Desertnate
Active member
- Aug 5, 2013
- 5,950
- 20
This past weekend I sat down and a set of new wheels prior to them being mounted this week. Going off the advice from a thread I started last week, I used the Cquartz sample I had on hand. While everything turned out OK, the experience left me with questions regarding the application process.
What type of applicator is everyone using? Wheels are more intricate than modern cars and the nice foam rubber block you wrap the suede cloths around are just too big and the wrong shape. I found a very firm, yet cheap, wash sponge at a big box store and cut it up to create my own applicator. This solved the size/shape problem, but even though I wrapped it with the suede squares, I think it absorbed far too much product.
On dark-ish satin wheels, how can you tell when the product flashes? The age of the product might be part of the problem (my sample was a year old), but in a 73*F air conditioned environment, the product seemed to start drying almost immediately after application. On shiny car paint the process is pretty straight forward and I've been able to watch it happen. Satin gun metal wheels? Whole different story... Since I couldn't make out high spots and it appeared to be drying really quickly, I simply ran my MF towel VERY lightly over the surfaces a minute or two after application just to cover all bases.
One positive lesson I learned from this experience: MF suede cloths are great for applying coatings. When applying the McKee's 37 coating in the past, I used the LC coating applicator. While it's good, I noticed it makes the coating look almost like it was brushed on while spreading and then the product self-levels to a smooth surface. With the suede cloths, the product goes on much smoother and leaves no spreading marks at all.
Once again, thanks in advance for any insight provided.
What type of applicator is everyone using? Wheels are more intricate than modern cars and the nice foam rubber block you wrap the suede cloths around are just too big and the wrong shape. I found a very firm, yet cheap, wash sponge at a big box store and cut it up to create my own applicator. This solved the size/shape problem, but even though I wrapped it with the suede squares, I think it absorbed far too much product.
On dark-ish satin wheels, how can you tell when the product flashes? The age of the product might be part of the problem (my sample was a year old), but in a 73*F air conditioned environment, the product seemed to start drying almost immediately after application. On shiny car paint the process is pretty straight forward and I've been able to watch it happen. Satin gun metal wheels? Whole different story... Since I couldn't make out high spots and it appeared to be drying really quickly, I simply ran my MF towel VERY lightly over the surfaces a minute or two after application just to cover all bases.
One positive lesson I learned from this experience: MF suede cloths are great for applying coatings. When applying the McKee's 37 coating in the past, I used the LC coating applicator. While it's good, I noticed it makes the coating look almost like it was brushed on while spreading and then the product self-levels to a smooth surface. With the suede cloths, the product goes on much smoother and leaves no spreading marks at all.
Once again, thanks in advance for any insight provided.