Hi all,

Working with Placo1 was fun yesterday. His car is actually "Immaculate" and highly detailed.

In the past, water beading ability has not been a characteristic that is built into our waxes. The reason why is because when the bead of water dries it leaves a water spot, sometimes an etch. The higher or stronger the bead, the more "concentrated" the destructive chemical reaction is, on a smaller footprint, when it etches into the paint.

Recently… Meguiar's reformulated their Cleaner/Wax, (in the Maroon bottle), to wipe on and off easier as well as "Bead" water better and longer, due to customer demand.

About a half hour ago, Mike Pennington, (Meguiar's Director of Training), and I took one of my black demonstration panels, (it's actually a table) with one side painted black, (basecoat clearcoat), the other side straight black lacquer into the training garage and proceeded to restore it's finish.

It was thrashed after being moved down here from Oregon. Lots of deep scratches and light scratches everywhere.

We proceeded to buff it using Meguiar's #85 Diamond Cut Compound, followed by their #82 Swirl Free Polish, both with a rotary buffer, 1400rpm, using the Meguiar's W-7000 foam cutting pad, and the W-7000 foam finishing pad.

After each step we carried the table out into the sun and inspected for a variety of things, like swirl, clarity, thoroughness of scratch removal.

After the two rotary buffer procedures, we went over the lacquer side with Meguiar's #3 Machine Glaze, on a PC, setting 5 using the Meguiar's W-8005 foam polishing pad and on the clear coated side we used the PC, setting 5 new W-8005 polishing pad and the #82 Swirl remover.

All applications were wiped off using the Meguiar's Ultimate Wipe, a microfiber polishing cloth that the fibers themselves have a triangular cross-section unlike the typical round cross-section of everyone else's.

We carried it out into the sun and it had a flawless, swirl free surface.

Now we tested some waxes, nothing to scientific, just applying some waxes, using new foam wax applicator pads, on freshly cleaned and polished black paint.

We tested on each of the sides, Medallion, Gold Class, Meguiar's Cleaner Wax and Zaino #2

Results.

Water Beading
1. Meguiar's Cleaner Wax - Highest beads, water actually "jumped" off while we were sprinkling it on.

2. Zaino #2 High water beads, not as tight, or high as MCW

3. Medallion - Gold Class - not much difference. Note: not formulated to bead water.

Darkest most reflective results

1. Gold Class - very dark, very reflective
2. Meguiar's Cleaner wax - very dark very reflective
3. Medallion - very dark, very reflective
4. Zaino #2 - the least in turning both types of paint dark. Reflectivity good, as good as the rest.

Meguiar's Cleaner Wax can be purchased just about anywhere for around $6.00 for a 16oz bottle. If you want the "Water Beading" feature, make sure there is a "New & Improved" on the front label.

Can be used on any type of paint. Will Clean moderately oxidized finishes, safe for new cars, new paint jobs. Wipes on easy, wipes off incredibly easy. Excellent choice for "Daily Drivers", cars that are continually exposed to the elements.

More tests coming soon, but for $6.00 for the Meguiar's Cleaner Wax and $10.00 for the Gold Class, both in 16oz bottles, at a minimum, they would appear to be a good deal. Can be purchase locally at any auto parts store.

Two thin coats are better than one. After three coats of anybody's product I would question any "layering" effect.

Pretty soon you would be applying coats of wax on top of coats of wax. If your wax isn't as clear as water, then you would be "dulling" the surface.

Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.

Mike Phillips
Meguiar's Inc.
1-800-854-8073 ext. 189

__________________
"Find a product you like and use it often"

Jack Anderson
Paint Instructor for PPG paints