After a full detailing regiment (Claying, cleaner, polish, carnuba- all Meguires) I noticed that water on my car exhibits the look of there being no wax on my car whatsoever! What happened? I thought water beads on a freshly waxed car? It always has in the past on other cars I have detailed. I used a mit, and the same technique I've always used. Although I've never clayed before this past weekend. Did I skip a step??

Anyone??

Thanks in advance!

 

You mean like this?



Pretty sure claying does not have much to do with it, not sure if synthetics bead better than carnuba.

Mark

 

Although it's true that different waxes (carnauba, various synthetics, etc) cause some variations in the way beading looks, they should all cause some sort of beading. And, in most cases, "good beading" looks like fairly tight, evenly distributed, even sized beads.

My question is how much time passed btween the time you applied the wax and the time you observed the lack of beading?

If it's been 2-3 weeks, it's likely that your carnauba has already worn off. In Florida, most carnaubas last only 2-3 weeks (longer and shorter depending on brand, pre-wax prep and weather/exposure).

My other question is whether or not you've washed with a harsh soap (like dish soap or similar) since the waxing? This will strip the wax... again, especially in the case of carnauba wax.

Carnaubas look gorgeous but they are usually not very durable (especially in high heat environments). This may be your problem?

Now, if you haven't washed and you just applied the wax, then it's a mystery to me! It sounds like your process is right on. As for your claying, if anything it will help improve the bond between your wax and the paint... aiding in the final look and likely beading.

Try to give me some more info, per my questions above and we can go from there to try to figure this out with you.

-Heather

 

One thing that people don't realize is that Meguiar's has historically formulated their products to sheet water and not bead. The thinking is, why would you want little droplets of water on your paint to only dry and cause spots? In their opinion, water that sheets off is better. However I know that they are changing that opinion on some new products to reflect consumer opinion so that water beads like crazy which is what people expect. It's posts like this that has caused them to rethink what's "best" for your paint.

 

About 3 hours.

 

Anything you recommend?

 

Hmm... odd. It must be the sheeting that OctaneGuy referred to. Does it sound like it sheeted instead of beaded to you? There are other products I know of that also sheet more than bead. In the sheeting cases I've seen though, the freshly waxed sheeting still seems kind of bead-like to me... at least in the way it forms bead-like globs before sheeting off. It's still different looking than if you hadn't waxed at all. Hmmm.

-Heather

 

Its funny when people talk about not having any protection after a wax application because it doesn't bead. I can always tell from how the water sits on the paint on a car with no wax protection. There is no consistency of the water on the paint. It sticks in some areas--doesn't bead at all---doesn't sheet. It looks MUCH different from a surface that has wax but is either sheeting or beading or both.

I made the following post on the Meguiarsonline forum awhile back.

It's been almost 4 weeks since I last washed my car and when I applied M21. I do maintain with NXT Speed Detailer, although lately this has only been once every few days. My MINI is garaged. I hit it with a pressure washer and within seconds the water beaded up like this.

Click the link below to see a Flash Animated version of the same thing. Note it's not realtime, as these were still pictures put together in slide show format. But the time it took was within seconds. It happened faster than I could hit it with water, then grab a camera and fire off pix!














WATER BEADING ANIMATION

 

ill be washing my legacy in a week or so and will determine how well
the Griots best of show (natural wax) endured the long harsh winter.

will see how Epic did as well as they were only applied a week apart.

 

Excellent visual of the sheeting action, OctaneGuy!

Thanks for the great photos. I couldn't think of a way to describe the difference between sheeting and no wax. Photos do it perfectly!

-Heather

 

Eagerly awaiting the results, Ken! I'm sure you'll keep us all posted.

-Heather