There are a variety of paint sealant / paint protection products on the market today to choose from, and it can become a difficult task of choosing which is right for you. Some are known for their durability, some for their ease of application, and some for their stunning good looks. Many times it’s simply a matter of which feature/benefit is most important to the end user.

First let’s take a closer look at the Blackfire Wet Diamond. The German-developed crystal polymer formula has Polycharger in it, which means no mixing or blending as you will find with other products on the market. Polycharger boosts slickness and shine while extending the protection and durability by cross-linking polymers to create an incredibly strong barrier. You can expect durable protection for about 6 months.

I found the product easy to use, indifferent to temperatures and humidity, and it required very little effort to achieve great overall results. Some products require a steep learning curve to get them to work properly, but that is not the case at all with Wet Diamond.

If you’re looking for great looks, relatively ease of use, and proven durability, then you should seriously consider trying Blackfire Wet Diamond All Finish Paint Protection!

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A reasonably new product on the scene is Meguiars M205 Ultra Finishing Polish from the Mirror Glaze range targeting panel shops and the professional car detailer. Not the cheapest polish on the market, but after using it, it is also one of the best.

The Meguiar’s M205 shows no dusting and has a long working time, allowing the user to achieve a high gloss finish through burnishing of the paint. Clean up is a breeze too and quite a relief from the oily mess other well known polishes have left in the past.

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In todays lifestyle not many people have time to wash their cars, taking your car to a car wash cafe on a lazy sunday and having a coffee is always a great idea, but do the car wash cafes care for your car like a Mobile Car Wash? Someone that is a single operator and loves what they do and takes pride in their work.

Car Wash Cafes are known for not using lambswool wash mitts or other safe washing mitt that wont scratch your paint, acid based cleaners to remove brake dust and grime quickly, using the same dirty old wash mitt or sponge on car after car without rinsing it out completly to remove all conteminants, using dirty chamois that are not scratch free or soft like a Microfibre Waffle Weave Chamois. The cars are usually washed by young labourers that do not take pride in their work and the companies goal is to push out as many cars as possible to make a big profit.

If you want your car looking its best and a Car Wash by someone that takes pride in their work then a Mobile Car Wash operator is for you at the convenience of your home or work at a time that suits you!

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You should always check the condition of your paintwork prior to waxing, remove any scratches or scuffs by polishing the paint work. If you cannot remove any scratches or scuff marks it may be best to call in a car detailer to perform a paint correction to remove any defects.  Also check the feel of the paint work, if it is rough then it would be best to Clay Bar the car to remove any contamination to ensure the wax bonds to the paint work. After you have corrected any paint defects and clayed the car down to remove contamination it should feel as smooth as glass.

It is always best to wipe the car down with Isopropyl Alcohol to ensure the paint work is free from any residue or contamination that could get between the wax and the paint preventing it to bond.

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Every professional car detailer or weekend detailer knows the benefits of waxing, but some may ask is it beneficial to put mutiple layers of wax on my car? The short answer is yes.

However, it is best to make sure you let each layer cure before applying another coat, always check with the manufacture for curing times otherwise wait atleast 24hrs between coats to be safe, there is no minimum or maximum amount of coats you should apply. However i recommend 2-3 coats.

Applying multiple coats will not multiply its durability however you will find it will last abit longer and have that added protection.

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Interior Car Detailing should be done regularly, regular vacuuming and dusting of your car’s interior is the best way to keep it looking good.  However, surface cleaning alone is not enough.  Two to three times a year you will need to detail the upholstery to keep it looking its best.

Most automotive carpets are very durable and will withstand repeated shampooing without signs of damage or wear.  Carpet cleaning is not fast or easy.  You should expect to spend 1-2 hours shampooing the front and rear carpet and mats in a sedan or SUV, a little less time for a truck or two-seater. Before shampooing, the carpet and floor mats must be thoroughly vacuumed.

Vinyl and plastic are the most durable interior materials, but they do need frequent cleaning.  Unlike cloth, the surfaces of vinyl and plastic generate static, which tends to attract dust.  As a result, vinyl and plastic become grimy.  The good news is, vinyl and plastic are the easiest surfaces to clean.

Do not use regular household soap and water on your vinyl and plastic surfaces.  Detergent will permanently remove the sheen from vinyl and plastic.  Choose a cleaner made specifically for interior surfaces.

Most of us spend 8 to 15 hours a week inside our cars, so it makes sense that we should keep them neat and tidy.  Yet finding the time to detail the inside of the car is difficult with our busy schedules.  If you take just five minutes each time you wash your car to remove the trash, shake out the mats, and wipe down the dash, console and seats, you can stay on top of this detailing chore.  Then when it comes time for a full interior detail, the task will not seem quite so daunting.

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How soon can i polish/wax my new car?

You can wax your new car immediately. New car paint finishes are cured as soon as the car rolls off the assembly line. In the old days this was not true, as enamels required up to 30 days to cure. In the modern process, high temperature ovens combined with new paints allow for a fully cured finish in a matter of hours.

I was told my new car does not need to be waxed, is this true?

No! Most new car manufacturers use a clear top coat that contains U.V. inhibitors to help reduce the damaging effect of exposure to the sun. These clear top coats also receive catalyst hardeners that make the final finish very hard and durable. Some of the high-end car makers even use ceramic based paints that are even harder. However, none of these improvements in paint technology negate the need to protect (wax) your car or treat other exterior surfaces. Failure to properly protect exterior surfaces will result in damage from oxidation, mineral deposits, acid rain, factory pollution, U.V. light exposure and other environmental hazards.

I purchased a dealer paint protection package, what do i need to do to my car now?

The first thing you must realize is that your dealer applied protection system is nothing more than scheduled maintenance. Read the fine print of your contract. In most cases it will tell you that you need to bring the car back for scheduled service.
Some systems claim to “last for 5 years” or even “permanent… never wax again”. We believe these systems are scams. Do not risk your car finish to this type of treatment. If it was really possible to achieve a 5 year maintenance-free paint finish, you can bet it would be installed at the factory.

It is always best to get a Mobile Car Detailing specialist or Car Detailer to inspect your new paintwork to fix any problems and apply a paint sealant to ensure you paintwork is protected.

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Many people believe that cars come off the assembly line with perfect paint.  That’s far from the case.  There are many conditions that cause minor paint flaws requiring additional finishing work.  Dust nibs (small particles that land in the paint while it is still wet) are a good example.  Most car manufacturers take care of these problems at the factory using abrasive finishing materials.  Sometimes it is the car dealer who recognizes the flaw and fixes it.

Repairing minor paint flaws using car polish is not harmful to the paint system unless you remove too much paint.  If more than 50% of the clearcoat finish is removed, you stand a good chance of premature paint system failure.  If more than 75% of the clearcoat finish is removed, you will experience immediate paint system failure.  It can be a very fine dance between success and failure.

Here’s a general rule to follow.  If a scratch or other flaw can be felt with your fingernail, it’s too deep to be completely removed through polishing.  That’s not to say that polishing won’t help hide the flaw; it will.

Here is a list of problems that can be fixed or improved through abrasive polishing:

• Scratches & Swirl Marks - Surface abrasions that do not extend past the first 25% of top coat material can be fully repaired by polishing.  Deeper scratches can be improved as long as they do not fully penetrate the color coat into the primer.
• Scuffs and rub marks - Scuffs are broad, shallow surface abrasions that are easily repaired by polishing.  Rub marks are commonly caused by shoe heels (getting in and out of the car) or the bumpers of other cars.  The rub mark is generally a transfer of rubber or other vinyl material to the paint surface.  Rub marks are easily removed by compounding and polishing.
• Micro marring - Micro marring, also known as swirl marks and spider webbing, means very small scratches in the paint’s surface.  Micro marring is created by machine compounding and in everyday use and maintenance of the vehicle.  Micro marring is easily removed by compounding and polishing.
• Etching - Paint etching is a common problem caused by hard water (tap water) or acidic water (acid rain).  Bird droppings are another common cause of paint etching.  Depending on the severity of the etching, polishing will repair or lessen the appearance of etched spots.
• Dust nibs - Small particles of dust and other foreign material that land on the paint during the painting process create small nibs on the surface.  Wet sanding, compounding and polishing will remove the visible portion of the nib and level the paint.
• Orange peel - When a car is painted, the paint is applied at a consistency and thickness that allows the paint to flow (briefly) and level.  If the paint is applied too heavily, sags and runs will result.  If applied too thinly, the paint does not properly flow and level, causing an uneven surface called orange peel.  If the orange peel is not severe, abrasives can be used to level and glaze the finish to match the rest of the vehicle.
• Runs and sags - If paint is applied too heavily, sags and runs will result.  If the sag or run is in the clear coat, it can be repaired, but not if it is in the color coat or primer.  On a non-clearcoat paint, sags and runs in the color coat can be repaired.

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Victoria Concours Paste Wax can be applied with your bare hands or by a foam hand applicator then buffed off with a plush microfibre towel. It is best to do this out of the reach of harmful direct sun light and airborne contaminants.
Special Note: this wax has taken on a life of its own, we are finding more and more people using it on all their vehicles and using multiple coatings to get an unbelievable exotic look. Originally, Concours Red Wax was developed for use in competitions. This wax has one of the highest amounts of real wax content used in the industry and is absolutely stunning on black, deep red and darker paintwork.
With time and Patience Concours Red Wax will please you. Concours Red Wax is only to be use on new or well maintained finishes. Anything else and it will be a waste of time and wax. Again, apply Concours Red Wax to a clean, dry, cool surface using bare hands to work-in and spread thinly. Allow wax to come to a haze and buff to a deep rich finish. Follow with a second and third coat for even a more gorgeous look. For maximum protection keep 2, 3, or more coats of wax on the finish at all times.
Professional Car Detailers love using this product as its application is easy and gives stunning results for a concours level detail.

* Concours Red Wax is an exotic blend of large amounts of pure Carnauba and other waxes with a small amount of natural oils and one of the world’s lowest VOC solvents.

Victoria Wax range can be purchased from ZAS - Premium Car Care Products.

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