Help me find a car/metal wax...

[Pazuzu]

That doesn't smell.

Now, *I* like the smell of Carnauba, but I want to use some wax on my telescopes to clean and shine them up, and I cannot expect that my *customers* will like the smell of Caranauba...

Do the synthetics (like Nu Finish) smell? What about the cheapo stuff like turtle Wax?

I have found that using my Mother's Caranauba works great, but then the scope gets put in a case, and when you open it up a week later, the smell is too strong, and I'm concerned that I will be getting outgassing on the mirrors.


Yes...I'm looking to make them jet fokkin black.

[masraum]

Well, I haven't used Nu Finish or Turtle Wax in many years, but my experience is that yes, they have an aroma.

I wonder if a modern glaze or sealant might be a better option than a wax. But I'm not sure how much shine those things add versus just protecting an existing shine.

[flipper35]

I believe all the manufactures add the aroma to their products. Try ceramic coating after a good buff?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by flipper35

I believe all the manufactures add the aroma to their products. Try ceramic coating after a good buff?

That's what I was thinking. Something like that.

[Zeke]

Good idea, flipper. The ceramic really do fill in micro scratches and protect the surface. Try using one in your kitchen sink and the water beads up and runs down the drain so well that you hardly have to wipe.

[CurtEgerer]

I did my truck and entire 5th wheel trailer with Mothers CMX. Very impressed. First time I've used a ceramic. Pretty much spray on, wipe off. Needs 24 hour curing time between coats.

* there is a unique smell when applying (nothing like wax). But I doubt it would linger at all. I've done a few watches with it (metal case and crystal) as well and excellent results. 5 coats over the course of a week.

[Pazuzu]

I gotta say, that stuff is all new to me, but it seems like it might do the trick. I'm mostly trying to make the exposed painted/powdercoated/anodized surface pop a bit, but telescopes do get exposed to the elements and are subject to dew, so some hydro-phobia would be nice.

[RWebb]

ask Meguiars - the pro line may not have any added scents - tan bottles & they do make synthetics

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by tcar

Why would you take the chance of off-gassing or ??? screwing up or fogging the optics on just so it's 'more shiny'...???


BTW it's just CARNUBA... you spelled it several different ways.

Uh...no it's not. I'll admit that my typing fingers bungled it and added a letter twice, but at least I didn't REMOVE a letter, then try to claim superiority.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

I did my truck and entire 5th wheel trailer with Mothers CMX. Very impressed. First time I've used a ceramic. Pretty much spray on, wipe off. Needs 24 hour curing time between coats.

* there is a unique smell when applying (nothing like wax). But I doubt it would linger at all. I've done a few watches with it (metal case and crystal) as well and excellent results. 5 coats over the course of a week.

For closure, I ordered the Mothers CMX and seem to be happy with it. It's very easy to wipe on and buff off, and it has no appreciable smell or stickiness. One simple coat was plenty to make the dark blue aluminum tube of my scope look great. Did a 99% alcohol wipe before.

Thank you for mentioning the 24 hour cure, it 's important. Even after buffing, any contact will leave fingerprints, etc but hitting it again with a microfiber cloth fixes that.

[red-beard]

If you want a wax, try Johnson Paste Hard Wax. It is tough, designed for floors. No smell. Ace Hardware carries it. And cheap.

[porsche4life]

Turtle wax ice shines up well and doesn’t have a terrible smell either. That or the meguirs NXT

[Bill Douglas]

Ah ha, do I know the product for you.

Renaissance wax. I use it on guns. It makes a S&W model 28 look like a model 29

Renaissance Wax is a brand of microcrystalline wax polish used in antique restoration and museum conservation. Most safely used to polish and conserve metal objects, it is also used on gemstones and such organic materials wood, ivory, and tortoiseshell. The product is sometimes used by reenactors to protect armor and weapons.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Ah ha, do I know the product for you.

Renaissance wax. I use it on guns. It makes a S&W model 28 look like a model 29

Renaissance Wax is a brand of microcrystalline wax polish used in antique restoration and museum conservation. Most safely used to polish and conserve metal objects, it is also used on gemstones and such organic materials wood, ivory, and tortoiseshell. The product is sometimes used by reenactors to protect armor and weapons.

That's a very interesting tidbit, Bill. Thanks for posting!

[Bill Douglas]

Pleased to help. A small 200 ml container seems to last forever.

[drcoastline]

Nufinish is a cleaner wax so use caution it is abrasive.

If you are looking for some type of protection while adding protection to the finish look into Penetrol. It is an oil based paint additive but can be used alone as a restorer and protective finish. When it dries it has a plastic flexibility. It last a long, long, long time. After seeing some YouTube videos a few years back I ran some of my own tests. It will protect bare metal exposed to the elements for years. I use it on my black car parts to restore color and add protection. I use a lint free rag to apply and wipe off. A little goes a long way and will last a year or more in the elements

As a metal protectant




On plastic

[miller5]

Yeah, CMX is a great thing.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by drcoastline

Nufinish is a cleaner wax so use caution it is abrasive.

If you are looking for some type of protection while adding protection to the finish look into Penetrol. It is an oil based paint additive but can be used alone as a restorer and protective finish. When it dries it has a plastic flexibility. It last a long, long, long time. After seeing some YouTube videos a few years back I ran some of my own tests. It will protect bare metal exposed to the elements for years. I use it on my black car parts to restore color and add protection. I use a lint free rag to apply and wipe off. A little goes a long way and will last a year or more in the elements

More really good stuff. Thanks.