There’s a right way to apply paste wax. Fortunately, its not hard to master. The goal is to apply a light, thin coat. This makes removing the excess and buffing the remaining film to an even sheen much easier.

The process is shown below. The key is a simple applicator that allows you to “pad on” a light coat of wax. The applicator is made from a section of porous cloth — cheesecloth or t-shirt cloth works well. As you rub the pad over the surface, a controlled amount of wax will be released through the pad.

Before beginning the buffing process, the wax needs time to dry and harden. As the solvent evaporates, the wax will lose its wet, glossy appearance. Catching the wax at the right time is the trick. It should be hard enough to stick to the surface but not too hard to buff out. Different brands have different drying times — 10 to 15 minutes is the general range.

When the wax has hardened properly, you can begin the two-in-one buffing step. You’ll use a clean, soft cloth to rub off the excess wax and buff the film to a nice sheen.

Plenty of elbow grease is the key at this stage. I rub the surface vigorously with a circular motion. As the cloth picks up wax, flip it to expose a fresh surface. You’ll notice an immediate change — dull and streaky to slick and glossy (photo above). That’s a pretty good payoff for a small amount of effort.