Preliminary review -- Blackfire (long)

[michaelb]

I started a detail of the XJR yesterday -- 7 hours and I didn't get finished (I loafed for part of it, though). Here's what I did:

Valuguard A
Valuguard B
Spot clay lower panels
Clean engine compartment with EF Hi-Intensity
Valuguard C
Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing Lotion applied with Porter Cable and white pad
Wash any PPCL residue with Pinnacle Bodywork Shampoo
Blackfire Polish applied with Porter Cable and white pad
Blackfire Protectant applied with Porter Cable and grey pad
Blackfire Protectant applied with foam applicator
Pulled left side wheels; cleaned them and the spare with EF HI; Klassse All in One; Klasse Sealant Glaze times two; all front and back

Now, all I have to do are the right side wheels; a couple more coats of Blackfire; Klasse the painted parts of the engine bay; and 303 the plastic parts of the engine bay. Then, on to the interior.

Here's my product review of the new things. I really like the ABC products. I think the paint was very clean and well prepped after I completed the process. Some think the gallons are too big. I disagree. For a large car, you use a fair amount of the stuff. A is a pint to a gallon; you need at least a gallon and a half to get complete coverage -- that's 3/8 of the gallon. I used almost a pint of B -- that's 8 applications to the gallon. C is 1 ounce to the gallon -- so a half cup to 4 gallons in a 5 gallon bucket. That's only 32 washes. Besides, the stuff is very reasonably priced.

My Blackfire technique must be really bad. I could not get the haze off. I was sure I used too much product with the PC; that's why I did the second coat by hand. I used less than an ounce on the second coat and still had a terrible time getting it off. Weather could have had a lot to do with it. High 50s, very humid. I let the stuff dry forever, I thought. Maybe too long; maybe not long enough.

Can't say anything about the look -- it was completely dark way before I was finished.

I think that I will finsh the car; then wash the XKR and take side by side pics; Blackfire versus Klasse/Souveran.

Oh, and my back hurts today.

[Brad4rdHay]

We use many of the same products, ABC, 3M machine glaze, blackfire ect. Those results are similar to mine except thgat i got most of the haze of just it was stuborn in a few places. Did you let it dry to much/not enough? Glad to see you like the ABC and couldnt agree with you more on the gallon sizes. I used a pint of A per wash and about 5 oz of B so i think the B will last fairly long.

[RH]

The humidity was more likely the cause of difficult removal.

I question why the 3 coats of Klasse on the wheels? Brake dust at several hundred degrees will eat through 50 coats of Klasse. No doubt it provides protection, I'm just wondering if all the extra work of more than one coat is worth it. Maybe I'm missing something.

[michaelb]

It must have been the humidity yesterday that caused so many removal problems.

I just applied and removed coat number 3. It came off quite easily except for just a couple of spots. Much easier than Klasse SG. Harder than Souveran -- but closer to Souveran than Klasse SG.

I am going to stick with foam by hand for the Protectant, I think. I applied it to the entire car in just over 10 minutes, used a miniscule quantity and I felt I had more control and got much thinner coats than with the Porter Cable (coat 1).

Tomorrow I get to see what it looks like in the daylight.

No one look at the right side wheels, though. They look like crap and I don't have the energy to night to pull them and clean them up!

[michaelb]

Ok, I got to see the car in the daylight (and rain) yesterday.

The car looks very, very, good. I have not yet formed impressions on how it compares to Klasse/Souveran or Zaino.

The surface is, however, slick, slick, slick. Much slicker than Klasse. I think slicker than Zaino.

I predict that I am going to like this stuff!

[bretfraz]

I made the big plunge and order the BF wack pack today. Been using Finish First which is super-easy but I'm not too thrilled with the longevity.

Keep us posted. Your story along with others inspired me to order the BF.

[banzaitoyota]

Has any one else (besides me) noticed color tranfer back to the applicator pad when using BF GEP and AFFP on single stage paints?

[Likecars]

Hey MB, how about a monthly update for Blackfire. How's it holding up?

I just Klassed my Odyssey and man that's nice stuff. I hadn't used it since Sept when I first used it on my Lexus.