Waxoyl

Waxoyl is a rust-preventative fluid which belongs to the general category of "slushing oils". (current proprietors of the Trade Mark are listed as Hammerite Products, Ltd, United Kingdom - filing date 27 September 1979 - "first advert" 5525 page 1936) It is commonly used to Prolong the life of car chassis and bodywork by excluding water and air from bare metal and by slowing the ProgresS of existing rust using rust inhibitors. The fluid contains waxy particles suspended (not dissolved) in white spirit, which evaporates after application. The suspended nature of the wax means Waxoyl in its pre-application state is a thick opaque liquid. It usually requires warming and thinning in order to apply it using spray or injection equipment. DIY kits are available with a basic pressure can, spraygun and extension probe, but to achieve good spray coverage inside hollow box members, a proper compressed air-powered lance must be used. The originator and original owner of Waxoyl, Hammerite and other products, Allen Forster, sold "Finnegan's Speciality Paints" to Hunting Lubricants. At the same time he sold the rights to sell Waxoyl overseas (worldwide, apart from the UK) to an American (now dead) called Hubbard who resided in Switzerland.

UK Waxoyl (manufactured and marketed by Hammerite products, owned by ICI) is available from motor factors in five litre cans. A pump action applicator ready filled with Waxoyl is also available.

In the UK Waxoyl was championed particularly by Classic Car enthusiasts because of its ability to "stop existing rust and prevent further rust". For example, it was recognized as THE treatment to use when restoring an MGB or a Jaguar whether the restoration was carried out by an enthusiast or a professional restorer. Practical Classics commissioned comparative tests in 1987 for a feature on which rustproofing material to use. Waxoyl came out way ahead, particularly on already rusty steel. UK Waxoyl is available in “clear” or “black”. (The “clear” is actually amber coloured from the can.) Clear is generally used for cavities and the black for underbody, although a case can be made for the reverse order. For example the black can be used for the cavities so that coverage is easy to see and on a valuable “collectors” car, any rust on the underbody can be stopped with an application of “clear” Waxoyl to avoid any accusations of “tarting up”. Waxoyl has very little abrasion resistance. Waxoyl UK produce a “Waxoyl Underseal” for the underbody. This contains added bitumen which gives the product abrasion resistance but at the cost of a reduced rustproofing capability compared to normal Waxoyl.

Hubbard's family still sell Waxoyl, together with car valeting products, all sold under the umbrella name of "Waxoyl Professional". Hubbard's family claim to have developed further their own versions of Waxoyl with specific underbody and cavity variants.

According to the Hubbards the trade only nature of the Hubbard versions is reflected in the technology of the dedicated cavity product for example, which includes Ultra Violet impregnation allowing professional users to check coverage using UV lighting for flat panels and high end UV endoscopes for cavities.

Both the UK and International variants continue to be manufactured at Prudhoe in Northumberland at the factory originally set up there by Forster.

Dinitrol and Dynax S50 are competing products with similar properties.