waxing show cars

[FloridaNative]

I've always heard that show cars have something like 15-20 coats of carnauba on them to make them that dripping wet, but I've also heard that there is a point of diminishing returns with carnaubas and after 3 or 4 coats you cannot expect any more improvement in appearance. This has always mystified me. Does it depend on the wax that is used as to whether you can apply 15-20 coats? Does anybody know the answer to this??

[Kelso]

i think after a few coats, you wont see any difference. id like to be proven wrong though honestly cause then ill start waxing daily!

[GearHead_1]

Two coats are great. Three I would question as to whether the look gets any better.

[FloridaNative]

LOL Well they do it on show cars for a reason. I wish Dennish were here. He'd probably know the answer. It's good to see you here Gearhead.

[supercharged]

The best way to find out would be to ask anybody who prepares show cars.

[GearHead_1]

Originally Posted by FloridaNative

LOL Well they do it on show cars for a reason.

When you have a show car and you're all caught up on everything else, what is there to do? Put another coat of wax on it. Peace of mind baby. I used to do all the maintenance work (from building the engines to finish maintenance) on a couple of world record holding sand drag cars. Though these cars weren't looking to be concours winners they saw many car shows. We experimented quite a bit and found that anything beyond 3 coats was beyond our ability to perceive a difference. Two coats makes sure that you haven't missed a thing.

Seriously though, Mike Phillips (I have a lot of respect for this guy) did a good write up on layering or multiple coats of carnauba. I think that what he said made a lot of sense. I'm sure you can find it over on MOL for those who might be interested in looking it up. By the way, I don't claim to know it all here. This is just my 2 cents.

[abrcrombe]

Sounds like a job for the Mythbusters. Man I love that show. We should have some AG mythbusters.

[Reddwarf]

Originally Posted by abrcrombe

Sounds like a job for the Mythbusters. Man I love that show. We should have some AG mythbusters.

Yeah Baby! I love the Mythbusters!

[FloridaNative]

I was going to say, "is this one for mythbusters" but I didn't know how many people there are out there who watch that show so I thought maybe the reference would be lost. Did I just totally overexplain for nothing?? I do that at times. hmmmmm

[BILL]

Originally Posted by FloridaNative

I've always heard that show cars have something like 15-20 coats of carnauba on them to make them that dripping wet, but I've also heard that there is a point of diminishing returns with carnaubas and after 3 or 4 coats you cannot expect any more improvement in appearance. This has always mystified me. Does it depend on the wax that is used as to whether you can apply 15-20 coats? Does anybody know the answer to this??

Great question and i hope we get a real answer to that......but i still believe that the hard core show car showers have a secret weapon they use to make those cars the way they look..i think its more than souveran......