My free Acrylic Werks sample and results

[imported_Intermezzo]

For the life of me however, I simply cannot understand how I can have the outstanding results and you detailers cannot. With the risk of making it sound like you did anything wrong ShadowMan (which I am not), the difference between what you started with as apposed to what I started with (as seen in my before and after pics) are worlds apart.

Perhaps it has more to do with the standards to which you assign "outstanding results" vs. the standards of the starter of this thread. I’ve seen what you define as a good shine (brown Jag in Orosco’s thread).

Because I am not a detailer, could this be the reason why my review of the product is so tainted and considered so unimportant as apposed to that of a professional?

I think it has more to do with the fact that most Autopians are very skeptical of the kinds of claims this product is making. Furthermore, the way you've been defending this product from the very beginning, one can only wonder what your connection with AC is.



In Orosco’s review of AC, you rip into another person who says he would rather level, compound & polish the aforementioned Jag with the following,



“a 40+ year old oxidized paint job with paint so thin (such as areas of the trunk) that primer is showing through just simply cannot be compounded and leveled. This has been covered over and over again. Lazy you say? Please excuse me for saying this, but how in the world can you have missed the point which has been made so often less one is so lazy as not to read everything written. This is incredible, I come out with details and pictures of my own experience and experience from others I have met and all you can do is come out with some sort of quip jibe based on NO personal experience of your own on this product?�



Well, let me tell you this. The area of the Jag that was photographed did NOT look like it was so thin the primer was showing through. Perhaps the trunk was showing like you say, but the photographed part surely wasn’t and the shine was something I would expect in a car that hadn’t been detailed ever. You say the picture quality was poor, but IMO, it was good enough to show that that car had a very poor shine.



How about this for a properly done Jag? This car had paint that was over 40 years old and according to its former owner BradB., was completely gray when he purchased it. And was properly prepped using 3M Fine Cut and 3M Finesse It II. For a non-detailer like you, I’m sure a product like AC will keep you happy, but trying to push this product on Autopia is like trying to sell frozen dinners to the Iron Chef.

 

[milani]

I’ve seen what you define as a good shine (brown Jag in Orosco’s thread).

:rofl

His Jag is Red!

:LOLOL





Also, that is one FINE Jag!:xyxthumbs

 

[mlebarron]

(brown Jag in Orosco’s thread).

Did you mean the brown/tan Benz?



The before pic of the Jag does almost look like a shade of brown because of all the oxidation/lighting, but the after is certainly red

 

[imported_Intermezzo]

Here's another example of a PROPERLY done car whose paint was pretty trashed.



http://www.240sx.org/faq/articles/carcare/carcare1.htm



I would much rather spend a few days to have a car look like this than to do a total snow-job.

 

[imported_Intermezzo]

I was referring to this Jag. Like Anthony O said, with a little better prep, this car can look magnificent. Maybe it's just me, but I think this is a very poor shine.

 

[biswartz]

Thank you Michael,



The point you make is (no pun intended) perfectly clear. And yes, the Jag does require a total restoration not just a paint job – so in lieu of a paint job, I looked for something that would get me by which is what AW did.



And you can bet ShadowMan’s forwarding on the AW to you for your evaluation isa first class act.



As far as Intermezzo’s comments, I wish my Jag originally had a paint job as good to work with like that of the XK-150 shown. By the way it’s AW and I have been a customer of AW since the late 90’s. Since I liked the product and because I wasn’t impressed with his previous website I helped provide him with an alternative solution. Out of respect for this thread, I will not comment on your quote. Again I will only say this, one will use whatever can be found that “willâ€� work. Please, it is only as simple as that. Perhaps some of the other products mentioned I would have used if I had know about them beforehand, but like I know you have read from my other threads, I did not have the pleasure of having this forum available to me before AW. That is my only justification for hanging in there and defending AW – to see equal time from another person’s side (a novice’s point of view mind you). Early on most of what I had been seeing was extreme negativity and malicious comments towards Mark Gonzales and AW. That to me was unacceptable. But all that has changed and just like Michael mentioned, “…it’s nice to have a thread where everyone is being open-minded and not blindly flaming and such.â€� I would like to keep it that way.



And again, what a beauty – that XK-150… Thanks for sharing her with us…



Respectfully,

Bruce…

 

[imported_Greg1]

It is almost as if the excuse of not being a pro or just being the "everyday Joe" is somehow justification for the fact that maybe AW doesn't do a great job.

It seems that is what is being implied by Bruce's post.



However, Bruce you never mention that you would like to try any new products, why is this?

Most of us can't go a week without wanting to try something new, and it seems to me at least that you have settled for mediocrity just for name's sake.

 

[Magellan498]

Great write-up Shadow!



Very objective and forthcoming.

 

[Anthony O.]

WOW..I leave this morning with just a page worth of replies and come home and see you all have been busy!



I would like to coment first off that Bruce did seem to overlook what Milani pointed out, which is that Shadowman never said that the AW side did not bead but that it did not bead any better then the untreated side.



I would also like to say that AW does have it place in the world of detailing products. It would seem that AW would work great on a new or newer car in already great shape or one that has been previously prepped in a proper manner. I do not see AW in the swirl/scratch/oxidation remover category.



I also see that Bruce and Mark are perhaps just now understanding what "detailing" is all about or better just how the majority fo Autopians view detailing. A detail is never truly finished and a product and/or technique can and always will be improved and re-invented and Bruce and Mark may now understand the mindset and philosophy of the anal retentive people known as "Detailers" and the wannabes known as "Hey, do I use the scrub brush before or after the hi-pressure soap?"



Anthony

 

[cerdas]

Rather than defending my review any further, all I have left to say is...



Where the heck are the other 49 people who got their free samples??????



I'd sure like to hear some more opinions, good or bad!

 

[biswartz]

I apologize to all those like Michael and those who would like to have had kept this on a more sensible medium of exchanging open-minded and solid information without flaming accounts, disinformation, pettiness and the like.



Anthony, with all do respect, the Cons stated “no real beading of water�. I’m sorry but yes there is discrepancy in his great, objective write-up Miguel.



“Cons

-too much time and effort with application/removal

-made no impact on swirl marks and oxidation

-no real beading of water�



This is too hard for me to go on – not because I feel as if I have been beaten, it’s just when I read things like what Greg writes in his thread, talking about how most of you can’t go a week without wanting to try something new, then go on to say how it seems that I have settled for something mediocrity just for name’s sake, it says it all and it just has to end.



Will there be rips and off-color comments; yep I know there will and it really isn’t important to me because the comments will be coming from some of you, not me; and your comments are what will matter to those who will see them for what they are.



I sincerely take my hat off to those of you who are the real professionals, and for all those who think they are, I just hope you will be big enough to know when to speak, and know when it is better to be quiet and have someone think you a fool, then open your mouth and remove all doubt.



I do wish each and every one of you the absolute very best in your career and your never ending search for that one great product, whatever it is. But you will never find it because all products bring something to everyone and to every situation. Just some bring more than others. And when you have a good thing and it works for you, why change it Greg?



Anthony, I especially wish you the very best however, don’t be mislead and whatever you do, don’t cut yourself short, you’ve got what it takes to be truly successful. Just cut to the chase and draw up your plan of action, which by all account you have not done as of yet. Set your goals then lay down the process by which you will attain those goals. A roadmap if you will. And whatever you do, don’t allow you’re anal attentiveness to get the best of you. Simply do your best and continue to achieve by learning with an open mind.



Take care and good luck to you all…… Don’t worry, I will not be responding to further threads – you have much more important detailing to attend.



Respectfully

Bruce……

 

[2wheelsx2]

Anthony, I especially wish you the very best however, don’t be mislead and whatever you do, don’t cut yourself short, you’ve got what it takes to be truly successful.

Ummmm...you might want to click on the website button from Anthony's post and see how successful he is. He does amazing work. :bow

 

[SergC]

The Guy sounds like a local priest...

 

[cerdas]

Well, now that he's gone I guess I DO still have to defend my review just a little more. :angry



For even FURTHER clarification... I said earlier in the same post that it did not bead any better than an untreated surface. This has already been pointed out by others here who took the time to thoroughly read the review . To my eye, these are not beads, they are large uneven BLOBS.

I've used plenty of other store bought products on this car that produced much tighter, more uniform beads.



This is what BEADING looks like to me

This is Zaino Z2 on my Escape roughly 2 weeks after application. Compare what you see to the blobs on the Civic only one day after two coats of AW have been applied! Both of these images were taken immediately after a downpour.



quoting biswartz:

"I sincerely take my hat off to those of you who are the real professionals, and for all those who think they are, I just hope you will be big enough to know when to speak, and know when it is better to be quiet and have someone think you a fool, then open your mouth and remove all doubt."



I couldn't have said it better myself!

buh-bye!

 

[Robb]

I recieved a sample as well, I was wanting to wait until i got pictures and then i would make my own post as well, i havent gotten around to taking pictures, but i did use the product. I tried it on plastic,paint and trim pieces. The product seemed to offer nothing for my paint as it was in pretty good condition with a few swirls and light scratches, this product did not take those out, it did feel a little slicker than the paint which i had not polished in about a month. On trim pieces it left a satiny finish, do not know if it will wash off yet, and on plastic it did the same as on the paint, nothing. I followed the instructions to a T. I will definately be sticking to my polish/glaze/wax routine, it for me seems to offer much better results than this product. Thank you again Mark for going to the expense of sending the sample, sorry i could not praise the product. Your time and efforts are well appreciated.

 

[Anthony O.]

Bruce,



Hey there is no need not to reply to posts anymore, that might be a bit too overboard of a reaction here. We welcome your input BUT you also need to understand the passion with which Autopians express themselves, they are zealots, but in a good way for the most part



I appreciate your well wishes and concerns on my part and also wish you the best also, as I do Mark and his business. Stick around a bit and you may come away with the desire to try something new and perhaps find some product to either replace AW or better yet compliment it:xyxthumbs The coment about Autopians needing to try new products all the time should not be seen as a disorder but rather it should be seen as part of the full experience. Not trying new products, new towels, cleaners, tools and techniques is like going to the next Lord of the Rings movie and not being able to load up on popcorn, soda, hotdog and Junior Mints There would be something missing from the "whole" of the expereince. I have my personal favorites (products) that I can always fall back on but it is always fun to try new things and every Autopian here has a shelf which is reserved for the "rejects"



Gary,



You are far too kind but I do thank you for your kind words and compliments (checks in the mail )



Take care,

Anthony

 

[imported_Intermezzo]

biswartz:



Not sure what this product has to do with my career, but thanks for the words of encouragement. The feeling is mutual. Also, thanks for clarifying your position or the reasons for your position. I understand where you’re coming from now.



Don't take this as a flame but a lot of us are not that receptive to a newly introduced product (at least new to us here on Autopia) that makes the kind of semi-miraculous, hard-to-believe claims that were made about AW. I applaud the people here who took the time to try out a sample as I am not as open-minded as they are. I sort of shrug off these kinds of products the same way I do with sealants that claim 5-years worth of protection or other waxes and sealants that claim teflon protection. It’s true that all products are marketed with a slight (and sometimes not so slight) embellishment of what they’re truly capable of, but I think AW takes it a bit far. So I've been sort of ignoring (OK, semi-following!) the threads on AW till now and after reading through them carefully, I had a difficult time resisting the urge to respond, especially after seeing the picture posted by Smoker. Just “trying to sort through the BS….â€� (Stanger99)

 

[AWMark]

Hello To All,



How does one begin to respond to what has been written already. One, seeing is truely believing. Not to belittle the efforts of Brad C., Shadowman, Robb or Anthony. Now these guys are the only ones who actually used the products and are absolutely entitled to their opinions. Everyone who chooses to toss their opinion into the fray based on zero personal experience should really hold back such harsh and absolute remarks. Intermezzo, I will start with the picture you posted. If I had posted the same picture and said AW was used to get these results, everyone would have posted, "PICTURE FIX" because I did not provide a before and after. Is there a before photo of this auto available so we may all see it? Just courious.

Can AW be used with a PC? Yes, I've seen it done and the results were quite awesome. I also personally watched a paint shop in Tyler, Texas that specialized in custom paint finishes. Their approach to finishing a painted surface was to color sand then use a 3M Perfect-It II Polishing Compound, then wax. We had no idea if our polish would work but since they had some working knowledge of the polish we had them try the AW after the color sanding, and everyone in that shop was impressed with not only the depth of the shine but how easy they obtained the results using a buffer.

Now, by Thursday I will post some pretty exciting before and after photos, what I do expect is the same amount of professionalism you seem all to eager to pass onto someone when it involves a less than positive experience with AW. You guys honestly think I can stand in a parking lot doing live demonstrations on any vehicle that pulls up and make a living on "SO-SO" results, and then stand there and have the gumption to ask someone for $30.00 based on "SO-SO" results. At some point reality has to step in here and rule the roost. Again, all is not lost when I cannot get a customer who has never seen this product demonstrated by me or one of the many customers of mine who continue to bring referrals to the table, based on a live demonstration. The instructions on my web-site tend to get my customers over the hump after they have seen a live demonstration. This is why I will eventually set-up territories nationwide and let others help me get the word out on this product. Like I tell a passerby in the parking lot, hey what do you have to lose, the demo is free, if your not impressed the only thing were both out, is our time! What I really love is when a customer will say, "if you can get this out, or put a shine back on this" I will tell them you start writing your check and I will start the demo, so we will finish at the same time.

Now only for fun. I would like to know, if in the same situation: Let's say a 1996 Mitsu 3000GT pulls up, it is oxidized, the trim pieces are blotchy and oxidized and the black paint at the base of the rear window is now gray. Let's throw in a years worth of tree sap as well. The clor is blue metal flake.

This is the scenerio. You have exactly 45 seconds to gain his attention so he will give you whatever time you need behind that to get him to buy your favorite polish/waxing system.

WHAT DO YOU DO FIRST?

Second, his vehicle came to you unwashed, at around 2:30 p.m. on a sunny day. Let's say you had a tent to work under but that surface is still hot enough to cook a steak on and there is no time to cool it, because the customer is pinched for time.

FROM YOUR PERSONAL FAVORITES, WHAT WOULD YOU USE TO SHOW THIS CUSTOMER HOW YOU WILL RESTORE HIS FADED WIPER ARM, HIS PLASTIC FADED MOLDING, HIS MESSED UP RUBBER SEALS, THE FADED AREA AT THE BASE OF THE REAR WINDOW, REMOVE AND POLISH THE RIM WHICH HAD CAKED ON BRAKE DUST AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST HIS REAR DECK SPOILER THAT IS FADED AND HAS A YEARS WORTH OF TREE SAP?

UTILIZING YOUR FAVORITES, COULD THIS DEMO BE DONE IN UNDER 25 MINUTES AND STILL COST THE CUSTOMER LESS THAN $30.00 TOTAL FOR ALL THE PRODUCTS NEEDED?

Take away the tent and you have entered my world. This same car I just described came to me yesterday. I absolutely begged the guy to let me do the demo, but he kept saying he was short on time, but my persistence paid off. I got his attention by saying I could remove the brake dust on his rim instantly. He let me , I did and it was really funny that about 25 minutes later not only did he have the time but he owned a new btl of AW.

Well I'm out and to all have a very nice night.



Mark G.

 

[SergC]

biswartz:



Not sure what this product has to do with my career, but thanks for the words of encouragement. The feeling is mutual. Also, thanks for clarifying your position or the reasons for your position. I understand where you’re coming from now.



Don't take this as a flame but a lot of us are not that receptive to a newly introduced product (at least new to us here on Autopia) that makes the kind of semi-miraculous, hard-to-believe claims that were made about AW. I applaud the people here who took the time to try out a sample as I am not as open-minded as they are. I sort of shrug off these kinds of products the same way I do with sealants that claim 5-years worth of protection or other waxes and sealants that claim teflon protection. It’s true that all products are marketed with a slight (and sometimes not so slight) embellishment of what they’re truly capable of, but I think AW takes it a bit far. So I've been sort of ignoring (OK, semi-following!) the threads on AW till now and after reading through them carefully, I had a difficult time resisting the urge to respond, especially after seeing the picture posted by Smoker. Just “trying to sort through the BS….â€� (Stanger99)

T !



I always enjoy reading your responses:up :up





Serg

 

[mlebarron]

Mark,



2:30 pm on a sunny day in a parking lot?



Regardless of what AW can do... get a tent man! You've gotta be roasting out there! At least get something to sit under when no one is around



What speed would you recommend setting the PC at when using AW?



-Michael