Ferrari F430 Aniversary Edition

SuperBee364 said:
Your photography skills are a great match for your detailing skills. The picture above would be a great calendar shot.



A couple of questions about using UPGP. I absolutely love the stuff, too. It's my go-to LSP for customers now. I've been very hesitant about a couple things, though... As you mentioned, it is very difficult to apply it correctly without the worry of under applying it. So I usually end up having a few areas that are over applied. How long do you feel it is necessary to wait after applying UPGP before you can QD it without worrying about removing it? Also, you mentioned waiting two hours between applications of UPGP... any problems with that? I seem to remember David saying something about waiting 12 hours between coats. I really hate only being able to apply one coat on customer's cars; UPGP looks so much better after two, and *stunning* after three coats. Are you able to apply two coats during the normal time of a detail without any problems?
Click to expand...



Thank you!



First of all, I've found that temperature makes a big difference in the curing time. I tried using this product in a 10 degree C environment, and that was a mistake. I'd recommend that the ambient temperature be atleast 15 C (59 F) when using this product.



I always use Ultima Paint Prep Plus first, or "Gingerbread polish" as I call it (due to it's festive aroma). This product lays down a primer for the sealant, and it does a good job of it. I suggest using this product by orbital, and if that's not available, by hand using a microfiber applicator. This product removes very easily.



I find using the attached applicator pad for the UPGP yields far superior results over a microfiber applicator, since it uses less product and applies much more evenly.



Like you said, it's very difficult to apply correctly without worrying about under applying. I personally don't know how it's possible to apply perfectly in under twenty minutes, but I know in five I can cover the whole car with as thin a layer as time allows, ensuring total coverage.



The product will haze as it dries. After five to 15 minutes, depending on temperature, humidity, and application, a lot of it should be dry, with oily looking patches here and there where it was applied thicker. This is a good time to look over the vehicle, and see upon which panels the product was applied best, which may provide ideas as to how to apply more evenly next time. Areas where the applicator sponge changed direction during application are often culprits for heavier deposits of sealant. After applying UPGP to a section, I go over it once more in a single swooping pass back & forth, being sure not to change direction suddenly, to even out the product as much as possible.



Once all the oily patches are gone, it's safe to give the car a dry wipe down with a microfiber towel.



At this point, another layer of product can be added - repeat as necessary. I've never gone beyond two coats and was amazed at the result - I will have to try three when time permits.



The dry wipe will leave the car looking pretty good, but what will really make it pop is a quick detail wipe down with Ultima Detail Spray Plus. I assume any quality detail spray would offer the same results. I think the main benefit comes from the removal of any unbonded sealant which causes haziness. That being said, I do love Ultima Detail Spray Plus!!



If you're really in a rush, I'd recommend not using this product at all, but it is possible. After applying, wait until most of the product has dried. Begin the dry wipe immediately, which will smear around some of the product where it is not fully dried. By the time you return to the area for your QD wipe down, it will be cured. This process leaves the car looking amazing, although the integrity of the product could be compromised slightly - I'm not sure, I'm not a chemist.



The faster you try to use this product, the more work it takes, and the more product you're likely to use. That being said, I will still use this product whenever possible, as the results are outstanding. I've seen no other product which offers comparable clarity and shows off the natural beauty of the finish I'm working with.



I hope this information is of use.
 
Thanks for the write up!



If I understand correctly, you really don't wait the 12hrs at all??? You allow it to cure for a bit then QD it and reapply.



I think someone should try some ZFX with it and see what happens.



GREG
 
Thanks for the write up!



If I understand correctly, you really don't wait the 12hrs at all??? You allow it to cure for a bit then QD it and reapply.



I think someone should try some ZFX with it and see what happens.



GREG
 
Edit: I posted under the wrong account name (accidentally used another I had created a long time ago!



Greg Nichols said:
Thanks for the write up!



If I understand correctly, you really don't wait the 12hrs at all??? You allow it to cure for a bit then QD it and reapply.



I think someone should try some ZFX with it and see what happens.



GREG
Click to expand...



I have only waited over 12 hours once, and it was on this Bentley Continental GT, since I was headed back to the client's shop the next day. I applied very carefully, and left the shop about an hour later. The UPGP looked dry with some light streaking and haze before I left, and still looked the same when I returned the next day. Now, this isn't a great example, because I did NOT use the Ultima Paint Prep Plus before applying this time, and found that it was more difficult to apply evenly, and didn't seem to cure as well. This is by no means a scientific test, but those were my impressions.



The fact that there was no visual difference the next day led me to believe that it does most of it's curing in the first 10 minutes anyway.



I honestly suspect that the directions given with this product are intended to allow it to best be used by applying and "walking away," and is obviously intended for enthusiasts and not professionals. Since I'm darn well not walking away from my client's car until I know it looks amazing, I'm left to look for alternatives. I'm pointing this out because it's important my directions aren't taken as "correct" or "better" than the ones on the bottle. That being said, leaving it to cure until it's dry visually, then wiping, then reapplying if desired has worked great for me. I think it's unnecessary to wipe the product before reapplying, but I'm not sure whether the reapplication would totally absorb any remaining unbonded residues, or cover up some of them, which would reduce the clarity. I believe the former scenario is more likely.



Bentley Continental GT - one coat of Ultima Paint Guard Plus, no Paint Prep Plus (Not recommended, but the car looked good anyway)

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top