Decals on top of polished model?

[cotto]

Question? After finishing wetsanding my model, I used Maguairs cleaner wax to bring out the shine and eliminate the swirl marks. Can I place my decals on top of this without problems? Will they stick on this surface? I don't want to take a chance and ruin them since I have heard advice on not placing decals on top of wax but not after polishing.

[LoneWolf15]

Jay,

I use Novus 2 and the Final Detail's Treatment Wax. I put decals over this on a regular basis without a problem . Only thing I can suggest,,, Apply a couple of sponser decals and see how it goes. If they screw up ,you can pull them back off with a piece of Scotch Tape.

[Jon Cole]

I believe that silicone is the culprit. Some wax has it. IIRC, Novus products don't.

[Bainford]

As a general rule of thumb, you can apply decals after polishing, but not after waxing.

By strict definition, polishing is the use of a very fine abrasive to remove the top layer of a finish and the scratches, lumps, and imperfections it may contain. Once the polishing residue has been cleaned up, the only thing that remains is a relatively smooth paint surface.

The application of wax (after polishing) leaves a film that fills in the microscopic scratches left behind after polishing (the very nature of even a very fine polishing job will leave behind imperceptable scratches). The wax film makes finger prints easy to remove, resists dirt and stains, and protects the paint from oxidation. Wax, by design, prevents anything from sticking to it. To play it safe, all decals, foiling, clear coats, etc should be done before waxing, but can be done after polishing (be sure all polishing residue is thoroughly cleaned from the paint).

The hard part sometimes is determining if the product you are using is a wax or polish. This isn't always clear on the label, and some products combine wax and polish in the same product. Just for the record, I personally use Tamiya polishes (coarse, fine, and finish), and I seldome use wax. I haven't actually tried applying decals after waxing, so I can't speak from personal experience there, but I have decaled and foiled after using these polishes with no problems.

[VW Dave]

As a general rule of thumb, you can apply decals after polishing, but not after waxing.

I agree. Polish, yes...wax, no.