Polishing a clear bra

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Last year I had a clear bra installed and it turned yellow, yes already. There really is no issue because the film has a lifetime warranty and the company who installed it has agreed to replace it. Since it will soon be replaced, the installer has given me the green light to go against the terms of the warranty and try a few polishing and cleaning methods to see if I can clean the bra and bring it back to clear. The funny thing is that when he installed it he was very clear that I should only use Plexus. No other waxes or polishes. I told him that I read on a forum that Plexus can cause yellowing and he said, "ya I saw that too". So I am going to spend the next week or so trying all the products he said not to try. He said to save a section that is yellow so he could send a piece to the manufacturer. I have seen a few posts here where guys have corrected bras so I will be doing some reading and polishing.

A few other things come to mind:


  • Do I want the same brand of film, or will I be ok if I don't use Plexus?
  • Will all film yellow? Which is the best? Feedback, please. He has since switched to Sun Tech. Anyone used that?
  • With new film, what do I use to clean and protect it? I am looking at a cleaner by Chemical Guys for clear bras. Has anyone used it?
 
Art of Shine said:
From my experience, the film itself does not yellow but it's the glue underneath that does.
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Hmmmm, that will make it tough to polish. Is there a way to prevent the glue from yellowing when installing?

The tech made it sound like the coloring is embedded dirt and contaminants from the road. I'm thinking, do you have any idea how often I clean my car? :rofl
 
Find out what brand of film you have on your car. So far I would say the top 3 brands you want to look for are 3M Ventureshield, Xpel Ultimate, which has a top coat clear coat that has SOME self healing properties and is resistant to staining and also the new Avery nano fusion which I hear is great to work with and wont yellow.

As a fact I know Xpel Ultimate will not yellow (its what I installed on my car). Avery nano I don't think will yellow and 3M Ventureshield can/will absolutely yellow over time but it does look fantastic on paint because of the lack of orange peel in it.


You can polish clear film but not on the same scale as paint.

First off if you have a DA use that, rotary on clear film can be interesting but at one time back in my day (by that I mean like 2 years ago) the only thing I used was a rotary on film.

Film is has pores and pores hold contaminants, if film looks cloudy you can absolutely polish and clear it up, just clean your pad often keep the speed low and watch out for gumming polish it does happen. Don't use any IPA or other strong cleaners/prep solvent to clean film before or after polishing. Something like M34 from Meguiars works great on film.

I found blackfire wet diamond to be perfectly safe and easy to use on all clear film something along those lines I think is the way to go for easy protection.
 
TID10 said:
Last year I had a clear bra installed and it turned yellow, yes already. There really is no issue because the film has a lifetime warranty and the company who installed it has agreed to replace it. Since it will soon be replaced, the installer has given me the green light to go against the terms of the warranty and try a few polishing and cleaning methods to see if I can clean the bra and bring it back to clear. The funny thing is that when he installed it he was very clear that I should only use Plexus. No other waxes or polishes. I told him that I read on a forum that Plexus can cause yellowing and he said, "ya I saw that too". So I am going to spend the next week or so trying all the products he said not to try. He said to save a section that is yellow so he could send a piece to the manufacturer. I have seen a few posts here where guys have corrected bras so I will be doing some reading and polishing.

A few other things come to mind:


  • Do I want the same brand of film, or will I be ok if I don't use Plexus?
  • Will all film yellow? Which is the best? Feedback, please. He has since switched to Sun Tech. Anyone used that?
  • With new film, what do I use to clean and protect it? I am looking at a cleaner by Chemical Guys for clear bras. Has anyone used it?
Click to expand...


I have some CG's but have not used it yet. I don't know how fast you need to have it but I could send you some to try. It says its also safe for paint.
 
Thanks Dave. LOL i have avery nano fusion on my car and it is yellow in less than a year. Hmmmm. My other option he has is sun tech. I wonder if there is something under the film. He uses a solution of water and baby shampoo to install it. I guess i would be willing to try the avery again as he doesnt have the others you mentioned. I would love the expel. I will try cleaning it up. I do have blackfire. Might try polish n seal on it.
 
rzatch said:
I have some CG's but have not used it yet. I don't know how fast you need to have it but I could send you some to try. It says its also safe for paint.
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That would be awesome. Thanks! I'll send a PM when I get home.
 
rzatch said:
I have some CG's but have not used it yet. I don't know how fast you need to have it but I could send you some to try. It says its also safe for paint.
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After additional research, the two names that come up as highly recommended are Xpel and Avery Nano Fusion. My Nano Fusion is not supposed to yellow, but it did. My research suggests it may have been exagerated or excellerated by using Plexus, which no installer I talked to recommends, except mine at the time of install. He has since retracted that recommendation. With that in mind, I believe I will take him up on the offer to replace the same film under warranty. During my reserch I visited a shop who deals with Xpel. They have a few products for PPF care, which Ibought, sealant and cleaner. I fear I may have bought a sealant that is very similar to other sealants i already have, but what the heck. I am going to try a test spot with the cleaner to see if that removes the contamenants I currently have. This cleaner they suggested is only necessary if the bra is yellow because it wasnt "waxed".

Rzatch, if you would like to try this sealant, we can trade samples. I have 16oz. Thanks for all your input.

EDIT: On the advice of another member, I returned the Xpel sealant and will use Blackfire. Upon examination, the Xpel did look really similar to paint sealants I either have or have used.
 
How often were you using the plexus?

My guy who did my window tint who also does clear bras also told me to use plexus and never polish them!
 
ca.detailchick said:
How often were you using the plexus?

My guy who did my window tint who also does clear bras also told me to use plexus and never polish them!
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I used it every few months. The Xpel folks did some testing and found that it speeds up yellowing. Polishing is tricky so most recommend not even trying. I haven't heard anyone not recommend waxing or sealing. Since my film is going to be replaced, i am going to give a few techniques a try, including polishing.
 
TID10 said:
I used it every few months. The Xpel folks did some testing and found that it speeds up yellowing. Polishing is tricky so most recommend not even trying. I haven't heard anyone not recommend waxing or sealing. Since my film is going to be replaced, i am going to give a few techniques a try, including polishing.
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Thats not even that often!

I have been using plexus on plastic convertable windows and my own headlights every now and then . I hope it doesnt cause me any yellowing.

The reason my window tint guy said that about not polishing is a detailer burned/melted one of his clear bras. Just be careful you dont get it too hot !
 
ca.detailchick said:
Thats not even that often!

I have been using plexus on plastic convertable windows and my own headlights every now and then . I hope it doesnt cause me any yellowing.

The reason my window tint guy said that about not polishing is a detailer burned/melted one of his clear bras. Just be careful you dont get it too hot !
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Plexus is designed for headlights and windows. I doubt you will have a problem. For some reason it doesnt seem to like the clear bras, at least in testing i have researched.
 
TID10 I don't have a clear bra I got the CG stuff in a package deal I was just going to try it on paint. Thanks for the trade offer, maybe we could work something else out. BTW you never sent a PM.
 
My experience with polishing clear bra has been mostly positive. I have that most brands are extremely polishable, although I have run into several that reacted negatively to any attempt at polishing.

As with polishing anything, I would start with the least aggressive method on a test spot, and obviously (if doing a customer's car) polish an inconspicuous area first.

I have used Menzerna polishes with both a DA and a rotary with great success.

As for an LSP on them, I have used BLACKFIRE Wet Diamond on all of them and never had an issue, just easy wipe off and a great shine.

As far as yellowing, that is a tricky one. I have heard the glue thing before, but I have seen some clear bras that 'clean up' from machine polishing.

Take a white Porsche for example, 996 series and newer. They had factory applied paint protection film installed in front of the rear wheels. This tends to yellow extremely bad and quickly in Florida's climate. While I have never been able to turn them perfectly clear again I have made significant improvements in the quality of finish by polishing.

Ultimately it depends on the type of film, and even films like 3M seem to have a lot of running changes. Most 3M film I have polished has cleaned up with ease, but a couple because hazy after even fine polishing.

My experience with clear bra is simply don't know until you try. Keep us updated.
 
Todd Helme said:
My experience with polishing clear bra has been mostly positive. I have that most brands are extremely polishable, although I have run into several that reacted negatively to any attempt at polishing.

As with polishing anything, I would start with the least aggressive method on a test spot, and obviously (if doing a customer's car) polish an inconspicuous area first.

I have used Menzerna polishes with both a DA and a rotary with great success.

As for an LSP on them, I have used BLACKFIRE Wet Diamond on all of them and never had an issue, just easy wipe off and a great shine.

As far as yellowing, that is a tricky one. I have heard the glue thing before, but I have seen some clear bras that 'clean up' from machine polishing.

Take a white Porsche for example, 996 series and newer. They had factory applied paint protection film installed in front of the rear wheels. This tends to yellow extremely bad and quickly in Florida's climate. While I have never been able to turn them perfectly clear again I have made significant improvements in the quality of finish by polishing.

Ultimately it depends on the type of film, and even films like 3M seem to have a lot of running changes. Most 3M film I have polished has cleaned up with ease, but a couple because hazy after even fine polishing.

My experience with clear bra is simply don't know until you try. Keep us updated.
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I install clear bra's on a regular basis, I only use Xpel film and right from the get go I have the most luck with Turtle wax ice(I know kill me but hey it works) It saves me head aches especially with hard water spots. Something kinda intresting though my paint touch up guy spilled some thinner film on the hood of a lexus and it etched it almost like a really nasty bird etching. Since he was gonna have to buy new film any way he took 2k grit sand paper a rotary at like 2400 and a red soft buff 2.0 and actually got it out. I stood there in amazement because I was sure it would destroy the film and the paint under it but it was fine. Since then I'm not so worried about polishing film. Dont think I would ever be that brave but hey it worked.
 
rzatch said:
I have some CG's but have not used it yet. I don't know how fast you need to have it but I could send you some to try. It says its also safe for paint.
Click to expand...

I received the sample today. Can't wait to try it out and give some feedback. Thanks rzatch!!!

This happened tonight. Wasn't sure what it was, at hwy speed I never saw it coming. Never braked or steered, 72 mph, WHAMO!

IMAG1242.jpg


You can see it dislodged my bumper cover. Ouch!

IMAG1236.jpg


Hwy Patrol later told me it was a large chunk of tire. Well I didn't file a report since I am going to fix it myself. The car still drives with no vibration and no signs of other damage.

I haven't had a chance to try any polishing methods yet, but still plan to. Now I guess I can also work on the tire marks. I am glad I have the bra, most or all of the damage is to the bra. I will (hopefully soon) put the car together, clean the tire marks off, play with the polisher, and try the product......update to follow.

I guess this is karma for laughing at the Lambo fire. :(
 
Looks like you got lucky in an unlucky way! Glad the damage is minor!:bigups


Your clear bra doesnt look yellow in the picture!:inspector:
 
WOW Jim and I just sent you a PM on the cleaner before I saw this. I was thinking tire also as soon as I saw the black marks. They call those semi tire treads road Gators cause they can bite you and you got bit!
 
I've find searching for care/correction information on PPF to be a lot like leather care! There is tons of conflicting information out there and it's annoying! :mad:

Over time the film will accumulate marring just like paint and we need a way to correct it. Most 3M installers say to use IPA to remove marring but IME that is ineffective and I find it funny that the film comes marred up right from the installers. If IPA works so well than why are they delivering a new wrap to the client all marred up?

I've been polishign PPF since the mid 90's and I've only run across a few that have given me trouble. Is polishing bad for the film? I have no idea. I do know that the films have always left my shop looking better than when they came in and without polishing them they were never going to look as good as I made them. Until one of the manufactures steps up and shows us an approved method for correction of film I'm going to continue doing what works for me.

After seeing the Xpel Ultimate at SEMA last November I'd recommend going that route. :bigups

+1 on the Menzerna polishes...FPII is what I like to start with.

Rasky
 
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