What
is the difference between a wax and a polish?
WAX - is a protective coating that is applied
to the exterior surface of an automobile to keep it from forming "Oxidation". Wax does not protect against
bird droppings, acid rain, tree sap, or balls bouncing off the hood. The ONLY reason a wax is applied to the
exterior surface of an automobile is to protect the paint or clearcoat from forming oxidation. Period.
POLISH - is a cleaning "compound" that helps
to remove impurities from the paint to prepare it for waxing or "sealing". They are both very different and should
not be confused. Although, the retail industry has mixed them up greatly in their advertising as having a wax
that polishes too. Remembering what I explained earlier helps you to realize that you can't have both at the same
time as they both do two seperate jobs.
Nearly all products in the market, whether called "wax" or "polish", contain polishing agents.
Polishing agents remove paint and create swirl marks on the painted surface.
Fine polishing agents create fine swirl marks and remove less
paint. The swirl marks become very visible after the wax wears
off. Mazzarella's Hot Body Wax® offers long-lasting protection without damaging
or removing the clear-coat finish.
How
can I tell if the product I am using has polishing agents?
If
the product label says that it leaves a powdery residue, you
can be sure that it contains abrasives. Some of the conventional
wax/polishes contain as much as 20% by weight polishing agents.
Hot Body Wax® is abrasive-free, is as durable as paste wax which offers UV protection.
Why
do most wax and polish products contain abrasives?
Conventional
waxes and polishes were designed for older enamel finishes to
remove oxidized pigments and colorants. Paint technology has
come a long way in the past decade; however, the wax and polish
manufacturers still offer the same old technologies.
How
can I protect the clear coat finish on my car?
Only
use automotive car wash soaps to wash your car. Use clean, dry
cloths for drying and/or waxing. Apply Hot Body Wax®
with UV protection once every three to four months to the painted surfaces to get
maximum protection. This will do two things. (1) Remove any oxidation and/or surface
contaminants that may have formed since the last time the vehicle was waxed, and,
(2) provide protection from the re-forming of oxidation and surface contaminants.
What
causes swirl marks on my car's paint?
Swirl
marks are created by two major processes: (1) Applying a conventional
wax /polish which contain harsh abrasives and (2) using a too harsh of an
abrasive buffing pad or towel/cloth.
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What
is the difference between liquid and paste wax?
The
only difference between liquid and paste waxes is
thickening agents. Both conventional liquid and paste waxes
could contain abrasives which can harm the clear coat finish
so you really need to be aware of the ingredients.
What
about using a polishing product that says "Clear-Coat Safe?
These
products generally contain finer polishing agents which cause
finer scratches and swirl marks.
How
do I remove swirl marks or deep scratches?
Hot Body Wax® will remove fine scratches
depending on the deepness or severity of the scratch
and hide some swirl marks without creating
new ones. If there are deep scratches, a random orbital buffer or polisher
with microfiber bonnet would be the best way to apply products with
polishing agents. It is best to go to a professional detailer
to minimize the possibility of having an uneven finish and/or burns in the paint or clearcoat.
Why
should I wax my car if it has a clear coat finish?
Clear
coat finishes contain additives to reduce scratching and marring
which protect the paint from environmental elements such
as acid rain, bird droppings, tree sap, etc. These additives
also cause water beading on new cars. After a few months, these
surface protectants are eroded by the environmental elements and oxidation begins to form, dulling the shine.
Hot Body Wax® will restore this protective layer while reducing the fading from exposure to the sun.
What
is the benefit of the UV inhibitors in Hot Body Wax®?
UV
inhibitors help keep the color from fading and are present in
the clear coat finish. These become deactivated or consumed
over time. The UV inhibitors in Hot Body Wax® augment these and
help protect the paint from fading.
Can
I use an orbital buffer with Hot Body Wax® to wax my car?
Absolutely!
In fact, most detail shops use Hot Body Wax® with orbital buffers. It is imperative not to use a
too harsh of an abrasive pad when buffing with an orbital buffer, though. You must use a cotton terry-cloth
or Microfiber bonnet with your orbital buffer or polisher. This will result
in a very high gloss finish in a few minutes without causing burns in the paint or clearcoat.
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What Is Oxidation?
Most
people in the detailing industry refer to the surface contamination
on paint as "Oxidation". Oxidation is a form of rust that forms on painted surfaces. It is caused by being
exposed to a combination of UV rays emitting from the sun and oxygen. This baked on oxidation, dirt and
grime needs to be cleaned off which will reveal the shine that is hidden underneath. A regular application of
Hot Body Wax® will keep these contaminates from forming and adhering to paint.
In
the paint manufacturing terminology, however, oxidation is the
reaction of polymers in paint with oxygen. This process takes
place on all surfaces continuously. Surface oxidation was a
major issue with the older enamel paints that were not clear-coated,
not because of paint oxidation, but because of the oxidation
of colorants/pigments which affected their appearance by making
them look dull.
By
using a polish that contains abrasives, the top oxidized layers
of the colorants or pigments of enamel paints are removed. This
exposes the fresh unoxidized colorants and pigments and the original
gloss. This removal of paint is evident by the change in the
color of the rag used in this process.
To
keep the pigments or colorants from oxidizing and changing color,
auto manufacturers add a thin clear paint system with UV protectants
on top of the older enamel paints. Removal of clear-coat paint
with a polishing product containing abrasives reduces the thickness
of clear-coat and its UV protection which leads to eventual
failure of the paint system.
What
conditions should I avoid when using Hot Body Wax®?
There aren't any conditions to avoid when
using Hot Body Wax®. This product can be applied in the direct sunlight without the damaging effect
normally associated with light and heat exposure. Hot Body Wax® WILL NOT bake into the finish or
"ball-up" making it difficult to spread-out evenly and move across the surface of the section being worked.
Although, for best results, Hot Body Wax® should be applied with a clean, dry, cotton terry-cloth
towel and removed with a clean, dry Microfiber cleaning cloth. The cotton, terry-cloth towel has texture
and will assist the product in removing oxidation and surface contaminants while the stitching in the
Microfiber cleaning cloth is tightly woven together and will work very well at removing the wax cleanly and thoroughly.
You can apply Hot Body Wax® in a garage or other enclosed areas since it contains no harsh chemical
solvents which can be very difficult to work around. Hot Body Wax® has a great "fruity" scent.
What
should I do if I get Hot Body Wax® on my trim?
No
problem! Since Hot Body Wax® contains no chemical dyes, it will not turn trim white.
It is the dye in waxes and polishes that turns black trim white. In some very rare cases a white haze will form on black
trim with Hot Body Wax®. If this does occur, simply wait for the wax to dry and use a fingernail brush or toothbrush
to remove the excess. You will see that the white haze will powder and blow off very easily. Hot Body Wax® has no
abrasives so it will not cause
damage to moldings or trims. In fact applying Hot Body Wax® on
these surfaces will protect them as well. I apply Hot Body Wax® to the windows and everything!
Why
is there some haziness after I wax my car with Hot Body Wax®?
Depending
on the temperature and the humidity, although this is a very rare occurrence, you may see some haziness.
You will also notice an excessive amount of left over wax on the surface if a Microfiber cleaning cloth was not used to remove it.
Lightly buff the surface with a Microfiber towel and you will see the increase
in gloss right away. It is very important to use the correct tools when performing a task.
Conditions
to avoid:
Auto surface temperatures below 55°F or greater
than 90°
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