When you re-wax a car, do you have to stip the layer of wax that was there before, or is it alright to use a polish, and then wax right over it?

 

Strip it if you are going to polish it before you wax it.You cant polish over wax.It will take most of it off but leave some.

 

What if I'm not going to polish it? Just apply another coat of wax... does it need to be stripped?

 

No,just be sure it is clean.If you feel crap on the surface don't wax over it.Pre-clean it first.Feel it with your fingers very lightly.You can feel particles you can't see.look very closely at the surface too.If a polishing cloth doesnt feel like a fresh wax job when you go over the paint,its dirty.

 

All waxes evaporate in a short time.You can reapply wax on a clean surface often.Wax WILL NOT stick to wax.If the wax is coming off of areas like the hood it will stick there,but not areas that still have wax.However,the new wax will stick to dirt and fallout and seal it in.

If you park outside,you need to strip almost everytime you wax and preclean before waxing.

 

NozeBleedSpeed, wow where did you learn to detail? You have been misinformed.

Mobile detailer here. When using a CARNAUBA wax it is ok to wax over a previous layer. It will STICK. People with show cars do it all the time. Some cars have 3 or 4 layers of wax on them.

Yes, wax does evaporate with time so if your truck spends a lot of time in the sun it will need more frequent waxing. If your truck is a dark color, then it will need more frequent waxing.

If you feel your paint and it is rough even after you have just washed, then you have contaminates stuck in your paint (rail dust, industrial fallout). The only way to remove them is with a clay bar or a paintshop prep acid. I suggest using a clay bar. ProWax's clay is great as well as Mothers Clay.

After claying, you'll want to polish to remove oxidation as well as swirls. When your paint starts to get hazy, then that is oxidation you are seeing. Some polishing will bring back the clear shine. If you have a previous layer of wax on the car and polish it, then the polish will eat through that previous layer of wax like no one's business. I only use a polish and rotary on my truck once a year. Each time you use a polish it takes a little bit of the clearcoat off. If you do it too often, then you risk clearcoat failure!!!

If I were you, then I would clay my truck, polish it, and then wax it. After you do that, then you can just wax your truck once a month or however often you feel like it. If using a carnauba wax, then I suggest doing it atleast every two months.

 

Intel486- I agree.
NozeBleedSpeed- Aren't you the one who always recommends using ceramabryte on the factory exhaust tips, too? Hmm. You like stripping every bit of gloss off of every surface of your truck now, not just the tips?

Do it like Intel486 said, and your paint will always look good.
I follow the same technique and check it out:


Later,

 

Let me throw my .02 in here.. I agree with Intel.. except that I started using a detailer inbetween the wash and wax phase.. I think it makes a difference.. it wont take long and using a detailer inbetween waxes makes a big difference as well. It seems that I dont get as much of the normal accumulation of dust on my truck. I started using Griots Garage products and I feel they are the best as well..