Looking for a new LSP

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pmnewton

New member
Hello all,



I've been an avid detailer for about 16 years. I had a different username on this site when I was active here about 6 years ago but it seems to have disappeared. Anyhoo, I was thinking about what a huge difference it made when I moved form OTC stuff to Zaino sealant and menzerna polishes. I recently bought a brand new black VW Touareg and I'd like to try a few new LSP's to see if I find something I love more than Z2Pro. The car is garaged when I'm not at school. The paint is immaculately kept and is never more than an afternoon one step from perfection so I don't need or want any hiding ability. I tried Menzerna FMJ and Klasse a few years ago on my Infiniti but I didn't like the durability of the FMJ and the Klasse was really streaky so I went back to Zaino and regretted wasting the money.



In order to avoid making an enormous investment in 6-7 different boutique brand LSP's and throwing most of them away, I would like some opinions from those who have tried many different products. I love waxing my car so I definitely want something that layers well. I'm looking for good environmental protection and cleanability so I definitely want a polymer base coat but I'm not at all averse to regularly layering a carnauba over the polymer base. What are your deepest, glossiest magic combo's on a black car that is always defect free and burnished to perfection? I'm intrigued by CQuartz, AQuartz, the Optimum products, Einzitt, GTecniq and Collinite. Gimme your best shot!



Edit: I'm also looking for a good glass sealant that won't gum up my wipers and make my window seals squeak. I have some Rejex in the garage that I use on my wheels but I'm afraid to try it on the windshield because the last time I applied a sealant I had to strip it off with naptha and buy new wiper blades. It turns out the VW blades have powdered graphite impregnated in them to make them operate smoothly. The silicone based sealant gummed up the graphite and made quite a racket. I haven't done much research on non-OTC glass stuff but I'm in the market now!
 
Do I understand you correctly when you say you want to re-apply this polymer LSP on a frequent basis, like every month or so?



The endurance of the better products I've tried is something closer to 6 months. So, if it's "bonding" time you're looking for, it sounds like you want a sealant with a short half life?



There are blend type products out there. Or, you just stick with a high quality carnauba and wax every 4-6 weeks...
 
What I mean is that I'm not terribly concerned with half life because it will receive regular attention, even in the winter (heated garage). I do want to maximize protection, shine and slickness but frequency of application isn't a concern for me. Since I will be applying it often, ease of use is important. I'm thinking a sturdy polymer base coat with a carnauba layered on it or just a polymer LSP if it is really (really) glossy. I still love Zaino but there are a lot of new products out there that look tasty. I'm open to any thoughts.



tom p. said:
Do I understand you correctly when you say you want to re-apply this polymer LSP on a frequent basis, like every month or so?



The endurance of the better products I've tried is something closer to 6 months. So, if it's "bonding" time you're looking for, it sounds like you want a sealant with a short half life?



There are blend type products out there. Or, you just stick with a high quality carnauba and wax every 4-6 weeks...
Click to expand...
 
cmw, poxy, os, bfwd, nitro seal, 476 are a few.

for the windsheild aquapel. i'm currently trying gtechniq g3. not such how they would work with the vw graphite impregnated wiper (i'm using the bosch icon).
 
pmnewton said:
but there are a lot of new products out there that look tasty. I'm open to any thoughts.
Click to expand...



There are a lot of new products and you will get a lot of opinions on this topic. I see this Nitro-Seal 2-pt kit is getting a lot of interest, people say it looks great.



I have a very strong personal bias towards FK1000p. It's an old school product but I've had exceptional results with it in terms of looks and longevity. If I'm anxious to apply something mid-winter, for example, I'll just do a layer of their Pink Wax on the surfaces. That seems to give a quik refresher.



Earlier this summer I picked up a bottle of DP's Poli-Coat sealant. On the flip side, this product is probably the most modern of its kind that I have used and I really like it. Not necessarily in terms of sheer longevity, but more for ease of use and fantastic anti-static abilities. This stuff claims to be a one-step as it contains its own self-bonding agent. It's pretty much wipe-on, wipe-off with just a brief cure period. It is an absolute dream to work with and anyone could deal with it. Your surface must be in top shape, obviously, prior to application. They suggest a claying phase prior to application. Just an idea for you...



DPpoli.jpg
 
If you want traditional pastes, I'd recommend the following (in no particular order): Bilt Hamber Finis Wax, Victoria Wax Chaos, Finish Kare 1000P, Collinite 915. All of them will serve you well, as they all have good durability with great looks. Victoria's Concours is a first class candidate if you prefer the real look of your vehicle, as it has the most honest look. Not too oily, not too flashy or blingy, just a pure waxed look. If you prefer a darkened, wet look don't forget the good ol' Megs #26 paste, but use a good QD which kills the static after the #26.



Definitely recommended: Optimum Opti Seal. A Zaino ZCS type product - except it DOES look great. Easiest product on the market today. Also, Optimum's spray wax, aka OCW is a great wax too. Very attractive appearance, good balance between carnauba-warmth and sealant-bling.



If you decide to try coatings like Opti Coat, ABCQuartz, Gtechniq, etc., you don't have to think of car care too often. Besides, any LSPs you may apply on top of the coatings will last only 1-3 weeks, as the high performance coating will hinder the bonding and thus the LSP will fail.



If you want to try glazes underneath the LSPs, well, you can go the old-school oily route with Meg's #7 or ClearKote's RMG or the synthetic way with DS Wet Glaze 2.0, PBBH, Finish Kare's #1 New Car Glaze, etc. QDs will be essential too, so I recommend OID, FK 425, CK QS and Victoria QD.
 
I've been in your shoes...several times...but keep going back to my Zaino Z2/Z8 regemin. I like playing with the Zaino Clear Seal in between Z2 apps, but mainly use Z8 to keep the slickness and gloss.



I found other botique products that were interesting, but not overwhelmingly different. And with many I missed the slickness which Zaino gave.



That said, it's only money :) Have some fun experimenting with new stuff. That what us detail freaks do!
 
If you like Zaino you should try:



FK1000P (durability/protection)

Optiseal (ease of use)

Blackfire Wet Diamond (drippy wet looks)
 
I have tried and keep trying the wax over sealant route. Have tried FK1000 and OS topped with S100, RG55 and Glasur.



For me I think the FK + S100 or Glasur combo would yield the results you are looking for. But definitely I cannot deny OS's ease of use.



If I were to propose only 1 lsp (thinking a little out of the box and based on reviews of people I trust) I would say why not give 1Z glanz wax a go.
 
FK1000P



As long as you don't mid the "sealant look" I think the FK1000P is one of those LSPs that everybody oughta try. Eh, even if you don't really like that look I'd still try it. I thought it would be absolutely *WRONG* looking on my Carbon Metallic Yukon. Even thought it was kinda crappy looking after I tried it. But I got used to the look, even came to like it, and I sure didn't mind the way people kept complimenting me on it even after many months of daily use.



No, I don't want to try it on my Jag :grinno: But I still think it's simply amazing stuff.
 
While I can't say that I have tried a bunch of different brands I have tried a couple, Megs #21 and currently using Blackfire Wet Diamond. I can't imagine a sealant being much better than BFWD as far as ease of use vs gloss, durability and slickness. I'm sure there are others that are equally good, but with BFWD you simply can't go wrong. Google it or search for testimonials on this forum and I bet you won't find any negative comments.



I am now experimenting with Collinite 476s as a winter wax to get through the 4-5 months of winter up here in MN with all of the snow, salt and grime that goes with that.
 
Ch96067 said:
For me I think the FK + S100 ...... combo would yield the results you are looking for.
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+1.



This is a win-win strategy with great looks and extreme longevity. One can obviously substitute any hi-grade carnauba for the S100. Use something that you might already own :)
 
Lots and lots of great ideas here. I appreciate the heavy hitters weighing in on this one. I'm liking the FK + S100 combo and it looks reasonably priced. Would a better option be CQuartz topped with Collinite? Of the Collinite topper options which has the deepest wettest look, 476 or 845? Also still looking for good suggestions for glass sealant.
 
pmnewton said:
Lots and lots of great ideas here. I appreciate the heavy hitters weighing in on this one. I'm liking the FK + S100 combo and it looks reasonably priced. Would a better option be CQuartz topped with Collinite? Of the Collinite topper options which has the deepest wettest look, 476 or 845? Also still looking for good suggestions for glass sealant.
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CQuartz is a coating. It means that NOTHING will stick to it. Traditional LSPs will be washed away in no time. No wax, no sealant will stay on the top of it. Coatings + QDs are friends because a QD serves as a slickness enhancer on the usual squeaky surface of a coating.



845 is very bright, reflective wax. 915 is darker, and is durable enough on its own.
 
Bence said:
CQuartz is a coating. It means that NOTHING will stick to it. Traditional LSPs will be washed away in no time. No wax, no sealant will stay on the top of it. Coatings + QDs are friends because a QD serves as a slickness enhancer on the usual squeaky surface of a coating.



845 is very bright, reflective wax. 915 is darker, and is durable enough on its own.
Click to expand...



I just want to add to what my buddy, Bence, wrote above is that the wax is interfering the coating; you will destroy the self cleaning, sheeting and awesome beading that the coating may have.

Coatings are for those who are lazy(me) and don´t want to spend much time waxing. But a good coating with a topper such as Reload, Permanon, Gtechniq C2 or etc is a perfect choice.
 
Bence said:
CQuartz is a coating. It means that NOTHING will stick to it. Traditional LSPs will be washed away in no time. No wax, no sealant will stay on the top of it.



845 is very bright, reflective wax. 915 is darker, and is durable enough on its own.
Click to expand...



D'oh, I knew that. I don't know why I asked. I'll look into the 915. Thanks!
 
915 is great, and very pleasant to look at afterwards.



1000P is probably tied in my book(with 915 or 476) as best bang for the buck protection and longevity. Absolutely sharp look, should come off with ease on prepped paint and for 16 and change a tin that will be handed down 2 generation, it seriously doesnt get cheaper.



1000P has been a staple in our preps for YEARS, it beats out basically anything else out there. Its dirt shedding capabilities are something you don't really see elsewhere.
 
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