Ghost Wax?

[Beemerboy]

I`ve talked about this once before but this continues to bother me more than anything....I have quite a few repeat customers that I have had for years...

This last Saturday I did three cars, one full detail and two wash / wax jobs...regular customers.

On the black MB that I had detailed about two weeks ago I noticed some wax in areas that I am 110% sure that I had gone over not once but a few times even with QD on one of those passes.

The only thing that I can come up with is the wax is not fully dried and is still transparent, not allowing me to see it...I`ve not had any customers say anything about this as its not that noticeable to them, but it is to me.


I call this ghost wax (my own term) I notice this on my black BMW at times where I am certain that its been covered but the next day or two residue appears in areas that I`ve covered.

Anyone else see this happen? (say yes here)

[Stephan]

I have had that happen a few times, not sure what causes it or if it was just human error and me missing the area...

what type of wax were you using? And when you refer to residue, do you mean the white powdery look that wax gets after its been sitting for awhile?

[blucpe]

beemer it`s called OA or as i like to say old age, our eye sight is going. lol.

[Beemerboy]

I have had that happen a few times, not sure what causes it or if it was just human error and me missing the area...

what type of wax were you using? And when you refer to residue, do you mean the white powdery look that wax gets after its been sitting for awhile?

I am referring to the white powdery residue that wax creates once its real dry...its not really one area or the other, mainly I see it in cracks or edges that again I have gone over...I use all kinds of products so its hard to say one over the other

[Stephan]

I am referring to the white powdery residue that wax creates once its real dry...its not really one area or the other, mainly I see it in cracks or edges that again I have gone over...I use all kinds of products so its hard to say one over the other

I always see it just on the top of the hood, near the windshield for some reason I always miss there...

by the way I call it phantom wax and I am off to patent it...

[Beemerboy]

beemer it`s called OA or as i like to say old age, our eye sight is going. lol.

I`d give you that one but my wife who is 12 years younger than me helps with the finial inspections and she has a good eye!

[Poorboy]

I have seen this and have no idea why it happens, but I have a solution...I just call Pockets incompetent

me>> Pockets how did you miss that spot?
Pockets>> Huh WuH
me>>
Pockets HUh wuh
me>>
Pockets

[Stephan]

I have seen this and have no idea why it happens, but I have a solution...I just call Pockets incompetent

me>> Pockets how did you miss that spot?
Pockets>> Huh WuH
me>>
Pockets HUh wuh
me>>
Pockets

We haven`t heard from pockets in awhile...hmmm starting to wonder..

[Poorboy]

We haven`t heard from pockets in awhile...hmmm starting to wonder..

He`s been away with his family for the last few days, and other than that he`s busy either working or playing fireman

[dr_detail]

it`s the by-product of waxing a car in 14 minutes.....

[pogo123]

Funny that you should mention this Beemerboy, because I just had the same problem last weekend. One of the guys that I work with loves pointing out where I`ve missed a spot when wiping off the wax, and it bugs the heck out of me. So I was extra careful and went over the car several times. There was no wax to be seen anywhere, and he didn`t find any either. Then several days later I noticed several spots where wax was showing. It has happened with several different brands of wax and I have no idea why. My car is red so it`s pretty easy to see if you missed a spot.

Then again, I`m getting up there in age myself, so who knows?

[Squirtgun]

I did a black Tahoe last friday and the customer called today and askked about the wax spots I missed.I went to have a look after my moring pressure washing job to see for myself.
There were 3 spots the size of my hand that I know I wiped over,but the residue showed up after I finished.

[Stephan]

I think that is just bound to happen, while we try to be perfectionists, occasionally you are going to miss a spot...

Thats why maybe the use of Ultima Paint gaurd plus ends that with its wipe on walk away workings...

[Troy@Protekt]

What`s happening is your wax or sealant is not being wiped off completely. Once all of the silicones or other wetting agents have evaporated, the powders that were concealed by the "wetness" of the silicone become visible.

Quick Detailer may not take it off because the powders are now trapped within the cured wax or sealant. If your QD does take it off then most likely it has taken whatever wax or sealant that was there with it (which some quick detailers are capable of doing). The best way to fix the problem is to re-apply the sealant or wax to those areas and then wipe it off thoroughly.

You might want to try a different wax or sealant. It may not be your fault. It may be the wax or sealant is not performing the way it should.

[Beemerboy]

What`s happening is your wax or sealant is not being wiped off completely. Once all of the silicones or other wetting agents have evaporated, the powders that were concealed by the "wetness" of the silicone become visible.

Quick Detailer may not take it off because the powders are now trapped within the cured wax or sealant. If your QD does take it off then most likely it has taken whatever wax or sealant that was there with it (which some quick detailers are capable of doing). The best way to fix the problem is to re-apply the sealant or wax to those areas and then wipe it off thoroughly.

You might want to try a different wax or sealant. It may not be your fault. It may be the wax or sealant is not performing the way it should.

Thanks Troy

That makes sense to me, (not much does these days) I wonder if a cold water wipe down would help this since the product has not fully cured / setup / dried the cold water would accelerate that process...I`m convinced of one thing this is not about me missing the area...some of the residue that pop`s up a few days later is in the middle of a panel