New Honda Element with Black paint - best products money can buy?

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billskeen68

New member
I've never had a black paint job before and want to insure that it looks good for a long time. What's the best products to use?



Bill
 
I would hand wash using a quality wool mitt with a quality wash such as Griots, Mequiars , etc. Make sure and use Microfiber cloths to remove wax/polish. I use Klasse AIO and Pinnacle Souveran/Nattys Blue for protection/looks on my black Suburban.
 
What are your objectives for the future? Do you want durability so you won't have to detail as often? Or are you the junkie type who can't resist waxing once a month? Answer that and you will get a better prescription for your paint.
 
Best is kind of a tough one..best looks, best durabilty?



Top of my head in my opinion I'd say..



Polish: Menzerna PO106FF/Blackfire SRC Finishing (Optimum, or Menzerna FPII for more budget consciencous)



LSP: Wax - Pinnacle Souveran is the gold standard for black. (Meg's #26, Natty's Blue also good),



LSP: Sealants - don't have quite the pop on black, but some of the better ones would be the always popular Zaino, and I find Meguiar's #21 looks good on black
 
In my recent past, I've always taken my vehicles to touchless car washes regularly and had them professionally detailed at least once a quarter. This was mostly due to having to travel a lot for work. But now I have more time on my hands and want to do the work myself. I've read a lot about problems with swirls and micro-scratches on black paint and want to avoid repeating other's mistakes.



I'd like to achieve that deep finish look as seen on show cars and am willing to put in the effort it takes to get that result. So I guess that would qualify as a "junkie-in-training".



Also looking for suggestions on steps to take now, since it is only a week old.



Bill
 
billskeen68 said:
In my recent past, I've always taken my vehicles to touchless car washes regularly and had them professionally detailed at least once a quarter... But now I have more time on my hands and want to do the work myself. I've read a lot about problems with swirls and micro-scratches on black paint and want to avoid repeating other's mistakes...
Click to expand...



Noting that we all have stuff that we emphasize and stuff that we downplay, I'd concentrate on the wash/dry technique. The best LSP (Last Step Product, i.e., "wax") in the world won't look good over marring and the best polish in the world still isn't something you want to use all the time (or even four times a year). IMO it's better to avoid messing up the paint in the first place ;) so...



Best investment *IMO* is a foamgun and good wash/dry media (and a fair bit of time spent thinking about this stuff ;) ). Washing without inducing marring is usually more difficult than people expect.



Get some good lighting so you can see what's what and avoid surprises when you pull it out of the garage and into the sun (or under parking lot lights at night).



And yeah, Souveran and Meg's #26 look great on black, but the biggest factor in its appearance will be an absence of marring. If you already have some (even after just one week) you'll have to polish it out using something mildly abrasive and there are a zillion choices for that (working by hand? If so I'd recommend polishes from 1Z).



Oh, and welcome to Autopia!
 
sspeer said:
Best is kind of a tough one..best looks, best durabilty?

Top of my head in my opinion I'd say..

Polish: Menzerna PO106FF/Blackfire SRC Finishing (Optimum, or Menzerna FPII for more budget consciencous)

LSP: Wax - Pinnacle Souveran is the gold standard for black. (Meg's #26, Natty's Blue also good),

LSP: Sealants - don't have quite the pop on black, but some of the better ones would be the always popular Zaino, and I find Meguiar's #21 looks good on black
Click to expand...



I agree but would add RED MOOSE GLAZE before applying the Pinnacle Souveran. Wait 24 hours add a second coat. And be sure to polish Men. PO106FF or if you can fin Men. PO85RD. PREP IS THE KEY!!!!!
 
Well if it's a new car you could PC some poli seal. This will take care of any light marring you might have. Then Optimum spray wax every time you wash. It's super easy.

Make sure you you purchase some quality MF and develop a good washing system.

This will help with the maring.
 
My daily driver for the last 15 months has been an 06 Element EX-P in black. I polished it via PC the first week I took ownership of the vehicle to remove the dealer applied swirls (I told them NOT to wash it). Since then I have not had to polish it because I have focused on a good wash/dry technique.

I strongly recommend reading post 10 and other wash threads on this site to reduce the swirls in your black paint. Honda has a fairly soft clear so it will scratch easily.

I would also invest in a PC or Cyclo, a good assortment of pads and a good polish. If you have the Element with painted plastic panels I suggest you try find some Menzerna PO85RD Polish. It has proven the best for these panels which polish differently than the metal panels.

IMO I would rather use a cheap, so-so wax on a swirl free finish than the best wax in the world (subjective) on a swirled black vehicle.
 
As mentioned above, using the best sealants/wax won't help the finish of a poorly washed and maintained finish. Focus on wash basics primarily and any crappy wax will keep your vehicle looking good. Save your money buying expensive wax type products and buy a good set of wash tools like wash mitts and micro fiber drying towels.
 
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