does paint sealant really work?

[CottyGee]

Originally Posted by temming

There are clearly some good waxes out there (Zaino, Mequires, etc).

Just to be clear about all this, Zaino is NOT a wax! There is a huge difference between a wax and a sealant. Sealants last MUCH longer, and chemically bond with the paint. Waxes are volitile compounds that are subject to evaporation, and have a relatively short life - on the order of a month or so. A sealant can last 6 months before it begins to deteriorate.

For the real scoop on this topic, you simply must read the autopia.org forums.

[AndyK]

I'd like to recommend Klasse All In One; it's a synthetic like Zaino, but less intensive application. I've been really happy with it.

[C-Man]

Originally Posted by AndyK

I'd like to recommend Klasse All In One; it's a synthetic like Zaino, but less intensive application. I've been really happy with it.

I use Klasse also. This morning I put a coat of 4 Star Ultimate Paint Protectant over my Klasse SG and this stuff is super slick. I've read good things about it at Autopia and Detail City. Right now they are giving away a free bottle of their car wash too. I'm curious to see how long 4*UPP will last. Their storefront is http://www.premiumautocare.com/

[Tha187um]

Originally Posted by C-Man

No, some are wipe on/wipe off. Others are wipe on/let dry/wipe off. What you do have to do is do not apply anything on the sealant for 24 hrs to let the polymers cure. That is when the molecule chains intertwine and create a barrier on the paint. At that time you can add another layer or top with a carnuba wax. BTW, Meguiar's NXT Generation Tech Wax is a sealant, not a wax despite it's name.

C-Man, thanks for you clarification, I see no one mentions the NXT Sealant much, how do you know how long it would last? I mean, I applied it last week and the car is dirty as hell already, but thats normal... so am I just to wash off the dirt and the selant should remain at the bottom?

[C-Man]

Wash the car. If the surface still beads nicely and feels somewaht slick, NXT is still good. I would guess it should last a minumum of 8 weeks, but alot depends on how well the car was prepped and the conditions you are in. Places with acid rain and pollutants will be harder on a wax/sealant than more benign conditions. I've been lurking at some detail sites and NXT has been getting mixed reviews on durability, some are having it last 3 months or more whereas others state otherwise. So just keep an eye on the beading and slickness.

The real improvement for a sealant over wax for me is that living in sunny Florida, a wax can melt off the within a couple of weeks, especially since my C is black.

[ssbmg]

does anyone use zymmol? Not the cheap sh!t that you can get at Walmart but the stuff directly from their site? They have a product that costs $30k for wax!!! I've been using the Zymol Titanium since it claims to repel salt and magnesium in winter environments. So far so good - especially right after I apply it however it doesn't seem to last very long.

I'd be interested to hear in anyone who uses Zaino can make a comparison to a high quality wax like Zymol or vice versa...

[yamabob]

Ah-Blonde's-Brunette's-Redhead's.same arguement different answer's. Some prefer the ease/longevity of the sealant/ no-wax product which produces a molecular bond to the clear coat (these tend to last longer but do NOT generally have the depth of gloss that a wax( which in pure form does NOT shine-but provide protection) have.Products that in any way polish are those that help to level clearcoat which in actuality produces a deeper -wetter look.Zaino-Klasse-Zymol-Ardex-NXT Gen 2. all good products in their own right. Most of our cars are newer and have not been subject to UV degragation. Prep before applying any of these products is the key.READ what they list. A little earlier never hurts that what is listed.

[ssbmg]

So what would you suggest in terms of prep?

Also, how about applying sealant and then waxing over it??? Is that totally useless?

Thanks!

[yamabob]

All depends on condition of the paint. In this case the clear coat. If it's not too bad a shape( meaning not been waxed at all but overall clear) I would would use a fine cut polish such as 3-M's Finesse-It line. Follow with a wash,then use a glaze which is an even finer polish and help re-oil (so to speak) the clear.Finish that with a good wax or a sealant. Products with wax(carnuba's) generally don't last as long due to the fact that they break down under UV exposure.Sealants last a bit longer but dont generally add the same depth of gloss.
Sealants and wax in combo is hard to answer as they both achieve there means in different ways. There are sealant product's such as AutoGlym which does have a shine enchancer to be used over their sealant. I've tried several wax's with Meguiar's NXT Gen 2 over it. To early to tell if this is a waste of time and product.