Not talking about application, but actually how many coats is too many coats? Last weekend I applied a coat of polish, a coat of Carnauba and a coat of NXT (all Maguire's products, that's all I currently have).

If I apply another coat of NXT or Carnauba will it make any difference or
would I just get diminishing returns and sore muscles (no rotory) after a while?

Would I lose the shine after too many coats applied in too few days?

Would I actually get added protection and shine with more coats?

Would it be any different if I were to use Zaino instead? After I use up the Maguire's, I plan on trying the Zaino for a comparison.

 

What I know is Zaino calls for two coats for the first application as per their instructions.

How much is too much? I would have to so say after two your really not doing much. Putting two on coats you are just making sure you have complete coverage. Will it last longer, probably not. IMHO

I do not think you would loose shin with extra coatings.

I am not an expert but have waxed a lot over the years and was just turned on to Zaino and the Mini currently has two coats.

I am sure the other members can give you a better answer.....these are just my thoughts.

FWIW, we love Zaino.

 

I can tell you this about carnauba and have read this several times. If you lay down a synthetic sealer first (like Klasse Glaze), then a good carnauba, you separate applications by one day to allow time for each layer to cure.

Two layers of Carnauba is good. Anymore than that is a total waste of time and money due to the Law of Diminishing Returns. In other words, that second layer might make it 40% better than one layer but a third layer only 2% and a fourth layer 0.2% etc. Bottom line, two layers is good enuff.

 

Many waxes (true waxes like carnuba) ask for 2 coats, but the second coat is really just to get wax in places that you missed the first time around. During the second coat, the solvents in the wax will melt the previous coat of wax, so you don't really layer the wax coats, you just smear them together.

With a sealant (like Klasse or Zaino), you can truely layer the product, producing a more brilliant shine w/ every coat.

I'm kinda confused w/ the carnuba and NXT combination... especially with the NXT on top. I'm by no means an NXT expert, but I always thought it to be somewhere between a wax and a sealant. With what I know of NXT, applying a product like this after carnuba is kinda like painting your house AFTER applying a layer of Crisco... I can't imagine it sticking very well. I've been known to apply carnuba after a few coats of sealant to get a more liquid shine, but at least the sealant was adhered directly to the paintwork and the wax floated on top of the sealant.

 

I see diminishing returns w/ Zaino, but only after 3-4 consecutive coats. I'd rather get 2-3 good 'base coats' on there and then apply a refresh coat every few months.

 

First off, thanks for all the greatr answers, I'm learning a lot. I guess I will hold off on any more applications for a while.

Regarding the NXT/Carnaube thing, it turns out that in fact I did apply the NXT first and then the wax. I must confess though that this was done purely by accident. I had no real plan on applying the layers, it just worked out that way. Lucky, I guess. I am a real beginner at this. The car does look real nice, though. Thanks again.

 

Agranger, what solvents?

I dont know about Meguiers but Pinnacle Sourveign ingredients, from their handbook, say only pure Ivory Carnauba and "natural oils" to enhance the wetness. In fact, it says its a "true wax" with no cleaning properties.

I dont get the solvent part?

 

Sorry... bad choice of words. Chows is absolutely correct.

In the world of wax, 'solvent' is taken as an organic solvent... added to provide a cleaning property.

I still think of 'solvent' in terms of my old chemistry training. From dictionary.com: A substance in which another substance is dissolved, forming a solution. Even a 'pure carnuba' has to be mixed with oils in order to make it more liquid. A block of 'pure' carnuba would be way too hard to use for the purpose we want of it.

 

So your saying the oils in the second layer are breaking down the first coat? That could make sense if it were hot and they say to do it in the shade. OK got it. thanks!

 

That's it, though I don't think that it needs to be hot. The simple act of rubbing the applicator (containing fresh wax and oils) against the old layer of wax will re-suspend some, if not most, of the first wax coat. When you buff off the excess, you will be back down to a 1-coat thickness of wax... just (hopefully) with better coverage than before.

Maybe Brad will drop by and weigh in on this as well...

 

agranger has it pretty much right with his comments. Carnaubas in general do have solvents in them, the ingredients differ, but they are required to dissolve the solid brick of carnauba. The first layer coats. The second layer helps cover the spots you may have missed. The third coat just breaks down the second, etc, etc. You cannot layer it.

Polymers and acrylics also have solvents in them, but they work in a different way. With many polymers one layer bonds to the previous layer. Some can bond many. many layers. Other polymers (this is true with carnaubas and hybrids as well) have abrasives in them which diminishes the amount of layering possible.

As far as Zaino, it does mave a different, more liquid look with more and more layers but it depends a lot on the color of the paint.

 

mg5904......if you switch to Zaino next time, make sure to remove the NXT/carnuba wax by using Dawn dish detergent wash prior to the Zaino