How I tested Bilt Hamber Double Speed-Wax
Step one was to ensure my test surface was properly prepped. This involved claying and then polishing the paintwork. This was then followed with an application of CarPro Eraser to remove any polishing oils and residue. This gives the wax the best surface possible, meaning it can perform to the best of its abilities. I took an average surface gloss reading and then Bilt Hamber Double Speed-Wax was applied according to the instructions. The wax was allowed to cure, then buffed off. Finally, I took another set of gloss readings to record the average and sprayed the panel to test water behaviour.
What Bilt Hamber says
Bilt Hamber is a firm of few words, relying on the performance of its products to sell themselves, rather than going big on fancy marketing. And so it is with Double Speed-Wax, with the company just giving you the bare essentials. Bilt Hamber says that this is an
ultra-durable easy-to-use paste wax, that leaves behind a medium-hard film.
The carnauba wax used provides a deep rich glossy, highly water-repellent and detergent resistant film. Bilt Hamber does make a point of saying that Double Speed-Wax provides an economic and superior alternative to costly paste waxes, which it says cannot compete performance-wise with this material. We shall see. It is also keen to point out that Double Speed-Wax has won a certain magazine’s ‘Best Wax and Sealant’ award for the last 10 years running. There are some big claims there, and all those awards mean I expect a lot from this simple wax.
What it’s like to use Bilt Hamber Double Speed-Wax
First Impressions are okay – it’s very unremarkable. There’s no fancy scent or packaging, but then that’s just Bilt Hamber all over. I’ve tried Double Speed-Wax before and it didn’t blow me away, and using it this time, I encountered the same issues I had before. Bilt Hamber says it’s easy to use, but I can’t agree with that. It’s very sensitive to the applicator being overloaded and quickly becomes sticky when applying the wax to the car. It also feels a little grabby on removal, even after giving it a good amount of time to cure.
You need to be very light and careful with the application to avoid it being a pain to work with. It was annoying on a small portion of a small panel, so if you overdid it while working on your whole car, you’d not be happy about it. However, it delivered a noticeable increase in gloss, which you often don’t get with wax, and delivered the best water behaviour out of the four paste waxes I have tested.
Gloss meter readings and verdict
- Gloss before: 87.8
- Gloss after: 88.9
- Gloss change: +1.1
Overall, Bilt Hamber Double Speed-Wax is very impressive. Out of the four paste waxes I have tested, it delivered the second-best increase in gloss and the best water behaviour. It’s also less than half the price of the next cheapest wax I tried, Meguiar’s Ultimate Paste Wax. It’s durable, too, still performing very well after 12 weeks on the test panel. Add in the fact that it comes with an applicator and a microfibre cloth as well, and it’s astonishing value for money. My only complaint would be in terms of application and removal, but it’s a minor gripe, and this is a superb choice of paste wax.
Size: 250ml RRP: £20.95, buy now. Not available in the US.
Be sure to check out Buffy’s group test in full as she finds the best car wax on the market.
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