EBPcivicsi
04-05-2005, 09:23 PM
DISCLAIMER ********** I received this sample free from Mike Phillips by posting in a thread on MOL. I signed up for the sample under the condition that I would post an honest review of the product on MOL. I should also mention that I learned to detail with Meguiars products and have been forever biased towards them. The darkening effect of their products are what *I* look for when detailing. My eye has been trained to see that darkening as the way properly prepped paint should look. Just trying to be fair.
I have used the #21 on three seperate ocassions now. I have used it by hand and via PC, but not with the rotary...I don`t think I will.
Packaging Well the bottle is a sample bottle, but I have no problems with it. I am sure the real #21 bottles are neatly packaged with clear instructions. :D
http://img230.exs.cx/img230/2082/tn12727885hw.jpg
Physical description of the product #21 is a thick purple liquid that doesn`t seem to have any artificial scent added.
Application Via PC #21 is as you would expect very easy to apply. I applied it with a meguiars foam finishing pad at a speed of 3. A few drops on the pad covered my entire hood and front quater panel. It DID NOT stain my trim which is smooth plastic, not textured.
http://img230.exs.cx/img230/2830/tn12727892rp.jpg
By hand the product applies easily and spreads thinnly. I had no problem getting a thin even layer. The spots that were a little thicker were no problem to remove and did not streak. The temp was in the mid 70`s both times I applied it, the hunidity was normal.
Removal Removing the #21 via a pak shak MF was a breeze, no streaking, no hard rubbing, just clean removal. I waited about 15 minutes before removal. I also saw no dusting and my towel did not load up as quickly as when using other LSP`s.
Summary Having applied #21 to two different vehicles I get the sense that its closest relative within the Meguiars product line is not NXT at all, rather it is the new formula of GC. As I used #21 I was constantly reminded of the new GC, the removal is the same, application seems really close, even the look of the finished product is similar. Compared to NXT the #21 doesn`t seem to darken the paint as much, but does seem to have more crisp, clear reflections. I also feel that there is less set up time needed for the #21 compared to NXT. With NXT I find that if I don`t let it completely set up before removal, I get *some* streaking. With the #21 after about 15 minutes you are ready for streak free removal. I also find that the #21 spreads more easily than NXT and therefore removal is a touch easier and there is less dust. Not that NXT produces a lot of dust......
As far as cleaners go, I find it less than #20 and about the same as NXT. I applied a coat to my whels which are not clear coated, #20 turns the applicator RED, NXT and #21 only show a slight bit of paint transfer. I like that it has cleaners.
Final process
I applied PB`s SSR2 with the PC and a meguiars polishing pad @5.5.
I then applied #81 witht he PC and a meguiars finishing pad @3.
Next I applied one coat of #21 with the PC and a meguiars finishing pad on 3.
Finally I applied one more coat by hand with a foam applicator. I applied the second coat by hand to minimize the cleaning ability of the product and to ensure even coverage.
All products were removed with pak shak MF`s.
I have used the #21 on three seperate ocassions now. I have used it by hand and via PC, but not with the rotary...I don`t think I will.
Packaging Well the bottle is a sample bottle, but I have no problems with it. I am sure the real #21 bottles are neatly packaged with clear instructions. :D
http://img230.exs.cx/img230/2082/tn12727885hw.jpg
Physical description of the product #21 is a thick purple liquid that doesn`t seem to have any artificial scent added.
Application Via PC #21 is as you would expect very easy to apply. I applied it with a meguiars foam finishing pad at a speed of 3. A few drops on the pad covered my entire hood and front quater panel. It DID NOT stain my trim which is smooth plastic, not textured.
http://img230.exs.cx/img230/2830/tn12727892rp.jpg
By hand the product applies easily and spreads thinnly. I had no problem getting a thin even layer. The spots that were a little thicker were no problem to remove and did not streak. The temp was in the mid 70`s both times I applied it, the hunidity was normal.
Removal Removing the #21 via a pak shak MF was a breeze, no streaking, no hard rubbing, just clean removal. I waited about 15 minutes before removal. I also saw no dusting and my towel did not load up as quickly as when using other LSP`s.
Summary Having applied #21 to two different vehicles I get the sense that its closest relative within the Meguiars product line is not NXT at all, rather it is the new formula of GC. As I used #21 I was constantly reminded of the new GC, the removal is the same, application seems really close, even the look of the finished product is similar. Compared to NXT the #21 doesn`t seem to darken the paint as much, but does seem to have more crisp, clear reflections. I also feel that there is less set up time needed for the #21 compared to NXT. With NXT I find that if I don`t let it completely set up before removal, I get *some* streaking. With the #21 after about 15 minutes you are ready for streak free removal. I also find that the #21 spreads more easily than NXT and therefore removal is a touch easier and there is less dust. Not that NXT produces a lot of dust......
As far as cleaners go, I find it less than #20 and about the same as NXT. I applied a coat to my whels which are not clear coated, #20 turns the applicator RED, NXT and #21 only show a slight bit of paint transfer. I like that it has cleaners.
Final process
I applied PB`s SSR2 with the PC and a meguiars polishing pad @5.5.
I then applied #81 witht he PC and a meguiars finishing pad @3.
Next I applied one coat of #21 with the PC and a meguiars finishing pad on 3.
Finally I applied one more coat by hand with a foam applicator. I applied the second coat by hand to minimize the cleaning ability of the product and to ensure even coverage.
All products were removed with pak shak MF`s.