Sealant vs. UPP (acrylic) vs. Wax: What's The Story ??

[HondaMan]

If you had 3 idential cars -- lets say 3 red sports cars and/or 3 black SUV's -- tell me how they all would look if 1 car from each group had:

(1) A final layer (or layers) of UPP or some other acrylic product, or maybe UPP+UGE.

(2) A final layer of wax, maybe some fine wax like Natty's or that PS21.

(3) A sealant, like either Klasse or Liquid Glass.

Is someone going to be able to tell the difference who is not a professional detailer by looking at it from 5-10 feet away? Would the paint job matter.....material of the car (i.e., fiberglass for a Corvette)....light color vs. dark?

I've been thinking about this ever since my Liquid Glass post...I used that sealant -- not knowing it was a sealant -- in place of, and as my wax. It was my final coat(s). Today, I am using my sealant as Step 2 of a 4- or 5-step process so stopping at the sealant phase and letting the car stands seems weird.

Any thoughts on this guys?

 

[Hawaiianelement]

Sorry I wouldn't be able to tell the difference but I'm like you in the sense that the sealants used to be my final coat . Now it's all about mutiple coats and what to top it off with ..I love PB products..

 

[CharlesW]

A thought, yes. For certain, no.

We have three vehicles. Two red, one very dark blue. In the past, I have used AIO/UPP, AIO/S100, PwC/NXT on different ones at different times. None are ever in bad condition, and all have Meg's #9 used on them once or twice a year.
If you were not familiar with them, I don't think you could tell which had what products by looking at them.
The only thing I really notice is that the NXT seems to have somewhat of a darker appearance than the others. :dunno

Charles

 

[kartoon]

Originally posted by HondaMan
(3) A sealant, like either Klasse or Liquid Glass.

Isn't Klasse also an acrylic ?

 

[Bill D]

Yep, Klasse is an acrylic too. LG, I'm not sure

 

[wifehatescar]

I never can tell/see a difference. I just go by what others say is a good LSP for a particular color

 

[hook]

I think I can see a difference on my dark blue Lexus. Previously, I used AIO/SG (multiple SG layers). Now I use AIO/UPP. The UPP seems to be closer to the look I got with the SG when it was topped with Sovereign.

Finally ran out of EF ClearPearl, and got some UGE. It seemslike it contributes to a better final look than the Clear pearl did.

And for the "purists"...yes, the Clear Pearl has carnauba, and I used it on top of an acrylic. As long as I washed the car first, I never had any issues applying SG even though I'd used the CP. I think the small amount of carnauba in it wears off pretty quickly.

blue skies,
Andrew

p.s. Aren't AIO/SG and UPP both sealants?

 

[JimS]

[p.s. Aren't AIO/SG and UPP both sealants? [/B][/QUOTE]

As far as I know they are all sealants as are EX and Ex-P and many others.

Maybe I'm just blind or stupid but I can't see the difference. I use a sealant because I've been led to believe sealants last longer than wax but I have no idea how to prove that. I use Poorboys sealant because he's a good guy. Nothing more important to me than doing business with a man that has integrity.

 

[hook]

Maybe I'm just blind or stupid but I can't see the difference. I use a sealant because I've been led to believe sealants last longer than wax but I have no idea how to prove that. I use Poorboys sealant because he's a good guy. Nothing more important to me than doing business with a man that has integrity.

I doubt you are either.

When I used AIO/SG, I had some Souveran given to me (abou a third of a can) so I used it for a while as a topper. I did a "1/2 hood" comparison the first time, and it made just a very subtle difference, the souveran side just seemed a bit "deeper".

I noticed the very first time I tried UPP that it seemd that it had that same "deeper" look to it. Again, it's very subtle. I mainly switched because I've found it much easier to remove UPP than SG, although I don't think it's quite as durable (could be the layers though, I had more SG on at the end than I do UPP now).

And that deepness got even more pronounced when I used the UGE instead of the Clear Pearl. Never did get that look from the clear pearl, even when it was goign on over the Souveran topper.

Anyway, I think it's very subjective between the products, and depends on lots of variables, and also some considerations that are outside appearance - ease of application/removal, etc.

That's why I think I have fun at this...all the variations!

blue skies,
Andrew