It just seems like beading water is always brought up. Oh this product dosnt bead water as well as this one and blah blah. Does beading water show that wax is still there or what? What is the deal with beading water?

 

I have news for you. Beading is not the most important aspect of a wax. You will have a lot of wax left over once your "beading" quality wears away. Wax, unlike what a lot of people think, will not wash away in the rain or wear off with the sun. Wax is a gum that has to be removed. The benefit of wax is that it coats your paint and protects it from harsh elements of the climate like uv rays, airborne particles, acid rain, and high temperatures.

You will notice that when you remove wax from a well maintained vehicle (even a not so well maintained example), you will see very vibrant paint. This is from the protection that the wax was able to give it. Also, a freshly cleaned or polished paint surface will bead!!!

So you shouldn't necessarily look for the best bead quality of a wax. What you should look for is the content of actual wax vs. the "other" ingredients that promote gloss and beading, like silicones (which by the way isn't the best agent for your paint), or other paint enhancing ingredients. The grade of wax is also very important, as there is a distinct difference (carnauba) between yellow, #1 yellow, and #1 white, which is an ulta refined grade of carnauba not found in low priced retail waxes.

Wax content will also not readily be advertised on most retail brands, but the higher quality brands will typically have between 25 to 30% of a carnauba content. (sorry for the read) There is some truth to the addage that the higher the content of carnauba and the more refined the wax and shine quality, the less duration of "beading" it may have. It isn't absolute, but many have observed this. My remedy against that is to take great moderation in applying your layers, taking care by not piling on too much wax at one time, but being consistent in applying the wax. Keeping the paint clean without stripping the wax is also beneficial. Build your layers over a few months of a warm season, and you will have all of the beading quality and shine definition your eyes can handle (that is if you use excellent wax).

 

When the water beads it just rolls off the car when you drive fast enough. If you get it off before much water dries or collects dust or dirt, it can almost look like you just washed your car.