Before discovering how Fuchs Silkolene Carnauba Wax Polish performs, its worth knowing what carnauba actually is, and why anyone would want to smear it all over the paintwork of a cherished motorcycle.
Carnauba wax is derived from the leaves of the carnauba palm tree, a plant native to north-eastern Brazil. Carnauba wax has been used for hundreds of years to preserve leather and wood, make candles and polishes, and for waterproofing fabrics for clothing and shelters.
To make carnauba wax is a labour intensive process, which is a big reason for its high price: leaves are harvested, dried and then beaten to release a fine, yellowish-green powder – this is the raw wax. The powder is melted, filtered, and refined to remove impurities. It is then graded as either T1, T3 or T4 (why there is not a T2 grade is a mystery), with T1 being the purest and palest in colour. T1 grade waxes are used in a huge variety of products, from foods to make-up, surfboard wax to car polish. The first car waxes containing carnauba were developed in the 1950s by custom car enthusiasts, and by the 1970s major automotive cleaning brands were formulating consumer-friendly waxes with high carnauba content which were easier to apply.
So, given that it is relatively hard to make, takes a long time to refine, and costs considerably more than more easily obtained natural or synthetic waxes, why do manufacturers rate it so highly? Well, that comes down to the way it outperforms rival waxes. Its high melting point (82oC, compared to 62oC for beeswax) means it is more durable in hot environments, such as on sun-baked vehicle bodywork, and its hardness adds to its durability and makes it resistant to water, oxidation and UV rays. It’s hydrophobic, so gives that classic “beading” effect when it rains, and its naturally light colour helps to enhance colour and shine.
Application is easy: once the bike is washed and dried, wipe a thin coat of wax over the paintwork with a microfibre cloth, wait a few minutes for it to dry to a haze and then buff it off with a clean cloth. The first thing to note is that Fuch’s wax formulation has a nice creamy consistency, so is easy to work with, and it doesn’t fling off too readily if you use an electric polisher. The second thing is that a little goes a long way – a 500ml bottle is enough to put a sheen on dozens of motorcycles.
For the test I sectioned off the bodywork into two halves, with only one side treated to a coating of carnauba. There was a visible improvement on the waxed half (see picture above). It’s not night-and-day, but the treated paint has a richer colour and more shine, with the difference more visible as the sunlight reflects off the paintwork.
At £14.76 SRP for a 500ml bottle Fuchs Silkolene’s wax is quite expensive, but it promises longer life and better performance than standard waxes, and its cost is competitive with other carnauba formulations from competing brands.
Overall, it gives a fantastic shine and protective coating to motorcycle paintwork. I’m off to do my car now…
Fuchs Silkolene; 01782 203700; www.fuchs.com