KnuckleBuckett
06-01-2008, 08:56 AM
Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay Review
This is not a brand new product to me, as I have been using it for roughly nine months. That said, this is my first formal review of the product.
I have used PUPC on several smaller projects and three full fledged top to bottom details. Two of which were never previously detailed and heavily embedded, oxidized, had plenty of miles, and just plain awful.
Packaging was typical. It comes in a "soap dish" for storage. Initially sealed in a vacuum tight plastic. The plastic comes off easily if torn along the spine and end tabs. If you don`t use the tabs, product removal can be annoying. IMO the dish could seal better, however I have not experienced any drying due to its less than perfect seal. It gets the job done. 7/10
Quantity. There is exactly enough for two separate perfectly (for me) sized useful pieces. I cut my bar in half, and use the pieces for different applications. It is sized perfectly. 10/10
Initial Texture. At first it is almost too sticky and kind of hard. Roll it around a bit and work it into a nice pad with a little lubricant, and it becomes perfectly malleable I am very pleased with the texture. I would give the texture a solid 10/10.
Lube. I do not use the Pinnacle clay lubricant. Nor have I even tried it. I use ONR (Optimum No Rinse) diluted to clay lube specifications.
Forming and Working Texture. The clay forms well in your hand and pats out well. I always spray a bit of lube into my hand when forming and or reforming the clay pad. As you slide the clay along the lubricated finish the clay it will veryl slowly thin out and enlarge. I like this effect, as it better form fits my hand as well as the surface being cleansed. Eventually it will become too thin and needs to be reformed into a new pad. Generally speaking this seems to coincide to when it is getting a bit dirty and needs a reform anyway. I could not ask for better properties here. 10/10
Tactile Feel. I found that I could really tell how dirty the surface was. I could easily tell when I was hitting surface that needed attention, and when the surface was cleansed and it was time to move on. The Pinnacle possess an excellent ability to telegraph to the user just what is happening at clear coat or paint level. Absolutely awesome! 10/10
Cleaning. This to me is the real meat of the review. If a clay cannot clean properly none of the rest of the parameters are very meaningful. I found the Ultra Poly to be just the right mix between not aggressive enough and too aggressive. It caused little or no marring (I noticed none at all) yet really pulled out the contaminants. Results were consistent, clean, and smooth as could be. I could not have asked more of any clay. Perfect. 10/10 Great job Pinnacle!!
Durability. Not bad. This is a purely subjective protion of the review. I found the the durability to be quite acceptable, though nothing extraordianary. When it starts to get too dirty, reforming a clean ball becomes difficult as the clay does not want to become smooth and seamless. Thus when teh Pinnacle becomes too polluted to use safely, it lest you know. 8.5/10
Notes:
- I used MF towles to clean off any excess lube after treating each section. I changed sides and towels frequently.
- Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay and Pinnacle lubricant web site Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay Special includes Pinnacle Clay Lubricant, Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay Bar, microfiber towels, detail clay bar combo (http://www.pinnaclewax.com/piulpoclkit.html)
- Optimum No Rinse or ONR web site No Rinse Wash & Shine (http://www.optimumcarcare.com/norinse.html)
- I obtained both from from AutoGeek.com Automotive Super Site (http://www.AutoGeek.com)
- Several of the above could have been affected by my using a lubricant other than the the Pinnacle brand.
- The review is based upon using half of a bar at any given time.
- My experience with other clay bars is limited. I have experience with Adam`s Clay and Sonus Clay products.
-Adam`s was a very nice product and my backup to the Pinnacle.
-Sonus was too fine for my tastes. IMO it should be relegated to those who maintain their finish well and clay far more often than is typical.
- Suggestion. Use half of the bar from roof to midline and the other half from midline to rims. Be sure to label them clearly so as to never end up swapping them.
- These are all opinions based on my personal use of the product. I have posted this in order to help others in our forum in both comparison experinces as well as an aid in choosing a clay.
Please feel free to post comments, experiences and questions!!
This is not a brand new product to me, as I have been using it for roughly nine months. That said, this is my first formal review of the product.
I have used PUPC on several smaller projects and three full fledged top to bottom details. Two of which were never previously detailed and heavily embedded, oxidized, had plenty of miles, and just plain awful.
Packaging was typical. It comes in a "soap dish" for storage. Initially sealed in a vacuum tight plastic. The plastic comes off easily if torn along the spine and end tabs. If you don`t use the tabs, product removal can be annoying. IMO the dish could seal better, however I have not experienced any drying due to its less than perfect seal. It gets the job done. 7/10
Quantity. There is exactly enough for two separate perfectly (for me) sized useful pieces. I cut my bar in half, and use the pieces for different applications. It is sized perfectly. 10/10
Initial Texture. At first it is almost too sticky and kind of hard. Roll it around a bit and work it into a nice pad with a little lubricant, and it becomes perfectly malleable I am very pleased with the texture. I would give the texture a solid 10/10.
Lube. I do not use the Pinnacle clay lubricant. Nor have I even tried it. I use ONR (Optimum No Rinse) diluted to clay lube specifications.
Forming and Working Texture. The clay forms well in your hand and pats out well. I always spray a bit of lube into my hand when forming and or reforming the clay pad. As you slide the clay along the lubricated finish the clay it will veryl slowly thin out and enlarge. I like this effect, as it better form fits my hand as well as the surface being cleansed. Eventually it will become too thin and needs to be reformed into a new pad. Generally speaking this seems to coincide to when it is getting a bit dirty and needs a reform anyway. I could not ask for better properties here. 10/10
Tactile Feel. I found that I could really tell how dirty the surface was. I could easily tell when I was hitting surface that needed attention, and when the surface was cleansed and it was time to move on. The Pinnacle possess an excellent ability to telegraph to the user just what is happening at clear coat or paint level. Absolutely awesome! 10/10
Cleaning. This to me is the real meat of the review. If a clay cannot clean properly none of the rest of the parameters are very meaningful. I found the Ultra Poly to be just the right mix between not aggressive enough and too aggressive. It caused little or no marring (I noticed none at all) yet really pulled out the contaminants. Results were consistent, clean, and smooth as could be. I could not have asked more of any clay. Perfect. 10/10 Great job Pinnacle!!
Durability. Not bad. This is a purely subjective protion of the review. I found the the durability to be quite acceptable, though nothing extraordianary. When it starts to get too dirty, reforming a clean ball becomes difficult as the clay does not want to become smooth and seamless. Thus when teh Pinnacle becomes too polluted to use safely, it lest you know. 8.5/10
Notes:
- I used MF towles to clean off any excess lube after treating each section. I changed sides and towels frequently.
- Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay and Pinnacle lubricant web site Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay Special includes Pinnacle Clay Lubricant, Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay Bar, microfiber towels, detail clay bar combo (http://www.pinnaclewax.com/piulpoclkit.html)
- Optimum No Rinse or ONR web site No Rinse Wash & Shine (http://www.optimumcarcare.com/norinse.html)
- I obtained both from from AutoGeek.com Automotive Super Site (http://www.AutoGeek.com)
- Several of the above could have been affected by my using a lubricant other than the the Pinnacle brand.
- The review is based upon using half of a bar at any given time.
- My experience with other clay bars is limited. I have experience with Adam`s Clay and Sonus Clay products.
-Adam`s was a very nice product and my backup to the Pinnacle.
-Sonus was too fine for my tastes. IMO it should be relegated to those who maintain their finish well and clay far more often than is typical.
- Suggestion. Use half of the bar from roof to midline and the other half from midline to rims. Be sure to label them clearly so as to never end up swapping them.
- These are all opinions based on my personal use of the product. I have posted this in order to help others in our forum in both comparison experinces as well as an aid in choosing a clay.
Please feel free to post comments, experiences and questions!!