I did a search on here, but couldnt find my answer. 2 months ago got the truck painted in a single stage non metallic blue. I need to put on a coat of wax, but theres so much surface area, Id like to use my electric DA
buffer. Most waxes I see are applied by hand. Any suggestions?

 

Here's a few tips that have worked for me for many show cars as well as my daily drivers for the past 30 years. First off, realize there are polishes and waxes and they are not the same thing. Polishes hide scratches (to a point) and bring out the luster in the paint, while waxes protect the paint. Which do you need? Both. Your orbital buffer is not really a buffer at all, it's just for spreading polish without the fear of burning through the paint. If you want to buy a buffer, you don't need to spend much money at all. I bought a variable-speed buffer with soft start (very important) for $55 on ebay years ago and it still works fine. If you do buy one, get a cut wool pad and use either Meguiars #7 glaze or 3M Perfect-it blue glaze. Both work well and both are safe on single stage paint. Once you get that done, hit it with a good carnuba wax, I've used Mother's and Meguiars and love them both. My '88 Mustang GT was painted with a cheap single stage paint job in '93 and still looks as good as new 20 years later, so consider all the sweat and pain to keep it up cheap insurance.

 

Thanks for the reply... For some time now, on my other truck I was using Mcguiars #7 only. It wasnt until recently that I found out that polish and wax are two different items. My new years resolution is to keep a good coat of wax on all 3 trucks. I did find some mothers liquid carnuba wax/cleaner. It worked really well with no build up. The DA I use is lightweight, and works without the fear of burn through as you mentioned. I may go the buffer route in the future.
Is there an advantage to carnuba wax vs synthetic wax? I got the carnuba since thats why my painter recommended.

 

Carnauba wax will give a longer lasting and more resilient shine. The only one I know of that beats everything out there is by a company named Ardex and the product is called Flint wax. It's worth every penny and incorporates Teflon in its mix. You will need a variable speed buffer to properly work it though.

 

Wax/polish...

The absolute best ($ for $) IMHO is "Satin Cream" (for dark colors), it is made by BAF & distributed through Pro Car Care products. It is very easy to work with either by hand, orbital or buffer. It has the same acrylic hardener as the high dollar paint sealants but it has 30% German imported carnauba....no, your arm will not fall off putting it on or taking it off & it has a very mild polish in it as well. Even parking the vehicle outside, the MFG gives a 6 months warranty before another application is required. I use this personally on my toys & daily drivers (which include a 1997 black Cougar sport) and all I can tell you are not even bugs like to stick to the paint- most of the time when water is applied they just float off- bird poop is just as easy. No smeary look either- very clean clear deep look. On my toys, I give them a fresh coat about every 2 years (literally, even for a show), my daily drivers (I have one that sits outside), I apply to the entire vehicle every 6 months, and do the hood, roof and trunk every 3 months (probably overkill, but I know it is well protected from the elements including industrial fallout).

For light colored cars I use Profection Paint Sealant (P-73-Q)…it is the same product as “Satin Crème” but without the carnauba….it brings up a much higher shine which on light colored cars looks better IMHO (although it has less depth of shine that carnauba gives) and it has a much higher level of polish in it.….I also use this on all my chrome, stainless, etc…it not only shines it up like new but it is sealed from the elements as well……it works very nice on the poly carbonate headlamp lenses as well- cleaning up the lighter haze that happens over time.
BAF Industries 1910 S. Yale Street Santa Ana, CA 92704 800-437-9893

An excellent alternate product is 3M Perfect It Show Car Liquid Wax- a silicone wax/polish but excellent results as well, just maybe about 90% of the quality of the satin cream.

For specific swirl mark issues I use BAF/Pro Car Care Beauty Products P21 Swirl Eliminator & Polish- although for 30 years I used 3M products specifically, recently I have not been as pleased with the quality of 3M’s hand glaze. I typically do not like "combination" type products but P21 is very, very impressive & effective from end result, ease of use & overall effectiveness.

All of these can be applied by hand or machine

 

I agree with beechkid on the 3m products. They aren't as good as they used to be.