hello,

I am thinking about purchasing the Meguiars clay bar kit, which includes "cleaner wax." I was thinking about also purchasing the deep crystal stage 3 carnauba wax. Would it be good to put on the cleaner wax, and then apply the carnauba? Or would that not really make much difference in appearance? How much time would I have to wait between layers?

Thanks,
Frank

 

You won't need the cleaner wax if you're using the three step. Not that you can't use it, but it isn't necessary if you are polishing and then applying wax.

I like to use a cleaner wax (on car #2) sometimes during the first big clean as a go between from the polish to the wax. It offers a little more cleaning while adding a small amount of wax. If you go with the cleaner wax and then the pure wax, do not put the cleaner wax or a polish on top of your pure wax. Continue to layer (or deposit for naysayers) with the step 3 until you feel like starting over (4-6 months or up to one year).

 

You can't layer cleaner waxes, it removes the previous coat below it every time you use it. A pure "non-cleaner" carnauba type product can be layered but not really more than a couple of coats.

 

A pure carnauba wax can be layered indefinitely. Your results, though, will vary depending on your prep work and differences between other lsp finish qualities. A well prepped surface will only need two or up to four coats (spaced out over several weeks or a couple of months) of a quality carnauba to reach an optimal look and to achieve basic protection. You will get extended life and protection from the wax, however, by keeping the paint clean with a good wash regimen and occasional use of a quick detail spray, and continuing to layer wax for up to one year.

The appearance will vary with the amount of coatings of wax, but that won't have a dramatic difference in looks between one or two layerings. If handled right, IMO, a well layered paint surface with a quality carnauba wax can have stunning results. No matter how much of any lsp you put on, however, you will need to strip the accumulation off eventually, re-clean the paint and start over. Its best to use moderation and good judgment in applying any amount of a wax or synthetic product on your car over time.