Autopia Product Thesaurus - what is it, or similarities - YOUR Help Needed

[bunkeroo26]

With increased technology of Detailing products, the terms used to describe the product and is function are often lost in marketing jargon. With the help of this forum, we hope to put together a list of popular chemicals, abrasives and products, their highlights, and some alternative uses.


We need your help. How do you describe products? How do you tell if they work correctly? Much of the information needed, is found in other threads here at Autopia.org, and we need your help deciding the best of it.


***Disclaimer: any use of product other than manufactured instructions can result in damage or loss of warranty for product. We list alternate uses and techniques for comparison only. Autopia.org, and thread contributors are not responsible for damages occurred from improper or non traditional use of products discussed in this thread.***



In this thread we will attempt to define several different product types that are commonly confused. While there is no industry specific naming conventions, this can be exceedingly frustrating for new members of our sector.


We also will discuss how some popular products are used for alternative purposes. While this is discussed at great length on this forum, the information is scattered. This thread works to compile this information into a vault.



How this works :

1.) ask a question about a specific product. We will add it to the list and our members will be able to respond with their opinions.

2.) products will be broken into several classification systems for discussion and comparison

3.) products will be alphabetized inside categories

4.) first 10 replies reserved for easy Thesaurus navigation in future. All important info compiled at start of thread

5.) work together to decide a naming and classification convention. How we describe how things work.

6.) comment on what we think works as advertised, and what is marketing spin/fluff

[bunkeroo26]

Current Questioned Products:

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1). HD Speed - AIO Polish/Sealant, AIO Correction Glaze, Is it a Polish, or a Glaze? Can this perform as both with different techniques? Or is the terms Polish/Glaze being used interchangably? Currently is in Abrasives.

2). Duragloss SMR - Swirl Mark Remover, this is obviously a Polish/Compound, but they label it a "pre-polish agent", are we saying the same thing? Do they mean, before final polish to make it look pretty?, and we are talking about compounding = polish? In Abrasives

3). Duragloss PC-No.2 - its labeled pre-polish also, and it removes oxidation and scratches. Is this a compound, or a heavier polish? In Abrasives

4). Duragloss PBA - Polish Bonding Agent, doubles durability and protection of polishes when applied prior to polishing. Umm.... well, polishes add zero durability and protection. Perhaps the entire product line of Duragloss polish = seal/coating? Currently Unlisted.

5). Duragloss Aquawax - spray wax producing a durable finish, zero abrasives, but is listed under Exterior Polishes. They even say it is "formulated to wax after washing in one easy step." Currently in Waxes



Proven Deceptive - not that I am trying to prove companies wrong, I just am making the case of needing to send into a product deeper.

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Abrasives:

*Chemical Guys Pro Polish and Protect 3n - titled "Protect" with disclaimer about zero protective qualities




Terminology:

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AAT

Compounding Polish

DAT

Hybrid Compound

Nano

Optical Grade

Polymer

Protect

SMAT

UV


Do you have a product that confuses you?

Ask about it, and it can be added here.

[bunkeroo26]

Product Categories:

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1.) LSPs

Waxes,

Seals,

Coatings

Hybrids


2.) Abrasives

Polishes

Compounds

Sand Paper / Discs


3.) Pads

Machine

Hand

Foam

MicroFiber

Applicators


4.) Cleaners

Glass Cleaners

Degreasers

Soaps

Vinyl

Carpet

Fabric

Leather


5.) Tire Products

Clean

Shine

Protect


6.) Wash Products

Soaps

Rinseless

Waterless


7.) Decontamination

Chemical (spray)

Clay (Abrasive)

Clay Towel / Mitt (Alternative)


8.) QD Sprays

Drying Aids

Slickness

Reflection

Gloss

[bunkeroo26]

LSP - last step products


These are the finishing steps that provide quality coverings to your paint. Many of these coverings are thought of as sacrificial barriers between your paint and things like bird droppings.


This is one of the categories with the most significant technological advances in the last few years. Because of these advances, there is a little grey area between these products. The lines blur between what is a wax and what is a sealant.



CLASSIFICATION:

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Terminology varies greatly with manufacturer, which creates an opportunity for misunderstanding and misuse of these products. Very often, one product can fall into multiple categories. In these cases we must ask ourselves, "which does it perform more like?" or "What is it closest to?".


*Definitions*


1.) Wax - low to medium duration coating. Either Natural or Synthetic. Natural varieties are mainly Caranuba based, with other natural waxes appearing such as Montan or Bees Wax. Synthetics can have a multitude of different components. Both natural and synthetic can be paste, creme, or liquid waxes. Durability varies based on components of Wax, application technique, and environmental conditions. These often add Slickness and gloss that many people attribute to a "good" finish, not always the best factors to judge by.


2.) Sealants - Newer technology than waxes. Often used a silica base to protect the paint. While similar to a wax layer, these perform differently. Users will often not get the desired Slickness with sealants. Sealant durability is highly dependent upon the surface to which is applied.


3.) Coating technology is the highest technology LSP available. Ceramic coatings provide the ultimate LSP for the client. With a much higher hardness and acid resistance, this forms what can be thought of as a second clear coat over your vehicle. These gives owners the chance to enjoy their vehicle, with less worry about damaging its finish.


4.) Hybrid - products that display attributes of multiple LSP categories. Those not easily defined as a wax, sealent or coating.


Confusing: All waxes can be classified as a surface sealant, and to some extents as a coating. But not all sealants and coatings are waxes. Many seals can be topped by waxes, but installing in reverse order can lead to premature sealant failure. Calling a coating an LSP us a bit deceptive. It can not be installed like other LSPs. While it performs better than other LSPs, it must be put into bare paint. This makes it a First Step LSP, or an entirely different category.



Products:

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* AquaWax (Duragloss) - wax after washing, one easy step. No Abrasives

* CQuartz (CarPro) - Coating - Ceramic based - higher slicknesses than other coatings High Durability - up to 2 years. Available us higher hardness UK version - retail, and Finest - pro only. Ok



* GAP_619 Black Light Hybrid Radiant Finish (CG) - Sealant - gloss enhancer plus sealant


* Optimum Car Wax (OPT) - Wax - Caranuba and polymer based spray wax. Easiest wax to apply. Low to mid durability 2 to 4 months


* Opti Coat (OPT) - Coating - Ceramic - applies similar to Opti Seal, but less ability to wipe off. Cures to full hardness in 90 days. Don`t get wet for 1 hour. Install is easy, but surface prep us most crucial. Minimized touching after install also needed. Available in pro only version also. Ultra High Durability - 10+ years


* Opti Seal (OPT) - Sealant - wipe on, wipe off simplicity, silica based sealant with medium durability 2 - 3 months

[bunkeroo26]

Abrasives:


This is the product line that had the most "spin" and jargon of any of our chemicals. Some are intentionally misleading and some are vague. Let`s figure all of this out together.


`


Categories:

Polishes

Compounds

Finish



Products:

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* Duragloss SMR (DG) - Compound - Swirl Mark Remover, Wax/Polymer/Polish


* Duragloss PC-No.2 (DG) - Compound? - Buffing and Polish Cleaner

* Gap_106 Aio Polish, Shine, Seal (CG) - Polish - with seal added

* GAP_321 Deep Reflections XP 1 Step Finish (CG) - Finish-` finish polish, wax and glaze.


* HD Adapt (HD) - Compound/Polish - Adaptive Abrasive Technology, multi surface


* HD Cut (HD) - Compound - Aggressive, Non Diminishing Abrasives, Zero Fillers


* HD Polish (HD) - Finish - Pure Polish, Nano and SMAT, Zero Fillers


* HD Speed (HD) - Finish - AIO Polish/Seal, AIO Correction Glaze, unsure of this product


* HD Uno (HD) - Compound/Polish - Non Diminishing, can act as C. or P. based on Pad

* Revive Glaze + Polish` (CG) - Polish -`` plus filler glaze


* Phase 5 Dual Action Compound & Polish - Diminishing Abrasives, must be properly worked to become a polish.


* Pro Polish Nano 3n - High Gloss Paint Correction Polish and Protection (CG) - The description even says that "it does not contain any waxes, sealants, or protective qualities." Right there is their disclaimer that the product title is bogus. I can not claim that this product does not perform. I can claim deceptive marketing.


*V32 Optical Grade Extreme Compound


*V34 Optical Grade Hybrid Compound


*V36 Optical Grade Cutting Polish


*V38 Optical Grade Final Polish

[bunkeroo26]

Protection and Pads:


`


Protection of surfaces is not an old idea.` The brand name Scotch Guard is a great example of such.` Some of the newer technology advances have been in fabric, leather, and trim coating.` These are more than a spray on conditioner, they are protective coatings


`


Products:


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*HD Protect (HD) - Water based, Leather, Plastic, Vinyl, Carpet


Pads are a standard of our industry. If doing any machine polishing or applying a coating, you are most likely using a pad of some sorts. The types of pads, and various used for them vary, add do their effectiveness. Let`s talk about some uses for different pads, and how you can decide what is the best for your next task.

[bunkeroo26]

Cleaners:


Everything that we deal with is Filthy. We depend on a suite of cleaners to speed up or cleaning process, and save our elbows. We will discuss the different types of cleaners, how to choose the safest one for the job, if a cleaner is Eco Friendly, and if there are health earnings with a product.

[bunkeroo26]

Tire Products:


Aside from shiny and slick paint, many customers want shiny and sick tires. Here we can discuss the products to clean, protect, and dress our tires. We also can pinpoint which products leave a shiny or matte finish. There are also some different application techniques.


`


`


High Gloss:


Opti Bond (OPT) - Water Based Multi-Apply, UV/Ozone, also Interior/Trim


Tire Shine (OPT) - Water Based Spray, UV/Ozone, also Vinyl/Trim


`


Matte Gloss:


`


Adjustable Gloss:


*HD Dress (HD) - Water Based Multi-Apply, UV, More Coats = More Gloss, also Interior/Trim

[bunkeroo26]

Wash Products:


Traditional washes, washes with wax in them, rinseless washes, waterless washes.... With many ways to wash your car, is there a best way? Here we discuss how didn`t products can be used in different situations, and which is best for you.

[bunkeroo26]

Decon, Paint Cleaners, Bug & Tar


Chemical Decon

- Systems (Valguard ABC)

- Soaps (Iron X Soap)

- Sprays (IronX)

Abrasive Decon -

- Clays

- Clay Towels

- Clay Mitts

- Clay Pad

- Clay Holding Pad

[bunkeroo26]

QD and other Sprays:


*GAP_104 Wet Mirror Ultra Slick Gloss Magnifier (CG) - Gloss plus UVA UVB inhibitors

[bunkeroo26]

Multiple Category and AIO Products:


Usually products with wax, or with sealant. These fit into multiple classifications. Here durability and feasibility is questioned. If one product is A plus wax, does A work and does the wax work as desired? Is it efficient to combine products? Do they work?



Products:


* Creme Wax Deep Reflections Plus X Seal (CG) : wax plus seal

* Gap_106 AIO Polish, Shine & Seal (CG) : polish with seal added.

*GAP_321 Deep Reflections XP 1 Step Finish Formula (CG) : very fine polish plus wax and glaze emulsion


*GPS (OPT) - glaze, polish, seal

*ONRww (OPT) - Optimum No Rinse with Wax

[bunkeroo26]

Standalone or Companion Products


These either do not fit into their own category, or these products help another product work better. This is where bonders and hardeners would fall into, along with many other products.

[bunkeroo26]

Fillers and Concealers


This is for a very debate product class.

These do little to fix problems, but work to hide them.

Use of these are frowned upon, because you deliver a

beautiful car to the customer. These fillers expire quickly,

so the look fades in just a few months.


But, what about unfixable scratches? Then these become an option.


Glazes are the big boy in this category.

If you see the word filler, it will most often just conceal not correct.


Products:

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*GAP_111 Extreme Shine EZ Creme Glaze - (CG)

*GAP_618 Glossworkz Glaze - (CG) glaze olus UV protection


*GPS - (OPT) - Hand Glaze - worries as glaze and seal by hand, or polish and seal by machine. Not a true glaze.


*RMG - Red Moose Machine Glaze (?) - Glaze- works great on dark cars. Very easy spread by machine. Personally, I haven`t glazed in years.

[Accumulator]

You might oughta have a category for "glazes", maybe one for AIOs as well.` And then there are "paint cleaners".`` Sorry, don`t really intend to further complicate things, but I see`some`offerings in those groups as being`among the, uhm..."contentious definition" products.