Collinite 845 wax is a great value. It's by far the longest lasting wax I've ever used. For comparison, I tried some Turtle Wax stuff, and it lasted about a month, the 845 was still beading somewhat after a year. Applying twice yearly feels about right.
http://www.amazon.com/Collinite-Liquid-Insulator-Wax-845/dp/B000JK2D06
If you like the patina and you are going to tear down and grease things you could consider a clear coat application to protect the patina.
If you're not gonna tear down everything or don't feel like masking it all off, a simple wax/sealant will help repel water and dirt.
If you're gonna go the wax/sealant route, I'd like to highly recommend Collinite 845. This is an old school product that works extremely well. Its the only thing I use on my car and is incredibly durable. Ony car it lasts about 6 months. (pro tip- wax your windshield. Not only does the water ahead right off, but it also prolongs the life of your wipers and eliminates any wiper squeak.) A lot of people laughed when I told them I waxed my old miyata 215st, but if I do get any road grime on it, a simple low pressure hose wash has it back to new. Also, the layer of protection helps prevent formation of oxidation.
Obviously, give the bike a good wash prior to either clear coat or wax/sealant. I'd avoid high pressure spray due to the potential water ingress or damaging the patina. Doesn't need to be crazy.
Nice looking bike. Enjoy it!
Thanks!
Power wash -> foam cannon -> rinse -> two-bucket wash -> dry. I applied a coat of some Collonite 845 for the first time and it really shows in this pic/lighting.
Have you thought about Collinite 845 since its more like a hybrid wax which means you would not need to apply wax?
Collinite 845 wax — a lot of old-timers swear by it: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JK2D06/ref=sr_ph_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1482283698&sr=sr-1&keywords=collinite+845
While it won't last 1-3+ years like the fancy ceramic/nano stuff, it only costs $20/bottle, takes 30 minutes to apply, and is said to last 6-12+ months in brutal conditions.
Florida folks swear by it to stand up against sun and saltwater; east coast folks swear by it against rain, snow, ice, and salted roads. Water beads off phenomenally and you won't have to claybar it if you just wash + top off the wax every few months.
Shine is amazing because it's carnauba.
Not from Advanced Auto. But Collonite is the best way in my opinion:
Beads many, many months after application. Well worth the extra money.
Apply 845 by hand. I used it for the very first time this weekend on a boat and it was an absolute dream to work with.
Sand by hand and make sure you tape off the area around the headlight to avoid sanding the actual paint.
Nah, I wont complain I just wanted some wax or something to protect it since it's a new paintjob. I did a bunch of research and settled on Collinite 845.
And i agree. I'm happy to get a lot of my accessories back on it.
I am pretty sure it would be too hard to use well and would probably not get you the results you want. Carnauba is usable in car waxes only because it is cut with many solvents and additives. Pure carnauba, from what I know, is very very hard. I mean you could try it an let us know how it goes. Which would actually be pretty cool to see someone try. If you do it the melting point is 82–86 °C (180–187 °F), so I would use a double boiler set up to keep from over heating it. However, if you are looking for a good wax, buy a bottle of Collinite 845. One bottle is literally years worth of protection for one car. Link to Collinite 845 --> http://www.amazon.com/Collinite-Liquid-Insulator-Wax-845/dp/B000JK2D06/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1435331307&sr=8-1&keywords=collinite+845
To be honest? If it's a dusty as mine was after 6 months, I might let it keep sitting. However, that risk might not be worth it to you.
Edit: Mine has 3 layers of protective wax. So eh, I'd probably wash it! And if you have a garage indoors, slap some layers of Collinite 845 on it yourself https://www.amazon.com/Collinite-845-Insulator-Wax-Fluid_Ounces/dp/B000JK2D06/
On the other hand, you should have been taking it out for a drive once every 3-4 weeks to get the tires rolling, gas flowing, and burning off any condensation in the motor -- albeit with the most important factor being your battery.
Besides, your battery is probably dead unless you unhooked it or had a tender on it?
I'm a complete psychopath when it comes to the detailing of my car. My home set-up costs literally $900 not including my back-up product.
In your situation, I would go to Obsessed Garage's Youtube channel and watch his waxing process. You can't use all of his tips but what you can do is use his guide on Collinite 845 + Jescar Power Lock waxing and that will put a great seal on your car.
Beyond that waxing, I would strongly recommend putting in an Amazon order for some Optimum Opti-Clean which is the best waterless wash on the market.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003CH9KCM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GG9FCW0/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
It will be a pain the first time around but that wax lasts an easy 6-8 months and is better than most detailing shops will give you.
If you have any other questions I'd love to help anymore that I can!
I must link these paint sealants for your application Collinnite 845 and Collinnite 476 These actually last I personally use 476 on all vehicles in house and ones i detail and i dont have a garage so all 3 cars are outside and in 74F sun,
it lasts 8+ months of heavy beads only thing that beads better imo is glass coatings Check out /r/AutoDetailing for more info lolol:D
In addition to the good wash and polishing, I like Collinite 845 as a wax for black/dark colored cars
I enjoy Collinite 845, Optimum soap, drying aid, for my dash, doors interior, and vinyl on the outside , wash mitt , drying towel , interior and exterior microfibers great for buffing wax and dust on the interior. And if you want that shine and to keep the integrity of your clear coat I would wax every couple months, depending the quality of the wax you decide to go with.
Congratulations!!!
Best wax: Collonite #845 Clay bar: not sure, still experimenting. just make sure to get a bunch of clay bar lubricant aka exterior detailed spray.
I recommend Collinite 845 over rain x
Yes, carnauba waxes are more durable than spray on waxes. However synthetic waxes are more durable than carnauba waxes and sealants are typically even more durable than synthetic waxes.
For waxes I'd recommend Collinite 845, super durable and long lasting synthetic wax/sealant hybrid.
For sealants I'd go with Menzerna/Jescar Power Lock
You can even layer 845 over Power Lock if you want as much protection as possible.
With either of these two products you would only need to apply every few months at most.
Thanks for the responses guys. This is the wax I'm planning on using. Everyone talks about carnauba wax but the wiki recommended this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JK2D06/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Is this ok too?
This stuff is unbelievable. So effortless to put on by hand. After a good wash, it took maybe 40 minutes to do the car with moderate detailing experience. It leave a jaw dropping shine and you'll use maybe 1/8 of a bottle on a single coat of a mid sized sedan.
Currently $18.92 at Amazon with free shipping. Plus a 4 pack of applicator pads for 8 and some change and a 24 pack of microfiber towels for $10. $35 bucks for a shiny car for 3+ years. You just can't beat it.
Neighbor used bug spray to show me how great it would "restore" her headlights. I have already explained that is not a great method.
What's the best way to go about fixing what she did? I'm just planning to wash it and maybe throw some Collinite845 or PlastX on it. (I won't be going through an entire restoration process, at best I'd use the TurtleWax box kit as I've read it's the best off-the-shelf product.)
Hi guys. My 2007 Corolla has pretty extensive CLEAR COAT FAILURE (DECAY, UV DAMAGE) (according to the damage guide). Almost the entire roof is damaged. About a month ago, I decided to detail it on my own (took me 6 hours) because I notice that the damage is spreading to the hood (is detailing an appropriate method to slow/prevent further damage?). I washed, rinsed, clay bared, washed again, and waxed by hand. At the end of the day, I realized that I enjoyed doing it and it may become a satisfying hobby. However, I was exhausted and 6 hours was a lot of time to spend on one car.
From my lurking, I've compiled the following things to buy:
I've already purchased:
32 oz. All-Purpose Wide-Mouth Sprayer
Stoner 91164 Invisible Glass Cleaner - 19 oz.
How does the above list look for someone who want's to do this as a hobby/take care of their car? Is a 6"inch DA too big? I would have to wax smaller areas by hand (like the handle areas), wouldn't I?
I plan to eventually polish/compound in the future, sticking to waxing for now.
Here is my understanding of the washing/detailing process: Rinse, soap/tire brush, clay/nano-sponge, rinse, dry, wax. Is that about right? Is wax considered a LSP (Last Step Product)?