Best Sealant for a dark blue metallic?

S

spree

New member
I need recommendations for my dark blue metallic '06 ford explorer. I used Natty's Blue on the pic below and while the car looked great, it didn't give me as much flake pop as I desire.



So basically I'm looking for something that will really make the flakes stand out and is durable. I'd rather not go the Zaino route since I don't feel like buying ZFX and Z8 (yes, cost is an issue). Here's a pic of the car...



img_0302.jpg




thanks!
 
My wife's car is a very simular blue. With her car I use AIO, UPPx2 and Natty's Blue. I've found that the UPP gives the metallic on my wife's car a pretty decent pop so that would be my suggestion if you haven't tried it yet.
 
If you're looking for flake pop, I'd recommend Z2Pro. It has worked for me, every time, on every metallic color.



Having said that, I will add that the best flake pop *I've* ever got on my car (Midnight Blue Metallic GTO) was after OP/RMG/YCW/CMW. The enhanced pop was apparent immediately after the application of RMG. The flake on that color is very dark and understated, however. The best flake pop on the Machine Silver Metallic car, which has more traditional metal looking flake, was with Z2Pro.



If you don't mind Zaino, give the Z2Pro a try. If you want to go with a glaze/carnauba combo, I'd recommend the Clearkote products.
 
hmm, how about S100? I know it's a wax, but flakes always seemed pretty good with that product, even though it isn't the most durable. OCW looked good on silver metallic also. I would also second the UPP recommendation. I get very good durability with it despite the comments for low durability among some people on here.
 
I got my Scions flake to pop by using UPP. The difference was apparent right away, and I really liked the smooth finish. Afterwards I applied Natty's blue and it helped me achieve some depth with the silver.
 
My current combo makes flakes VERY pronounced. You can leave off the AIO and VM and cut it down to RMG/UPP/Natty's Blue and still have the same effect. I think the RMG and UPP together is what makes the flake stand out so much.
 
I've tried several products on my NBM TA. IMO Tropicare TC-3XP produces the nicest look. Layerable, wet, and great mettallic pop. Pretty durable too.
 
Cool, thanks for the tips guys. I decided to give Mother's Reflections Advanced Car Wax and Top Coat a try...
 
One look at the pic that Scottwax posted pretty much says it all! If you don't want to go the Werkstatt route, UPP will do the trick for ya. I read your thoughts on Zaino, however Z2 Pro will make that flake POP like shooting stars in the night sky!
 
There have been so many good suggestions that at some point it becomes overwhelming making a pick. The photo that Scott shows of the Werkstat twins looks incredible, and it surely makes an excellent choice.



In general, a clear reflective shiny sealant will help with metallic flake more than a carnauba. I think the reasons of why a sealant helps with the flake is the NEUTRAL LOOK. What I mean as neutral is that they accurately show how the paint is below providing magnification of the features because of their clear and reflective nature. To paraphrase Edwin (blkz28conv) "no muted, natural, paint boot look"



My personal (see the emphasis on personal) preference for reflections advanced car wax over TC-3, EX-P or Z2-pro was the overall look. A tiny bit less reflective, but with a "warmer glow". Hard to describe with words, as it is purely subjective, but the best aid I can get as mean of contrast is the concept of "neutral looking" I described above.



I would say that TC-3, Z2-pro and EX-p to name a few are more on the "neutral looking" camp, while UPP, wolfgang and reflections advanced car wax are more on the "warm looking" camp. I haven't tried FMJ, but judging by the pictures I would place it also in the "warm look" camp. I haven't tried the werksatts' either, but again judging by the pictures it is more on the "neutral looking" camp.



In the end, try 2 or 3 products and stick with the ones that pleases you the most.





Alex



PS. As exception to the rule of the clear and shiny sealants helping with metallic flake, Mothers FX synwax is so shiny and reflective than in fact the flake gets muted. A product that I also personally think makes a great LSP for metallic flake is the humble Collinite 476S. Not a beauty wax, but I found why I liked it in my car: It makes the flake stand out.
 
In general, a clear reflective shiny sealant will help with metallic flake more than a carnauba.
Click to expand...



True, and I might add that AIO by itself (old version) really makes the flake pop on my metallic silver.
 
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