FK 2180 vs. Klasse

BlackSunshine

2005 Chev Cavalier, Black
Hello people,
Getting a little frustrated with trying to pick an LSP. I 'think' I've narrowed it down to Klasse High Gloss SG or FK 2180.

Here's the thing...I know it's all in the prep and I will be using Menzerna IP, FPII followed by Finishing Touch Glaze. Taken from properautocare website........."Menzerna Finishing Touch Glaze is a water-based emulsion of glycerin, mineral oils and Kaolin (China Clay). Wetting oils create the liquid, shimmer of fresh paint while Kaolin clays fill and mask minor swirls and imperfections."

I also know that you can add a synthetic polymer over a glaze with no problems such as FK 2180 or FMJ.....can you also not worry about putting an acrylic sealant over this glaze, such as Klasse? Taken from Autopia Care Care website......"Klasse is an acrylic resin coating. It's not a petroleum- or water-based product. It's an acrylic. When it dries, it dries hard. Most synthetic sealants are polymers based on the element silicone. To my knowledge, all polymer sealants are based on an emulsion system containing petroleum distillates. As a result, even the mildest petroleum distillates remove polymer sealants. Zaino Show Car Polish is the only polymer sealant that I'm aware of that can be successfully layered (a new application of Zaino Show Car Polish does not remove previous applications)."

I would be interested in a product that is able to be layered because of the crappy winters here...PEI knows what i'm talking about:lmfao

Has anybody compared the 2....I'm looking for the hardest, most durable, and slick, non-static surface possible (aren't we all!!). or.....any other suggestions?

PS. Solid black car...no flake...have PC, 2 polishing pads, 2 finishing pads.
 
I have used the FK1 218 and 2180, and quite honestly I wasn't impressed. They weren't very easy to use, and the shine didn't really blow me away. I'd go with Klasse - it's proven to be pretty much the most durable stuff out there.
 
Ive used both and can give my opinion that #2180 would be my first choice given that option.

Its a hell of a ot easier to work with. Application is tricky, but removal is a breeze. Where Klasse SG is the total opposite.

The shine and gleam of #2180 is very attractive, where Klasse SG gives a sterile emtpy look.

Also, most synthethics are hard to work with glazes, but I'm sure an acrylic like Klasse will be a lot harder. To me, it doesn't catch well under anything but alcohal rubbed paint or AIO.

I do not wanna whore the pics, but the best comparison is with pictures. :)

Here is my old Mini Cooper with 3 applications of Klasse Sealant Glaze. As you can see, its very reflective, but also very dry and sterile.
Picture004.jpg


Here is my 330i with 3 applications of Klasse
2006330i-sg4x001.jpg


And here is my 330i with one application of #2180
DSCF1424.jpg


you really have to look for the differences, but in person my choice was obvious.

To me klasse is something that I would've grabbed 6 months ago if I wanted Maximum Durabilty. But now that I've ventured out a bit and have looked at products like Zaino a bit closer along with opinions of FK1, I don't see the need to go with something less eye pleasing, just for more durabilty.

Seeing that Zaino and hopefully FK1 2180 last just as long.

http://www.detailcity.org/forums/lsps-last-step-products/16311-reviewed-fk1-2180-ultra-poly-wipe-sealant.html
 
From my limited experience of using 2180 vs SG it is a no brainer for me. SG, although more difficult to apply and remove than 2180, is by far and away the better of the two. Follow directions. Put it on thin! You will achieve excellent results for shine, protection, and durability.
 
Thanks for the replies....i've also read that you shouldn't apply Klasse with a foam applicator...you should use a microfiber or terry cloth. Any reasoning to this? I would think that you can get a thinner layer with the foam.

Others please chime in with your experiences.....thanks
 
cwcad said:
From my limited experience of using 2180 vs SG it is a no brainer for me. SG, although more difficult to apply and remove than 2180, is by far and away the better of the two. Follow directions. Put it on thin! You will achieve excellent results for shine, protection, and durability.


Not going against your opinion,
as you probably have had more experience with #2180 than me, since you used it prior to me using, but what did you find negativew about it.

I must of had it on for probably 2 months now so I can't comment on durabilty, but what did you see negative where Klasse excelled at?
 
I second Joy's opinion. In my experience the older Klasse formulae were more durable, more abrasive and more difficult to work with; respectively. The new ones (CL & JW) are significantly wetter and look more balanced. CL68 & Prime have lost some of their raw cleaning power and stability. LLS & AJ are easier and wetter. They now look truly excellent without being sterile. But on certain dark colors (except black), they can leave a silvery sheen/ghost. Therefore I prefer them over neutral colors - gunmetallics, silvers, greys, etc. On black they look just wet - and they are one of the most outstanding products on white! Love 'em.

Of course beauty is in the eye of beholder, and I don't know what Matt prefers. But saying that both 218 AND 2180 wasn't for me is a bit stark IMHO. Yes, they are that different. Regarding the original question, the 2180 is far superior to me with its clear, hard candy look. It cooperates very well with all colors; showing them more truly. 218 is another excellent product which has a special, warm, friendly, carnauba-like appearance. Totally different than 2180. However, they (as almost all FK products) cure significantly longer than any product in my arsenal. Other products have an 'instant final look' while others improve as they cure/crosslink, as for example OCW. FK LSPs usually obtain their final optical state in their 3rd day. They look good immediately but they're gaining clarity and definition in the next days as they crosslink. However, they are stable and layerable - and the results with one layer are usually comparable to other products' multi layer approach.

One little add-on: I get freebie packages/products from Mr. Helmut Reckling, the owner of Carlack (a little co-operation), and I love them too, but in this case I must say that FK (always paid) gets the nod.
 
#2180 easy decision. SG is such a sterile look, I choose fk1 because its easy to apply and buffs off easy too. It has alot of nice depthy and durability to boot. SG is tricky to apply and remove.

Greg
 
joyriide1113 said:
Not going against your opinion,
as you probably have had more experience with #2180 than me, since you used it prior to me using, but what did you find negativew about it.

I must of had it on for probably 2 months now so I can't comment on durabilty, but what did you see negative where Klasse excelled at?

Very simply I experience less durability. Three coats of Sg gave me 4 months of beading protection. Three coats of 2180 gave me a two months of beading protection.

Hey I am just reporting my experience. I know that the prep was better on the 2180 than the SG. Because I have constantly tried to improve my techniques. The 2180 was applied at christmas on a Ford Focus that my daughter drives. The SG was applied to my Bravada last year just before I went to Alaska. Both vehicles had Zero care after application.
 
cwcad said:
Very simply I experience less durability. Three coats of Sg gave me 4 months of beading protection. Three coats of 2180 gave me a two months of beading protection.

Hey I am just reporting my experience. I know that the prep was better on the 2180 than the SG. Because I have constantly tried to improve my techniques. The 2180 was applied at christmas on a Ford Focus that my daughter drives. The SG was applied to my Bravada last year just before I went to Alaska. Both vehicles had Zero care after application.

Kirk and I chatted about this the other day. My finding with #2180 durability is if you dont wash it at least every 3 weeks or monthly then the durability really weakens, If you wash it every 3 weeks or so then the durability really can flourish. My sisters car was done on xmas day and It was just washed for the first time since then on saturday. The slickness was very very low but the look was there. On the other hand the jaguar I wash every 3 weeks or so is still going strong from the beggining of december on just 1 coat, no spray waxes at all or any other refreshers. So for people like us who wash the car regularily it shoudl have nice durability, for those that rarely wash you can see about 3 months of protection, still not to shabby.

Greg
 
cwcad, I dunno.

On my car, the 2180/Pink combo was applied in the end of Sept., and it looked like this (as the snow melted on the hood) at the end of January:

Beading11.jpg


Beading21.jpg


Beading31.jpg


Washed/dried:

Camry_winter.jpg
 
GregCavi said:
Kirk and I chatted about this the other day. My finding with #2180 durability is if you dont wash it at least every 3 weeks or monthly then the durability really weakens, If you wash it every 3 weeks or so then the durability really can flourish. My sisters car was done on xmas day and It was just washed for the first time since then on saturday. The slickness was very very low but the look was there. On the other hand the jaguar I wash every 3 weeks or so is still going strong from the beggining of december on just 1 coat, no spray waxes at all or any other refreshers. So for people like us who wash the car regularily it shoudl have nice durability, for those that rarely wash you can see about 3 months of protection, still not to shabby.

Greg

Very plausible. I believe Greg has pointed out something that could be the variable to our dissimilar results.
 
Bence said:
cwcad, I dunno.

On my car, the 2180/Pink combo was applied in the end of Sept., and it looked like this (as the snow melted on the hood) at the end of January:

Beading11.jpg


Beading21.jpg


Beading31.jpg


Washed/dried:

Camry_winter.jpg

Glad that you have recieved good results.

He asked...I answered.

YMMV
 
Ah, I washed five times during that period. Three times in Oct./Nov., once at the 8th of Dec., and once at the end of Jan.
 
Looks like Klasse has a competitor on it's hands:) I'm leaning more towards 2180 for the simple fact of easy of application and removal. Do you guys know if any of the distributors sell samples of Klasse SG? I know that FK has a small kit to try...taken from their website..
"Kit Includes - 7 4 oz containers; 118SC Car Wash, 121 Ultimate Cleaner, 303 Glaze, 2180 Ultra Seal, 108 Top Kote. 425 Ultra Slick Poly Wipe Spray Detailer, 2685 Pink Wax." $18.95 + shipping

The cars are lookin good by the way.......

Thanks again for all the input....talking to people with experience of these products sure does make it easier on the buyer.....it's nice to hear all the debate as well, let's you hear all the pros and cons.
 
BlackSunshine said:
Thanks for the replies....i've also read that you shouldn't apply Klasse with a foam applicator...you should use a microfiber or terry cloth. Any reasoning to this? I would think that you can get a thinner layer with the foam.

Others please chime in with your experiences.....thanks

The foam applicator seemed to 'grab' to the paint more so than the MFs applicators do. I felt like I had to use more product with the foam to make it safer on the paint where as the MF absorbed the product which in my case made it super easy to have thin layers.
 
Ok...thanks for all the info guys. I've decided on 2180 for ease of use minus a couple weeks durability compared to Klasse.

Now I would like something I can top it with.....Pink Wax seems to be the most popular....but what about Hi-Temp? On the site it is rated to be higher in gloss, protection and durability. Anyone have experience with both...what were your thoughts?

Do you think I would be better off topping with Collinite Insulator wax (which I have)? However, the IW is not compatible if i want to add more sealant, right?
 
IW has a LOT of synthetic components, so it is surprisingly compatible with almost everything. Stable, and doesn't disturb the sealants. The Pink looks better, while IW is more durable.
 
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