Best next wax after Reflections & Meg #26, for Black Metallic around $30 range

Chronos

New member
My car is a Subaru with Java Black Pearl paint with Gold metallic flakes. Its one year old and so far I've used Meguiar's Hi-Tech Yellow and Mother's Reflections. I really like both waxes but recently I've liked the Reflections a lot since it helps to bring out the gold flakes. I've seen another Java Black Pearl with Pinnacle Souveran and it was AMAZING but that stuff is just too expensive for me. So now that I've used the best autozone/pepboys waxes, what is the best next wax for Black Metallic paint like mine?



I've considered using Klasse AIO with P21S, Pinnacle Signature S100, I'm open to ANY suggestions and wahtever you think would be best to bring out those gold flakes.



Like I said I really like the Mothers Reflections ($18) off the shelf stuff but I'm looking to upgrade to the next level for something around $30 range that I can see a big difference from the Reflections. I figure $10 more isn't so bad to see a big difference.
 
You may not want to just purchase the next most expensive wax, but try out different kinds since each wax will give you a certain look. You may want to go into the good deals section and ask if anyone is willing to sell you samples of various waxes.
 
Keep the suggestions coming but



Poorboy's Natty's Blue would be better than Pinnacle Signature or AIO w/P21S for my color? And would it really bring out the metallic gold flakes??
 
Chronos said:
Keep the suggestions coming but



Poorboy's Natty's Blue would be better than Pinnacle Signature or AIO w/P21S for my color? And would it really bring out the metallic gold flakes??



Natty's Blue is the wettest looking wax I have used. Not the deepest but the wettest. Metallic paint will not be muted in the least. Just go with AIO + Natty's Blue.
 
k, so i can just wash, use AIO, and top it off with Natty's blue and I should get awesome results right? I'm a noobie when it comes to detailing/cleaning my car so i apologize for the stupid question.







How do you guys think Mother's Reflections stacks up against Natty's Blue, Pinnacle Signature, and S100
 
Did you use Reflections by itself or with Top Coat.



If not, try Top Coat x 2 on the Reflections...it'll really increase the depth and wetness.
 
Go to your Harley dealer and pick up a jar of s100. Fantastic on metallics and close-looking to Souveran for around $11. If you don't like it, then it's only $11 lost instead of what Natty's cost.



Or, if you like the polymer look like Reflections, but want more flake 'pop', then I'd suggest Zaino. Nothing I've used to date has let the flake sparkle like Zaino. Z-1 plus Z2Pro would equal around $24 +shipping.



Here's a flake shot of my car with Z2Pro on it:

IMG_0040.jpg




I second what others have said, go try and get some samples of stuff. :dance
 
Reflections and 2 x Top Coat leaves more of a carnauba look than the synthetic vitreous look. Top Coat is a carnauba/synthetic hybrid wax, like #26 and several others. But it has excellent clarity and sharpness which doesn't mute the flake, but doesn't lose any depth either.
 
I don't think my reply will very popular (put flamesuit on), but once you have tried the new reflections and top coat it will be hard, if not impossible to get a noticeable improvement. Some sealants will be more reflective (EX-P, Z2 pro, GLARE and mothers own FX) and some carnaubas will be deeper (#26, souveran) but if you want to have noticeable improvement in both I say not going to happen (flamesuit off). I suggest to start working more on polishing the paint.



As the others mention, try some products and report your findings :up



As how reflections stacks against other products, you will get different opinions. I have yet to try natty's blue and pinnacle signature, but between reflections and S100 I'd pick reflections easily. Keep in mind that I am one of the minority who finds S100 good, but nowhere close to the hype it generates. Part of why I don't consider it the amazing wax many other do is the fact that it looks too close to a tough wax not billed as "concours or beauty": Collinite IW (#845). Both apply very easy, both are very reflective but the 845 will mop the floor with S100 (and with almost anything else) in durability. Yes, smell is part of the application experience, but I don't mind the industrial smell of the 845.



In all the cases I assume you have obtained as much shine as you can before the LSP. I also suggest topicare TC-3 for metallic flake, but once you got mothers reflections you are almost at the top of the food chain for metallic flake. TC-3 has intoxicatingly yummy smell, so don't eat it ;)

In the end, is what YOUR eyes like. (or the ones whose opinions matter to you) Happy experimenting.



Alex
 
I have been experimaenting on my Metallic Black car.



I have had great results with S100/Nattys and Signature, S100 has been a long term fave off mine but all look good over proper prep.
 
I have to agree with Alex. Tropicare TC-3 would look great on black for a straight sealant-great metallic pop. If you want a carnauba blend topper try Top Coat, Blue Natty's or Finish Kare Pink Wax.
 
Thanks for all the great suggestions guys. So far the consensus seems to be Natty's Blue with Zaino and Mother's top coat possibilities. I'll probably try either Klasse AIO with Natty's Blue or Zaino 1 and 2 Pro. They both come out to around $25 which isn't bad for good results.



It seems like the Zaino stuff would mute the metallic flakes less than Natty's Blue right? Or would there be no noticeable difference?



BTW, Can i just wipe on and off the AIO by hand before I put on the Natty's Blue ?
 
Z2 Pro will make metallic flakes leap off the paint where as Natty's Blue/Souveran will tend to deepen the paint, muting the flakes. And yes, use the WOWO method with AIO. Work the AIO in (carnaubas as well) untill there's little residue to remove. Then remove any leftover residue before moving on to the next panel.
 
i agree with an above post...changing your LSP may be not be the answer...



but, experimenting with your polishing stage, and/or Glazing...may produce different effects.



the difference between the carnauba's, and the synthetics are visibly obvious.....HOWEVER, the difference between two products, in the same category, are minimal IMO, and the rule of 'diminishing returns' apply as the more money you spend.
 
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