiledred94]

Hey Greg can you tell me what a (quick) detailer is? And what you say about paint improvement over time? I am hoping to mask a lot of scratches in the paint. Perhaps you mean something else?

[00Beast]

Quick Detailer is the same stuff that you use to lubricate the clay. If you have light debris or dust you can use that to clean the car, instead of washing. I have friends who haven't washed their classic cars in years, just using California Dusters, Quick Detailer and car covers.

[gweg_b]

Exactly what Ed said! California Dusters and quick detailers (found on the cleaning and waxing shelf of your favorite car parts store) can be your friends in helping keep you car clean (less washes, which take the wax off over time). I may only wash my car several times during the summer now, depending how much dirt builds up (if it gets too heavy, I wash).

Yes, the Black Box will cover up a lot of light scratches and swirl marks in black paint, and if you use it heavy enough on deeper scratches, it will make them less visible. Over time though, as the wax wears off, those swirls and scratches will come back (because it's just wax). According to something I read from Turtle Wax (don't remember where), when used enough, that black wax will build up over time and cover your swirl marks more permanently, hence the idea of paint correction. But I'm not sure, since it is just wax, but I'm going to keep using this stuff, and I'll know for sure once I've used it long enough if it will do what they say it will do.

However, nothing will beat taking a polisher to your paint and getting those marks out, but the Black Box seems to be a good middle ground if you don't have a polisher, like me.

[Grimm]

You might want to wash again with car soap after the clay if you aren't polishing. I usually have some streaking after using clay.

[spoiledred94]

You might want to wash again with car soap after the clay if you aren't polishing. I usually have some streaking after using clay.

Grimm I just proved that. I got sreaks all over. The detailer was necessary for sure but it ran all over. It took me over an hour to clay the car. Theres were streaks over a lot of the car. The balck wax took over some if it. Still same problem from day one; there's water spots under evrything. Needs deep Pro detailer work

[gweg_b]

After I clay, I always wash the car again. That's something I learned from Ryan. Makes waxing easier.

[spoiledred94]

I should maybe have done that-I think it would have helped actually. Nevertheless It took me 3-4 hrs straight thru. It looks good, I'll have to get a pic done to post-

[yourgrandma]

I actually prefer either a wipedown with ipa after clay or a spritz with some qd. Lot faster than another wash.

[crash93ssei]

The big thing with clay is to make sure that there is plenty of lube. Even soapy water from your wash bucket will work fine, must be clean of course.

If the clay starts to grab and slide hard you are marring the paint for sure. IPA wipe down or another wash, either will work fine. Basically make your paint clean and contaminant free and your wax will last as long as it can.

[spoiledred94]

Well hey I am surry I am late with this. It is a big job to do pics for my sit.

It turned out really nice. Like I said there were a lot of bad scratches and almost all of them are not apparent. I never thought about how much it takes to take care of a nice car.

thx

Kris