Ideal temperature to glaze and wax

[Jgordon]

I know that it can get too hot to wax a car, and that you don't want to do it in direct sunlight. Are there any disadvantages to waxing the car when it's chilly? I'm assuming that the wax will be harder to work with, but are there any changes in the structure of the wax that will weaken the bond between it and the car? I'd like to do it this weekend, but they're telling me it'll be in the 40s.

In addition, has anyone tried warming their wax in a water bath prior to application? I'd be curious to hear some results.

Thank you all.

[pwd72s]

EVERYTHING...must be at 82.35 degrees f. Otherwise, forget it...you'll end up with an ugly car....

[83SC in PA]

I've always been told that it needs to be above 60 degrees F to wax a car. Don't know the reasoning behind it. HTH

[island911]

Originally posted by pwd72s
EVERYTHING...must be at 82.35 degrees f. Otherwise, forget it...you'll end up with an ugly car....

LOL -- and just when I thought NO one was going to reply.

Although I believe the ambient temperature can be lower if you use an inversely proportional amount of elbow grease.

[Jgordon]

Gosh, pwd, I don't think my thermostatically controlled garage with indoor sauna and wet bar has a thermometer with that kind of precision. I tried, but all I can get is 82.3 degrees or 82.4. If I send you a check for $500, could you tell me how to get my garage to 82.35?

Actually, I saw your post on the H4 auction, and if I sent you the money, you'd probably just use it for more crack . I'll figure out how to get the temperature right on my own.

Any other thoughts? more elbow grease is not a problem, but I don't want to do it over again simply because the wax didn't bond well to the car in the first place.

[scedmonds]

I love the twisted minds on this board . . .

I'm in the same boat -- when I can carve the time out to do the detailing, I gotta do it, no matter the temperature.

I did mine last weekend, in the garage, with the temp in the mid-40s to low-50s with a bit of rain in San Diego. I promptly left for a business trip to Ohio, and came back late last evening to a simply gorgeous P-car.

So, you MIGHT get away with the indoor ambient temperature a bit lower than suggested above . . .

Cheers!

C.

[pwd72s]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jgordon
[B]

Actually, I saw your post on the H4 auction, and if I sent you the money, you'd probably just use it for more crack .

Like I said on another post, I don't do illegal drugs anymore. At my age? All I have to do is stand up quickly to get the same feeling.

Said I was in a weird mood last night. Waxing? I'd experiment with a small area...if it doesn't work well? Wait for things to warm up, okay?

[tobluforu]

If it's to hot or if you wax your car in the sun, the wax will not dry. It will stay in a wax form. Ok, it will dry, but not until the temp gets cooler. If the temp is to cool, it will do the same. Ever see those knot-heads driving around with wax still on their cars. I would almost bet that they either waxed their car when it was to hot or to cold and got fed up with waiting.
I just tried waxing my car(saab) 2 weeks ago in the sun to see what would happen. Took forever for the wax to dry-almost 3 hrs. Tried rubbing it out after an hour, but all it did was move wet wax around.

[Jgordon]

Toblu, what's that temperature at which the wax is too cold? That's exactly why I was asking, to determine the range of temps in which it's ideal to wax the car.

Thanks a bunch. PWD, instead of crack, come east, try some legal drugs.

Thanks again.

[tobluforu]

Check this site out. ALMOST all you will want to know on this subect. http://www.carcareonline.com/howto_articles.html

I use a product called zaino. This stuff is incredible and leaves your car looking "wet". The more coats you apply the better it looks. It is a polish and not a wax. Therefore, some do not like it.

[sammyg2]

I will check with my detailer. :-)

Those that know me will get it..............