I've read a few posts in regards to putting many layers of wax such as Glanz wax - I think one person put 8 coats.

I never saw a defiinitive answer to the below.

When do the returns diminish - meaning how many coats are really necessary and is beyond necessary but will make it look incrementally better and how many is just a waste of time

I don't mind putting several coats even if it makes a difference in protection and/or looks, but if the benefit is very small, then it may not be worth the time.

 

It just depends on which wax you're using. Higher end waxes like Dodo Juice can be layered for more protection and shine, but some of the cheaper waxes that are solvent filled can't be layered, much like lacquer paint, they never really cure.


John

 

I emailed 1z about this years ago. The answer I got was basically that more is not better and Glanz cant be layered. And putting on multiple coats of Glanz just ensures complete coverage.

So like John said, it depends on the product.

 

Metro John hit the nail on the head. However John, one question. Even on the high end waxes, isn't there a point of diminishing return after say 4 coats ?

 

Absolutely. When it comes to synthetic polymers like Nanoskin, you can spray on coat after coat after coat, and the protection seems to build. I will spray a few coats on your Cayenne, and let's see how long it lasts.


John

 

It seems all of you have answered this well. The key to layering is to allow the solvents in the product to gas out as well. So, layering should be a process that is done over a series of days or weeks depending on the environment. When layering carnauba, the magic threshold for us has been 3 coats. Any more, and not much happens visually and any less you can see the difference by the third coat.

You're better off putting on a layer or two of wax and simply using a spray wax like Sonax High Speed Wax after each wash. That's what we do for our clients' cars.

 

A bit of a common misconception out there is the that you can just keep waxing a surface and the wax will just keep stacking up. We have found that after about two coats, you are at about the limit as to the amount of wax that will stay on the surface. We observed this at a lab under the microscope. When trying to "stack" too much on the surface, we found that the polishing cloth takes all but about two layers off the surface.

 

There is a lot of discussion about whether or not it is possible to layer Carnauba on a paint surface, it works on leather boots (providing you neutralize the solvent) and in my experience it also works, up to a point, on a cars paint service.
I prefer the word ‘film’ (1-0.5 µ (0.004 – 0.02 Mil) as opposed to ‘layer’, a film more accurately describes a thinly applied sealant or wax, were as a layer tends to describe a thicker covering.
Some specialty paint protection systems can have subsequent film added to increase protection and paint appearance, systems must set-up or cross-link prior to application of subsequent coats. Depending on the product type (polymer sealant or Carnauba wax) times vary from a few hours to days.

 

basically agree with everything above. I try to apply two coats of collinite 845 between spring / fall and again fall / spring, waiting 24 hours between coats. I'll do this after a wash, clay, and machine polish. Then throughout the year I'll wash and do one coat of miscellaneous carnauba wax. I pretty much buy waxes as I see them get good reviews on the forums so I'm piling them up, but the collinite 845 remains my base.

Two coats of whatever you use is good just in case you miss anything in the first application. I haven't seen anything magical happen with coats beyond two, and I've tried a bunch of combinations of sealants with waxes over and under each other etc etc. Sometimes I'll put more on though just because I enjoy working with my hands, big stress reliever for me.