Mike was kind enough to include a bottle of #20 Polymer Sealant with my NXT order and since I hadn't used it in a while, I thought I would test it out.
First test, like always was the top of my washing machine (I've got the shiniest washing machine in the world, I think!) and the first thing I noticed was the #20 was thicker and smelled a lot better than I remembered. It also dried more clearly. The label says new label but same formula, but somehow I don't think so. #20 seems to have been reformulated in the last few years. Next thing I noticed was a nice slick feeling and good gloss.
Now on to real vehicles. I had a Chevy Tahoe and F250 to detail and the paint was in very good shape on both of them. I just had some minor blemish polishing to do with DACP, otherwise the paint on both were only in need of some light cleaning/polishing....something along the lines of AIO...no real surface correction, just to completely clean the surface. #20 has light cleaners and polishes in it (doesn't seem abrasive though) and leaves behind a polymer protection. Since I've had good luck with AIO/NXT, decided to try #20/NXT.
#20 goes on very easily, hazes and is able to be buffed off very quickly. Honestly, I think it is more user friendly than NXT is. I applied to two sections at a time then went back over and simply wiped off the excess. There was a slight brightening and improvement in gloss of the paint after applying and removing #20 compared to the paint that I hadn't yet applied #20 to. My customer came out to see how far along I was after I had finished using #20 on the Tahoe and about 2/3rds of the F250 and commented on how nice both vehicles looked, then ran his hand along the side of the Tahoe and mentioned how smooth the paint now felt.
I then applied NXT to both vehicles, then went back and removed the excess. NXT buffs off pretty easily, but not as easy as the #20 did. Low 40s, humid and windy probably doesn't help NXT cure quickly. Maybe when it gets warmer NXT will buff off as quickly (not to say NXT is a PITA to use, just in comparison...). Anyway, adding NXT to the mix darkened the color a bit and noticably improved depth. Slickness felt similar but my experience has been that NXT gets slicker a few hours after applied, so if I had hung around this guy's house until 8 PM (not likely!), I may have noticed increased slickness. My customer was very pleased with how both vehicles looked. I took pics, but probably won't get this roll developed for a few days yet....but I will add the pics to this thread when I have them.
My initial impression is that #20/NXT would be a nice combo on finishes that are in very good to excellent condition where abrasive polishing is not needed. Is the #20/NXT combo going to be extra durable since both are polymers? I don't know. I would guess whatever carrier solvents in NXT may remove at least some of the polymer protecant in #20 but it won't affect #20's paint cleaning ability.
Why not just use one or the other? Regardless of whether or not NXT has any cleaning ability, whatever it does actually have is very light compared to #20. NXT is billed as a last step product and I'll continue to use it that way. #20 has a nice glossy look, but depth is about average, so using NXT makes the paint look noticably deeper.
Hopefully I will have pics to go with this thread in a few days. I have three shots left,on this roll.
First test, like always was the top of my washing machine (I've got the shiniest washing machine in the world, I think!) and the first thing I noticed was the #20 was thicker and smelled a lot better than I remembered. It also dried more clearly. The label says new label but same formula, but somehow I don't think so. #20 seems to have been reformulated in the last few years. Next thing I noticed was a nice slick feeling and good gloss.
Now on to real vehicles. I had a Chevy Tahoe and F250 to detail and the paint was in very good shape on both of them. I just had some minor blemish polishing to do with DACP, otherwise the paint on both were only in need of some light cleaning/polishing....something along the lines of AIO...no real surface correction, just to completely clean the surface. #20 has light cleaners and polishes in it (doesn't seem abrasive though) and leaves behind a polymer protection. Since I've had good luck with AIO/NXT, decided to try #20/NXT.
#20 goes on very easily, hazes and is able to be buffed off very quickly. Honestly, I think it is more user friendly than NXT is. I applied to two sections at a time then went back over and simply wiped off the excess. There was a slight brightening and improvement in gloss of the paint after applying and removing #20 compared to the paint that I hadn't yet applied #20 to. My customer came out to see how far along I was after I had finished using #20 on the Tahoe and about 2/3rds of the F250 and commented on how nice both vehicles looked, then ran his hand along the side of the Tahoe and mentioned how smooth the paint now felt.
I then applied NXT to both vehicles, then went back and removed the excess. NXT buffs off pretty easily, but not as easy as the #20 did. Low 40s, humid and windy probably doesn't help NXT cure quickly. Maybe when it gets warmer NXT will buff off as quickly (not to say NXT is a PITA to use, just in comparison...). Anyway, adding NXT to the mix darkened the color a bit and noticably improved depth. Slickness felt similar but my experience has been that NXT gets slicker a few hours after applied, so if I had hung around this guy's house until 8 PM (not likely!), I may have noticed increased slickness. My customer was very pleased with how both vehicles looked. I took pics, but probably won't get this roll developed for a few days yet....but I will add the pics to this thread when I have them.
My initial impression is that #20/NXT would be a nice combo on finishes that are in very good to excellent condition where abrasive polishing is not needed. Is the #20/NXT combo going to be extra durable since both are polymers? I don't know. I would guess whatever carrier solvents in NXT may remove at least some of the polymer protecant in #20 but it won't affect #20's paint cleaning ability.
Why not just use one or the other? Regardless of whether or not NXT has any cleaning ability, whatever it does actually have is very light compared to #20. NXT is billed as a last step product and I'll continue to use it that way. #20 has a nice glossy look, but depth is about average, so using NXT makes the paint look noticably deeper.
Hopefully I will have pics to go with this thread in a few days. I have three shots left,on this roll.
