wax for lacquer paint

[William F.]

What's the best wax or sealer(not polish or glaze) for lacquer? Any experience with IBIZ,Zymol, Adams,Liquid Glass,etc? Haven't seen this addressed recently. Thanks for help.

[Steven S.]

Re: wax for lacquer paint

I would only use Carnuba wax. Old school but still tried and true. Mothers is one name brand that works well.

Steve

[Jim D.]

Re: wax for lacquer paint

I've been using Liquid Glass ever since I painted my 1960 25 years ago. It looks as good today as it did then - perfect.

Jim

[Kurt G.]

Re: wax for lacquer paint

I'll try to keep this as short as possible. Several years ago, like maybe 25 or so, I had a neighbor who had two custom Monte Carlos. One had at $25,000 paint job, the other was over $30,000, and both were lacquer. He won best paint at several Super Chevy events, and was very proud of both. What was interesting was the $30,000 paint car was a re-paint, because he used Mothers on it and it was ruined. The guy that painted both cars for him told him to use only Meguiars Yellow wax on the cars, because the resins and polimers in the newer waxes would completely seal the paint, and not allow it to breath.

Since then, the only wax I use is Meguiars Yellow wax, and I've got an all original, built Sept 10, 1971 Targa Blue coupe that is still a 5 footer. The paint shines actually better than it did when it was brand new. The only other wax that has been on a lacquer car that I've owned was MirrorGlaze Blue Carnuba, which you can't get anymore. Meguiars Yellow wax does an excellent job, let's the paint breath, and provides superior protection. The only drawback is it is a wax, so it will build up if you let it. But, a good washing with a mild detergent will take the buildup off, and you start over with wax on bare paint.

[Pat M.]

Re: wax for lacquer paint

I love to use Meguiars on my 96, but when I used it on the lacquer on my 70 it really polished the paint past the point of looking original. After I repainted the 70 in lacquer (for other reasons) and got the finish original looking, I've been reluctant to touch it with anything but water, except for occassionally polishing out light scratches.

I also seem to recall that once John Ballard looked over my repaint and told me "don't wax it." I may have misunderstood him, but I'm still not gonna wax it.

[Dick W.]

Re: wax for lacquer paint

When I restored classics we never used wax on the paint. It has a tendency to conceal the true look of the paint job. We always used the old Mirror Glaze only. When you wax the paint actually looks oily to me

[Robert D.]

Re: wax for lacquer paint

Here in the tri state area NY, NJ and CT I have used Gliptone Carnauba wax for the past 30 years. I purchased a 1966 Laguna blue convertible in 1978 with the original paint and only used Gliptone until I sold it in 1988. The car, the last time I saw it a few years back still had the original paint and it still looked great! I still use Gliptone on my black '57 which is lacquer and was painted about 15 years ago. It pretty much looks like it did when it was first painted. I also used it on my other cars. I sold a 1932 Ford Phaeton to a fellow in California in 1992. He has not waxed that car yet and says it looks super. Maybe I used too much Gliptone on it!
Hope this helps.
Bob

[Paul J.]

Re: wax for lacquer paint

I wax the everyday stoves that we drive. I have never waxed the classics. They spend most of thier time inside and don't see much weather. Other than keeping them washed (with lots of water, no soap) the paint only occaisionally needs a little polishing.

[Richard T.]

Re: wax for lacquer paint

My black 62 was painted back in 1981 and for years I used Dupont fill and glaze which is a body shop product meant to be used after rubbing out lacquer. It didn't last long but gave a good gloss and was gentle on the paint. Now I use Meguiar's Gold Class liqued wax which really makes the old paint pop. Every so often I start with Meguiar's "Swirl Remover" then finish with the Liquid Gold, it's the best product I've found at a reasonable cost. Rich

[Jack U.]

Re: wax for lacquer paint

If you want durability, Zaino Z-3 is for non-clearcoat vehicles that will last 6 months. It's non-abrasive so you can apply mutiple coats for a better shine.

[Bryan M.]

Re: wax for lacquer paint

Does anybody use Griot's Garage stuff?

[Anthony L.]

Re: wax for lacquer paint

Good morning,
20 years ago for my 40th birthday my kids gave me a can of Zymol formulated for lacquer paint. I keep it in the fridge in the garage and use it (sparingly) on my 62 red and 68 white cars. I do not know if this specific wax is still available. It makes the paint pop! Back in the day I had heard (rumor?) the Zymol company, (if you had the money) would come to your house with a portable spectrometer and scan your paint. They would then mix up a custom batch of wax specificly for your car. I don't know of anyone that has used this service. Cool anyway.

Regards,

Anthony

[Stewart A.]

Re: wax for lacquer paint

Polish is designed to shine not to really seal the duco. The only proven sealer is Carnuba Wax. It's not bullet proof but does protect against mild elements. Nothing will stop a good bird poo from etching at the surface. Nothing will so always check your paint after a day in the sun that the birds didn't kill your duco . The wax is not really a great enhancer it's more of a sealer. Any brand with straight Carnabu Wax or close to straight will work. They all smell the same. You can tell when you need a sealer the water leaves stains. Cars like Jim Durams that are white you will not see the stains but in the darker colours like Richard Thomas's Black 62 and my red 60 will be really obvious. I wish some one would make a bullet proof sealer. I suppose Clear coat is the answer ? Stewy

[Dick G.]

Re: wax for lacquer paint

I painted my 57 in Black acrylic lacquer. I do not buy the let the paint breath. The lacquer thinner in the paint takes 100 years to finally stop evaporating out of the paint. I tried numerous waxes. Black cars show everything. Believe it or not, the wax that looked the best and held up was Ibiz. Yes, the guy at the car shows with the headpiece. Very similar to Nathan's liquid luster. Can't remember using Liquid Glass. If a wax does not specifically state that it does not contain abrasives then it has abasives added for polishing. I tried a Meguiars. It looked like a yellow grease type of wax. Very Good. I also tried a 3M product. I think it was called 3M hand glaze (polish). You are always better off to do a good wash with mild detergent, dry off, preferably with comprerssed air and towel. Wax and grease remover over body. 3M's DX330 works good (alcohol based) no smoking, quick drying. Hand polish with 3M hand Glaze, now use a non-abarsive carnauba wax or your favorite wax. Lots of work. Lacquer painted cars are more work , especially black ones.
IMHO DG

[John F.]

Re: wax for lacquer paint

I have only had my 62 since Feb of 08, but the lacquer paint has been on there since 82. I did the Mothers CaliforniaGold Clay Bar thing with Showtime. First time I ever used the clay. My what a difference. I now just touch it up with Meguiar's Quik Detailer. Looks very good to me.

John