3 coats of wax but no residue

[RobertGary1]

Yesterday I put 3 coats of brazilian carnauba wax on my plane. Afterwards I was expecting to have a bunch of residue to wipe off but I have virtually none. Does that mean the paint was "dry" and absorbed it all?   The plane looks shiny and feels smooth.

 

-Robert

[Igor_U]

I don't know.

But question I have is: How much speed gain did you get?

 

[TTaylor]

2 hours ago, RobertGary1 said:

Yesterday I put 3 coats of brazilian carnauba wax on my plane. Afterwards I was expecting to have a bunch of residue to wipe off but I have virtually none. Does that mean the paint was "dry" and absorbed it all?   The plane looks shiny and feels smooth.

 

-Robert

I am assuming you used paste wax and not liquid or spray wax.  If it was liquid or spray they are so dilute there is usually very little residue.  Did you polish between putting each coat of wax on?  As Mr. Miyagi says; wax on, wax off.  Some of the wax would have filled in imperfections but most would should have been removed between each successive coat.   Most aircraft take very little wax, you need to apply only a thin coat that should have some, but not much residue.

[RobertGary1]

Just now, TTaylor said:

I am assuming you used paste wax and not spray wax.  Did you polish between putting each coat of wax on?  As Mr. Miyagi says; wax on, wax off.  Some of the wax would have filled in imperfections but most would should have been removed between each successive coat.   Most aircraft take very little wax, you need to apply only a thin coat that should have some but, not much residue.

This was a paste and I use a 10” electric orbital applicator. 

-Robert

[jaylw314]

If you used an orbital buffer to apply it, there's probably little residue anyway--most of it get absorbed in your pad or blown off as particles, and you only need to go back to buff, not remove wax.  At least that's been my experience on my car.

[Releew]

That is a topical wax.....meaning it has no cleaning agent (pumas) to cut.  It sits on the surface.  If it beads water it worked.....

For a cutting wax look a the label for Wax/Cleaner.  The logic is that it cuts the surface of the paint, removes grime/oxidation  and fills the pores with wax.  Kind a like buffing and polishing in one step.

For the best possible result to restore a finish is to use a Dual Action Buffer with a light duty compound then come back with a good wax, like you just used.  Keep in mind when you are cutting, (buffing with compound) you are actually removing a microscopic layer of paint, so don't get carried away or its going to get too shiny as in aluminum shiny......

If you are experienced with a buffer they now have circular buffers with an offset shank that rotates and oscillates.  Like a Dual Action but more in a circular mode.  If you use one of these, STAY OFF the PROTRUDING RIVETS.....  Paint will come right off!

Rick

[Hank]

All of this is why I use Aero Cosmetics Wash n Wax, and only do it once. I did wipe off the pollen before redoing the plane two weeks ago (spread over three days).

[RLCarter]

I waxed my plane once, I would rather remove my instrument panel and straighten all the wires than do it again. +1 for the Aero Cosmetices Wash-N-Wax, and when needs hand waxing there is a guy on the field that will do it for $100.00

[RobertGary1]

9 hours ago, RLCarter said:

I waxed my plane once, I would rather remove my instrument panel and straighten all the wires than do it again. +1 for the Aero Cosmetices Wash-N-Wax, and when needs hand waxing there is a guy on the field that will do it for $100.00

I don’t think a wash and wax product really waxes the plane to the same level of protection as an expensive Brazilian caruba wax. 

My goal is uv protection for the paint  With the orbital applicator it’s not too hard, no elbow grease really required  

-Robert 

[steingar]

I don't think that Carnuba wax will stay on very long at Mooney speeds.  I use Polymer waxes myself.  I got some stuff from Plane Perfect that I just love.  Pricey as all get out, but I've never seen such a deep shine on anything before.

[RLCarter]

1 hour ago, RobertGary1 said:

I don’t think a wash and wax product really waxes the plane to the same level of protection as an expensive Brazilian caruba wax. 

My goal is uv protection for the paint  With the orbital applicator it’s not too hard, no elbow grease really required  

-Robert 

I agree, the wash n wax does offer UV protection but not as much as a good wax. I actually wax the plane yearly and use the wash n wax weekly or as needed though out the year to keep up with dust, bugs, finger prints..... 

[EricJ]

3 hours ago, steingar said:

I don't think that Carnuba wax will stay on very long at Mooney speeds.  I use Polymer waxes myself.  I got some stuff from Plane Perfect that I just love.  Pricey as all get out, but I've never seen such a deep shine on anything before.

Especially for somebody looking for good, long-lasting UV protection, a polymer is probably going to be vastly superior to a carnauba wax.   I'm in the process of sorting this out myself.   My airplane was heavily oxidized from sitting outside in Nevada for a couple of decades, and I've managed to polish a decent finish back into it and bring the colors back out.   I haven't wanted to put carnauba on it since it doesn't last very long (and is often a lot more work), so have been researching polymers that are suitable for aircraft.   So far I'm leaning toward Meguiars premium finish stuff, and I haven't found a reason not to do it yet.    At some point I'll have to polish the whole thing again and then wax it with something, I just want it to be something that will actually last a while.

[TTaylor]

I use a good paste wax on the whole air[plane at least once a year.  After most flights I wash the leading edges and wipe on some spray wax to minimize the bugs sticking.

[jaylw314]

Does anyone use a clay bar on their plane?  I've thought about it, but my God, what a pain in the butt it would be...

[Andy95W]

Instead of a clay bar, I used Meguiar's Ultimate Compound as a much easier option.  Worked very well.

[jaylw314]

20 minutes ago, Andy95W said:

Instead of a clay bar, I used Meguiar's Ultimate Compound as a much easier option.  Worked very well.

 

I guess I'm just one of those people who doesn't believe in polishing compound--I don't like the idea of removing any of the clear coat or paint, so the clay bar was a good alternative.  I get freaked out enough polishing the windshield...

[Mark89114]

My understanding is you are supposed to clay bar before polishing and waxing.   It is supposed to remove the embedded particles before you go and polish and grind them into the paint.  

[jaylw314]

2 hours ago, Mark89114 said:

My understanding is you are supposed to clay bar before polishing and waxing.   It is supposed to remove the embedded particles before you go and polish and grind them into the paint.  

I used to use a clay bar before waxing when my car was new.  It would keep stains from getting sealed under the car wax, but I never used polish.  I know some people would use polish to get rid of the layer of grime, but clay bar and enough elbow grease seemed a safer bet to me.