I've used Novus and car wax. Both gave great results. No residue problems as long as you wipe them down good to get all the wax off of the shell.

All the time any surface that's sealed you can use it

I always use a caranuba car wax on the shell wraps after Novus. Makes them shine and helps to keep the dust at bay a little more. Have also read that it helps with a slight UV sun protection, not too sure about that though. I use a Minwax finishing wax on my laquer shells

Michael

Carnauba here too. One grand blitz wax. Avoid any silicone at all costs.

Get a foam pad covered in microfiber for application. 99% of the world applies WAY too much wax. Buff it off with terrycloth turning frequently. Soft toothbrush cleans around the badges etc.

Yep, at least once a year, my shells get a good cleaning followed by Carnauba wax! Well worth the effort.

Brian

I use Mothers California Gold Paste/Carnuba wax.

I've found Meguiar's Color X to do an amazing job. Unfortunately, I've got to order it from Poland these days since I can't find a source here in the U.S. that supplies it.

Yes, Liquid Turtle wax on my drum wrap and trim. It keeps fade at bay and rust from forming or returning in some cases.

Like J!m says, you can use too much, I put it on the cloth and wipe it on the drum.

One major dislike I have of conventional waxes or sealants which you wipe on, and wipe off is their inherit qualities of leaving behind residues, and in regards to drum shells, this would be in areas around lugs, badges, tension rods, any and all hardware attached to shells.

In the instance of all hardware being removed, then it's really not a problem except for around badges-vent hole grommets.

Today, there's many great products that won't do this, and they're often referred to as "WOWA" products. Meaning "Wipe on-Walk away".

Autogeek Online carries such products made by companies such as Ultima (Ultima Paint Guard Plus), Optimum (Opti-Seal), and Autogeek carries a myriad of these types of products.

They are crystal clear liquid sealants as clear as water which apply very easily, a little goes a very long way, they are not prone to causing any yellowing, leave zero chaulky residues behind, and typically on a daily driver vehicle can offer 3-5 months of good protection. On drums or other instruments they'll surely last a whole lot longer.

They offer very nice slickness, and a very good level of what I'll call a hard sterile candy-apple type of gloss,/look whereas carnaubas usually create a warmer look.

Really like these two I mention above, I love them on vehicles as well, making protecting areas like door jambs, trunk lids, etc very easy to protect because of the absence of pesky residues left behind in every little nook and cranny.

Hope this helps.