Does Carnauba wax protect paint work?

[Nicensleazy]

Anyone on this forum know if Carnauba wax protects paint work?

 

[TheDoctor]

Yes it does.
If you do a google search on 'detailing' you'll find far, far more about it than anyone would ever need to know...

 

[fossyant]

It's used to take out/off stubborn dirt/imperfections - leaves a smooth surface for polish to be applied. Not likely to be that useful on a bike, as they generally don't live outdoors and need this !

 

[HeartAttack]

It's used to take out/off stubborn dirt/imperfections - leaves a smooth surface for polish to be applied. Not likely to be that useful on a bike, as they generally don't live outdoors and need this !

Sorry the first part is way off the mark, Carnauba does not take out/off stubborn dirt etc it is by its nature only a protection. If you want to remove stuff then you first need to use a cleanser with has either chemical or mechanical cleaning properties.

Sorry a bike does need protection, well that is if you intend riding it outside, maybe not as much as a car but why let the elements do damage to your pride and joy?

Carnabua wax will protect any finish, paint, carbon, metal and even rubber but there are many many different grades of carnauba. Carnauba in its pure form is a solid unusable material, it has to be mixed with other items to make is usable. Cheaper waxes will at best only contain upto 3% carnabua the rest will be anything including heavy solvents like petrol. Mid range waxes will have upto 30% carnabua, next to no solvents and then the top stuff will have anywhere upto 75% carnauba and nothing harmful added. In fact the best stuff can be eaten safely.

Good quality carnauba when applied and allowed to dry, buffed off and then polished will actually have a harder surface than concrete, though it won't stop stone chipping paintwork. However its real gain is when you need to wash, a hose spray will remove almost all dirt, even off road dirt, leaving only a small amount that will need wiping off or at worst shampooing, then drying it to leave a like new look.

The better the quality of wax the longer time between coats needed to be applied, some of the best wax will only need 1 coat a year, even with washing 2 or 3 times a week, though this is dependant on how you wash it plus the amount of shampoo used. If you have a look at my Scott in the gallery it has 4 coats of wax on it, ok the wax is super expensive, costing more than my zipps but in theroy it won't need another coat for 5+ years, but as I use this wax on a reg basis for my business I have some

Not that I know anything about cleaning and protecting motors and bikes

 

[downfader]

I used turtle wax. All over the frame, cables and my spokes. Seemed to work for me.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Have I rumbled you HeartAttack? Does Collinite mean something to you?

 

[HeartAttack]

Have I rumbled you HeartAttack? Does Collinite mean something to you?

LOL, only if its 815 as 476 has way too much petroleum content

Swissvax Divine is a lot better, or Zym Royale if we're talking of wasting money

 

[TheDoctor]

You sound somewhat expert on this. Any chance of a quick-and-dirty How-to guide for a bike?
Well, not dirty, obv, but you know what I mean. What to buy and how to apply it.

 

[downfader]

You sound somewhat expert on this. Any chance of a quick-and-dirty How-to guide for a bike?
Well, not dirty, obv, but you know what I mean. What to buy and how to apply it.

+1 and perhaps a youtube vid or blog? (theres a blog section here)

 

[Nicensleazy]

Cheers guys

 

[Globalti]

Car waxes contain a fine abrasive, which polishes the paint and removes surface dirt. After that the solvent dries off and leaves that chalky deposit, which also contains the wax.

I polished my safety googles with car wax; they were all scratched and manky but they came us like new with some vigorous rubbing. Did the same with the plastic "glass" on my son's Swatch, which got scratched. Rubbed it flat with wet and dry, polished with Brasso, which is quite abrasive, then finished with car wax and for 10 minutes Dad was very popular!

On a bike frame the wax causes water droplets to bead and run off rather than wetting the surface, which helps with subsequent cleaning and helps prevent rusting where the paint is chipped.

 

[fossyant]

I was talking the Carnuba wax bars - I have polish with the stuff in, but the 'car detailers' will use the bars and some water to pull crap off..then use the polishes.

Just good car polish is fine, or Mr Sheen...

 

[downfader]

I was talking the Carnuba wax bars - I have polish with the stuff in, but the 'car detailers' will use the bars and some water to pull crap off..then use the polishes.

Just good car polish is fine, or Mr Sheen...

Mr Sheen? Really? Does that work?

 

[Mortiroloboy]

Mr sheen does work, and it's cheap. At the end of the day its a polish, and AFAIK it doesn't contain any abrasives, smells nice too!

 

[fossyant]

Mr Sheen (original) is very good on bikes - also contains silicon, so water and dirt just wash off. I't good for removing oily marks, and great at removing brake crap off your side walls (don't use on the tread !!!) if you have fancy coloured tyres.

It's also great if you have squeeky plastic cleats....