Removing old polish / wax
Discussion
Hello one and all,
I understand that when wax polishing a car it is best to remove old applications of wax first - right?
Now I have never done this on my regular cars which might be why it is so difficult to buff up the wax without getting lots of little "waxy specs" all over the body work.
So, removing the old wax sounds like a good move but how does one do it? I'm sure I've heard somebody suggest wiping the car over with white spirit, but that sounds a bit scary!
Does anybody know of any suitable products or safe ways of removing old wax layers without shagging GRP, ally or paint?
Your thoughts much appreciated.
DSS
I understand that when wax polishing a car it is best to remove old applications of wax first - right?
Now I have never done this on my regular cars which might be why it is so difficult to buff up the wax without getting lots of little "waxy specs" all over the body work.
So, removing the old wax sounds like a good move but how does one do it? I'm sure I've heard somebody suggest wiping the car over with white spirit, but that sounds a bit scary!
Does anybody know of any suitable products or safe ways of removing old wax layers without shagging GRP, ally or paint?
Your thoughts much appreciated.
DSS
Go to halfords, buy a bottle of T-Cut. (There is a metalic one)
T-cut (and simalar products) have chemicals and other bits in it that strip of the uppermost layer(s) of whatever is on the car. Normally that is just grime and filth however do it two times and you will strip off old layers of wax too. Do it any more and you will start to eat into the paint
Apply the stuff to the cloth - NOT the car - then work it in parralell lines - very, very difficult I foudn when I first did my one!
Don't be afraid of it you will have to be more aggresive than when you wax it
T-cut (and simalar products) have chemicals and other bits in it that strip of the uppermost layer(s) of whatever is on the car. Normally that is just grime and filth however do it two times and you will strip off old layers of wax too. Do it any more and you will start to eat into the paint
Apply the stuff to the cloth - NOT the car - then work it in parralell lines - very, very difficult I foudn when I first did my one!
Don't be afraid of it you will have to be more aggresive than when you wax it
Thanks Stuart,
Not too sure about T-Cut though, I have used the stuff on old bangers with badly faded paint and been startled at the amount of colour that comes off onto the rag!
I kinda think T-Cut is a bit too abrasive for my needs. I just want to break down the old wax as I think the paint is still very fresh!
DSS
Not too sure about T-Cut though, I have used the stuff on old bangers with badly faded paint and been startled at the amount of colour that comes off onto the rag!
I kinda think T-Cut is a bit too abrasive for my needs. I just want to break down the old wax as I think the paint is still very fresh!
DSS
The easiest (and cheapest)way is simply to wash the car with fairy liquid (big squirt in a bucket of warm water). This will remove any old wax and polish on the car.
You can tell if a car needs waxing once washed by using some paper towel. Ball some up and rub it on the bodywork. If it 'squeeks' you need to wax it. If there is enough wax on it it should just glide off without a sound.
Also reccommend Meguires. Top stuff and not as stupidly expensive as Zymol
You can tell if a car needs waxing once washed by using some paper towel. Ball some up and rub it on the bodywork. If it 'squeeks' you need to wax it. If there is enough wax on it it should just glide off without a sound.
Also reccommend Meguires. Top stuff and not as stupidly expensive as Zymol
StuartB said:
Go to halfords, buy a bottle of T-Cut. (There is a metalic one)
Davey S1 said:
The easiest (and cheapest)way is simply to wash the car with fairy liquid (big squirt in a bucket of warm water). This will remove any old wax and polish on the car.
Duuuudes! NO WAY. T-Cut and Fairy Liquid are bad bad bad.
Spend £20 and take Bonce's advice:
Bonce said:
Use Meguires three step polish/wax kit. The first step removes all the crap, the second step applies polish and the third is a lovely smelling wax to protect the polish layer.
www.speeding.co.uk is where you can get it - worth every penny.
Tim
Fairy liquid is fine as long as you wash it off straight away and then re wax afterwards. Always done it on my car and the paintwork is lovely.
All fairy does is remove wax and grease and wont do any harm to paintwork (why delicate china has to be washed by hand in washing up liquid)
As long as you dont go mad and start using Vanish Powerball or Toilet Duck you will be laughing.
(saying that I wonder if Toilet Duck would be good on alloy wheels
)
The meguires stuff is fine but I wouldnt bother spending £15 on something that will do the same job as a lug of fairy and some elbow grease, not on an Elise anyway.
Fairy liquid is fine as long as you wash it off straight away and then re wax afterwards. Always done it on my car and the paintwork is lovely.
All fairy does is remove wax and grease and wont do any harm to paintwork (why delicate china has to be washed by hand in washing up liquid)
As long as you dont go mad and start using Vanish Powerball or Toilet Duck you will be laughing.
(saying that I wonder if Toilet Duck would be good on alloy wheels
) The meguires stuff is fine but I wouldnt bother spending £15 on something that will do the same job as a lug of fairy and some elbow grease, not on an Elise anyway.
Davey - each to their own dude. I was always told not to use dishwashing detergent because its got (IIRC) a very high salt content which attacks the lacquer and paint.
For £20 I happen to think the Meguiars 3-Step is extremely good value. You don't need to use a great deal of each product when you do the full monty, the effects are stunning and it lasts for weeks.
If you'll spend £10k+ plus on your car and a fad wad on maintaining the oily bits, £20 a year's not going to break the bank to keep the outside in good nick.
For £20 I happen to think the Meguiars 3-Step is extremely good value. You don't need to use a great deal of each product when you do the full monty, the effects are stunning and it lasts for weeks.
If you'll spend £10k+ plus on your car and a fad wad on maintaining the oily bits, £20 a year's not going to break the bank to keep the outside in good nick.
Normally no one in their right mind would use washing up liquid because it's a de-greasant so it will remove the existing wax off the car. But that's exactly what you want to do !!! I wash mine that way only once a year to get the old wax off. A properly polished car will bead water on it, if it's got no wax th3 water will just lie on the surface, that's the way I know all the old wax is off.
Adrian
www.adrianmugridge.co.uk
Adrian
www.adrianmugridge.co.uk
I used Meguires on my car at the weekend, here are the results:
(full size pics at www.minimeme.co.uk/photos.html)
(full size pics at www.minimeme.co.uk/photos.html)
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