audicoupej
New member
I have used FMJ on several vehicles. Here are the different applications:
1. wash, clay, IP, FPII, FTG, FMJX3, high gloss acrylic shieldX1 (HGAS) about 2 months later
2. wash, clay, IP, FPII, FMJX1
3. wash, clay, IP, FMJX1
4. wash, clay, IP, FPII, FMJx2, high gloss acrylic shieldX1 about 2 months later
5. wash, FMJX1
* all vehicles washed with Megs NXT wash
Here are my questions:
My car received application 1. Car is red. Durabilty has been great so far. I also have used High gloss Acrylic shield once with it. Car is garaged at night, out in the elements all day. It beads very tightly and has since I did it in early september. :up Washed 1X a week or every 2 weeks, sometimes 3 weeks between washings :scared: Could the application process be the cause of the great durability?
On a repainted Cavalier (been repainted at least 3 years ago) I used application 4. Car is purple metallic. It seemed to not have the beading properties at first but more sheeting properties now. I don't wash it as often, maybe 1 or 2 times a month. After applying the HGAS beading was back but again didn't seem to last long. The car still looks great but doesn't seem to be beading like my car. Car is garaged at night, out in the elements all day. Could the repaint have something to do with bonding issues? I actually got compliments on it from several people while I was getting snows mounted sunday. :grinno:
The two vehicles with application 5, were done in at the end of august, and have not been washed until two days ago. The beading is there but not as tight as my car. They still look good, nice reflection, metallic pop, etc. One vehicle was rainned on right after I finished buffing off the FMJ, but it was just a quick rain that didn't soak the entire car. Neither car is garaged. Both are a metallic tan color.
App. 2 was done in june or july, and has gone through the automatic car wash (either high pressure spray or swirl-o-matic) at least once and has only been washed by hand 5 times tops since applying it. Washed it yesterday and it was sheeting off as well. Never garaged. Metallic green.
App. 3 wash done in june/july and has had a few hands washes and several swirl-o-matic washes. I washed it yesterday and it was beading very tightly, but I think that is from the crap that the car wash adds to it at the end of the wash. Garaged at night. Vehicle is black.
All cars were beading tightly at first. My car seems to be the only one still beading tightly. It seems that the car washed the most has the best beading action still. Does this make sense. Could the beading be related to it being the cleanest and also related to the application method and quanitity? Why does it seem some cars are beading and others are sheeting? What do others find FMJ to do bead or sheet? All cars still have a bright, reflective, gloss.
Does FMJ need time to bond? A search seemed to yield it just needs to haze up. I did notice on the first to cars that after 24 hours the paint feels slicker then right after buffing, but that could be because I was sweaty after buffing and dry the next day :lol
Overall I really like FMJ, I think durabilty on my car will last a while. I don't know about the other cars.
Sorry the post is so long, I wanted to post all the variables to help with some specific responses.
1. wash, clay, IP, FPII, FTG, FMJX3, high gloss acrylic shieldX1 (HGAS) about 2 months later
2. wash, clay, IP, FPII, FMJX1
3. wash, clay, IP, FMJX1
4. wash, clay, IP, FPII, FMJx2, high gloss acrylic shieldX1 about 2 months later
5. wash, FMJX1
* all vehicles washed with Megs NXT wash
Here are my questions:
My car received application 1. Car is red. Durabilty has been great so far. I also have used High gloss Acrylic shield once with it. Car is garaged at night, out in the elements all day. It beads very tightly and has since I did it in early september. :up Washed 1X a week or every 2 weeks, sometimes 3 weeks between washings :scared: Could the application process be the cause of the great durability?
On a repainted Cavalier (been repainted at least 3 years ago) I used application 4. Car is purple metallic. It seemed to not have the beading properties at first but more sheeting properties now. I don't wash it as often, maybe 1 or 2 times a month. After applying the HGAS beading was back but again didn't seem to last long. The car still looks great but doesn't seem to be beading like my car. Car is garaged at night, out in the elements all day. Could the repaint have something to do with bonding issues? I actually got compliments on it from several people while I was getting snows mounted sunday. :grinno:
The two vehicles with application 5, were done in at the end of august, and have not been washed until two days ago. The beading is there but not as tight as my car. They still look good, nice reflection, metallic pop, etc. One vehicle was rainned on right after I finished buffing off the FMJ, but it was just a quick rain that didn't soak the entire car. Neither car is garaged. Both are a metallic tan color.
App. 2 was done in june or july, and has gone through the automatic car wash (either high pressure spray or swirl-o-matic) at least once and has only been washed by hand 5 times tops since applying it. Washed it yesterday and it was sheeting off as well. Never garaged. Metallic green.
App. 3 wash done in june/july and has had a few hands washes and several swirl-o-matic washes. I washed it yesterday and it was beading very tightly, but I think that is from the crap that the car wash adds to it at the end of the wash. Garaged at night. Vehicle is black.
All cars were beading tightly at first. My car seems to be the only one still beading tightly. It seems that the car washed the most has the best beading action still. Does this make sense. Could the beading be related to it being the cleanest and also related to the application method and quanitity? Why does it seem some cars are beading and others are sheeting? What do others find FMJ to do bead or sheet? All cars still have a bright, reflective, gloss.
Does FMJ need time to bond? A search seemed to yield it just needs to haze up. I did notice on the first to cars that after 24 hours the paint feels slicker then right after buffing, but that could be because I was sweaty after buffing and dry the next day :lol
Overall I really like FMJ, I think durabilty on my car will last a while. I don't know about the other cars.
Sorry the post is so long, I wanted to post all the variables to help with some specific responses.
