How Long Does it Take to Wax a Car?
Ok, so waxing a car with a buffer is really not rocket science. There are a few tools and items required, and few steps to follow. However, if you do it right, it’s all quite easy.
Now, being easy does not necessarily mean that it will not take a long time to wax a car.
Sure, you might be able to bang out a top-notch wax job in just 1 hour, but depending on how thorough you are, the size of the car, and more, it might take the better part of a full day.
There are several factors which determine how long it will take, so let’s talk about these right now.
How Long Will It Take?
How long it will take to wax a car is going to depend on several factors, most of which are not going to be within your control, but some of which are.
Keep in mind that for a smaller car, such as a Honda Accord or a Civic, if you only do a basic waxing, it might only take an hour.
However, if you start using a clay bar and wash your car thoroughly first, and then polish it after, even a smaller car may take up to 3 or 4 hours.
Now, if you have a large SUV or pickup truck, and you go through all of the waxing steps for the best results, be prepared to have it take up to 8 hours or more. Anyway, let’s go over the factors which will influence how long it will take to wax your car.
Size and Speed of the Buffer
The first factor which is going to affect how long it takes to wax a car is what kind of buffer you have.
Simply put, a buffer with a small diameter pad is going to take much longer to wax with than one of twice the size. It’s simple math really; the larger the buffer pad, the faster it is going to be.
Moreover, there are buffers out there with different speed settings, which is going to make a difference as well.
Now, if you are the buffer — i.e., doing a manual job of waxing your car — that’s going to add even more time to the equation.
Type of Wax Being Used
Keep in mind that there are different types of wax that you can use for your car.
There are waxes which require you to wash your car first, those that don’t, ones that only require a couple passes with the buffer, ones that require polishing and removal after, and ones that don’t.
If you manage to find a good car wax that doesn’t require removal post buffing, you can cut down on a lot of time.
Temperature and Weather Conditions
Something else that will affect how long it takes to wax your car is the weather. Extreme heat and cold both won’t do you any favors here, although the cold is worse.
Really cold weather causes wax to harden, and it makes it harder to spread around. At the same time, exceedingly dry and hot weather can cause the wax to dry too fast on the car. Moderate weather conditions are best.
Size of the Vehicle
Yes, the size of your vehicle is also going to determine how long the waxing process takes. A small car may only take a single hour, while a large truck, van, or SUV may take a full day.
Your Waxing Technique
What you also want to do is look up a solid waxing technique. If you are not using a proper technique, you’ll end up with streaks and circular buffer patterns, which you will then want to remove, which eats up more time.
How Long You Wash It + Polishing
It is recommended to wash your car before buffing, which can take up to an hour depending on the size of the vehicle and the tools at your disposal. How long it will all take also depends on how thoroughly you polish your car after buffing.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that you definitely want to wax your car on occasion.
Waxing not only gives it a brilliant shine, like you just drove it off the lot brand new, but it also helps to prevent scratching, damage to the paint, rusting, and just adds a good coat of protection.
If you have the right tools, the right wax, the right technique, and more, it should be doable in a few hours at the very most.