BIOLINK
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Well User Name has already mentioned that we traded samples of products. I received from him a 2oz bottle of Blackfire in exchange for Wolfgang 3.0. I must first mention that I have never used the Wolfgang. I got that a few weeks earlier in a previous trade. I really wanted to try the Blackfire so when he mentioned he was buying some and also wanted to try Wolfgang, I made my move. I'm not sure I can match his great reviews, but I have tried my fair share of products and know what I like: FMJ, Collinite 845, Klasse AIO, P21S, Blackfire wax, bla, bla, bla, the list goes on. Lately, I have just been using Blackfire wax after Prima Amigo; that look is killer and the Blackfire wax could not be easier to apply. In my review of Blackfire Wet Diamond, I will also make a few observations on another new product for me, my Makita rotary. I used my own Jetta as a test panel yesterday. :devil: We'll start off with a picture of the products I thought I might need.
I first washed with Dawn to remove my many layers of Blackfire wax. Then I clayed with Clay Magic blue clay. After a quick rinse and a complete drying of the car it was on to the polishing.
I used a soft pad, mild polish, and kept the speed around 900 to get the feel of the polisher. I found that in the AZ heat the polish wanted to dry before it broke down so I spritzed with a pad lube to keep it manageable. The only parts I had trouble with were concave surfaces near the bottom of the doors. So I found it much easier to use a four inch pad in any area where the 6 1/2" would not fit. I did the front fenders and both bumpers with the 4" pad. I got away with not doing this with a PC but the rotary will wander if it doesn't have full contact. I did catch the edge of the backing plate once on the inside of a door handle, OOPS. I'm glad I had some touch up paint handy. Overall, I found it very easy to use but there is a definite learning curve. Next time I will strive for a bit more correction. For now I am happy not to have buffer trails, and that I do have very shiny paint. I almost stopped and put no LSP because I thought it might hide the shine. After polishing I did smomething different. I usually wipe with IPA. This time I washed the car again using 1Z Perls. I love that stuff too. What a great car wash.
Anyway on to the Blackfire. I have used FMJ more than any other LSP so my comparison will be relative to FMJ.
I found Blackfire very easy to use. (FMJ is slightly easier to apply and remove, but Blackfire is by no means hard to use.) Blackfire applies very thin. Including this morning, I have put two coats on the car and still have 1oz left. I was planning to do a third, but I really don't think I need it. I really could have stopped after one, but I wanted to ensure even coverage for the summer. I am going to ride this out for the hot months with occasional applications of Blackfire wax to fill my need to to detail.
The slickness is incredible; anything I placed on my trunk lid or hood, even towels were in danger is hitting the ground; it has a very nice feel.
The appearance is amazing. It is not the shiniest product I have used, but let's face it, excessive shine is short lived. That's why we have QD sprays, which I use frequently. I would compare the look of fresh Blackfire, to the look of MFJ after one wash. I don't think that is a bad thing because FMJ on my car tended to attract dust until it fully cured. By that time some of the excess oils were gone, leaving it not quite as slick and shiny anyway.
Blackfire has left my car the closest to the natural color of the paint than any LSP I have used. The look is very clean. I love it. Honestly, I wish I had tried this before I placed my order for FMJ (which by the way I haven't used yet) I would rather have this now. When I need more product I am buying Blackfire. I know, I know, I have bragged about FMJ for a long time and I probably still will.
Of course I can't comment of durability, but my observations are that this is a quality product. If it lasts as long as its cousin FMJ it will be a winner.
On day two of my project I washed with ONR and gave it the second coat of Blackfire. I also gelled the tires, cleaned the wheels with Klasse AIO, and applied AIO to the exterior windows.
I know you guys are going to get sick of seeing pictures of my car, but.....Ya I know I really should start taking pictures of the others I do. At any rate, here are a few that I like.
Sunrise at Albertons. I had to get some distilled H20 for my ONR wash.
After ONR/second coat of Blackfire
Hey look at that, my plat is expired.
Thanks for reading. Please ask questions and make comments.
As a final anecdote, yesterday a friend of mine (I detail her car too) went to a local HAND WASH car wash. The man who helped her noticed the tight pattern of the waterspots (it just rained here) and said, "who waxed your car?" "did we do that?". When she said her friend details cars, he said, "does he need a job?" Nope! Got one, but thanks for the complement. He didn't try to up sell her this time.
I first washed with Dawn to remove my many layers of Blackfire wax. Then I clayed with Clay Magic blue clay. After a quick rinse and a complete drying of the car it was on to the polishing.
I used a soft pad, mild polish, and kept the speed around 900 to get the feel of the polisher. I found that in the AZ heat the polish wanted to dry before it broke down so I spritzed with a pad lube to keep it manageable. The only parts I had trouble with were concave surfaces near the bottom of the doors. So I found it much easier to use a four inch pad in any area where the 6 1/2" would not fit. I did the front fenders and both bumpers with the 4" pad. I got away with not doing this with a PC but the rotary will wander if it doesn't have full contact. I did catch the edge of the backing plate once on the inside of a door handle, OOPS. I'm glad I had some touch up paint handy. Overall, I found it very easy to use but there is a definite learning curve. Next time I will strive for a bit more correction. For now I am happy not to have buffer trails, and that I do have very shiny paint. I almost stopped and put no LSP because I thought it might hide the shine. After polishing I did smomething different. I usually wipe with IPA. This time I washed the car again using 1Z Perls. I love that stuff too. What a great car wash.
Anyway on to the Blackfire. I have used FMJ more than any other LSP so my comparison will be relative to FMJ.
I found Blackfire very easy to use. (FMJ is slightly easier to apply and remove, but Blackfire is by no means hard to use.) Blackfire applies very thin. Including this morning, I have put two coats on the car and still have 1oz left. I was planning to do a third, but I really don't think I need it. I really could have stopped after one, but I wanted to ensure even coverage for the summer. I am going to ride this out for the hot months with occasional applications of Blackfire wax to fill my need to to detail.
The slickness is incredible; anything I placed on my trunk lid or hood, even towels were in danger is hitting the ground; it has a very nice feel.
The appearance is amazing. It is not the shiniest product I have used, but let's face it, excessive shine is short lived. That's why we have QD sprays, which I use frequently. I would compare the look of fresh Blackfire, to the look of MFJ after one wash. I don't think that is a bad thing because FMJ on my car tended to attract dust until it fully cured. By that time some of the excess oils were gone, leaving it not quite as slick and shiny anyway.
Blackfire has left my car the closest to the natural color of the paint than any LSP I have used. The look is very clean. I love it. Honestly, I wish I had tried this before I placed my order for FMJ (which by the way I haven't used yet) I would rather have this now. When I need more product I am buying Blackfire. I know, I know, I have bragged about FMJ for a long time and I probably still will.
Of course I can't comment of durability, but my observations are that this is a quality product. If it lasts as long as its cousin FMJ it will be a winner.
On day two of my project I washed with ONR and gave it the second coat of Blackfire. I also gelled the tires, cleaned the wheels with Klasse AIO, and applied AIO to the exterior windows.
I know you guys are going to get sick of seeing pictures of my car, but.....Ya I know I really should start taking pictures of the others I do. At any rate, here are a few that I like.
Sunrise at Albertons. I had to get some distilled H20 for my ONR wash.
After ONR/second coat of Blackfire
Hey look at that, my plat is expired.
Thanks for reading. Please ask questions and make comments.
As a final anecdote, yesterday a friend of mine (I detail her car too) went to a local HAND WASH car wash. The man who helped her noticed the tight pattern of the waterspots (it just rained here) and said, "who waxed your car?" "did we do that?". When she said her friend details cars, he said, "does he need a job?" Nope! Got one, but thanks for the complement. He didn't try to up sell her this time.