Spray Wax vs Paste Wax-When To Use | Autodetailinglab
The Spray Wax vs Paste Wax debate rages more than the Presidential election!
On one side of the garage is the die hard red neck ole detailer who wont have have a plastic bottle near his ride.
The other side is the slick kid that's short on time and frowns at using a "Can" of wax for hours!
Which ever side of the fence you lie, or indeed if your "sitting" on the fence we hope this post will help you decide on your preference.
If your thinking of spraying a Meguiars Quik Wax or pasting a can of Collinite 885. Your confused by Turtle Ice Spray or Griots Carnauba we can help!
Please read on you may also learn a few surprising facts!
Application of Spray Wax vs Paste Wax
One of the biggest differences is the amount time it takes to apply spray wax compared to paste wax.
Spray wax being much quicker than normal paste wax due to the larger area being covered with each spray. Also the ease at which it spreads means a whole car can be completed in around 15-30 minutes.
Time on your side?
Whereas, a paste wax could take at least 1-2 hours. Now if your a detailing geek then those hours are well spent, just what the Ole Redneck I mentioned at the beginning of this post would think.
But if your looking to spruce up your ride quickly for a new date this evening then you had best plumb for the spray wax!
So, that is your first consideration, how much time do I have?
Spray Wax vs Paste Wax and the time of year
Time comes into the equation again but now it is the time of year. Think piercing Summer sun, Autumn frosts and Winter rock salt and you can begin to imagine the barrage of the elements our car's body work has to contend with day in day out.
Waxing is about putting the protective hard shell on your car before the onset of each of the weather extremes of the year. Therefore, a PASTE WAX is the best option at these times of the year to create a harder shell protection.
Lets take a look at a typical year and the waxes to use to prepare for the season ahead.
Late Spring Wax
At this time of year we have to prepare for the onset of the suns relentless rays.
Therefore, it is best to apply a PASTE WAX that gives a good hard, reflective coating to shield our paint coat from the sun. This is particularly important if the car is a darker color.
A suitable wax at this time of year would be something like:
Finish Kare BWM 101-Hi temp wax
This is the ideal late Spring paste wax. Its is designed to deal with extremes of heat and provide a deep shine.
Getting this applied in the relative cooler Spring days allows time for it to harden well in preparation for the Summer heat.
BWM 101 is made for cars, RVs and boats that are constantly exposed to searing heat. It is a fine blend of synthetic waxes which sometimes causes it to be labelled as a synthetic sealant.
Supplied in good ole fashioned tin and weighing in at 14.5 ounces this USA manufactured wax is the best product we can find to apply for the late spring/early summer period.
Mid Summer Wax
High Summer and the harshest of the suns UV rays are pounding every panel of your car.
The spring paste wax coat has been absorbing and reflecting all the rays it can. However, UV rays are more than just rays. Just think of how it affects your skin without sun block on!
How do UV rays damage paint?
UV light is invisible and powerful. It contains UV radiation which is an energy producer. When this radiation contacts your cars paintwork it produces a quick burst of energy. This is given off as heat but also causes molecular bonds in the paint to breakdown.
Now the Spray Wax vs Paste Wax goes Spray wax!
It is now that our SPRAY WAX products come into their own. It is never a great idea to perform a full paste wax in the direct Summer sun.
The hot surface can soon cause the wax to dry hard, making it difficult to remove. But a light coating of a liquid spray wax is makes for ideal summer waxing.
Many call this a "Top up Wax" and they are right. It tops up the Spring Paste Wax coat as it begins to weaken under the Summer sun.
A suitable product for this is:
303 Automotive Spray Wax
UV ray protecting 303 Spray wax gives up to 90 days protection which makes it deal to apply in Mid Summer. However, the superior UV protection element is recommended to be topped up every 30 days.
We like this great all round USA produced product for it ease and quick application. The combination of natural synthetic waxes and carnauba wax makes it and ideal top wax between paste waxes.
Throw in the superior UV protection and we believe this is the best product you can use for topping up your protective coating during the summer months. One or better two top ups will see your car fully protected and into the Autumn.
Autumn Spray wax vs Paste Wax
As the power of the suns rays lessen and the days grow shorter you have to plan your waxing with the harsh Winter climate in mind.
As I'm sure you know Winter requires a different level of protection than the warmer months. The cars paintwork defences have to be built up to battle with sub zero ice, snow and paint chipping rock salt.
Its in the cooler Autumn days that we need to apply a tough, unforgiving wax to ensure our car retains the glossy look through the worse of the weather.
Here we are looking for a good traditional paste wax for our Winter coating.
A suitable wax for this would be:
Collinite Super Double Coat 476S Paste Wax
A proven, time served paste was is needed to get our cars bodywork through the harsh winter months. For this we need look no further than a double coat of Collinite 476S paste wax.
Choose a mild, dry Autumn day for the application and spend the morning preparing the surface. Apply a thin coat and then the second one 24 hours after.
Classic Paste Wax for Winter
This Mr. Collins classic Carnauba/Polymer blend is the most durable wax in the Collinite range and one of the most durable we have used.
Designed to hold up for month after month through snow, salt, rain, hail dirt and grime this USA hand produced and hand poured wax is a firm favourite with all detailers. We assure you the ole redneck mentioned at the beginning of this post has a can or two of this on his shelves!
Its tough as nails, lasts for ever and only needs the thinnest of coats. This often were people make the mistake with this product. They apply it too thickly and it them becomes too hard to remove.
Just two thin coats applied lightly and spaced apart will ensure your car is wrapped in a tough as nails cocoon for the Winter.
Winter top up spray wax
Finally we need a top up on our wax coat around halfway through Winter. Just as the mid Summer wax needed a little midway assistance our Winter coat will benefit for a top up layer around the midway point.
This time we turn back to the Spray Wax for the mid winter top up. We need a tough Spray Wax that will take easily to our hard Winter paste wax coat a give our car the added protection to get through the Spring.
An ideal wax for this is:
Reload represents the ideal mid Winter top up spray wax as it is a sealant wax that can be used on a wet or dry car.
Applying Reload spray wax on a wet means it will eliminate water spots and leave a clear lay of protection.This is ideal as the Winter climate can make it difficult to get a perfectly dry day.
As with the Winter paste wax coating only a thin layer is required. Just an instant wipe off with a 780 microfiber cloth is all that is needed for a super water repelling, deep shine.
This final coating will give your car its final protection until the process starts again with the Spring paste wax coat.
Conclusion
As with the Presidential election the debate can ring on for years but we now hope you can see the different uses of Spray Wax and Paste Wax?
Each has its own part to play to fit in with
- Your life style (No time or lots of time)
- Your car (Colour and conditon)
- The time of year (Waxes for all seasons)
Using our guide should make it easier to narrow down your choice when faced with shelves full of products. Think of the three reasons above and obviously your budget.
The waxes we have selected are chosen with budget in mind as well as performance. You will find cheaper and dearer but these are around the average prices.
We hope this advice make you better informed. You can find more information here on our How To Wax Your Car-The Ultimate Step By Step Guide
Take a look and please share our info graphic below, so that everyone is clearer on the Spray Wax vs Paste Wax debate!
