Layering - is it a marketing based myth or reality?

Lightman said:
Looking forward to more home brewed tests on durabilty with more applications vs fewer though. I think I'm going to do one on the roof of my truck since I havent touched it yet and its always parked outside.
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Just remember to somehow equalize the "starting point" by making sure that the final application (of X vs. Y layers) happens at the same time ;) I'd also recommend a rather significant difference between the X and Y just so that the results are adequately discernable.
 
Xinkid, I'm just searching for the truth of what really happens when we do multiple applications of product..I don't have a theory one way or the other. The only thing that has been suggested in my view based on testing is that multiple applications increases durability. I'm not really sure I follow what you're getting at in your post.



Accumulator - I'll probably clay/polish/aio the roof of my truck, and then over a 2-3 day period put maybe 4 applications of KSG on one half of the roof and 2 on the other, with the 2 happening at the same time as the last two of the side eventually having four...to hopefully equalize the starting points as you suggest. Assuming we have some decent weather in the next few days, I should have it done this week.
 
Lightman- That's exactly the sort of adjustment I was thinking of :xyxthumbs



If possible (and I know that it isn't always) I'd go for an even difference than 2/4 applications. At any rate, we do what we can do under the conditions at hand, and at least you're on the right track.
 
Accumulator, was that a typo and did you mean that you'd go for an even bigger difference than between 2/4 applications, or am I reading that incorrectly?
 
Lightman, I agree that we should empirically test the durability in relation to number of applications of an LSP. I guess I was caught up with which theory became more unreasonable with more applications of an LSP. I think that's not nearly as important as whether or not multiple applications give longer lasting qualities like durability, shine, slickness. Looking forward to your test results. :2thumbs:
 
xinkid, there are a lot of questions looming in this thread, and so far we only seem to have a test that if done by a few folks should suggest some answers regarding durability. Unfortunately I think it's going to take some slightly more scientific tests and equipment to answer some of the other questions regarding film thickness, bonding to paint in layers or patches/uniformity of product bonded, whether or not there are limits to how much product will bond overall with multiple applications vs point of diminishing returns or no return etc..



Maybe a couple other guys are willing to use a panel on their vehicles to perform the same durability test for this winter that I am...? Hopefully we can get some consistent results.
 
From a manufacturers point of view, layering certainly helps sell product. Two layers is usually twice the product consumed.



From a consumers point of view, layering only really help in respect of spots that you missed. Take a spray wax or spray sealant, one layer is plenty. You'll overspray the areas you missed most of the time. When you're talking about a paste or hard wax product, then you leave yourself a lot more room for error in missing a spot, thus a second layer is helpful. Of course, if you wax your vehicle once a month, a second layer is about as useful as the first layer. Over time a well maintained car will only require one layer of pretty much any detailing product.
 
mirrorfinishman said:
Layering is a reality when it makes you feel better about detailing your car.
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Good point, Frank! At the very least, you have a fresh layer of protection on your car.
 
Lightman said:
Accumulator, was that a typo and did you mean that you'd go for an even bigger difference than between 2/4 applications, or am I reading that incorrectly?
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OOPS :o Sorry, yeah, that *is* what I meant. That was based purely upon my observation that (under my circumstances) four layers provide decent durability but *six* layers resulted in a :eek: "gee, never expected *that*" :eek: level of durability, the kind of thing I've never experienced with any other LSP (on a vehicle that actually gets driven all the time).
 
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