trim dressing

I

imported_mystic04

New member
Ok guy's who makes the best trim dressing? i have used the new meg's thats out forget the name right now but it looks great till after a rain then it's gone. so is their anything made that will stay on awhile longer and look good for more than one day of rain.

Thanks in advance for any answers.:up
 
Well, nothing is going to last very long in the rain. I think it was Lynn that pretty much conclusively proved that it was the prep that made the dressing last. The trim has to be extremely clean for it to stick, but when it sticks well it stays for awhile. Once its really clean, I dont know if there is one that lasts significantly longer than any other, but i know a lot of people use 303 (my choice), but I'm sure the others will chime in soon and offer their opinions.



Z16 has given me the best longevity. I think Mothers Preserve and Griot's Vinyl/Leather Dressing probably tied for 2nd-best.



But I learned that a key is to REALLY REALLY clean the rubber parts first. I did this by using Meguiars APC+ 4:1 on the rubber, scrubbed-in with a very soft nylon brush. Then rinse. Then wash again with the Megs, then rinse. When I was totally convinced it was truly, totally clean, then I'd dry. Then come out in an hour and hit with the dressing of choice.



Before hitting on that technique, I would just wash, then dry, then dress. And the dressing wouldn't last more than a few days. For me, the secret has been in really prepping the rubber surface well, then applying a good dressing.



Hope this helps --

Lynn



__________________

"The perfect finish is a process and not a product." -- Jngrbrdman, 12.30.02

'75 Jaguar XJ6C, red

'93 champagne Mercedes-Benz 190E, '70 VW red Kharmann Ghia



Old Post 07-08-2004 12:11 AM
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That would be a quote from lynn found here
 
You're probably thinking of NXT tech protectant. I'm suprised it only lasted through one rain. It beads water better than anything I've found, but I'm not particularly fond of the finish it leaves and it makes a greasy mess on the paint when it runs off after a rain so I haven't bought any more of it.



My favorite is Armor All Original. Since reformulation, it's very safe to use, leaves a great satin finish, lasts at least as long as any trim dressing I've found, and is very cheap (I use a lot of it). A couple of years ago when Gurureports did a test on trim dressings, AAO came out on top.
 
I would definitely second the opinion that whatever you're trying to dress needs to be very clean. About once per month or two, I scrub my tires with Eagle 1 A2Z and a good tire brush. This makes tire dressings last up to a month compared with only a few days on unclean tires.
 
The Klasse twins: apply as you would to paint.



It ends the problem other products have with staining, getting blotchy and/or otherwise washing away :bow
 
poorboy's trim restorer is quite good, lasts somewhat through the rain and washes. not sure exactly how long, but i think the last time i care to notice, properly applied and allowed to dry, it didn't wash away when it rained. i also use it on my side mirrors, and i can't recall if it ran off onto the paint after a rain. another nice thing is that it removes any wax stains.



and i found NXT Protectant to be nice on my tires. depending on how bad the rain is, it'll last through most of it except the heavy rains that flood the streets.
 
Bill D said:
The Klasse twins: apply as you would to paint.



It ends the problem other products have with staining, getting blotchy and/or otherwise washing away :bow
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What he said. My days of using trim dressings are long gone and I feel sorry for anyone that continues using them. They're such a royal PITA, LOL.



:bow
 
I guess I am from the "old school" but I use Tyre Black paint. We have a brand here called Polyglaze which is water based and leaves the tyres a little glossy. It must be applied in a light coat and lasts for months.



I go "ballistic" when the dealer or any service department applies their silicon based spray. That stuff flicks off onto the body, retains dirt, ruins the sponge I use to clean the wheels (makes it look like you have been mopping up sump oil) and can only be removed by the harshest chemicals (eg. degreaser).
 
The front bumper on my conversion van turned grey over the years. I used all kinds of stuff to bring the black back (Armour all, black magic and so on) It lasted 2 weeks maybe then back to grey. Then I went to the drug store, got me some black liquid ultra gloss shoe polish and never looked back. Put it on my bumper and it looks great and that problem is solved. Been on almost a year and still looks great. And only $2.98. I then used it on all my black trim. Works great
 
Wait, you guys use AIO + SG on the trim and it makes it look just like a trim dressing would?



What about AIO + a different sealant? I don't have any SG and don't plan on getting any of it.



And you're talking about plastic trim right? Textured stuff or smooth? Or both?
 
I was aware that the Klasse twins can be applied on any non-porous surface but I never thougt of using them as trim dressing. I tried using Klasse VLRP and it seems to hold up really well to the elements including several rain events. I gave it to my cousin. But since I can use the twins on trim, I won't get any more VRLP.
 
Vanilla Moose is another great product for trim. I use it on black *textured* mirrors to make them look better than new again. I buff VM on the mirrors just like the paint with a PC and polishing pad and then wipe off with a mf, good as new.
 
I have Z16, I have no need to use it on trim because Klasse does the job. I suppose other popular substitues for SG work well too
 
I really like AIO and SG on my trim. It keeps it nice and black for a long time. Also it makes it easier to detail my car, I don't have to go back and do the trim when I am done. I do it the same time as I do the paint. When I am done with the paint and trim I then put AIO and SG on my chrome rims, they clean up so easy with just soap and water.
 
White95Max said:
Wait, you guys use AIO + SG on the trim and it makes it look just like a trim dressing would?



What about AIO + a different sealant? I don't have any SG and don't plan on getting any of it.



And you're talking about plastic trim right? Textured stuff or smooth? Or both?
Click to expand...



In my opinion, Klasse AIO + "x" sealant makes the trim look better than any dressing would, not to mention the greater durability. UPP works in place of SG and I have successfully used the AIO + sealant combo on all trim, including textured.



The greatest advantage is being able to take care of the trim while also dealing with the paint.



BTW, UPPx2 + Paste Glaz x2 now. :D
 
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