I want to use a sealant on my guardsman red 997. The more I read, the more confused/overwhelmed I get. I used Zaino on a silver Lexus a few years ago and liked it, but thought I should see what's newer and potentially better. I've read about all these and each time I read about one, I am convinced that's what I need. Most recently I've read about HD Nitroseal. Wow really looks great, but I've also read about Optiseal, Opticoat (which one and why? Don't know), GTtech (wow, expensive but looks awesome), Black Fire (wet, seal or diamond?), Wolgang, Nanoskin, and the list goes on.

Is HD Nitroskin the stuff to use? Which one and why? Are they pretty much the same and will have the same results?

 

Ok very east explanation. Before applying any protection (sealant). You need to wash, decontaminate (ironx,clay/nano skin) polish and then apply your protection. Before you apply anything wipe your car down with a mixture of isopropal Alchol and distilled water 20% alcohol is fine. Then you are ready for protection application. If you have used Zaino successfully then backfire will be easier, slicker and better looking in my opinion. Also will last equally as long.

From ecerything i know The Opticoat is the most durable I hVe it on my car a few months already and I have the EXO on my car a few weeks. Both look great and I will keep the board posted on durability. These coatings are.a little trickier to apply and you should ask a lot of questions and watch some utile videos before trying it on a Porsche for the first time. I actual.y had someone show me the first time because I did not want to mess up a permenant seal application. Once you know what your doing they are not hard to apply. These will outlast traditional sealants by a long time. Can't say how long because it depends on what you car is exposed to.

Good luck.

 

Thanks,

Have you used the HD Nitroseal?

Do they all look the same? Meaning the blackfire, opti and the EXO? Any difference?

I have an unopened set of Surf City Nano in my garage that I picked up on clearance for $10 in the spring. Will the other products likely be about the same? Should I just use what I have and call it good. I bought the Surf City for my SUV and girlfriend's car and was thinking about getting something else for my 997.

 

I have never used any HD products. These products are gaining some traction on a particular forum that is owned by 3D/HD. If you want more information on them you should go to autopia.org.

The pro's I follow on other forums do not seem to use these products. I like to follow the giuys on Detailing Bliss, Live2detail and Autopia-Care the most.

There is a guy Tom on this board that will be more than happy to tell you all about HD Products.

I personally have not and at this point would not use 3D/HD simply becasue in my mind there are other products availible that have been reccommended by people I trust and they have not mentioned the 3D/HD in their posts. These guys are pro's who do this every day and if there was a better product, they would be using it. Perhaps one day they will be and it just has not caught on yet. Until is see a steady stream of independent pro's spending their money on a product and using a product I don't jump on the band wagon. That does not make them 3D/HD bad either!

When a new product come out that is good you hear about it everywhere, not just on the forum that is owned by the company making the product.

I know nothing about surf city products at all.

The 3 products you ask about all look very excellent. The Opticoat and EXO keep the color very true and it looks very glossy. Both of these take time to cure after application. The opticoat gets to max hardness in 30 days and the EXO takes 48 hours. After 24 hours the Opticoat can get wet. The EXO is best to be kept dry for 48 hours.

The Blackfire on dark colors including Reds darkens the color a tad and on my old black infiniti I liked that look alot. My Porsche is wearing the blackfire right now and I will explain why. I am testing the OPticoat on my sons Subaru and my wife's MDX. One syringe is enough for 2 full size cars. These 2 cars get minimal maintenace and the durable and hard Opticoat is best for them. I don't want to do more than wash these and I want a good looking glossy finish. I also did the wheels with opticoat and it works great. I put EXO on my leased daily driver and the EXO is slicker feeling than the Opticoat and the beads are smaller. This does not really matter but it is an observation. The EXO is a newer product and I wanted to try it becasue certian detailers posted some very positive reviews and I wanted to copare it to the opticoat myself. The EXO is made my a good company and I like their other products. I would say the Opticoat is proven for performance and the EXO is too new to say for usre but so far I do like it. It is only a few weeks old so we have a way to go before I can tell you, it meets the manufacturer claims.

These 2 coating need to be polished off to remove them if you don't like them. The Blackfire being a traditional sealant wears off and gets removed with a dawn wash, some APC and if that does not do it an 20/80 mix of isopropyl alchol and distilled water wipe down will remove it.

I am not ready to apply a coating on my porsche but next season if these prove to be better protection and compatible with 3M PPF then I might coat the Porsche. The Porsche is a garage queen so the Blackfire lasts a really long time for me.

I am not a professional detailer but I have a good working knowledge on the subject of detailing and have used alot of products If you are not comfortable polishing out defects in your paint, I would not apply any coating because it would lock in your defects.

Good Luck.

 

There are a lot of products hitting the market in the last few years, and it's enough to confuse anyone. At the end, it's up to you what is important and you can prioritize your wants. The long and short of it, you want something that's easy to use, is durable, but don't get so hung up on what lasts the longest. Fact of the matter is, no matter what you use, it's always good to do a proper detail at least 2 times per year. This way, you can assess what has been ravaged by mother nature, and you can address it sooner than later. Have fun with it. Try different things if you want. If you don't like it, simply take it off and move on to something else.

I personally don't use sealants any more. I either use a carnauba or use a nano product. To me, true nano technology is cutting edge and worth looking into for others that are still using sealants. The nano product we've been using for the past 12-18 months on clients' cars, has blown away my expectations and I like the look and results I get from it. I'm also going to be trying some other nano products, and will let you guys know how it all pans out.

 

Hey Moe, No fair. I want names.....lol........

That how I learn and follow.

Common......give it up. I tell you guys everything....

 

Hi Moe,

I bought the Sonax Nano from you is that what you're referring to?

Thanks!

Don

 

Give Duragloss products a look, especially the 105/501 combined with 601, amazing gloss and will last up to 6 months or more when properly maintained, and it's very cheap!

 

No. True nano technology. This is the product we've been using. I like it because it's a carnauba that is infused with nano particles. Kind of the best of both worlds.

http://www.glisteningperfectionstore...gie/Categories

 

Here are a couple pics I took last night. I have a weird mix of product on it. First, Sonax Nano wax, on top of that I have Adam's Butter Wax. Then, because I bought a bottle for $1 at a garage sale, I used Nu Finish Cling to put a shell on the waxes. The Nu Finish is greasy and leaves some haze, so I let it set up, wipe it down and then after letting it set up a little longer get rid of the streaks and hazes with Adam's Detail Spray. The finish seems to stay longer and the puts a glass like glaze over the two waxes. The butter wax is soft so at least in my imagination, I think it lasts a little longer.

 

Unusual combo but it certianly Looks really nice!

 

Thanks it is a really deep wet color with a glassy reflection. Do you think Duragloss will do that? What would you recommend for that look and a rock hard finish?

 

I have never used duragloss but people who do seem to like it. I will list the items I have used in the past and in order I have used them...

Started with Turtle Wax--> Liquid Glass-->

P21S 100% Carnuba (good look, poor durability)->Powerlock (good look good durability)->Rejex (did not love durability)->Ultima Paint Guard Plus(easy application, good durability and awesome look)->Blackfire Wet Diamonds Sealant (good Looks and durability, good slickness, my go to sealant)->OPticoat/EXO (my go to coatings so far-no long term experience with either)

 

Thanks! Well after all the reading and consternation, I ended up buying a short term sealant, can you believe it arosol based, from Adam's. I went to them because I liked the results of their Buttery Wax and the Detail Spray is really good stuff. They convinced me to try their Glaze and Americana Wax. I added the Quick Seal after watching a video. It looks like what I'm looking for, a way to hard coat my shine. Although from what I've read is the hard coat can't last any longer than what it is adhered to. So, I'll see.

All this and I have the Surf City stuff in my garage unopened... I'll have to post the results. At first I'm just going to use the Glaze and the sealer on what I have. They say the Glaze should go before the wax, but can be used to shine up the finish on top. That seems strange to me, but what the heck I got on the phone and decided to go with it and see.

 

Good luck. I would apply the glaze on the paint. The idea is the glaze fills swirls and then you lock it in with wax. Otherwise it will wash away from rain or car washing.