Bilt Hamber Double Speed Wax: Real World Test And Review
With the increasing popularity of spray waxes and sealants, the traditional carnauba paste wax has fallout out of the limelight for many.
No doubt people have memories of trying to remove a thick baked-on layer and vowing never to wax their car again. With modern waxes and a few tweaks to technique, applying a traditional paste wax can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
Bilt Hamber Double Speed Wax is a cost-effective paste wax that is easy to use and gives excellent gloss, combined with better than average durability than other paste waxes.
Prepmycar Rating: 8.8 / 10
Bilt Hamber Double Speed Wax
- 8.5 Ease of application
- 8.5 Aesthetics
- 8.5 Hydrophobicity
- 9.0 Durability
- 9.5 Value for money
- 8.8/10 OVERALL TEST SCORE
Pros
Cons
Testing process
I applied Double Speed Wax to my own car to test it, this way I could easily monitor the performance over time and ensure proper maintenance was carried out. I first washed the using Surfex HD as a degreaser, followed by a contact wash with Meguiar’s Wash Plus. This combination will remove any waxes or oils that are currently on the car, which would inhibit the new wax from bonding with the paint.
On the day of application, conditions were favourable, with temperatures around 10°C and low humidity.
Test Results
Ease of application (8.5/10)
To apply the wax, I used a foam applicator pad, similar but not identical to the one provided with the wax. I first applied a small amount of water to the applicator and rung it out so that it was just slightly damp. I then placed the pad onto the surface of the wax and gave one 90° turn, applying very little pressure, this is almost enough wax for a whole door panel, applying more will only result in the wax being hard to remove and will ultimately waste product.
With wax on the pad, I used small overlapping motions on the paint while applying only moderate pressure. The pad glided across the paint easily, which was also helped by the applicator being damp. I applied wax to a panel at a time before adding more wax and moving on to the next panel.
When I noticed that the wax had started to haze, I wiped my finger across the wax to see if it was ready to remove. If the wax smears, it requires a few more minutes to cure, if the wax is removed cleanly, then the residue can be wiped off with a microfibre cloth. The residue was easy to remove and did not require any elbow grease to leave a clean panel. As it was a cool day, I left the wax for about five minutes to cure.
Aesthetics (8.5/10)
Double Speed Wax contains natural carnauba wax, which is popular for the warm gloss it gives to paint. Waxes also have the ability to fill in minor paint defects such as hazing. Prior to application, I noticed a few haze marks in the paint. After applying the wax, I could no longer see them, indicating the wax had temporarily filled them in and improved the finish.
Hydrophobicity (8.5/10)
As expected, Double Speed Wax is extremely hydrophobic, water sheets off quickly, and the beads that form on the horizontal panels are round and uniform. This is not only visually appealing but helps to keep the vehicle cleaner for longer and also makes the car easier to clean.
Durability (9.0/10)
Double Speed Wax will outlast many other carnauba-based paste waxes in terms of durability. I previously noted at least four months of durability, while most other paste waxes last a maximum of three months. Regular performance updates are shown below:
1 week after application, 1st wash: I used Auto-foam at 4% PIR as a pre-wash before using Auto-wash for a contact wash. DSW held its gloss and hydrophobicity with no noticeable dip in performance.
2 weeks after application, 2nd wash: I used Gyeon Bathe as a contact wash. The wax beaded water effectively and still looked great.
4 weeks after application, 3rd wash: I used Carpro Reset to wash the car, with the wax still beading water well.
Value for money (9.5/10)
Double Speed Wax is sold in 250 ml tins for £14.95 ($16.74 USD). This is a comparatively low price for paste wax and is also a larger pot than most other competitors sell. It is hard to estimate how much wax is used due to my scales only being accurate to 1 gram. I measured the tin before and after waxing the car and had only used 5 grams on my Octavia Estate.
A 250 ml pot contains roughly 200 grams of wax, so it works out at a cost of 7p ($0.78 USD)/gram. If 5 grams are used for a car, that would only 35p ($0.39 USD) and 40 cars could be waxed. I was waxing a larger car, so this product works out to be even more economical if used on a smaller car.
If I waxed my car and only my car three times a year, one pot of Double Speed Wax would last over thirteen years, which is longer than many car’s lifespans.
Product presentation
The product comes in a metal pot with a screw-on lid. Supplied with Double Speed Wax is a foam applicator pad and a microfibre cloth. These are both of good quality, and I would not hesitate to use them. The wax does not have any added colouring or scent, it was also not cracked as some waxes can be. Bilt Hamber recently updated the packaging of Double Speed Wax to be in line with their 2020 rebrand.
Bilt Hamber
Bilt Hamber are a respected British detailing brand who specialises in cleaning and anti-corrosive products. Double Speed Wax is not the only wax they manufacture, with other products in the line-up performing more specialist tasks.
Double Speed Wax has won Auto Express’ Best Wax award four times since 2015.
Final thoughts
Bilt Hamber Double Speed Wax is one of the best value protective products on the market.
It outperforms waxes three times more expensive while also being simple and easy to apply. Using this wax brought back a sense of enjoyment to waxing for me. This is not only because of the results I saw on my own car but also because of how easy it is to apply.
For someone looking for an effective wax that is easy to use, this is a product worth trying. Even if cost is not an issue, Double Speed Wax is worth a try. My top tip for this wax is that less is more, only a very thin coat is needed to achieve great results.
FAQ
How long will Bilt Hamber Double Speed Wax last?
Durability will depend on preparation and maintenance, but users can expect to achieve four months durability, with six months durability obtainable under correct conditions.
Is Double Speed Wax difficult to apply?
Speed is in the name of this wax, it is easy and quick to apply, while the residue is easy to remove also.
Is Double Speed Wax a synthetic wax?
Double Speed Wax contains T1 grade natural carnauba wax. It also contains polymers which help to boost the longevity.
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- Easy to use last stage paste wax for the protection of highly finished automobile paint systems.
- The carnauba wax used provides a deep rich glossy, highly water repellent and detergent resistant film.
- Provides an economic and superior alternative to costly paste waxes which simply do not compete performance wise with this material.
