Steering You Right with Sharon Peters: Which Wax?
Q: Recently, you answered a question about waxing a car. It raised a question I have pondered. Which wax is better, paste or cream? Paste is the traditional one, but cream waxes are easier and quicker. My gut says paste will last longer and cream will need to be applied more frequently. What say you?
A: My answer will generate a high level of pique among some readers. I’m braced!
The three body/detailing guys I depend on in these matters say this: cream (liquid) waxes have improved so much that for us regular folks, any difference between applying a good-quality liquid and a good-quality paste is practically nonexistent. Car-show aficionados and owners of old cars with some finish issues will generally be happier with paste.
And counter to what I’ve long thought, these experts say liquid wax jobs last a bit longer than paste wax jobs.
Paste application is, as you point out, more time consuming. But applying liquid wax can be more problematic because it dries so much faster, so you have to keep on top of it. It helps if you apply it in the shade and when it’s not hot (which is good practice to follow with paste wax is well).
And while we’re on the topic of wax, that column last month prompted another reader to comment, offering an education in, well, bird droppings.
It’s worth sharing:
“In your answer about car wax, you mentioned the effect of bird droppings on a car's paint/finish. As a retired factory service rep for a major Asian manufacturer, it is amazing how many customers I used to meet with, who had a complaint of a "paint defect" that was the result of bird droppings … As a generality, bird droppings are acidic. That acid can, and will, eat into and "etch" the paint/clear coat on the paint. The degree to which this occurs is the result of many variables … (including) the type of bird, what the bird had recently eaten and the altitude from which the droppings came. The wetter the droppings when they land on the car, as well as the longer they were on the car before they were removed/washed off all have an effect on how much they eat into the paint.”
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What’s your question? Sharon Peters would like to hear about what’s on your mind when it comes to caring for, driving and repairing your vehicle. Email Sharon@ctwfeatures.com.