How to Choose a Floor Wax Applicator
Choose a floor finish applicator by the floors you coat most. The Fas-Trak Micro-Trak Plus suits the rooms off a hallway, and the Fas-Trak Ultra-Trak Plus suits corridors, cafeterias and open floors.
Match the head to the floor. The Micro-Trak's 16-inch head pivots into corners and around desks. The Ultra-Trak takes a 28, 36 or 48-inch head for long corridors.
Choose gravity or a pump. The Micro-Trak feeds finish by gravity from a removable 1.5-gallon tank, with nothing to charge. The Ultra-Trak's battery pump draws straight from your cube, pail or bag-in-box, so you never pour finish into a bucket. It runs 5 to 7 hours per charge.
Check what you will apply. Both lay water-based or solvent-based finishes and sealers. The Micro-Trak also takes gym coatings, and the Ultra-Trak works with any brand straight from its container and applies densifiers and hardeners on concrete.
Rinse right after the last coat. Clogs are why crews give up on tank and backpack applicators, and they come from finish drying in the valve. The Micro-Trak's tank and valve lift out for rinsing. Fas-Trak says the Ultra-Trak cleans out in about a minute.
Not sure which fits your floors? Send your square footage, room layout and finish through the contact page or call (855) 601-5678 for a recommendation backed by our 30-day return policy.
| Model | Feed | Head | Fas-Trak rating | Best for |
|---|
| Micro-Trak Plus | Gravity, 1.5 gal tank, about 3,000 sq ft per fill | 16 in | About 8,000 sq ft/hr, 3 times a mop and bucket | Classrooms, offices, restrooms, edges |
| Ultra-Trak Plus | Battery pump from your container | 28, 36 or 48 in | 25,000 sq ft/hr for finish and sealer | Halls, cafeterias, gyms, open floors |
Expect less once you count your edges and refills. The Ultra-Trak base unit has no head, so choose a head option unless you already own one.
Flat Mop, Backpack or Floor Wax Applicator Machine?
A rayon finish mop lays a heavier coat yet takes a practiced hand to keep even. A flat microfiber pad wastes less finish and edges cleanly, but its thinner coats can mean one more coat. A backpack puts the finish on your back all shift. And a small pad feels slow once a floor passes a few thousand square feet, which is where these machines earn their place. If you refinish a room or two a year, a flat mop and a jug of finish will do. For coat thickness, waste and speed side by side, see our applicator vs string mop comparison.
What You Need Before and After the Finish
An applicator only lays finish. To strip first, you need a floor machine or an auto scrubber, and commercial wet dry vacuums pick up the slurry. Once the finish cures, a burnisher brings up the shine. See floor buffer vs burnisher for the difference.
Frequently Asked Questions About Floor Wax Applicators
How many coats of floor finish do you need?
Usually three to five after a full strip. Check the solids percentage on your finish label: coats multiplied by solids should come to about 100 percent, so a 25 percent finish needs about four coats and a 20 percent finish about five. Extra coats add labor and make the next strip harder.
How long should you wait between coats of floor wax?
As long as your finish label says, and longer if the floor still feels tacky. Touch an out-of-the-way spot, and if it drags or leaves a print, wait. Cool, closed-up buildings dry more slowly than warm ones, so plan around the room rather than the clock.
Do you need to burnish a floor after waxing?
Only if your finish is made to be burnished. The label will say so and give the cure time before the first pass. Burnishing brings up a gloss that fresh finish alone won't reach and blends the coats together. Burnishers handle this step.
What machine do you use to wax floors?
A floor machine or auto scrubber strips the old finish, a floor wax applicator lays the new coats, and a burnisher polishes the cured finish. On a large floor, the applicator takes the bucket and wringer out of your coating step.
Can you wash and reuse finish applicator pads?
Yes. Rinse a microfiber pad in clean water as soon as you finish, before finish dries in the fibers. Fas-Trak's storage trays and vinyl bag covers let you set the machine aside overnight without cleaning it. Replace a pad once it stays stiff or streaks after rinsing.
Can you put floor wax on tile?
Yes on vinyl composition tile (VCT), which needs finish to protect it from scratches, stains and wear. Fas-Trak lists tile, terrazzo, concrete and gym floors for its applicators. For luxury vinyl plank and glazed ceramic, check the flooring maker's care guide first, since some don't call for finish at all.
