Polished Bliss

Whilst solid dark colours are undisputedly harder to maintain to a high standard than lighter colours, they do offer the luxury of more choices when it comes to choosing last step products to tailor the final look of the paint. This is because the intense colour depth gives a very high degree of reflectivity, which not only makes it far easier to achieve a finish with much greater clarity and depth, but also enhances how wet the paint looks, as more highlights are shown up. Consequently, it is not difficult to achieve an excellent finish on such colours, and it is quite straightforward to tailor the look of the final finish by choosing last step products that significantly enhance either reflectivity or gloss. By doing the former with a synthetic sealant you can produce a sharper, cooler, shinier finish, while by doing the latter with a high quality natural carnauba wax you can produce a softer, warmer, glossier finish. This is because sealant polymer chains tend to cross-link to form an exceptionally smooth, highly dense surface layer that transmits light very efficiently and maximises reflectivity, while natural carnauba wax coatings tend to comprise a microscopically rougher, less dense surface layer that scatters more incoming light and maximises colour intensity and gloss.

If maximising reflectivity and producing the sharpest possible looking finish on a dark solid colour is your ultimate goal, we recommend choosing the Werkstat Acrylic Kit as your step product. This is because it delivers an incredible level of reflectivity characterised by amazing clarity and depth, and makes solid dark colours look razor sharp. However, this high degree of reflectivity and sharpness can be counter-productive in terms of colour intensity and gloss, and can leave some dark solid colours looking somewhat cold and sterile. Thus, it is not a finish that will suit all tastes. In contrast, if maximising colour intensity and gloss on a dark solid colour is your ultimate goal, we recommend choosing Raceglaze Signature Series '55' as your last step product. This is because it delivers an incredible amount of jetting that makes solid dark colours literally look like they are about to pop in front of you; no other product we have used makes such colours look as rich and intense. Further benefits afforded by Raceglaze Signature Series '55' include terrific ease of use and excellent durability, with a single application typically lasting for around three months. If neither of the above options appeal, and you would rather produce a more balanced looking finish, we recommend choosing Blackfire Wet Diamond All Finish Paint Protection, as it delivers an intense wet looking shine with excellent reflectivity and gloss.

Given the above, here is the optimal routine and products we recommend for use on solid dark colours if you favour a very sharp and reflective looking finish (assuming all work is to be done by hand)...

Wash (ideally every week, including wheels)

Advanced Car Wash Kit - http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...-kit-wash.html (choosing the Werkstat shampoo)

Decontaminate (once or twice a year, spring and autumn are the best times)

Step 1 - Autosmart Tardis & Accessories (to remove tar spots, tree sap, etc) - http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...dis-clean.html

Step 2 - Meguiars Quik Clay Kit (to remove industrial fallout, soot, etc) - http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...kit-clean.html

Polish (after claying, thus done once or twice a year)

To correct swirl marks and other light to moderate defects (fine scratches and oxidation) on your car, we recommend using Menzerna 203S in conjunction with Lake Country German CCS Light Cut Pads. Working small areas at a time using moderate pressure should enable you to correct a reasonable amount of the defects present in just 1-2 attempts per panel. You should be aware from the outset that although this method will yield very good results, it will require a reasonable amount of elbow grease! Of course, if your paint is in excellent condition with no visible sub-surface defects, you can skip this step and go straight to the addition of the protection (see below)...

Menzerna 203S - http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...3s-polish.html
Lake Country German CCS Light Cut Pads - http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...ds-polish.html
Poorboys Super Thick & Plush Towels - http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...el-polish.html

Protect (add fresh protection every 6-8 weeks for best results)

Werkstat Acrylic Kit - http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...t-protect.html

This excellent value for money kit includes everything you need to achieve the Werkstat acrylic finish on your car, and works best on lighter colours and metallic/pearlescent finishes. Werkstat Prime Acrylic is a light finishing polish that lays down a tough initial coat of acrylic protection whilst deep cleansing the paint; you should use it once every six months after claying/polishing. Werkstat Acrylic Jett Trigger is a pure spray sealant that should be used to add more gloss and protection every 6-8 weeks; the more layers you build up, the better the finish will get, in terms of both wetness and durability. Werkstat Acrylic Glos is a quick detailing spray and can be used to help boost gloss, lubricate when drying off after washing and loosen the residues of Werkstat Prime Acrylic and Werkstat Acrylic Jett Trigger should you find them hard to remove. Here are full instructions for each major six-monthly detail with the products...

After washing and claying (and corrective polishing if required), start out by applying a basecoat of Werkstat Prime Acrylic using the white Meguiars Microfibre Applicator Pad. Once fully dry, buff off this residue carefully with the Poorboys Super Thick & Plush Towel, using a spritz of Werkstat Acrylic Glos to help loosen the residue if needs be. To complete the process, apply a coat of Werkstat Acrylic Jett Trigger by spraying directly onto each panel and buffing off immediately with the Poorboys Deluxe Mega Towels, again using a spritz of Werkstat Acrylic Glos to help loosen the residue if needs be. To maintain the finish, simply quick detail with Werkstat Acrylic Glos after each wash, and add a fresh coat of Werkstat Acrylic Jett Trigger every 6-8 weeks until the time comes to start over by claying again.

Here are some pictures showing the finish the above products/routine gives on solid dark colours, in order to give you some idea in advance...











In contrast to the above, here is the optimal routine and products we recommend for use on solid dark colours if you favour greater colour intensity and maximum gloss (assuming all work is to be done by hand)...

Wash (ideally every week, including wheels)

Advanced Car Wash Kit - http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...-kit-wash.html (choosing the Poorboys shampoo)

Decontaminate (once or twice a year, spring and autumn are the best times)

Step 1 - Autosmart Tardis & Accessories (to remove tar spots, tree sap, etc) - http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...dis-clean.html

Step 2 - Meguiars Quik Clay Kit (to remove industrial fallout, soot, etc) - http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...kit-clean.html

Polish (after claying, thus done once or twice a year)

To correct swirl marks and other light to moderate defects (fine scratches and etching) on your car, we recommend a two stage process starting with Menzerna 203S in conjunction with Lake Country German CCS Light Cut Pads. Working small areas at a time using firm pressure should enable you to correct a reasonable amount of the defects present in just 1-2 attempts per panel. Any remaining defects should then be partially hidden and the overall finish refined with Blackfire Gloss Enhancing Polish in conjunction with Lake Country German CCS Polishing Pads. Working small areas at a time using light pressure should enable you to partially hide any remaining defects and maximise the gloss in just a single attempt per panel. You should be aware from the outset that although this method will yield good results, it will require a significant amount of hard work!

Menzerna 203S - http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...3s-polish.html
Blackfire Gloss Enhancing Polish - http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...sh-polish.html
Lake Country German CCS Pads - http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...ds-polish.html
Poorboys Super Thick & Plush Towels - http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...el-polish.html

Protect (add fresh protection every 6-8 weeks for best results)

Raceglaze Signature Series ‘55’ - http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...5-protect.html

Raceglaze's brand new Signature Series waxes have been meticulously hand-crafted to offer a fresh alternative at the higher end of the wax market to enthusiasts and professional detailers looking for spectacular finishes at affordable prices. These new exclusive waxes offer a similar amount of pure Brazilian No.1 white carnauba per unit volume as rival waxes costing up to five times as much, and also come in slightly larger jars, making them even better value for money. Packed with essential plant oils, fruit extracts and carriers, both waxes give stunning, durable finishes on all paint types and are very easy to apply and buff off.

Raceglaze Signature Series '55' contains 55% pure Brazilian No.1 white carnauba by volume, is easy to apply by hand or foam pad, and should be buffed off using a plush microfibre towel. Aimed at professional detailers who want to provide their customers with a spectacular finish that will last for in excess of four months at a time, this premium wax has already been very well received on the major UK detailing forums. It is no mystery why this is so, as the finish it delivers is simply stunning, and we are sure it is destined to become a major rival to more established premium wax products costing significantly more.

Here are some pictures showing the finish the above products/routine gives on solid dark colours, in order to give you some idea in advance...

Viper_

Well well, hello Rich

Nice to see you over here, although I think you'll find I've got the detailing advice covered on here thanks

I'm only joking, mate - some great threads you've posted up which will prove extremely usefull

Off back to DW now

Cheers
Pit Viper

Polished Bliss

Lol, good to see a friendly face, strangely it doesn't happen very often on new forums we take on! Aye, I can see there's a wealth of knowledge on here already (based on the few dozen posts I've looked through today), so hopefully we'll fit in just fine, and convert a few folk to our way of thinking in terms of product selection.

SS1

iTrader: (3)

cheers for the tips and advice

seanny 94 si

so so pleased to finally actually somewere were there is proper advice and guides on getting the best from your paintwork,