I posted a thread in the main detailing forum about a QD I found at an import performance shop (well-more like a rice boy body kit, altezza tail lights and spoiler shop) while I was inquiring about new struts and springs for my Accord (I want a 1" drop and that`s it) and I noticed a small display of waxes and QD`s from a company called ClearKote. I was nearly out of Meguiars #34 so I figured I would pick the QD called Quik Shine. 32 oz for $11 seemed like a pretty good deal and if it wasn`t very good, hey, it was only $11.
Anyway, I tried it on my car-dusted it and then applied the Quik Shine. It did an excellent job! Really slick and it fills in minor streaks (like when drying a panel that is nearly dry with a dry towel). By slick, I mean like the way the paint feels after using Pinnacle PG. Seriously! I also tried it on a black Expidition that hadn`t been waxed in about 2 months and when I was finished, the paint looked great-almost like I had just waxed it. It says it has color enhancers in it and it must-the Expidition looked blacker than when I started and all the minor streaks were gone.
The only drawback I have noticed is that it seems almost too slick to use with clay-almost like the clay doesn`t grab as well as with a regular QD. Not really a problem-I usually clay while washing a car anyway-the soapy water works as well as a QD and is cheaper.
CleanDean found the website and I checked out the rest of the product line and noticed they had a wax that "Contains no silicones, Teflon, alcohol or abrasives." and is said to be "An excellent cleaner/wax used to remove oxidation from all paint, chrome, plastic, gelcoat and fiberglass surfaces." I would assume with no abrasives, it uses a mild chemical cleaner to remove light oxidation.
In any event, I noticed they want $20 for a 16 oz bottle, but I remembered it being cheaper at the ricer shop, so I went by today between details and picked up a bottle for $14. A bit more than the average 16 oz bottle of cleaner wax, but not too pricey. I need to have a good cleaner/wax for customers who only want a 1 step exterior detail but still want a good shine and reasonable durability.
I had a couple vehicles to clean this afternoon-just basic washes. One of the guys at the office has 1997 Suburban that he is trading in at the end of June, and doesn`t want to wax it until then. I asked him if he would mind if I waxed the hood with a new product I was trying out to see if he likes it and so I could see how long it lasts, and he told me it was fine with him.
I used a foam hand applicator and found that a little goes a long way-some cleaner waxes use more products per panel than a straight wax because they are doing two jobs instead of one. It hazes pretty quickly-the bottle says you can wipe off immediately, but it comes off easiest when you let it haze for 2-3 minutes, then it wipes off. No white residue and it had a nice, wet carnuba like shine. So far so good. Only thing I noticed was the smell-seemed similar to Autoglym Super Resin (based on a 6-7 year old memory). Not horribly unpleasant, but not intoxicatingly incredible like Pinnacle PG.
I tried it on my car as well-it had been about 6 weeks since I had polished with Meguiars Hand Polish and waxed with Pinnacle PG. I applied it to about 1/3 the car at a time, then buffed off the excess. Again, a great shine and easy to use. It also worked great on my black plastic mirrors and window moldings and again, no residue-of course, my car is debadged!
My first impressions of the wax are outstanding. Very easy to use, nice wet shine and very little dusting (I used a bit too much on one side of my car-the other side was pretty much dust free) even though this afternoons humidity was about 20%-very dry today! It is very convienent for me to get this product also, since it is sold locally. I believe on their website that shipping is included in the price of the products, because I didn`t see any shipping charges on the price page or order page and that may be why it costs less at the store than for them to ship directly.
I will be trying it on a variety of vehicles, including more than likely, a black Ford F-250 tomorrow-he likes me to use Pinnacle PG on his CL 500, but he really doesn`t care what I use on his truck as long as it shines. I will also monitor the hood on the Suburban-I wash it about every two weeks.
Anyway, the website is:
http://www.clearkote.com/index.html
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