Thick wax instead of a Bra

Candle, maybe

How about a film?

https://www.fellers.com/feller...70g-stone-guard-film

I haven't tried it.

You do know wax is very soft?  Scotchguard, 3M or Xpel paint protective films (PPF) are commonly used to protect cars from stones and sand thrown up from roadways.  Some refer to it as a clear bra. They can be used on about the entire car - including headlamps and mirror housings (even windows). It can easily cost $1-2+k to cover the vulnerable nose of a car.  The paint on a vehicle must be thoroughly seasoned (dry) before applying or you will trap solvents in and the paint could peel off. Small areas can be DIY but to do a good job it has to be heated, stretched and squeezed on. Most of it is self-healing - a rock kits it and bounces off and when in the sun the plastic film will flow back (somewhat).  Warranties are up to 10 years. 

https://exclusivedetail.com/be...int-protection-film/

I'd find a better garage.  There's a reason you don't take an expensive car to Walmart or Jiffy Lube.  They just don't care and aren't supervised enough or paid enough to care.  A good shop will use padded foam work blanket to protect area they are working on,  If a shop looks dirty with stuff scattered around look for another shop --- or better yet learn how to do it yourself.  You get a guaranteed quality job, save money and it too becomes part of the hobby.

I've given up worrying about stone chips on the nose of my car.  I figure if I am going to drive it and enjoy it, that's the cost I have to pay.  Besides, a little patina never hurt anyone.  

Bob: IM S6 posted:

I've given up worrying about stone chips on the nose of my car.  I figure if I am going to drive it and enjoy it, that's the cost I have to pay.  Besides, a little patina never hurt anyone.  

i like to think of rock chips as proof that I drive and have fun with my car. 

I wish I could be like @Kevin - Bay Area and @Bob: IM S6. I'm just too OCD. If you're the same way, try Suntek Ultra paint protection film or Xpel -- well worth it! It is totally clear, doesn't yellow, can be removed after 3 years without lifting the paint, and is easier to care for than standard paint. You'll love it. 

"I don’t trust the garage with my new paint job"

Two alternives:

1.  Live with it like the rest of us.

2.  Hang a blanket over the car, held on with bungees, while it's a the shop.

As already mentioned, "a thick wax" won't protect anything unless it's something like Cosmolene and you don't want to go there.

Just get a damned bra.  Cheap enough and it gives a Speedster a little "Batman" vibe too.  Vintage  makes a pretty nice one that goes on and off easily and stores in the window bag thingamagiggy when not in use.  I imagine it will fit any Speedster out there.  I have just a little over a zillion stone chips on the nose of my Speedster but you can't see a single one thanks to the Lanka system for chip repair. These are from short trips when I don't use the bra.  (Google it). Flawless, invisible fixes for road rash or worse. p  Don't glob up your car with wax or such because it's just so easy with a bra.  Mine came from Kirk when he was in Hawaiian Garden so check with the Vintage Speedster folks in AZ.  

Just make sure to REMOVE the bra after it gets wet (e.g., driving in rain or washing the car) and let it thoroughly dry BEFORE putting it back on. If you don't...and you let it dry in the sun while still on the car, be assured the hood and fenders paint will "burn, boil, or otherwise steam" and turn milky white. I speak from experience and learning the hard way on a newly painted silver '65 SC coupe.

My IM has Xpel film on the front.  If you zoom in you can see the line.  It’s been on since 2012.  

You can’t see it at all in this light.

An old fashion vinyl bra will chafe the paint - especially new soft paint even though it often has a felt like backing.  It must be installed to a clean, dry car and not flap when going down the road.  It must be removed when it get wet too.  The clear plastic coating (Xpel or others is often called a clear bra) is unseen.  The paint still has to be thoroughly dry.  It deflects sticks and stones and nick to a certain point.  I think it is very expensive but also labor/skill intensive too.  $2k to do entire front hood, fenders, and behind wheels costly - but the cost of repaint could easily run $4-6k. So py me now or pay me later.  I own a '16 Mazda MX-5 Miata and it is popular on those vehicles due to how low they are and the softness of the thin factory paint (they also use an expensive to redo 3 and 4 stage paint system - pearl or mica or crystal in names of color). 

Some who track their Miata using racing tape for the event and then remove it.  It is not meant to be left on for long periods of time.

WOLFGANG posted:

An old fashion vinyl bra will chafe the paint - especially new soft paint even though it often has a felt like backing.  It must be installed to a clean, dry car and not flap when going down the road.  It must be removed when it get wet too. 

Not necessarily, Greg. I drove from Vancouver to Ottawa, Canada in early October 2018 through rain, sleet, snow, freezing temps and en route encountered salt and sand coming down off the back of road service trucks and more. Unavoidable here and there. This old style bra supplied with the car did no harm. It's not the ideal solution but it worked well for me. 

In over 55,000 miles my bra hasn't chafed my paint.  It won "best paint" at the last car show I entered-- bra usage and all.  This is just one person's experience and someone else's mileage may vary.

I don't know where you got all that info, Greg, but I believe you have been misinformed.

I had a bra, not for M****s but for my IM, and having to wash the car before using it I found I hardly used it.  Sold the think nearly new to Musbjim and had Xpel done on the front while the car was at IM... even that will blister but way easier to take care of the car as I am also part of the OCD club  

Marty Grzynkowicz posted:

You can’t see it at all in this light.

Marty that's a nice looking car. Have you ever thought of applying a little of Annie Sloan's dark antiquing wax to it and sand some areas down to the fiberglass? It would give it a beautiful distressed look.

Jack Crosby posted:

Just get a damned bra.  Cheap enough and it gives a Speedster a little "Batman" vibe too.  Vintage  makes a pretty nice one that goes on and off easily and stores in the window bag thingamagiggy when not in use.  I imagine it will fit any Speedster out there.  I have just a little over a zillion stone chips on the nose of my Speedster but you can't see a single one thanks to the Lanka system for chip repair. These are from short trips when I don't use the bra.  (Google it). Flawless, invisible fixes for road rash or worse. p  Don't glob up your car with wax or such because it's just so easy with a bra.  Mine came from Kirk when he was in Hawaiian Garden so check with the Vintage Speedster folks in AZ.  

Went to google Lanka.  Not there. actual name is Langka..found website: 

Rusty S posted:

Marty Grzynkowicz posted:

You can’t see it at all in this light.

Marty that's a nice looking car. Have you ever thought of applying a little of Annie Sloan's dark antiquing wax to it and sand some areas down to the fiberglass? It would give it a beautiful distressed look.

Rusty! *Shhhhhh!* We're going to have the Oban RetroRider (TM) Detailing Crew do this at Carlisle but it's supposed to be a surprise!

Hi my name is Marty and I am a member of the OCD detailing club.  There, that's were it starts. 

WRT to bras (and for visual reference), here's the bra I got from Vintage Speedsters (Kirk) that I attach when cruising the Pacific Coast Highway or local canyon roads...(click on pics to enlarge)

...and here's the bra I bought from @IaM-Ray that I attach when towing...

WHO AM I KIDDING? ! These are merely pictures for attention!  

And here's the clear-film bra on Pearl that I had installed in 2004 or so - Still looks great, today.

DO NOT click on the image - it makes her bra fall off.........