I was able to try out some new (to me) products over the weekend during a detail of the S2000. Overall I was pleased with each.
ProWax C45 Fallout Remover.
For whatever reason, I dislike to use clay. I have used it for a number of years, but just haven’t warmed up to it, so I decided to try a different route and use the C45. I followed the directions and applied the C45 to my chenille mitt and wiped on the wet car. I went over the entire car twice with it, putting a little bit of product on the mitt for each section. I was surprised how much lubricity it had. I just figured it would be just like water, but it created suds as I put it on.
The directions say to leave it on for at least five minutes. I might have made it that long before I rinsed. Putting some sort of acid mixture on the car does make me a bit nervous, especially since this was my first time using the product.
It rinsed clean and then I immediately washed with ProWax’s PH balanced R60 Super Car Wash to neutralize the C45.
Prior to using C45, the car had a coat of polymer (a Japanese brand) topped with S100. The combo had been on the car for a long while but it was still beading nicely in the rain and when drying after washing the paint was still slick.
After using the C45, there was no doubt that little if any protection was left. During the rinse, water just sheeted with no hint of beads, and the feel when drying wasn’t slick any more.
When I started to detail, I gently felt the surface to see how smooth it got. It wasn’t perfect, I did feel a few ‘bumps�Ehere or there. Clay probably works a bit better overall for removing contaminants from the paint.
Overall I give C45 a B+
Pluses: time saved over claying, removes all previous protection (waxes/polymers), ease of use
Minuses: Doesn’t work quite as well as clay removing embedded contaminants
ClearKote Vanilla Moose Wax
With all the controversy surrounding ClearKote products of late I was anxious to try out VM for myself. I applied it with my PC set on speed 3 using a white ‘polishing�Epad. I wanted to compare VM with my long time stand by Meg’s Medallion Paint Cleaner, which I have always liked as a final polish. I did half the hood with VM and half with MMPC. Backed the car out in the sun and the verdict was obvious, I liked VM better. VM left a slick (compared to MMPC), absolutely swirl free finish, while you could see product swirls (the surface was swirl free prior to application) on the MMPC side. As far as shine, there really wasn’t really any discernible difference.
Back went the car inside, and went over the MMPC side with VM on the way to the rest of the car.
Maybe the MMPC/VM comparison wasn’t fair, I don’t know, but my intentions were to use VM in the same situation as MMPC, so for ME it is a fair comparison.
I wish I had some GEPC to try out also, alas I didn’t.
Overall I give VM an A-
Pluses: Easy to use, goes on effortlessly and wipes off just as easy. Left a absolutely swirl free finish, meaning the product wiped off completely leaving no streaky/swirly residue, did not introduce any new swirls itself, and rid/hid any very minor swirls that may have been present.
Minuses: I guess the biggest gripes I have read about VM are that it doesn’t leave the surface as slick or as shiny as some other products on the market. I don’t doubt this, but it worked well for me.
Soft99's Authentic Premium Carnauba paste wax
I love to try products, even if I am happy with what I am currently using. I have been using P21S/S100 for a few years now, and love it and recommend it to my friends.
But it is Spring time so I figured why not try something new. After checking out Soft99’s website (www.soft99.co.jp) and reading about all their waxes, I decided to hunt me down some of their Authentic Premium Carnauba Paste Wax (now that is mouth full!). According to their website this is their top ‘natural�Ewax product.
The packaging is nifty. It comes with a small utility gadget with a small brush, lid opener and pick on it. Plus it comes with it’s own foam applicator.
Looking at the wax, it resembles P21S/S100 in both color and consistency. Application is as easy as P21S/S100. It goes on smooth and even with little effort. I probably applied product to the entire car in about 10 minutes.
The directions state to let the product dry for 5-10minutes or as they also state ‘half-dry�E That is probably five minutes too long! Going by what the directions said, I applied the product to the entire car first, figuring by the time I finished it would be time to start taking it off. That was a mistake in hindsight. I should have experimented a little first. By the time I got finished the product was about three-quarters dry. I started to take it off and found out quickly that it wasn’t going to wipe off as easily as it wiped on. Oh well, I needed a little exercise. It wasn’t the worst thing I have ever tried to take off though, just not effortless. Another downside was that it dusted a little bit. Not a big deal but a bit annoying at times.
So what did the difficult wipe down procedure net me, an amazing deep, wet looking shine! Wow, was my initial reaction. It created at least as deep/wet shine as P21S/S100. Definitely not inferior and possibly better.
If I can some how work out a better procedure for taking it off, it will probably replace my P21S/S100, just because I like to be a little different.
Overall I give APCPW an A-
Pluses: Fabulous deep/wet looking shine, easy to apply, a nice applicator and gadget tool included.
Minuses: Difficult to remove (compared to P21S/S100) if going by the directions, some minor dusting.
EDIT: Used APCPW for a second time, altering apply procedure. I decided to use it just like I use S100/P21S wax. I wiped it on a small section at a time, then waited for about a minute and never longer than two minutes and then wiped it off. Bingo, this seemed to work great. The wax wiped off efortlessly with no smearing and no dusting.
I also did a comparison with the S100 I had on hand. I did one side of the trunk with S100 and other with the Authentic Premium and in every way they were equal. I honestly could not tell which side was which if I hadn't done it myself
Final results of the car can be found in this thread:
www.autopia.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22371
ProWax C45 Fallout Remover.
For whatever reason, I dislike to use clay. I have used it for a number of years, but just haven’t warmed up to it, so I decided to try a different route and use the C45. I followed the directions and applied the C45 to my chenille mitt and wiped on the wet car. I went over the entire car twice with it, putting a little bit of product on the mitt for each section. I was surprised how much lubricity it had. I just figured it would be just like water, but it created suds as I put it on.
The directions say to leave it on for at least five minutes. I might have made it that long before I rinsed. Putting some sort of acid mixture on the car does make me a bit nervous, especially since this was my first time using the product.
It rinsed clean and then I immediately washed with ProWax’s PH balanced R60 Super Car Wash to neutralize the C45.
Prior to using C45, the car had a coat of polymer (a Japanese brand) topped with S100. The combo had been on the car for a long while but it was still beading nicely in the rain and when drying after washing the paint was still slick.
After using the C45, there was no doubt that little if any protection was left. During the rinse, water just sheeted with no hint of beads, and the feel when drying wasn’t slick any more.
When I started to detail, I gently felt the surface to see how smooth it got. It wasn’t perfect, I did feel a few ‘bumps�Ehere or there. Clay probably works a bit better overall for removing contaminants from the paint.
Overall I give C45 a B+
Pluses: time saved over claying, removes all previous protection (waxes/polymers), ease of use
Minuses: Doesn’t work quite as well as clay removing embedded contaminants
ClearKote Vanilla Moose Wax
With all the controversy surrounding ClearKote products of late I was anxious to try out VM for myself. I applied it with my PC set on speed 3 using a white ‘polishing�Epad. I wanted to compare VM with my long time stand by Meg’s Medallion Paint Cleaner, which I have always liked as a final polish. I did half the hood with VM and half with MMPC. Backed the car out in the sun and the verdict was obvious, I liked VM better. VM left a slick (compared to MMPC), absolutely swirl free finish, while you could see product swirls (the surface was swirl free prior to application) on the MMPC side. As far as shine, there really wasn’t really any discernible difference.
Back went the car inside, and went over the MMPC side with VM on the way to the rest of the car.
Maybe the MMPC/VM comparison wasn’t fair, I don’t know, but my intentions were to use VM in the same situation as MMPC, so for ME it is a fair comparison.
I wish I had some GEPC to try out also, alas I didn’t.
Overall I give VM an A-
Pluses: Easy to use, goes on effortlessly and wipes off just as easy. Left a absolutely swirl free finish, meaning the product wiped off completely leaving no streaky/swirly residue, did not introduce any new swirls itself, and rid/hid any very minor swirls that may have been present.
Minuses: I guess the biggest gripes I have read about VM are that it doesn’t leave the surface as slick or as shiny as some other products on the market. I don’t doubt this, but it worked well for me.
Soft99's Authentic Premium Carnauba paste wax
I love to try products, even if I am happy with what I am currently using. I have been using P21S/S100 for a few years now, and love it and recommend it to my friends.
But it is Spring time so I figured why not try something new. After checking out Soft99’s website (www.soft99.co.jp) and reading about all their waxes, I decided to hunt me down some of their Authentic Premium Carnauba Paste Wax (now that is mouth full!). According to their website this is their top ‘natural�Ewax product.
The packaging is nifty. It comes with a small utility gadget with a small brush, lid opener and pick on it. Plus it comes with it’s own foam applicator.
Looking at the wax, it resembles P21S/S100 in both color and consistency. Application is as easy as P21S/S100. It goes on smooth and even with little effort. I probably applied product to the entire car in about 10 minutes.
The directions state to let the product dry for 5-10minutes or as they also state ‘half-dry�E That is probably five minutes too long! Going by what the directions said, I applied the product to the entire car first, figuring by the time I finished it would be time to start taking it off. That was a mistake in hindsight. I should have experimented a little first. By the time I got finished the product was about three-quarters dry. I started to take it off and found out quickly that it wasn’t going to wipe off as easily as it wiped on. Oh well, I needed a little exercise. It wasn’t the worst thing I have ever tried to take off though, just not effortless. Another downside was that it dusted a little bit. Not a big deal but a bit annoying at times.
So what did the difficult wipe down procedure net me, an amazing deep, wet looking shine! Wow, was my initial reaction. It created at least as deep/wet shine as P21S/S100. Definitely not inferior and possibly better.
If I can some how work out a better procedure for taking it off, it will probably replace my P21S/S100, just because I like to be a little different.
Overall I give APCPW an A-
Pluses: Fabulous deep/wet looking shine, easy to apply, a nice applicator and gadget tool included.
Minuses: Difficult to remove (compared to P21S/S100) if going by the directions, some minor dusting.
EDIT: Used APCPW for a second time, altering apply procedure. I decided to use it just like I use S100/P21S wax. I wiped it on a small section at a time, then waited for about a minute and never longer than two minutes and then wiped it off. Bingo, this seemed to work great. The wax wiped off efortlessly with no smearing and no dusting.
I also did a comparison with the S100 I had on hand. I did one side of the trunk with S100 and other with the Authentic Premium and in every way they were equal. I honestly could not tell which side was which if I hadn't done it myself
Final results of the car can be found in this thread:
www.autopia.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22371
