Synthetic Wax VS Ceramics

DaveWertz

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This is something that pulls me in as I love to detail cars. I have been trying so many different brand waxes, some generic ceramics ect. So the debate. What do you all prefer and what brands? I'm a big Adams Polish fan, a few yrs back at Carlisle Ford Nats Adam's used my black Cobra as a demo to showcase there new Ceramic Wax. I was blown away for how long it lasted and the shine it gave plus water would fly off as fast as it went on. But I do have allot of buddies that use nothing but ceramics, now they own detail business's and use the best of the best, now for us poor folk (and not being certified) that just isn't an option. I keep going back and fourth if I want to use and spend the money on ceramics when IMO there are good waxes out there. I want to try R1 ceramic, but am really on the fence if I want to buy the Adams ceramic paste. SO many good products out there, what are some of your favorites..
 

TerminatoRS

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My neighbor is an avid Adams fan as well. He's currently using their latest graphene ceramic. Granted his vehicles ('16 Grand Cherokee SRT black and '15 Silverado LTZ metallic silver) are always spotless, I honestly can't tell a visual difference in his versus mine. We're not a pros, but we're both somewhat OCD about having a clean vehicle so I pay attention to what he's up to and does the same to me. His may very well shed water better, but if we're nitpicking, my cars feel slicker/smoother and I think the shine is deeper. And I only use affordable everyday products down here on planet earth. lol Might have some pics of what I'm currently playing with...
 

TerminatoRS

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Well the app's not letting me post the pic, but I got the line of graphene infused goodies from Turtle Wax. It's not the "authentic, real deal" type of application, but it seems to work great for me. Won't destroy your bank account either. The spray detailer makes periodic boosting convenient. And it smells nice. lol
 

AustinSN

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I use a ton of different things, but I have more Sonax than pretty much anything else.

I'm not exactly brand loyal when it comes to cleaning products, I just will not buy Chemical Guys ever.
 

DaveWertz

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I tried there butter wax and wasn't to impressed. I just recently tried the Adams spray ceramic just to compare it to wax, don't waste your money. My street glide and cobra are both black. I tried it on the Harley first and it left streaks that were so hard to get off it wasn't funny. Other than Adams ceramic paste, i havent used any others but would love to try them this time around. Something i can get a few months out of, not a few weeks like natural waxes

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oldstv

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I used Adams buttery wax on part of my car with a pad and Turtle Wax Hybrid Ice Seal N Shine on the other part. I will say the Adams went on and off just as easy as the TW but it has been said the wax doesn't last very long. Can's say because the car rarely sees sunlight and never gets washed. I would give a slight nod to the Adams as far as clarity and shine on this car but....
The car has "decent" paint but doesn't have much depth. "70 Stage1 Buick", paint is apx 15 years old. Newer/better paint might show different results.
 

CobraBob

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Check with our resident pro detailers, too. Scott and Mike. I'm sure they will be happy to provide their own preference and recommendations.
 

DaveWertz

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Check with our resident pro detailers, too. Scott and Mike. I'm sure they will be happy to provide their own preference and recommendations.
I was kind of hoping they would chime in. It's always good to get a expert opinion. Although I have a feeling I know what they are going to say...
 

DaveWertz

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I see allot of good stuff on Collinite 845 then a good was as a topper. Anyone have any real world experience with the 845? I am chomping at the bit, don't know if I want to drop $100 on a descent ceramic or buy a good sealer and paste type synthetic wax. My cobra might see 1k miles a yr and is mostly garaged. My Street Glide is another story. It's a 2010, I got it from the original owner about 3yrs ago with 1300 miles. He must have used 2000 grit to wash this thing because the paint was dull and swirled badly. Anyhow I used 3M hybrid and did a 3 step correction and the bike looked new. I took it to my buddies garage to have it coated. It was amazing but it did not last all but a yr, if that. I wish I could remember what coating he used..... I don't mind applying wax twice a yr, the time and process is fun for me. The ceramics are nice but as you can tell im 50/50 between the 2. Mainly because of cost.
 

*Jay*

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I see allot of good stuff on Collinite 845 then a good was as a topper. Anyone have any real world experience with the 845? I am chomping at the bit, don't know if I want to drop $100 on a descent ceramic or buy a good sealer and paste type synthetic wax. My cobra might see 1k miles a yr and is mostly garaged. My Street Glide is another story. It's a 2010, I got it from the original owner about 3yrs ago with 1300 miles. He must have used 2000 grit to wash this thing because the paint was dull and swirled badly. Anyhow I used 3M hybrid and did a 3 step correction and the bike looked new. I took it to my buddies garage to have it coated. It was amazing but it did not last all but a yr, if that. I wish I could remember what coating he used..... I don't mind applying wax twice a yr, the time and process is fun for me. The ceramics are nice but as you can tell im 50/50 between the 2. Mainly because of cost.

I have been trying to find a replacement for Collonite 845 for many, many years and havent been able to. Its not that I dont like the stuff I just cant believe that given its age nothing short of a full ceramic coat can touch it. It really is amazing stuff, easy to use, extremely durable, looks great on paint, can be used on plastic/glass and easily lasts for 6 months. I just keep it topped with some kind of a drying aide LSP, currently thats TW Hybrid Ceramic Wet Wax and its been chugging on just fine with the NE Ohio winter.

Like you I enjoy detailing my cars and dont mind waxing a few times a year. I had a ceramic coat done on my SB Cobra and while its great I think I enjoy the paint correction more than the coat. Plus if anything goes wrong with the ceramic coat (shopping cart, asshole in parking lot) you cant just remove it with Dawn dish soap and recoat. You need a DA polisher at the minimum to remove it. Then if its not a consumer grade coat you have to go back to the vendor to do all of that work and hopefully not pay again to get it fixxed. If I had to do it all over again I would have just stuck with the paint correction and skipped the ceramic coat.
 

PhoenixM3

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I use clay bar, P21 paint cleanser, then Pinnacle Souveran Carnuba paste wax, the later two applied with a Porter Cable 7424 (IIRC) random orbital buffer. Carnuba doesn't last very long, but I'm not sure if a synthetic will do much to prevent paint contamination (which is removed using detailer's clay). Just because water beads off the paint for a longer period, doesn't mean that tar and other crap does.....
 

DaveWertz

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How do you think keeping 845 topped with adams ceramic waterless wash would mesh? I have a good but of adams ceramic waterless wash and ceramic boost left over and would hate to not use it.
I have been trying to find a replacement for Collonite 845 for many, many years and havent been able to. Its not that I dont like the stuff I just cant believe that given its age nothing short of a full ceramic coat can touch it. It really is amazing stuff, easy to use, extremely durable, looks great on paint, can be used on plastic/glass and easily lasts for 6 months. I just keep it topped with some kind of a drying aide LSP, currently thats TW Hybrid Ceramic Wet Wax and its been chugging on just fine with the NE Ohio winter.

Like you I enjoy detailing my cars and dont mind waxing a few times a year. I had a ceramic coat done on my SB Cobra and while its great I think I enjoy the paint correction more than the coat. Plus if anything goes wrong with the ceramic coat (shopping cart, asshole in parking lot) you cant just remove it with Dawn dish soap and recoat. You need a DA polisher at the minimum to remove it. Then if its not a consumer grade coat you have to go back to the vendor to do all of that work and hopefully not pay again to get it fixxed. If I had to do it all over again I would have just stuck with the paint correction and skipped the ceramic coat.

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*Jay*

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Should be just fine, I have used Optimum, Duragloss and McKees waterless washes with no issues. I have also used ceramic specific toppers and wash soap in the past with no issues.

*Edit*
Should have wrote Rinseless washes above, I use a bucket and a MF sponge vice a sprayer and MF towel which is Waterless.
 
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DaveWertz

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Should be just fine, I have used Optimum, Duragloss and McKees waterless washes with no issues. I have also used ceramic specific toppers and wash soap in the past with no issues.[/QUOTE

So it seems to yield best results with 845 other than prep work, depending on temp and humidty outside you heat the bottle in hot water or let set in sun, shake really well then apply a thin coat. Then from my intake let it sit for an hour or two. It seems when people wipe this off only after a few minutes they claim allot of haze and streaks. So before I put some sort of silica on top I want to do this right. BLACK is a SOB. My plan is to use the 845 then top it with the Adams Ceramic spray coat I have. They claim 6 months for it, and well since I have it why not,
 

5.0Black

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I don't mind applying wax twice a yr, the time and process is fun for me. The ceramics are nice but as you can tell im 50/50 between the 2. Mainly because of cost.

I may be a little tardy to the party tarty, but a quality ceramic should always provide better protection and results than a spray on wax/sealant. To be clear, I am not a pro like Scott and Mike are. I have used a few different offerings from Gtechniq and CarPro though over the years with very positive results, and one of my cars is an 8 year old black Mustang so I can relate on black being an SOB lol. I have some photos of my Mustang below spanning over different periods of time in Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light + EXOv4+C2v3 spray. The real big question isn't price for a prosumer ceramic, but rather time. Any ceramic coating requires prep work to get the desired results. The price is a small price to pay for what you are receiving in terms of performance, it is the prep work that you should be aware of with any Ceramic coating (not a spray). You need to do a decontamination wash (including claying), correct the body via buffer, light wash again (to remove any compound dust), panel wipe/ipa to remove waxes left over, then apply the ceramic coating. Applying a ceramic isn't hard. This can be a fun long weekend type project (pending cars condition and rate in which you work), I have done it enough that I enjoy it every few years, but the $60-$125 cost of the ceramic isn't what I would get hung up on. It is the prep work.

If you are looking into a Ceramic coating to install yourself I would say Gtechniq CSL+EXO, 22ple Insanity, CarPro Cquartz. Incase you were unaware, with ceramics you should be utilizing ph neutral cleaning products.

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IMG_0318 by Sean C, on Flickr

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IMG_E0310 by Sean C, on Flickr

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Untitled by Sean C, on Flickr

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40CC6FE0-4FAB-4BA6-B981-3AEC1F2873FD by Sean C, on Flickr
 

NastyGT500

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I like Collinite 845. Easy to use, great characteristics and lasts quite some time.
Wolfgang Si02 paint sealant is awesome. Super slick, great properties, easy to use, lasts quite some time.
As for waxes, Wolfgang Fuzion, Pinnacle Souveran are some of my favorite 'within reach/affordable' waxes. Durability just isn't there.

'Lite' coatings: GYEON Cancoat. Easy to use, darn good durability, great characteristics/properties, easy to use.

Consumer available 'real' coatings: 22ple HPC, CarPro UK, Adam's Graphene Coating. All are very good coatings that will last for years. (at least 2 no matter what the manufacturer states) with proper maintenance. They are a bit more difficult to use



I'm sure that 845 and Adam's ceramic WW will play OK together. Not too sure about using their ceramic boost on top of it, but give it a shot, can't hurt anything, may just streak on you. Ceramic boost is a good product on it's own, very slick, don't know about durability though.
 

DaveWertz

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So this is the spray I have allot of. So 845 is a sealant from my understanding? Now Adams suggest using this as a sealant as well as prep work points that this adhear to the paint. My thought was to use 845 after clay bar, Polish and a clean prepped surface. Apply the 845, let sit for a few hours buff off then apply the adams ceramic. But Adams ceramic had more hydrophobic properties than protection. I could be wrong.
Screenshot_20210117-063016.jpeg


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