Wash, Clay, Machine polish and then hand apply sealant and or wax by hand?

[Lexi65]

Saw something on different site indicating that detailer did not use machine for Sealant and/or wax application or buffing! But applied and removed by hand! Would that methodology preclude a wet-look result? Clarify that machine WAS used for polishing after claying.

Thanks for feedback!

[VroomVroom]

That's how I do it, FWIW. LSP by-hand. I've tried it by machine, but I find it to be quicker by-hand. Your mileage may vary.

[Pureshine]

I do all my sealant and waxing by hand but thats just me. I know a lot of guys use a buffer to lay sealant on.

[MarkD51]

Hi,
Are you asking why this particular detailer chooses such, to apply and remove final sealants, and/or waxes by hand?

Different camps of thought I reckon, some might feel that waxes-sealants can be spread thinner, and applied-removed more uniformly by machine, and also that the machine might cut application and removal times.

Some might even think the machine might provide a glossier final finish, and others might even believe the machine may somehow "fill" any slight marring-swirls?

I myself lately prefer hand applications of final sealants-waxes, as I believe the polishes and glazes if you use them first are usually what corrects, and shines the paint the most.

Other thoughts are the worry of possibly picking up an errant piece of grit on a machine pad, and now having that damage spread to the entire paint finish.

I feel I have better control by a hand application, that I can better "surgically" apply the products where they need to be, and not in areas where I didn't want product.

That the shortening of time spent by machine applications can often be offset by the need to now remove product in all sorts of nooks, and crannies that wouldn't have occured had I hand applied.

I gather this is what you meant, and not referring to applying, and removing waxes-sealants with a bare hand with no applicator, or towels, correct? Mark

[Lexi65]

Hi,
Are you asking why this particular detailer chooses such, to apply and remove final sealants, and/or waxes by hand?

Different camps of thought I reckon, some might feel that waxes-sealants can be spread thinner, and applied-removed more uniformly by machine, and also that the machine might cut application and removal times.

Some might even think the machine might provide a glossier final finish, and others might even believe the machine may somehow "fill" any slight marring-swirls?

I myself lately prefer hand applications of final sealants-waxes, as I believe the polishes and glazes if you use them first are usually what corrects, and shines the paint the most.

Other thoughts are the worry of possibly picking up an errant piece of grit on a machine pad, and now having that damage spread to the entire paint finish.

I feel I have better control by a hand application, that I can better "surgically" apply the products where they need to be, and not in areas where I didn't want product.

That the shortening of time spent by machine applications can often be offset by the need to now remove product in all sorts of nooks, and crannies that wouldn't have occured had I hand applied.



I gather this is what you meant, and not referring to applying, and removing waxes-sealants with a bare hand with no applicator, or towels, correct? Mark

Thanks.. Yes I mean with an applicator. To clarify your response .. You don 't believe that would foreclose the possibility of a wet look shine because the machine polishing would have done most of the work? Or am I misinterpreting? Thnx

[CM8 6MT]

I do all my sealant and waxing by hand but thats just me. I know a lot of guys use a buffer to lay sealant on.

I would be one of those guys. I prefer to do all my waxes/sealants by machine. Although every so often I will do it by hand when I feel like going old school.

[mwoolfso]

I prefer to seal and wax by hand. Just to be different I would apply by machine. Personally, I think I can cover a car faster and with better quality by hand than by machine.

[MarkD51]

I would be one of those guys. I prefer to do all my waxes/sealants by machine. Although every so often I will do it by hand when I feel like going old school.

I can remember back in the olden days (God, I'm an old fart when I think of this!), and I'm talking a good 25-30 years ago, when I'd buff a car out with a rotary buffer, and the good old wool pads, I would follow up with my Waxcoa Orbital Waxer.

They were somewhat similar in regards to the new DA machines we all use, same principal, just larger, and more cumbersome, but with careful use, one could get good rotation, and this was one method I commonly used to get rid of any minor holograms created from the Rotary, and compounds-glazes-cleaner waxes-etc.

Liking the effects of what these machines did, I often found myself using the Waxcoa's for regular waxing, some of it I think was for entertainment purposes, but these machines did seem to better correct the paint than by bare hand applications, so I felt there was a definite benefit.

Perhaps many of you notice similar qualities, that the DA Applications of waxes-sealants offer this advantage?

I've never tried doing this with my PC DA, but just might one day as I do have a plethora of soft Black-Red LC 5.5" Pads on hand. I even have the "Baby Griots" 3", which some say they like for final finishes. Just need to get the proper pads for it.
Mark

[vegas911gts]

There's a lot of places on my car that a DA cannot reach or even a 3" gg so I just wax or apply sealant by hand.

[Baconz2012]

I prefer to use a machine to apply my LSP. I find i use less product than i would by hand, and it leaves a thin even layer. My hand also gets all cramped up when i apply by hand.

[CM8 6MT]

I can remember back in the olden days (God, I'm an old fart when I think of this!), and I'm talking a good 25-30 years ago, when I'd buff a car out with a rotary buffer, and the good old wool pads, I would follow up with my Waxcoa Orbital Waxer.

They were somewhat similar in regards to the new DA machines we all use, same principal, just larger, and more cumbersome, but with careful use, one could get good rotation, and this was one method I commonly used to get rid of any minor holograms created from the Rotary, and compounds-glazes-cleaner waxes-etc.

Liking the effects of what these machines did, I often found myself using the Waxcoa's for regular waxing, some of it I think was for entertainment purposes, but these machines did seem to better correct the paint than by bare hand applications, so I felt there was a definite benefit.

Perhaps many of you notice similar qualities, that the DA Applications of waxes-sealants offer this advantage?

I've never tried doing this with my PC DA, but just might one day as I do have a plethora of soft Black-Red LC 5.5" Pads on hand. I even have the "Baby Griots" 3", which some say they like for final finishes. Just need to get the proper pads for it.
Mark

Very nice to hear some past experiences!

When using an AIO, you would reap better results using machine vs by hand everytime. As far as applying regular wax/sealants, its just a personal preferance that has no effect on quality. Either your applying it thin, or your not. Who applies wax to trim & crevices? Just like when your polishing, your not polishing directly ontop of the trim or edges right? So why do the same when applying LSP?

Anyway thats my take on hand application vs machine application. It all boils down to personal preferance, however if you feel that either one works better for you then by all means stick to it.
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp230/Diabolic/upw2_zps00b75e01.jpg

[wanabe detailer]

I do mine by hand

[ihaveacamaro]

I imagine my lsp on the car and it's there. :D

[spiralout462]

I love to spread a nice quality wax/sealant by hand! It can be a euphoric experience for me.

ps: Or that could be the distillates talking?

[otruba_843]

I apply BFWD by D/A because it applies a much thinner and more even coat. Its also is a lot easier to apply by D/A than it is by hand. I always wax by hand though.