Ask An Expert
Got a question? Chances are it has been asked before. Have a look below through a selection of our Frequently Asked Questions and see if they help. If not, ask us directly (contact us) and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
SWIRL MARKS
Q: I look after my car and wash it regularly but I feel that the shine of the paint has dulled over time. If I look into the paint from above, I can see lots of tiny swirl marks and fine scratches. How do I get rid of these?
A: Fine scratches and swirl marks happen over time, particularly if you are washing your car with a sponge which harbours grit no matter how well you try and rinse it out. Swissvax Cleaner Fluid is specifically designed to remove fine scratches and swirl marks, whilst nourishing and refreshing the paintwork. After cleaning apply a coat of crystal clear Swissvax wax for a simply stunning finish. To avoid the scratches returning, switch to a Swissvax Waschpudel and dry with an artificial chamois or drying towel.
PAINT RUBBER (CLAY)
Q: I am a big user of "clay" to remove contiminants from the paintwork, but I can't seem to find it on your website. Do Swissvax do a clay?
A: Yes, we do; it is called Paint Rubber. The pack comes in two strips. Simply pull off a small piece and flatten in your hands. Using Swissvax Quick Finish, spray the panel and glide (using the flat of your hands) over the contaminent to be removed. The contaminent will simply be lifted of the paintwork with the minimum of effort. You can keep reusing the piece by folding the dirt into it until you can no longer find a clean surface. Please remember to keep the paintwork you are treating well lubricated with Quick Finish at all times - the Paint Rubber should slide over the surface.
WHICH WAX?
Q: I have been reading about your waxes and the choice is bewildering! What should I choose?
A: There are basically three categories of Swissvax waxes, "Wax", "Premium Wax" and "Concours Wax" – the difference is due to the amount of carnauba they contain. Generally speaking the more carnauba – the greater shine and the most protection you get from one coat. Even our entry level waxes are good - what we would recommend for you is a suitable wax based on your vehicle and your budget.
Our entry level (standard) wax is called Onyx and is priced at £65. Its perfectly balanced oil concentration prevents hazing on dark paint finishes, produces a brilliant streak free gloss and the level of yellow Brazilian Grade One carnauba wax (30% by volume) gives protection from scratches caused by dust and washing. In terms of durability, if the wax is well cared for (eg washed with Swissvax Car Bath) you can expect to get 2 months from one coat. Samerai (for Japanese cars) is in the same range as Onyx.
From the premium wax range, Mirage (formerly Saphir) is the benchmark premium wax suitable for all vehicle types. It contains a higher concentration of ultrapure carnauba (40% by volume). This means a higher gloss finish and greater durability per coat (3-4 months if properly cared for). Within this range however we have a number of marque specific waxes, such as Blau-Weiss (for modern BMWs) and Scuderia for Italian paints and Glacier (a wax specifically designed for white paint). We also have Shield, which in addition to the carnauba content contains PTFE making it very difficult for dirt to adhere to the waxed surface. Waxes in the Premium category cost £115 (except Shield which is £130).
The Concours bracket is quite wide in terms of price. Our best selling wax is Best of Show with 51% by volume ultra pure Brazilian non bleached Grade One Carnauba content. It’s a concours winner and delivers a real wet look shine with each coat would lasting you up to 6 months if well cared for. Best of Show retails at £195 per pot. Also in this bracket are Mystery, Crystal Rock and Divine which are priced according to the carnuba content (and in the case of Divine, the fact it is personally mixed for your vehicle).
The important thing to remember is that the wax is effectively the icing on the cake and the preparation with Cleaner Fluid and Paint Rubber is just as important to achieve a showroom finish. If your total budget was for example £200 we would advise you to consider a Premium Wax with the products for preparation ather than a Concours wax on its own.
HOLOGRAMS
Q: I have heard of car paint having holograms? Can you explain what these are and how to treat them?
A: Holograms are usually caused by the vehicle being over waxed. There are some great pictures of hologramming in our detailing section. This is caused either by too much wax being applied with each application or ultimately, too many coats of wax over a period of time. In either case the solution is to start again and treat the car with Cleaner Fluid to remove the wax that this already on there. When this is done, and you are happy with the finish, apply your fresh coat of wax. Remember a little goes a very long way. A quarter turn of the pad on the pot should give you enough wax to do a panel.
RUBBER SEALS
Q: My car's paintwork is in good condition but it is let down by its rubber seals which have become dry and brittle with age. Can I restore them?
A: Yes, you can revive them with Swissvax Seal Feed which keeps rubber flexible and pliable for years. If seals have discoloured, we would also recommend Swissvax Pneu to dress the rubber as satin black.