blkZ28Conv said:
Please post your results. Sorry for triggering your "seek the truth" gene but some reason I believe you love this type of ndeavor.
The testing and comparing was delayed until I could get into town and pick up a halogen obsession light. Platinum Ultimate Paint Pre-Cleaner (PUPP-C) and P21S Gloss Enhancing Paintwork Cleanser (GEPC) were tried both before and after 3M Imperial Hand Glaze (IHG). Four adjacent 6� test areas (a thru d) were used on my Jet Black paint and the test was repeated on three different locations on the car. All three locations yielded similar results.
area a: GEPC (2X) then IHG (2X)
area b: PUPP-C (2X) then IHG (2X)
area c: IHG (2X) then GEPC (2X)
area d: IHG (2X) then PUPP-C (2X)
After the initial two applications of the cleaners and glaze (not topped) the IHG had much higher gloss than the cleaners. Both cleaners left a slightly hazy look, but it was too fine too get a good focus with either loupe. The GEPC left a little more oil on the surface and felt a little slicker than PUPP-C. The slight hazing was just barely visible in sunlight, but was readily apparent with the halogen lamp. It was difficult to discern any difference in how the cleaners and IHG handled the underlying micro-marring - but obviously the cleaners did some polishing while the IHG only filled.
After the first step then the test areas were appropriately topped. Now there was very little difference in the finished appearance - almost a tie, but
maybe the IHG topped areas had a slightly better gloss. Then I wiped the test areas with Z-7 (should have used a different QD on each of test locations, but didn’t think of it at the time), and now the difference was more visible, but only with the obsession light. In direct sunlight I had to get my eye line at the correct angle to see that IHG topping had even a slight edge. I’m assuming that the change after QD’ing was because their oils had been filling the fine hazing left by the cleaners.
This playing confirms my belief that IHG contains no abrasives. At this point I’m starting to think that PUPP-C may be my preference replacing GEPC - a little less oil residue. My preferred sequence remains: SMR, cleaner (GEPC or PUPP-C), then IHG.
YMMV!
BTW, buying that halogen lamp may have been a
big mistake - - it makes me think that maybe I should take all of the sealants, etc. off of the car and start over again!