Review: ClearKote Quick Shine. The best...but not by much

[Mmmph]

I've seen the ClearKote Quick Shine discussions and debates here and FWIW I'm not attempting to start up anything by this review.

I've used the following Quick Detail sprays (and still have all of them but one), so I'm basing my findings on my previous experiences. While I may not have used as many QDs as some folks here, I would personally rate my QD experience level as "advanced". In alphabetical order:

•3M Perfect-It Gloss Enhancer
•Auto Magic #49 Body Shine
•Deep Reflections Quick Detail Spray (Local bathtubber)
•Duragloss 921 Fast Clean and Shine
•Eagle One Wet Wipe 'n Shine
•Eimann Fabrik Clear Pearl Instant Detail Spray
•Meguiar's#34 Final Inspection
•Meguiar's Quik Detailer
•Mothers California Gold Showtime Instant Detailer
•One Grand Showoff
•Pinnacle Crystal Mist Quick Detailer
•The Wax Shop Slick Stuff
...and now ClearKote Quick Shine.

Friday evening, I washed (Duragloss 901) and waxed (Pinnacle Souverän) my Black Onyx RX 300. I let it rest overnight, woke up Saturday morning it looked great, as usual! I CCD'ed it and applied Clearkote Quick Shine to the hood and one panel on each side. Every other panel (6 total) was QD'ed with one of the brands listed above (I went through a pile of MF's to do this). I did not QD the tailgate. Whaddya know...It still looked great. Every panel.

Visually, I found no difference between Quick Shine and any of the QD's I used or any difference in the tailgate where I didn't QD. I must say, though, that Quick Shine is some truly slick, slick stuff. It leaves the paint feeling like silk.

I worked in the yard all day Saturday and decided to check out the RX around 6pm. There was dust on the car. I did not CCD. I hopped in and drove to town to return some DVDs. When I got to the video place I checked out my paint. The Quik Shine panels were more dust-free than the others, but not by much. I CCD'ed the tailgate and applied QS to half of it and drove home. I observed the Quick Shine side of the tailgate to be less dusty, but not by much.

Today (Sunday) everything was pretty much the same, so I did the whole RX with Quik Shine

Is it the best I've ever used? Yes...but not by much.

• It looks no better than many of the brands mentioned above.
• It does appear to leave a finish that releases dust a little more readily. (This is good, especially with a black car)
• It leaves behind a slick, silky feeling. While that may be personally gratifying, unfortunately, it's not something I want other people to realize, because I don't want them touching my paint to check it out.

[Scottwax]

On nicely waxed paint, you are not going to see a huge difference in shine between QDs. Where Quikshine's advantage really shows is on paint with marginal wax.

I agree that it is very slick and doesn't attract a lot of dust

Nice and very thorough review! I especially like how you tested for dust attraction since it can get bad in the summer if it doesn't rain.

[Greg]

I agree and love Quikshine. I find the dust test not really applicable when comparing some of those including EF CP and PCM as they contain carnauba which attracts dust more than a non-wax QD. Anyway- I love the stuff and it smells good too.

[BradNC]

Nice review!

Brad

[Gadfly]

Mmmf, What is your take of the relative cost-effectiveness of the various QD's you tested?

[Mmmph]

Cost effectiveness? You're asking a guy who spent over $1K on detailing goodies in the last year. I lucked out on the Quick Shine. Bought it from another member who had too much. I bought 5 qt. and got a great deal.

Here's price per oz. on spray bottles. I didn't figure shipping, as I wouldn't by only QD online. It would be part of a larger order.

•Pinnacle Crystal Mist $19.95/16oz plus shipping = 1.25/oz plus shipping
•One Grand Showoff $10.75 plus shipping/16oz = .67/oz plus shipping
•3M Perfect-It Gloss Enhancer $7.95 plus tax/16oz = .53/oz
•Eimann Fabrik Clear Pearl $14.95 plus shipping/32oz = .47/oz plus shipping
•Clearkote Quik Shine $15.00/32oz plus shipping = .47/oz plus shipping
•Meguiar's#34 Final Inspection $6.95 pus tax/16oz = .46/oz
•Duragloss 921 Fast Clean and Shine $6.50 plus tax/16oz = .44/oz
•The Wax Shop Slick Stuff $7.95 plus tax/21oz = .41/oz
•Mothers Showtime $5.95 plus tax/16oz = .40oz
•Meguiar's Quik Detailer $5.99 plus tax/16oz = .40oz
•Auto Magic #49 Body Shine 4.99 plus tax/16oz = .33/oz
•Deep Reflections (Local bathtubber) $5.00 plus tax/16oz = .33/oz
•Eagle One Wet Wipe 'n Shine $3.99 plus tax/19oz = .23/oz

[4DSC]

Nice review Mmmph, thanks.

FWIW, Mothers Showtime refills (32oz) seem to be a very good deal at about the same cost as the 16oz bottle (unless I was quoted the wrong price....).

[Fr0zen]

I like Eimann Fabrik Clear Pearl and meguiars Finial Detail nice products and smell nice. I find that EF doesnt leave the paint so slick though it doesnt attract much dust.

[JimS]

If you want cost effective try Poorboys Spray and Wipe. I know...it's a waterless wash but I use as a QD and it works great....every bit as good as the others I've tried...namely..Z6, Platinum, Crystal Mist, and the two Megs products. Get 5 gallon and the cost really comes down!