Why Can't You Wax In Direct Sunlight?

I did a quick search on Google about why you should not wax in direct sunlight and found mixed opinions about it, but no definitive answer of why you should not do it. Some say the chemicals in the wax will not work if it's in the sun and others have said they have waxed in the sun and they get the same results if they were not in the sun.

So, what do you guys know about waxing in direct sunlight? Is it ok to do it? Are there negative effects if you do it? I live in a condo and do not have a garage, so waxing in the sunlight is my only option. Of course, I could wait until the sun goes down but sun usually stays out until 7 PM, don't really want to spend my night waxing my car.

 

Meguiars ultimate wax states you can use it in direct sun light. Might have to switch waxes.

 

This is just a guess, but i think if the surface of the truck was too warm the majority of the wax would not adhere to the clear coat. i feel like it would all pull off when buffed. Its probably not an issue of direct sunlight per se, but the heat that typically is associated with direct sunlight. You probably could wax in direct sunlight if the outside temp was somewhat lower (so the surface temp of the vehicle was warmer than the outdoor temp, yet not too warm). Sound legit?

 

I had a buddy of mine who insisted it was ok to do, so I watched him wax his dark blue truck one day. Number 1 it was harder to get the wax off, it kinda cooks on there on that hot surface, and # 2 there was swirl marks like a bitch.

So personaly I would rather do it in the shade, and when the paint is cool.

 

^^^this has been my experience^^^

 

...interesting. I might need to invest in a portable canopy then.

 

there are some glazes that you can work on in direct sun light because of the components in the product. a carnuba paste and liquid waxes all work better in a shaded area. Besides you wont have to sweat your ass off waxing your taco in the sun. Just remember to apply the wax in small circles. For removal use back and forth motion from front to back as not to lay down swirl marks.

 

The only problem with wax and sunlight that I found is the wax baking onto the surface making it very hard to come off. With a warm sun it doesn't take long for wax to adhere. I would wax on a cloud cover day and here in Vermont we have plenty of them.

 

The heat associated with the sunlight causes your paint to become soft and will be more prone to scratching when you start applying wax on it. And as others have said, the wax is difficult to work with if it's too hot or too cold. I would say play it safe and not do it.

 

Like said above, heat and wax just don't mix. A liquid wax is a little more forgiving in the heat v.s. a hard wax, but the best bet is to wax during the hours of the day when your truck isn't crazy hot.

 

when i lived in an apartment and did not have a garage, i used to wax early in the morning. still had sunlight, but the surface wasn't hot yet. if it had been in the sun all day long, the surface would still be hot into the evening. if i waxed in the dark shade, i would miss spots.

 

For most waxes the metal of your car gets too hot in direct sunlight, on a warm day. Put the back of your hand on your car when it's 75. It doesn't usually effect the performance of the wax, it just sets faster and harder which makes it a bitch to buff off.

 

i used a liquid wax, and on a black car, in the sun, i could see what was left and what wasn't, versus in the shade, i thought i was done, and when i pulled it out, it proved me wrong. so in summary, sun worked better for me

 

It tends to bake on. Much harder to remove.

 

what kind of wax did you use in the sig pic. Your truck looks great!

 

I use my EZ-Up from front to back, but give each section time to cool off before I hit it with wax. It's a long process, but if helps prevent swirl marks so be it.

 

I've used CSI Q-7 Wax (which contains carnauba) when my paint was really hot...so hot, that you could see water vapor coming off the hood. It worked fine.

It works great on hot and cool paint and so do most sprays. The only problem with water-based waxes is if you're near the dew point, it's hard to remove since it requires some evaporation.

 

If you have a dark colored truck, the wax can bake before you can spread it on. Otherwise, if you can work fast enough and go in small areas, you can wax in the sun. I prefer to take my time so I always pull the truck into the shade. I use Meguiars NST Sealant on mine.

 

Yes you

YES you can wax in the Sun! www.poorboysworld.com has every wax-polish- & detail spray that can be used in the Sun! In fact I think 90% of what they make can be used in the hot sun. I have used there products for the last 7 years & love them all. There is a web site that has free shipping all the time. Just search free shipping on poorboys world.