Wax application by hand or machine - same?

**Bunky** · 08-02-2007, 06:39 AM

I was studying up on how to apply wax using a UDM(PC) and watched the videos and I started thinking about how people apply products by hand.

For machine, with any product (polish, wax, cleaner, etc), they want you do do North-South, east-west,etc with 50% overlapping passes for at least 3 rounds. This seems pretty well documented.

However, I never see such a technique well documented for many hand applied products. You usually just see the words like apply evenly, massage, thin coating, small amount of product (small is relative). Should you follow the same idea of overlapping use with an applicator pad including the N-S, E-W with multiple passes.

This kind of information is usually not found on the labels of most products in part because of space. This is especially true of the major OTC brands where they obviously want to avoid a 25 word essay on product application.

So, do you follow a similar technique for hand application as with a PC?

**ScottB** · 08-02-2007, 06:45 AM

I find hand application best, you can control how much product is used and do not waste alot priming pads for even coverage. As for hand coverage, more is not better. I find straight lines following the way wind would flow over the surface is best. A small overlap, like mowing your lawn is usually at that is needed.

**Stittville Ed** · 08-02-2007, 07:00 AM

[quote=killrwheels@autogeek A small overlap, like mowing your lawn is usually at that is needed.[/quote]

Please keep posts on track about detailing, no talk about lawn care

**HighEndDetail** · 08-02-2007, 07:10 AM

Originally Posted by killrwheels@autogeek

I find hand application best, you can control how much product is used and do not waste alot priming pads for even coverage. As for hand coverage, more is not better. I find straight lines following the way wind would flow over the surface is best. A small overlap, like mowing your lawn is usually at that is needed.

Killer stated it well

I too apply by hand the wax/sealent.

**trhland** · 08-02-2007, 07:13 AM

Originally Posted by Stittville Ed

Please keep posts on track about detailing, no talk about lawn care

ya leave the lawn care to me!!!

**Bunky** · 08-02-2007, 07:52 AM

Originally Posted by HighEndDetail

Killer stated it well

I too apply by hand the wax/sealent.

OK. So there is no need for multiple overlapping passes in varying directions like you do with a PC? Or, for applying wax using a PC, do you not need to do this. I know why you do it for polish since you want to get the polish to do it job (breakdown).

**RallyMSP** · 08-02-2007, 09:27 AM

So Mr Miyagi taught me wrong? no wax on wax off in circular motion? I should do it in straight lines now huh?

**ScottB** · 08-02-2007, 03:30 PM

circles can create swirls and spiderwebbing. Tread lightly ....

**klumzypinoy** · 08-02-2007, 04:25 PM

Hollywood doesn't know the right way of waxing so that's why the wax on wax off was done in circles

.

Straight lines is what I do. Sometimes when you don't see the wax being applied, there is wax still being put on the paint. I never believed it but it still feels as slick as the portion where u can see the wax being put on.

**trhland** · 08-02-2007, 06:48 PM

i thought circles was the best way to apply wax no? how can you get swirls from siq series 2 theres no abrasives in it. should i start applying in straight lines???