How Many Waxes Do I Need?

[rrcaniglia]

I was looking at the DP Prima page and saw at least three waxes: Epic, Hydro, and Banana Gloss. This list excludes quick detailers and sealants.

My question is, can't I just use one wax? Or, is there something special each one brings and I should buy two or all three?

Or, have I left out a product? In other words, I just don't understand the over or underlap among products in the Prima line.

Heather said about a year ago that they were intending to put together a short paper on this, but I couldn't find it online, so suspect business has been so good it got shelved. Which brings me here, to the corner of MINIdom and detailers' cove.

Any help greatly appreciated. Expecting arrival of a CPR within a month.

[cristo]

I believe the correct answer is 42.
Yep, you need 42 waxes, or is it 3.14159...?

[CR&PW&JB]

Epic is a must. It's your long-lasting protectant. It'll give solid protection for your paint for about six months, a little less or a little longer depending on your environmental conditions.

Banana Gloss is optional. It'll make your Epic last longer if you apply it every couple of months and it really adds depth to dark colors. For me, it has become a must.

Hydro is also optional. It's a spray on, and wipe off after you wash product. Again, it can add a small bit of protection to extend the life of your Epic. It will also hide some of the tiny micro-swirls and scratches in your paint in between your major detailing processes.

So, how many do you NEED ? Just one.

How many do you WANT ? Three.

[//MZero]

IMO Hydro is their best product, and I have most of their line. I absolutely love Hydro...but I would not call it a wax, more so a cross between a quick wax and a quick detailer.

That said Hydro alone is not enough. You'll need either Epic or Banana Gloss as a true wax base coat ^3car up there described them pretty well.

[cristo]

Originally Posted by cristo

I believe the correct answer is 42.
Yep, you need 42 waxes, or is it 3.14159...?

Originally Posted by CR&PW&JB

How many do you WANT ? Three.

Hey, I was pretty close with my second guess.
"Missed it by THAT much"!

[rrcaniglia]

So, since my car will be brand new, does the following sound like a good plan?

1. Wash car.
2. Clay paint.
3. Wash, again, to get rid of the clay lube.
4. Epic.
5. Wait 24 hrs for Epic to cure (?)
6. Banana Gloss.
7. When not apparently dirty or every Saturday (whichever comes first), spray off with water and Hydro?

What happens to Banana Gloss and Epic if I wash weekly with soap?

R

[CR&PW&JB]

1. Even if your car is new, it very may well have swirls in the paint. The dealerships don't know squat about taking care of your paint. One trip through their automatic car wash could create swirls.

So, if you really want perfect paint, check your paint out under direct light to see how it looks. Especially check the A-Piller as it's highly succeptible to swirls and scratches.

If you want to skip the polishing, then yeah, your routine looks fine. But I question why you would want to rinse your car off if you're not going to wash it. You could just QD it or use a California Duster on it.

And feel free to wash your MINI every week if it needs it. I do... and my Epic still lasts six months easily.

[rrcaniglia]

Well, I thought the soap would wash the wax away. Not true?

I'm more than willing to use soap, if that's the right way to do things.

Also, what do you mean by 'polishing'? Is that waxing? I thought Epic was a 5 month finish and BG was 3 months. So polishing must be something different?

R

[hegira]

At the risk of opening a can of worms, you can save time (and a little money) if you wash, rinse, wash again, only this time use fresh soapy water as a lubricant when you clay, instead of using a QD for a lube. Save the quick-detailer for touch-ups.
Please bear in mind, detailing clay IS a very mild abrasive, and will remove any wax.
I'm just sayin'....

[rrcaniglia]

I'm with you. Soapy water makes sense. In the absence of some well-reasoned objection from the crowd, I will follow your advice. Thanks.

[Jeremy1026]

Originally Posted by rrcaniglia

I'm with you. Soapy water makes sense. In the absence of some well-reasoned objection from the crowd, I will follow your advice. Thanks.

Using a soapy water is fine. It's not the optimum solution, but it will get the job done while not damaging anything.

Originally Posted by rrcaniglia

Also, what do you mean by 'polishing'? Is that waxing? I thought Epic was a 5 month finish and BG was 3 months. So polishing must be something different?

Waxes are for protection, polishes are for correction. If you slide your hand across the paint and it feels a little rough (even after claying) then you should polish. Polishing also gets rid of the swirls and holograms in the paint. If you get a small scratch you can usually polish it out assuming you have the right tools/polishes.

[OctaneGuy]

Your process and vocabulary is confusing.

You rinse off the paint with water, then you wash it with car wash soap, then you rinse that soap off.

There is no need to wash it again. You can clay with the existing water on the paint or use a bucket of soapy water as lubricant if you want. As each section is clayed, then dry it with your waffle weave towel and inspect the paint to see if you've finished claying. If not, rewet that area and continue claying.

It isn't true that claying with remove any wax either, but you should definitely rewax after you've clayed the paint to ensure uniform coverage and protection.

Originally Posted by hegira

At the risk of opening a can of worms, you can save time (and a little money) if you wash, rinse, wash again, only this time use fresh soapy water as a lubricant when you clay, instead of using a QD for a lube. Save the quick-detailer for touch-ups.
Please bear in mind, detailing clay IS a very mild abrasive, and will remove any wax.
I'm just sayin'....

Whoever has propagated this myth of having to wash the car again after claying needs to be shot. I'm serious. I keep reading this from newbies, and really it's gotta stop. You only clay a clean surface.

You clay it and check how it feels as you clay. You wipe it dry so you can inspect the paint...if you haven't finished claying, then clay some more. Once you've finished claying..it should be shiny, glossy, and smooth to the touch. There is no need to let the clay residue dry and rewash the car.

When you apply Epic, you only need to let it dry for an hour or overnight if in a dustfree environment, then remove it. Now let it cure for 24 hours.

As long as you aren't using dishwashing soap, your wax protection should easily survive the washing. That's why we have car wash soaps.

Originally Posted by rrcaniglia

So, since my car will be brand new, does the following sound like a good plan?

1. Wash car.
2. Clay paint.
3. Wash, again, to get rid of the clay lube.
4. Epic.
5. Wait 24 hrs for Epic to cure (?)
6. Banana Gloss.
7. When not apparently dirty or every Saturday (whichever comes first), spray off with water and Hydro?

What happens to Banana Gloss and Epic if I wash weekly with soap?

R

If you're confused by Prima's 3 waxes, good thing you aren't using Meguiar's who has dozens of waxes to choose from.

Epic is the most durable. Hydro is the least, but it's the easiest to use. BG is right in the middle.

Which one to choose from? It depends. As a system, Epic works great once or twice a year as the main protection and Hydro and or BG work great as a booster or maintenance wax. They are easy to apply and make the paint look good.

Do you need all 3? Depends on you. Sure, buy all 3 and use them. You won't regret it. Could you live on just one of them? Sure.

If you only buy Epic, you can use it twice a year and you're done.

If you only buy Hydro, use it everytime you wash..don't go for longer than a week or two between applications.

If you only buy Banana Gloss, use it once a month after a car wash.

All of these products are available at www.ShowCarSupplies.com

Richard

Originally Posted by rrcaniglia

I was looking at the DP Prima page and saw at least three waxes: Epic, Hydro, and Banana Gloss. This list excludes quick detailers and sealants.

My question is, can't I just use one wax? Or, is there something special each one brings and I should buy two or all three?

Or, have I left out a product? In other words, I just don't understand the over or underlap among products in the Prima line.

Heather said about a year ago that they were intending to put together a short paper on this, but I couldn't find it online, so suspect business has been so good it got shelved. Which brings me here, to the corner of MINIdom and detailers' cove.

Any help greatly appreciated. Expecting arrival of a CPR within a month.

[kenchan]

kinda late to post, but if you're one of those folks that only wash their cars periodically and dont really care too much about it, just get the Hydro and call it a day.

Hydro will last 4wks easily. ive done so on my dd which are parked outdoors 24/7...through rain/t-storms, etc. it will last 4wks. plus you can use it on glass, plastics as well so you dont have to worry about getting white wax stains.

can't get any better then that.

[rrcaniglia]

OG, and others. Thanks. Is there a pamphlet anywhere called Detailing 101? Of course, that would deprive me of your virtual company, so perhaps I shouldn't want to know.

This is my second MINI. The first fell victim to a deer and a mean backward slide down a wicked slope with a single barrel roll.

I washed her weekly and waxed her with some stuff called Ice, I think. I believe I should step up this time, hence my questions.

Appreciate the help.

r

[hegira]

I perhaps mis-spoke when I suggested washing a second time. I meant after the first wash and rinse, to use fresh soapy water and use that as a lubricant.
I guess that's what happens when I try to be brief.
My bad!

[rrcaniglia]

OK, Folks,

Just bought Mystique, Epic, BG, and Hydro. Black Wow next time.

R

[MLPearson79]

I'm a little late to the party, but I also use all three. Epic twice a year with my big detail, then Banana Gloss once every 6 weeks or so, and then Hydro with every wash.

As far as there being a "Detailing 101" pamphlet, I would recommend the "car washing for the non-OC" thread that's stickied at the top of this forum. It has pretty much everything you need to know.

[markfm]

Originally Posted by rrcaniglia

OK, Folks,

Just bought Mystique, Epic, BG, and Hydro. Black Wow next time.

R

Good stuff, RC. You'll enjoy them!

--Mark

[markfm]

Originally Posted by rrcaniglia

OG, and others. Thanks. Is there a pamphlet anywhere called Detailing 101? Of course, that would deprive me of your virtual company, so perhaps I shouldn't want to know.

r

Here's a good pamphlet that covers a lot of the basics. You have to register to read it... Free and worth the time to register there.

--Mark

[dogdal24]

Originally Posted by markfm

Good stuff, RC. You'll enjoy them!

--Mark

I agree you made a good investment. You ride will be looking great. I use all of them and they are great products. The Black Wow is awesome too!

[rrcaniglia]

Appreciate all the help and advice.
R