Which affordable topper/LSP?

Gopher

New member
I've gotten the detailing bug pretty bad lately and have been working my way through my and family's cars. So far results are pretty good, but I've got a little e-peen envy going over some of the results I see in the click and brag section and wanted to step things up a level. I've dropped a bunch of money on detailing gear and would like to pick up one final exterior product to hold me over for a while... My cars are different colors so I want something that will look great on everything while still being affordable.



I've got the following colors for it top:



a Titanium Silver BMW that was prepped with KAIO/AJT

a Red Nissan Altima with KAIO/AJT

a Black 911 Carrera with IP/FFP/KAIO/AJT (not satisfied here)



and will soon be doing our black BMW and blue Acura.



Natty's Red seems like it would be a good versatile product. Any tips on what might step things up? FWIW I'd like my silver to be a little wetter. I feel like the red/black have good wetness but I'd like a little more depth to the reflections. Also, I feel like the AJT might be

highlighting some blemishes on the darker cars.
 
Ultima Finish care products, Zanio products , CG Jetseal, Opti-seal, Danase products, there are so many out there that you need to try and see. Good luck
 
zoomzoom,



You're probably right... I'll just surf the c&b and pick up something that seems to be frequently used and see how it treats me. I've noticed the opti-seal you and jetta recommed gets a lot of love--maybe I'll try them instead of the natty red.



Is there any problem with applying a wax like this over an acrylic sealant like AJT?
 
I'm not sure because i haven't use AJT, but i think you can. Just give it some time to cure (24-48hrs) and make sure the surface is clean before you use it. Just keep looking and trying different products to fine the one that works the best for you, and remember the old saying ( to the eyes of the beholder :cool: ) is your true test. Good luck and let us know how it turns out for you and your rides!
 
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Nice stable of rides, so what did you do to get them that way: wash, clay,aio or polish etc? would like to know.
 
JBM,



Sorry! I'll get some outside of the garage in a few. Our sprinkler systems are out of wack and some of the spray reaches the drive way... I didn't want it getting spritzed after all my efforts there... Also, I was reading the photo tutorial in the click and brag and it seemed to suggest dimmer lighting like that was better then direct sunlight for capturing reflections and such... I'm no photographer, but I'll play around.





Zoomzoom,



Thanks! Unfortunately the porsche is my dads play thing, not mine though!



The BMW on the left hasn't been touched yet and is pretty swirled--thats the next project



The porsche in the middle that I hit on sunday was:



Wash (dawn), clay (only where needed), wash (werkstadtts shampoo/a bit of Klasse AIO in the water)

Menzerna IP w/ PC cutting pad at speed 4

Menzerna FFP w/ PC polishing pad at speed 4-6 (I played around with speed, but couldn't get the stuff to "break down")

Klasse AIO at speed 4

AJT



The silver bmw was my first attempt and I would do things a little differently:



wash, clay, wash, KAIO, AJT.



The blue Acura you can kinda see in the driveway is a freakin' mess! I'm dreading doing that one... but I suspect it will be the most rewarding turnaround.



Anyway, yeah--these plus a red altima are what I need the LSP for... I guess it would be easier if they were all the same color.
 
Gopher, you can read up at the guide to detailing which will help get you started on doing your rides. I have a mazda5 silver metallic and use the Twins and then Opti-seal and it looks so great. On the black one i probably use the new Ultima line , Zaino or Opti-seal on it for maximum shine and wetness. But to get there the most important step is prep work!:usa
 
zoomzoom mazda5 said:
Gopher, you can read up at the guide to detailing which will help get you started on doing your rides. I have a mazda5 silver metallic and use the Twins and then Opti-seal and it looks so great. On the black one i probably use the new Ultima line , Zaino or Opti-seal on it for maximum shine and wetness. But to get there the most important step is prep work!:usa





:hide: get started... heh, I was done with the titanium silver and carerra--just looking for LSPs... yikes!
 
Well, I have a bunch of products so far and I wasn't planning on abandoning any of them. The AJT really can be an LSP, but the results have been addictive and am asking about a topper on that sealant as my additional 'future products' :)
 
Do you want a wax or a sealant?.... For a wax use your Natty's red or for a sealant use opti-seal or z-cs ..... it's just me 2 cents.
 
I think I was a little too long winded in my original post and what I wanted got confusing.



I already have prepped and sealed the cars and am toying with applying a wax OVER my AJT sealant on the darker (red/black/blue) vehicles.



I think I will go with the natty red. That said, I do get that there is no right or wrong answer and I'll have to play around and see what I like.



Thanks guys!
 
Natty's red would be a good choice.



If you wanted to buy local, and avoid shipping, you could try Megs #26 or S100 first.
 
If you're just looking to experiment w/ an LSP that will really make the paint glossy and pop try out some Duragloss #105. I've been using more expensive LSPs and this stuff just blew me away. For $9 you cannot go wrong and I promise you'll be impressed.
 
kkreit01 said:
Natty's red would be a good choice.



If you wanted to buy local, and avoid shipping, you could try Megs #26 or S100 first.





+1



If AJT isn't doing it for you on dark colors, I don't think any sealant would.. I'd go with a carnauba..and since you mentioned affordable...#26 and S100 are 2 big bang-for-the-buck products. of the two, I'd lean to the #26, I think it's a litle more durable and a few bucks cheaper and easier to find if you don't have a Harley shop around
 
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