Wax or no wax prep?

[Guest Cpig]

I've read that a wax stripper should be used to prep for PPF installs, but recently I've heard some installers saying that they actually apply wax before installing because it makes for a smoother install.

What do you guys prefer, wax or no wax for a PPF install prep?

[Guest darkdan]

I'd rather it stick as long as possible than wax it to prepare myself for easier "redos".

WhyTF should it need to be redone other than extreme rock damage or poor install? We all know one of those two isn't happening.

[Guest 1PEECBARETTA]

no wax for me

[Speed]

If you think the film your using will last forever, never get discolored, turn yellow, lose its shine, ever get any road damage, or that the car will never be traded in for another, then strip the wax. Have fun spending hours cleaning off adhesive. Removing film from a waxed car only takes a few minutes.

[Guest 1PEECBARETTA]

good point. I have had a couple of rewal nasty removals

[Guest Revolution]

SPEED

what is that picture showing, has the film misted up underneath? are you saying waxing the car first stops that?

I have a new nissan 350z to do full bonnet, fenders and bumper on this friday coming, the car is black and the customer is getting swirl marks removed by a detailer on wednesday prior to instal.

would you suggest applying over the wax for this type of full instal, just cleaning down the under edge of the bonnet and those type of tack areas?

thanks

[Guest 1PEECBARETTA]

Rev, that sounds like an excellent Idea to me! I'm gonna try it next time

[Guest darkdan]

Rev, that sounds like an excellent Idea to me! I'm gonna try it next time

This way when the moron washes their car immediately afterwards instead of an edge coming up the whole thing flies off. LOL. Maybe they won't notice it's missing.

[blade]

I've never waxed before install. maybe I'm using something different than you speed but the few times I've dones R&Rs it's never been that bad to remove. the only 2 that sucked to remove were richochet's and 3M's older stuff from about 6 years ago. but I don't install either.

I just install with the idea that once they leave I'm not gonna see the customer again until they have a new car.

[Guest Josh @ Proform]

I think "waxing" may through some of you off because you might be thinking those of us that do bust out the buffer and spend hours shining the paint. Not true. When I refer to waxing, I simply apply a easy to wipe off spray wax, plexus or detail spray, which might add 5 to 10 minutes to an install at the most if the car comes clean, which we all know is very rare. If the vehicle is dirty the prep time remains the same. Time is valuable and I know from my experience working with a waxed painted surface is far more forgiving than some super tacky hazed surface. The second most common question I get is "Is it removable", sure you can still remove the film if the surface has not been waxed, but you are far more likely to leave adhesive, pull clear coat or pull off entire chunks of paint.

Apply a light (for better clarification) wax, prep the edges and other areas where you feel the film may have difficulty sticking, and you will have more success as an installer. Furthermore, when installing large pieces of film like full hoods, the light waxes help the installer squeegee the large amounts of fluids and prevent premature tacking. You will be doing you fellow installers and the customer a favor should the film ever need to be removed. If that is not enough, polishes like Plexus have anti-static properties that will help prevent lint and other debris from attracting to the paint and then film during the installation.

I think a limiting factor for some with respect to waxing and other good installation practices is the fact there is not standard to compare the quality of installations and most people do not like change especially when what they are doing now works well for them. In Vegas 99% of the work I see that we did not do is really bad, and often the customer has no idea that the film can look as clear as we and other high quality installers can make it look. Although I'm sure those that make the effort to post here and on other forums (whether they wax or not) are likely better installers since they are making an effort to improve the industry, all too often adhesive marks, ghosting, extremely deep cut marks and dirt are consider OK because the installation company who did the job did not charge enough to care if the job is good or not and uses the customers ignorance of PPF installation quality to their detriment.

Light waxing will help you be an even better installer, there is no question about it. Its like using dot matrix glue to help when tinting.