Solving a UPGP Help /Suggestions

JSFM35X

Active member
I stripped the initial coatings i applied in August 08 with a good Dawn wash. Clayed the car using wash a lube and gray fine clay, polished certian areas with an orange pad (and PC), 4* spot repair polish, polished the whole car with UPP (PC and a black pad) and applied a coat of UPGP on a Saturday and added another coat the following weekend. Car looked great and was and is slick.



My only issue is that the beads are not very tight and I am only a few weeks away from application? My first application back in August 08 was really good, with tight beads. Tis time when rinsing the car, it sheets more than beads. After a rain the beads dont fly off the hood at parkway speeds like they did before. (Not that this is a measure of protection, but it is my observation)



The only differecne in both application (I think) was that I applied it much thinner this time b/c I was told my streaking issues (resolved by UQD) were caused by over applicatioon and the fact that I used like 1/4 of the bottle on the first go round.



I applied it to both of my Vehicles and got the same so so results as far a beading goes. I have washed the cars several times since and (one car is black and the truck white) nothing sticks, washing is easy and it look awesome when dry. Paint feels very slick.



Any ideas what happened? Is there too little protection caused by such a thin coat? I can sheet the cars dry no problem.



Any Ideas?



Thanks,



Jeff
 
You mention that you are also using UQD. The protection left behind UQD could be responsible for the the desirable beading traits you mentioned, in comparison to your current observations. Have you used UQD since applying UPGP?



Are there any other variables you have changed recently such as a different wash shampoo?
 
JSFM35X said:
My only issue is that the beads are not very tight and I am only a few weeks away from application? it sheets more than beads. After a rain the beads dont fly off the hood at parkway speeds like they did before.





Whats the problem in just giving another coat of UPGP ?
 
duke727 said:
You mention that you are also using UQD. The protection left behind UQD could be responsible for the the desirable beading traits you mentioned, in comparison to your current observations. Have you used UQD since applying UPGP?



Are there any other variables you have changed recently such as a different wash shampoo?



I am using the whole Ultima system. So far so good. I just miss the tight beads and dont know what changed other than putting it on very lightly this time.
 
UQD is designed to sheet rather than bead, so my guess is thats its the culprit for the change in behaviour. That said, while UPG beads well for me, I also found it didnt release water too well eg when driving as you describe, the beads used to stay, compared to a traditional wax where they flew off immediately...
 
Bigpikle said:
UQD is designed to sheet rather than bead, so my guess is thats its the culprit for the change in behaviour. That said, while UPG beads well for me, I also found it didnt release water too well eg when driving as you describe, the beads used to stay, compared to a traditional wax where they flew off immediately...





I can back that up 100%.



Great big beads. Very reluctant to release beads. Lasts forever.



You are using the wrong product entirely if you want small tight beads that fly off in an instant.
 
Bigpikle said:
UQD is designed to sheet rather than bead, so my guess is thats its the culprit for the change in behaviour.

Don't you mean that UQD is designed bead rather sheet? That's how it's marketed and my experience supports it. :think:
 
Bigpikle said:
UQD is designed to sheet rather than bead, so my guess is thats its the culprit for the change in behaviour. That said, while UPG beads well for me, I also found it didnt release water too well eg when driving as you describe, the beads used to stay, compared to a traditional wax where they flew off immediately...



KnuckleBuckett said:
I can back that up 100%.



Great big beads. Very reluctant to release beads. Lasts forever.



You are using the wrong product entirely if you want small tight beads that fly off in an instant.



That's been my experience with UPGP, too, but I haven't used their QD enough to have an opinion.



I still think UPGP is a top notch product. One of (if not *the* best) WOWA sealants.
 
KnuckleBuckett said:
I can back that up 100%.



Great big beads. Very reluctant to release beads. Lasts forever.



You are using the wrong product entirely if you want small tight beads that fly off in an instant.



My main goal is appearance, and durability. That is why I use the UPGP. Nothing sticks to it makingit very easy to wash the car after application. lasted for over 6 months and I stripped and re-finished bc of some swirling I put in learning the ONR method this winter. I polished the best I could and applied the UPGP. Very happy with apearance, and I cant explain the effect but the water falls off but does not bead tightly.



I will contuinue to layer coats. With each coat i have 2 on now the black paint gets deeper. I need to learn how to finish the polishing better. Every time i think I have it really good I see more stuff in the halogens. I am still a WIP, period. I may decide to take the easy way out and not purchase another black car,even though they look so swesome when clean.



Thanks,



Jeff
 
SuperBee364 said:
That's been my experience with UPGP, too, but I haven't used their QD enough to have an opinion.



I still think UPGP is a top notch product. One of (if not *the* best) WOWA sealants.



For appearance and durability I agree 100%. Just wanted to see if anyone else might be able to give me a pointer on the beading. I do not have confidence that i am applying it 100% correctly. If I use the 1 spritz per pannel, i feel i am missing spots. it look like its missing in some spots as aposed to a solid film. if i use 2 or 3 spritzed, it streaks. i can wiope out the streaks with a MF towel or some QD but I have been told that that is a waste of product. i will get it right eventually.



Just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who takes the time to help answer my question and make reccommendations. I hope to return the favor some day! I feel like I know some of you already. This is really a great recource and the best on line commmunity I have ever experienced.

Have a nice Day!



Jeff
 
If you think you are using too little UPGP you are probably using the correct amount. Multiple layers is IMO very important in any LSP and exceedingly so with UPGP. I never go with less than 3 layers and have surpassed that by quite a bit with my LS.
 
Although I've experienced beading with UPGP, most sealants do not bead as tight as a good nuba. I've had as many as 9 coats of UPGP, but have since re-polished and used Fuzion as my LSP. UPGP left an awesome hard candy shine. I decided to use Fuzion to get a deeper finish, not that a hard candy shine is bad. I might go back to UPGP soon.
 
JSFM35X said:
For appearance and durability I agree 100%. Just wanted to see if anyone else might be able to give me a pointer on the beading. I do not have confidence that i am applying it 100% correctly. If I use the 1 spritz per pannel, i feel i am missing spots. it look like its missing in some spots as aposed to a solid film. if i use 2 or 3 spritzed, it streaks. i can wiope out the streaks with a MF towel or some QD but I have been told that that is a waste of product. i will get it right eventually.



Just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who takes the time to help answer my question and make reccommendations. I hope to return the favor some day! I feel like I know some of you already. This is really a great recource and the best on line commmunity I have ever experienced.

Have a nice Day!



Jeff



I haven't ever been able to apply UPGP very well, either. I always end up over applying it. As KnuckleBucket said, it's important to do thin, multiple layers.



I've kinda given up on correct technique. I just spray the applicator, go over the car with it, and don't worry about over application. Then I let it cure. Yes, the streaks go away when it cures, but you'll still notice areas of over application. Go over those spots with a good QD, and it'll look perfect. Just make sure it's good and cured before you hit it with a QD. Even places that I *way* over applied look good after evening it out with QD.
 
Took me forever to figure out how to apply it successfully. However it really comes down to



- Having a good applicator that is in near new condition. The best applicator, despite its MASSIVE size comes with the product. Eventually you will learn how to manouver it acceptably.



- Using very little. You will notice a slight fogging as it goes on. Slight! Anything more and you will have a bit of removal later (minor). I pump per panel is relative, but not that far off most of the time.



- Many coats. 3x is a minimum.



- UPGP is a magnifier. Make ultra sure your paint is clean, well polished, and dust free.



- Be sure to let each coat cure a good 12 hours.



- Personally, I like to take an ultra plush mf and wipe the vehicle down after each cure. I am especially careful in doing so after the last coat (er as if...).



- Upkeep is easy. I use Total Car Wash and or ONR for cleaning when I can and foam gun when things get a little out of control. grout sponges and mf mitts for me.
 
SuperBee364 said:
I haven't ever been able to apply UPGP very well, either. I always end up over applying it. As KnuckleBucket said, it's important to do thin, multiple layers.



I've kinda given up on correct technique. I just spray the applicator, go over the car with it, and don't worry about over application. Then I let it cure. Yes, the streaks go away when it cures, but you'll still notice areas of over application. Go over those spots with a good QD, and it'll look perfect. Just make sure it's good and cured before you hit it with a QD. Even places that I *way* over applied look good after evening it out with QD.



I've given up on that too! I think I made best effort at applying the right amount on the last coat of UPGP I did Monday. I usually wind up putting too much on at first.



I've found that UPGP is not a great beading product. It's very good elsewise in all other respects though. I'm just a beading fan. Even topped with Z8 or AW,the beading is not quite what I like.



UPGP topped with Z8 or AW is hard to beat in the looks department IMO!
 
66#1 said:
I've found that UPGP is not a great beading product. It's very good elsewise in all other respects though. I'm just a beading fan. Even topped with Z8 or AW,the beading is not quite what I like





I disagree with this statement. I think UPGP is a very good beading product. Very tight and tall beads, that looks like freshly applied 476s, and behaves this way for a long time. I just washed my car at the coin-op last night, it has upgp on it, as well as a trunk test panel of 476s, 1000p, 2180. The upgp easily outbeaded all the other products. All products were applied 2 months ago, and not topped with anything else.



I think the important thing to make UPGP work is no contamination and good paint.



-The paint should be clean and smooth, no oxidation, make sure to remove any other product on it with paint cleaner, IPA, whatever necessary.

-Make sure the applicator is perfectly clean, use a brand new one if necessary

-Let it cure for at least 12 hours in dry (non-humid) conditions, I go for 24 hours to be sure.

-go ahead and layer it every 24 hours if the car is just sitting there.

-don't top with any other product, even QD. That other product will interfere with the beading characteristics of what is underneath.



I haven't found anything that will outbead it, especially as the coating ages. This includes 476s and 1000p, two well known durable products. They probably bead similarly the first day after the coating is ready, but down the line I've found UPGP just lasts.



I must admit UPGP requires more attention in getting the best results. This car that is beading so well with UPGP right now, had tons of trouble with it the many other times I used it. It almost seems like UPGP was not there even after multiple layers. The problem I think was the car was parked outside in the open and the nightly dew would prevent the full cure from happening. This was the case for many trials of the product. This last time I put it in a garage for 3 days while applying my test products over the car before bringing it back to it's normal parking spot, and this is when UPGP results dramatically changed for this car for the better.
 
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