My truck is dark shadow grey which is pretty heavy metallic. Today is my second go at the full detail since I've owned it (only 5k miles since last August) and the high gloss polish and wax route just doesn't do much for this color IMO.

The morror-like gloss makes the metallic completely washed out looking. The paint actually looks better once the gloss has faded.

I'm thinking I need to try something that makes the deep look over the gloss route on this one.

Suggestions?

I'm sure I already know the answer but it's probably not what I want to hear... carnuba, carnuba, carnuba... every 2 months.....

With a small child, 3 vehicles and a busy schedule, I just rarely have a full day to be able to devote to constant waxing. I would like to have something that would last a little longer than straight carnuba.

 

Try Meguire's NXT paste yet? Lasts a pretty long time, and is a great all around wax.

 

What's usually recommended is a synthetic wax like NXT as a base coat after properly cleaning, prepping, and polishing the paint, followed by a topcoat (or two) of #26 carnuba wax after the NXT has been allowed to "set" for about 24 hours.

Tough to do if you have to drive the vehicle during the interim period -- I'm fortunate in that I have more cars than people in my house, so it's usually not too much of a problem for me to employ this routine.

 

I thought that I had seen on here where the NXT made a very high mirror-like gloss.

Does the carnuba over it tone the high reflection down?

The problem I'm having with the super gloss is that the metal flake doesn't pop because of it. This color is beautiful in the sunlight, but the high gloss just makes one big shiny nickel of it.

I could go days between working on it.. but I can't get my wife to keep the garage door shut so it dusts up fairly quickly. It's also hotter than hades in my garage at night right now with poor lighting.

 

Yes -- the carnuba is supposed to give it a certain "depth of shine" that the NXT alone does not deliver.

FWIW -- I like NXT alone on my wife's Escape (it's a lighter color, which seems to benefit from the extreme shine of the NXT) but prefer the #26 topper on my Medium Wedgewood Blue F-150. It really seems to bring out the metal flake that's in the paint.

 

Okay..... I admit it......

I was extremely skeptical about what a coat of carnuba would do over the top of the synthetic.




Now all I can say is......

EXACTLY what I was looking for. It looks better now than it ever has. Unbelievable how much the Gold Class changed the look.

I didn't get a before pic and the after pic doesn't really show the true color or depth, but all I can say is.. and thanks. Hopefully the next time it needs it I will have a couple of back to back evenings again.

[IMG][/IMG]

 

I think all the dead animals on the wall like the way it looks as well!

 

That's what happens when you get married.... all of your stuff winds up in the garage....

 

You guys really like the NXT that much? I have been using it for a while but am going to go back to a Carnuba. Anyone know what the best Carnuba brand is? I am assuming the highest content of Carnuba = the best.

 

I used Gold Class carnuba over some Eagle 1 synthetic polish and wax that I was using up this weekend. I had the Eagle 1 stuff for the previous white truck that I had.

The Gold Class completely changed the look. Not sure on how it will hold up, although no carnuba holds up for very long. I guess the synthetic underneath will kick in until I top it again.

 

I like what I hear quack... many people think that I'm a bafoon for saying that I can actually tell the difference between a synthetic and a carnauba wax on the paint... well, you're saying that as well from what I hear. And, like you, I know what you're saying and find it to be true on nearly all colors minus flat white...

Unfortunately, you've asked and answered your question in my opinion. I still find that a synthetic, while it offers very good protective qualities, tends to yield that 'suran wrapped' look versus a deep and wet look. Carnauba, on the other hand, tends to yield a much nicer depth with not as much of that high-pitched gloss...

So, unfortunately, my response to this one is carnuba... and, actually, to get even more specific, Meguiar's #16. It's a harder paste wax that has been discontinued but, it can still be found out there on occasion (check ebay or your local P&B Supply shop). I find that, since it's a harder wax, it tends to last a bit longer. Naturally, your environmental conditions are going to dictate how long it lasts but, I tend to get beyond that 2-month window that many think is the rule of thumb -- in fact, much further -- that's with continual washings too (maybe 3-4 times per week).

My process typically involves putting a nice synthetic down as a base immediately after my polishing step (in short, my first layer of protection). I like Meg's Premium Paint Protection or NXT and then tend to follow, after at least 12 hours of set time (typically overnight) with a coat or two of #16. If you can't locate #16, give #26 a try. I certainly haven't managed to get the longevity with the 26 but, it definitely yields depth.

Mother's Reflections wax is pretty good stuff too... experimented some more with it this past weekend in the rain.

RP

 

There is most definitely a world of difference between the look of the carnuba over the synthetic and the look of straight synthetic.

Since I don't drive this truck a whole lot, it's normally sitting in the garage and only needs a bath every couple of weeks or so. I'm sure I will probably get well beyond the 2 month period before it needs to be hit again. Today is the first time it's been out of the garage since I applied the carnuba. I couldn't stand it and had to see what it looked like in the sun.

Now I have bugs on the windshield and front end from the drive in to work. Got to love the warm weather.

 

Try some Zaino sometime...you might re-think using any other wax again. You would not beliee the depth it will give especially on metalics. This is a close up of my True Blue Mustang after using Zaino, almost looks like a bowling ball BTW this was just a simple wash, swirl remover, and one coat of wax all done by hand. I can't find the pictures right now but one time I did the swirl remover with a PC, and put 2 coats of wax on with a PC then used their quick detailer. It was about 10x's better than this.



Another where it looks like a blue tinted mirror



A few more from a distance

http://www.mustangmods.com/ims/u/177/5161/66407.jpg

http://www.mustangmods.com/ims/u/177/5161/66406.jpg

 

The pictures look good but, again, I still prefer carnuba wax to a synthetic. Zaino is a very solid product that is highly respected but, I still tend to see that saran-wrapped look rather than a deep, warm, luster.... Again, I'm not threadcrapping on Z, it's just that I like the appearance of other products more than I do Z ... or straight NXT... or straight MPPP for that matter.

It's all preference! If you like it, use it and use it often!

RP

 

Meguiar's #26 Yellow works for me. That reminds me...I'm out. I need a new bottle.