Blackfire AF instead of SG?

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imported_rachelanne16

New member
Is BF All Finish Paint Protection a reasonable alternative to Klasse SG?



I am in the middle of my first complete detail on a 2.5 yo vehicle that is kept outside. Prior to this I washed it 2-3 times a month with Turtle Zip Wax and applied a QD such as EOWS.



1) Washed with Dawn. 2) Clayed. 3) Polished with 3MSMR. 4) Applied AIO. 5) Applied BFAFPP.



I believe that my finish was in pretty good shape, as I had been pretty good about keeping some protectant on it, but step 3 made a visible difference. (I still have some very minor swirls, but I think I did as well as can be done by hand).



I am in the middle of step 5. The shine is great, but maybe not spectacular, and the surface is not as slippery as I had expected.



I did step 4 with a MF applicator lightly sprayed with QD. It started out overcast, but then it got sunny. I can't see any haze, but I wonder if I am having a residue issue. Or maybe I should have finished with SG (I had read that SG could be hard to work with, so for this first detail, I went with the BFAFPP).



I know I could maybe add a layer of carnuba, but after this, I really want to be able to do light maintenance with shampoo and QD for the next few months.



Yes, this is my very first post (but I have been reading a lot on this site and the CMA sites), so thanks for helping a newbie out with any advice, opinions, etc.!
 
hallo, some of the other guys with more experience with Klasse will join in, but I have never gotten a super-slick feel with just AIO.... SG gives me a better "slick" feeling and so does Blackfire. If you have already applied and removed the BF, then you should notice the difference. How long did you let the BF sit before buffing off? I use it all the time and am always impressed with the feel afterwards. When I do a car that I don't want to touch again for a couple months, I try to get in two good coats of BF about 12 hours apart...at that point, the MF's won't even stay still on the surface. You can always put a carnauba topper over the BF, but make sure to give the BF overnight to cure before you do. It won't hurt the longevity of the BF itself, but you'll have to remove the old wax before you put another layer of BF-PP on...or you can wait a month or two and by then the carnauba wax should be gone. What kind of QD are you using??
 
Is BF All Finish Paint Protection a reasonable alternative to Klasse SG?
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Alternative ? Yes

Replacement ? no.....

They both have their own unique qualities...

I prefer BF..........I like its ease of use (some will argue), depth, shine, and feel, and longevity....Of course, its no where near as durable as SG....I get a good 3-4 months with 2 coats, and frequent QD'ing.....
 
Hey StickKing,



I am starting to think that I did not let the BF sit long enough before buffing. This is my first time ever with the AIO and BF. I read most of the BF 'owner's manual,' but I might have missed something. Should you let it completely dry to a haze?



As for the QD, I have always used EOWS and that is what I am using on the MF applicator pad to apply the AIO. But for maintenance of the finish after this detail, I intend to use Sonus High Gloss Acrylic Spritz. I just got it yesterday and haven't tried it on anything, yet.



I am thinking that I should go over the panels that already have BF on them - maybe buff with clean MF and apply layer of BF?
 
I am thinking that I should go over the panels that already have BF on them - maybe buff with clean MF and apply layer of BF?
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Per CMA, i had concerns of using another product prior to using BF AFPP, i called and asked about using a glaze prior to the sealant, they recommended that I use the GEP after the glaze, yet before the AFPP.......Such is the dilemna; if I use a glaze, the GEP will remove it, yes, but its necessary to use prior to AFPP..........



The moral of this confusing story, prep your paint properly, take no shortcuts or prisoners....

If using BF II, use both BF products as your sealant, because according to CMA, their both necessary....

And the BF QD is an awesome compliment to the BF twins.....it does contain protective polymers....



BUT, now theres always a but in every good story....I have used Clearkote products, as well as 3M products in luie (sp) of BF GEP, with favorable results !
Should you let it completely dry to a haze?
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ABSOLUTELY !! Minimum 1 hr, of course this is dependant upon temp and humidity....(I like to start at 1 corner and work my way around the car slowly, this normally takes 1/2 or so anyway) After AFPP removal, let the car sit in the warm sun for a few moments to warm the surface up, repark in the shade, then hit it again with your MF, this will help release any additional oils not picked up after the first wipedown....
 
hallo, Patrick is right...bare minimum for me is one hour to dry, I won't even touch it any earlier than that...if you can go more than that, great!

I personally use Meguiar's No.3 Machine Glaze before BF. Terry at CMA used to list his "Reference Shine" procedure and it included No.3 Machine Glaze, then BF Polish, and then BF Paint Protection....I used that method with good results, but have recently dropped the BF Polish step, with no adverse effects. When I talked to Terry, he didn't seemed concerned that dropping the Polish would affect adherance of the Paint Protection, and I usually get 2-3 good months out of my application of BF, and a beautiful finish to boot! BF is my product of choice for ease of use, longevity and the look it gives my gold car. If you ever get the chance to try using BF with a PC, do it...its as easy as can be. Also, if you are attempting to layer a 2nd coat on your car, make sure to give the 1st coat plenty of time to cure...my minimum is 10-12 hrs.
 
StickKing, Glad to hear you have gotten great results on a gold vehicle, as mine is (dark) gold as well. I am "saving up" for a PC, but I have spent so much on supplies recently, that it is going to have to wait. The missus is having trouble seeing how this is going to save us money. ;->



It has been raining for three days straight, but I intend to do the BF All Finish layer correctly this weekend. Thanks much to you and Patrick for the input. It has been very helpful.
 
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