BLACKFIRE... <insert dramatic drum roll here> ;)

I applied the "new" BF to a test panel and so far, the difference between this product vs. my very first experience with BF is like night and day. My initial impressions with the new formula are as follows:



1. BF is definitely slicker than any wax I've ever used...including P21S (gonna compare it to Zaino next). I would say it's pretty even with Z in terms of slickness.



2. BF is very easy to spread & very easy to get a nice thin layer. It's easier to use than any polymer sealant I've tried..including Zaino.



3. Some ppl report smearing when buffing a too-thick layer of BF. I found that the easiest cure for this is to give it a few more minutes to dry and the product buffed out VERY easily. In fact, when it comes time to apply it to the entire car, I'm more inclined to apply it to the entire car before buffing to give it some time to dry. Does anyone know if this will cause problems?



4. After lightly washing the test panel with BF shampoo, I didn't notice any diminishment in slickness. With the original formula, all slickness was gone after the first wash.



It's hard to make any judgement in terms of gloss when you apply it to just a single panel, but I'll be applying BF to the entire car this weekend. Also, I will post a complete review IF there is anything I can add that others haven't already said. Needless to say, I'm very excited about putting BF to a true test.....and so far, this new formulation that CMA put together looks like a real winner! Also, :xyxthumbs to CMA for their generousity in sending out those test bottles. I was only expecting a 2-4 ounce size sample...not the full sized 16 ounce bottle!!
 
Intermezzo said:
In fact, when it comes time to apply it to the entire car, I'm more inclined to apply it to the entire car before buffing to give it some time to dry. Does anyone know if this will cause problems?
Click to expand...



That's exactly how I applied it. In fact, the first time I actually let it sit for about an hour before buffing because I'd used too much. I don't see why it would cause any problems. I can say in my experience that the surface after an hour was exactly the same as when I first applied it. It may have been how much I used, or the fact that it was about 80% humidity, or just the way BF is. But it buffed out just fine, albeit with a lot of towels.



I just ordered the BF shampoo and QD from CMA, so I'm looking forward to trying them out soon.
 
Yesterday I performed my second trial of the "new" BF (BF2) and also pulled the car outside to see the results. Outstanding!!!!:bounce



First. Application is quite easy after one realizes that a thin coat means a very thin coat. The application ( spreading ) of this BF2 is very easy but requires a little massaging to spread evenly and completely. I tried the supplied MF applicator and a Viking foam applicator and they work equally well. The only error I found was in the BF2 instructions. A nickle size dab of protectant is way too much for a single panel. My experience denote that a 1/4- 3/8" dab can do 1/2 the hood.

When the BF2 is applied thinly the buff is non-dusting (BF1 produced some minor dust) and as Adam stated requires very little towel/MF capacity.

Like Tony stated and Aurora 4.0 has done, applying to the entire car seems to be the way to go. By the time one has coated the entire car the initial areas should be ready for buffing.

Slickness:A+

Depth and wetness:A+

Ease of use: for sealant pros- A; for sealant novice: initially- C+ with time- A

reflectivity:A+

Carnuaba-likeness:A+ I see no need or advantage by topping with a carnuaba

Dust attraction: A

Durability: No data

Satisfaction: A++.

Conclusion: These results are so good that my experiment with the Zaino/BF combo is over. The new BF final results are actually better. These are only initial conclusions.

Let's see if these wonderful results have longevity

Great job Terry and CMA staff:wavey

Edwin
 
Thunderingbird said:
I think you will be surprized, I know I was. Everybody was telling me that it would not last over 4 weeks and after a couple of wash's it would be gone anyway. Well after applying it 3 1/2 months ago and 26 wash's later it is still going like gangbusters. This stuff is GREAT!!!:D
Click to expand...



Hi Thunderingbird,

I believe that BF will have good durability. My previous experience with the original formula showed not lose of beading after one wash but also this episode was skewed by the factor that I also had a combo of Blackfire and Zaino.

When I apply this new version on my daily exposed test bed (black LS400) will be a good test for longevity.

Hey Thunderingbird I am a little confused. Which BF version are you commenting on. The original or the new revision. Your threads state that you applied your protectant back on July 4th.:nixweiss :wavey
 
After a week of daily driving on freeways in Los Angeles I continue to be impressed with the new Blackfire's "slickness". Grit and grime build-up have been dramatically reduced and dust adhesion is no longer a factor. As far as durability goes, as ecstatic as I am with my results, I'll just apply more often.
 
There have been other people who have used the original formula with durable success. You aren't the only one to get a few months out of it (if indeed you have the old formula). The original was tricky to tell if it was still protecting. Since it wasn't slick and didn't bead, it could be difficult to determine if it's still there (although the sparkle would be a clue).



I posted my impressions of the original formula and the new one. Try smelling it. The original had a nice smell (although not food or beverage-like) to it. Its smell reminds me exactly of Meguiar's Gold Class liquid wax. The new stuff doesn't have a fragrance, but rather a slight chemical smell.



I don't think your observations are crazy. Just the WAY, I repeat, the WAY, in which you've delivered them! :shocked ;) :wavey
 
I just tried my BF2 sample and love it! Stripped the #26 topper off of my Glacier Pearl Pathfinder and put BF2 on top of Klasse.



Easy On and Easy Off.



The slickness is EXCELLENT! The finish is much slicker than Klasse. The shine looks great - at least as good as Klasse.



I will keep an eye on the durability since that was the major complaint against BF1.



It is already too dark to take any good pictures but I will try in the morning and post the results.
 
Thunderingbird said:
Could you explain what you mean by the way in which I delivered my observations was crazy? :)
Click to expand...



I was just kidding with you. To me your posts read like you were really excited and worked up. I pictured you dancing back and forth at the keyboard, one hand pecking out the letters and the other hand flying around in dramatic gestures, occasionally resting on the keyboard long enough to hold down the "shift" key. But I meant no offense. It's easy to read too far into the tone of a written message, but it really struck me that you were excited and "crazy" while composing your post. :) :wavey



Oh, it sounds very much like you have the new BF, or at least some similar/intermediate version to the new BF. I would imagine they were playing around with the new mixture well before they released it to us. So perhaps a mix-up resulted in you getting the new stuff.
 
Well,



I don't know if Thunderingbird was dancing at the keyboard while typing:bounce



But he may have a valid point about BF's true longevity. The testing method seems a little too subjective. I mean how do we define longevity???



1. Beading of water

2. Slickness of the surface

3. Overall Shine

4. Smell

5. Squeek

6. Taste :p



I mean come on guys. If I say it only lasted two weeks because it doesn't squeek like it used to, so what! Does that really mean it is not still in fact present and protecting my paint???



These new polymers do behave differently than wax when it comes to beading, etc...



So what is a good OBJECTIVE measure of longevity here that most of us can agree on?:nixweiss



I am really enjoying the shine of the new BF and am looking forward to the 3 coats I put over AIO lasting most of the the winter. But only time will tell.( And possibly how good it smells:D ).



Derek
 
About the durability test. I just put on the second coat of the old Blackfire this weekend on two cars. Man, that stuff's easy to use. My only trepidation is how do I know it's still protecting if the water sheets off? I've generally got to make it through 3-4 months of impossible to detail weather.



Does the new Blackfire still bead after a couple of months?
 
I just checked my old bottle of BF (which I had less than satisfactory results with) and it is blue also. However, there is a big difference in the way they smell. The old bottle has very little scent, while the new one has a bit of a stronger chemical smell to it.



Also, I'm with Aurora40 on the way Tbird has been delivering his "I told you so!!" ranting... A little nutty and hyper-active....
 
Thunderingbird said:
It may be, I do not know as this is the only bottle I've ever owned. I seen a post by another fella that said his new bottle had blue product in it and old stuff was not blue. . I may have the old stuff I do not know for sure, but if I do then why has it lasted this long after all these washings and 3 1/2 months time? NO ONE and I repeat NO ONE on this site has gotten these results except me! I really would like an answer to all this as I'm confussed as hell now and DO NOT trust anything on this site right now. I know at this point you guy's think I'm CRAZY, but I assure you I'm not. I can not explain it unless I got ahold of the newer stuff, because NO ONE on this site has experianced what I have by using BF. This is starting to drive me nuts!:scared :confused:
Click to expand...



Hi Thunderingbird,

Why do you not call Terry @ CMA and ask if it was possible to mistakingly received a bottle of the BF2 back in July?

The original Blackfire was also blue but the new version is a deeper blue.

Also how did you come to the conclusion that you do not trust anything on this site now??:( . From the time I have spent on this forum very, very, very few people have agendas. Nevertheless, many have had differing experiences with the same products. I do not feel someone's results that differ from mind that a conspiracy to defraud is occurring. There are many factors which come into using and reporting results about a product. Read, analysis, weed out the BS and move on. Nothing to get worked-up about. For most of us this is a hobby and trying new things just adds excitment and wards off ennui. Small price to buy to have legal fun.:xyxthumbs :wavey
 
detailing is a drug...

small price they say..

sure... it starts out cheap or so you say...

u start off with the innocent Hi-Tech Yellow meguiars... then u find out about more...

u have to have s100.. then zaino.. now blackfire..

Its a gateway drug Im telling you.

pretty soon your obsessed with the shine

and swirls.

learning bizarre new acronyms such as MF.

Yes... the surgeon general should know bout this..



Warning: Sniffing Zaino Car Wash mix is not good for your health.
 
AzN Retribution said:
detailing is a drug...

small price they say..

sure... it starts out cheap or so you say...

u start off with the innocent Hi-Tech Yellow meguiars... then u find out about more...

u have to have s100.. then zaino.. now blackfire..

Its a gateway drug Im telling you.

pretty soon your obsessed with the shine

and swirls.

learning bizarre new acronyms such as MF.

Yes... the surgeon general should know bout this..



Warning: Sniffing Zaino Car Wash mix is not good for your health.
Click to expand...



HeHeHe, LOL:wavey :xyxthumbs :D
 
AzN Retribution said:
detailing is a drug...

small price they say..

sure... it starts out cheap or so you say...

u start off with the innocent Hi-Tech Yellow meguiars... then u find out about more...

u have to have s100.. then zaino.. now blackfire..

Its a gateway drug Im telling you.

pretty soon your obsessed with the shine

and swirls.

learning bizarre new acronyms such as MF.

Yes... the surgeon general should know bout this..



Warning: Sniffing Zaino Car Wash mix is not good for your health.
Click to expand...



Ha ha! You're right. I think Meguiar's is the gateway wax. I'll bet most everyone on this board has used a Meguiar's protectant at some time. That's how I started. I picked up some Meguiar's consumer stuff because it looked good. Then I saw that Gold Class, and then checked their website. That's how I started to realize there are better techniques and products out there than what you find in the local parts store.



What started with some actual car wash instead of detergent grew into cleaner/wax and the use of decent terry towels instead of rags, and has ballooned into two-bucket washes, two-pass drying (blot and wipe), QD's, PC's, MF's, and way too many products to ever use up. And, I'll bet my stash is small compared to most of you.
 
Aurora40 said:
[BI think Meguiar's is the gateway wax. I'll bet most everyone on this board has used a Meguiar's protectant at some time. That's how I started. I picked up some Meguiar's consumer stuff because it looked good. Then I saw that Gold Class, and then checked their website. [/B]
Click to expand...



Yep, followed the same trail Meguiar's Cleaner Wax, then to the Deep Crystal System, then to Meguiars Gold Class and finally landed on the Pro Line. Still use #26 Hard Yellow wax, #7 Show Car Glaze, #9 Swirl Remover, Dual Action Cleaner Polish, Quick Detailer, and #40 Vinyl Dressing.



I'm apparently a newbie in this product thing too because I only have 2 shelves of different stuff. For some strange reason my wife wants me to use up what I ordered before I get something else, but there's always a new product to try like P21S Carnauba Wax, or Blackfire.
 
Ok, I have some more comments on the new Blackfire. My wife drove my car to work yesterday so I could take hers to get inspected (VA requires this every year... ugh...). Anyway, it was raining a lot yesterday. When she got home, I was outside to see my car pull up (a view I don't see much since there is like one other Aurora in all of Virginia :(). It was still drizzling, and the car was practically dry. But it wasn't dry from sheeting. The water was in these super tiny little beads (like itty-bitty drops from a mister) but they were very spread out. And they were jumping from the paint. They were practically completely round they were so far off the paint. It at first appeared like the car had just been in the tiniest mist of a rain, except I know she'd driven in real rain. Then I noticed it. One little spot on the top of the trunk where there were a ton of little beads real close together. I could tell that this is what it was like, but the wind had blown it all off the rest of the car. Sort of like a windshield with Rain-X in a light drizzle (except better clearing than Rain-X) and there are still a few little areas where the wind didn't get and there are a lot of tight little beads. That's exactly what it looked like. She said the rain was flying off the hood too. So, two weeks after application, and I'd say the beading ability of the new Blackfire is pretty dang amazing. Better than even a carnauba.



But here's the kicker. I was going to wash my car today because it was getting dusty/dirty from two weeks. Plus the rain, I figured it woud be yucky. But I went out to get the paper this morning and was looking at the car. It is completely clean. The windows are all yucked up like after driving in rain, but the painted surfaces look like they've just been washed! Even the sides look great from halfway up. The bottom half looks a little yucky/water spotty, but not bad. Now, I know sometimes this will happen when it's raining on a super slick car, but this was being driven! So far Blackfire is continuing to impress me. I get the feeling they did away with the sheeting for this new formula and replaced it with amazing beading. I still think I'm going to wash it today, though, because I want to try out the BF shampoo I just got.
 
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