'Best' glass sealer/water repellent for a novice

[newb001]

I searched and came across various threads regarding this, but most were geared towards professionals. So I wanted to ask what is best/easiest for a novice to use on his windshield, to help repel rain.

Am I best off sticking with Rain X or even something like Green Earth Technologies 1214 G-Clean Hydrophobic Rain Repellent, or should I try a more professional product like Diamondite Shield or Nanoskin Rain Plus Hydrophobic Glass Treatment System or Nanoskin Rain Glass Sealant or GTechniq G5 Water Repellent Coating, etc...?

Again, looking for something as simple as possible, that will yield decent results, and that I don't have to apply week after week (I suppose everyone is looking for this...)

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Rain-X, at least the 30-year old bottle I have, is rather difficult to use.

I have a Diamondite product that they don't make any more, called Glass Poli-Shield, that gave equivalent performance but was MUCH easier to use.

I wouldn't hesitate to use any of the PBMG glass products like the Pinnacle or Diamondite. You also might want to try the Optimum Opti-Glass maintenance product, but it's rather pricey (although it's a concentrate that makes a lot of solution).

 

[PA DETAILER]

go for BLACKFIRE CRYSTAL SEAL. many people forget its not just for paint! seals glass and plastic too. i can attest, it does great on glass!

BLACKFIRE Crystal Seal Paint Sealant, best paint sealant, paint sealer

 

[Nick McKees37]

You can't go wrong with Pinnacle's line of glass care products.

• GlassWork Water Spot Remover
• Crystal Clear Glass Cleaner w/Water Repellent
• GlassCoat Window Sealant w/Rain Repellent

Rain, Rain - Go Away!

Pinnacle GlassCoat Window Sealant w/Rain Repellent is a glass sealant on steroids. It provides unsurpassed protection on exterior glass surfaces while creating an immense amount of surface tension that causes water to bead up and roll off. Its formula goes on clear and dries without any unwanted haze.

I've found the Lake Country Gold Finger Pocket to be the perfect applicator for Pinnacle GlassCoat Window Sealant w/Rain Repellent. Four fingers fit snugly and it keeps your fingers from getting any unwanted residue on them.

Its as simple as evenly spreading a thin coat and letting it dry for 10-15 minutes. Once it hazes, buff it off with a microfiber towel.

We have a complete kit too:




Pinnacle Crystal Clear Glass Kit

 

[Becciasm]

Dunno Setec, for a detailing novice (which I still am, comparably to most everyone here), Rain X OTC is still pretty good. I've got both the small liquid bottles and the spray versions.

Glass Science Rain Clear is good as well. Depends on what the OP regards as 'novice'...

Of course, my rain x is not 30 years old like yours.. the formula may have shifted a bit..

I'm setting up a Rain X vs Nanoskin test to see if 'boutique' is better than OTC.. Rain X is pretty darn hard to get wrong if you follow the directions on the bottle *shrug*..

I do not have personal experience with coatings on glass, but many here say that glass coatings are the way to go, but maybe not for a 'novice' as the OP asks..

Edit: :iagree: what Nick said..

 

[Setec Astronomy]

There you go, and the Pinnacle products are on sale right now.

 

[Christopher.Brown]

The problem i find with sealing glass is the friction from wipers will remove the treatment over time. I know ppl are sayin no ish sherlock....

Just throwin it out there..

Jetseal 109 works fine, with no crazy glare

Our best buddy..good ole Collinite 845 works great... and we know the sheeting properties are off the charts.

I actually am doing a test right now for this. I know ... i know.....its summer. But i put it on a week ago. [taped the windshield down the middle and applied to drivers side only] I want to test the Heat durability of 845 through the warm summers here and compare it to the paint treatment i did...... ah ha im always testing something < ! >

Personally I dont like rain-x.. because of the damn hard to remove film it leaves.... and dont get me started on the rain x blades..... i had them on a used car I bought......uuhhgh nightmare glare streaks

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Dunno Setec, for a detailing novice (which I still am, comparably to most everyone here), Rain X OTC is still pretty good. I've got both the small liquid bottles and the spray versions.

Of course, my rain x is not 30 years old like yours.. the formula may have shifted a bit..

Maybe mine is only 25 years old

I find the haze can be very difficult to remove. Mine smells like bananas (well, fake bananas, kind of like Meg's 26). I'm pretty sure the solvent is different than it is now.

EDIT: Or maybe not...

I personally don't like rain-x.. because of the damn hard to remove film it leaves.

 

[TheFrankenberry]

Stay away from the Gtechniq G5. I applied it after using the G4 polish, and while wasn't as difficult to apply as the two-stage G1/G2 hydrophobic coating, I still prefer PPG (now Trico?) Aquapel glass treatment - for application and results.

 

[Becciasm]

Maybe mine is only 25 years old

I find the haze can be very difficult to remove. Mine smells like bananas (well, fake bananas, kind of like Meg's 26). I'm pretty sure the solvent is different than it is now.

EDIT: Or maybe not...

A few spritz of water or glass cleaner after the haze for me removes the haze.

*shrug*.. i've never done anything special, just clean the glass well, apply product and remove per bottle instructions...

Rain Clear is a similar formula but is less 'finicky' to apply/remove than Rain X.

But, to each his own.

OP, there are a ton of good products that are 'novice' friendly. rops:

There you go, and the Pinnacle products are on sale right now.

^^^^this.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

A few spritz of water or glass cleaner after the haze for me removes the haze.

I'm always hesitant to use water or cleaners on fresh sealant for fear of compromising the "curing".

 

[wytstang]

You can't go wrong with Pinnacle's line of glass care products.

• GlassWork Water Spot Remover
• Crystal Clear Glass Cleaner w/Water Repellent
• GlassCoat Window Sealant w/Rain Repellent

Rain, Rain - Go Away!

Pinnacle GlassCoat Window Sealant w/Rain Repellent is a glass sealant on steroids. It provides unsurpassed protection on exterior glass surfaces while creating an immense amount of surface tension that causes water to bead up and roll off. Its formula goes on clear and dries without any unwanted haze.

I've found the Lake Country Gold Finger Pocket to be the perfect applicator for Pinnacle GlassCoat Window Sealant w/Rain Repellent. Four fingers fit snugly and it keeps your fingers from getting any unwanted residue on them.

Its as simple as evenly spreading a thin coat and letting it dry for 10-15 minutes. Once it hazes, buff it off with a microfiber towel.

We have a complete kit too:




Pinnacle Crystal Clear Glass Kit

How does this stack up to 1 application of Aquapel? I get 6 months from 1 application of aquapel, does Pinnacle's offering have the same stamina? Or is monthly application required like Opti-seal or the like?

 

[indiana lineman]

First post here (sorry if it derails).
I didn't see anything about the bug stains, I got from rain x, mentioned. Do all the products inherently leave a stain (for lack of a better description) that is to be expected?
I stopped using rain x years ago because I didn't like the spots it left after a bug went suicidal on my windshield. I'm not referring to the buggy mess. I'm talking about the spot it left in the window treatment (rain x) that seemed to be void of treatment after removing said bug.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

I stopped using rain x years ago because I didn't like the spots it left after a bug went suicidal on my windshield. I'm not referring to the buggy mess. I'm talking about the spot it left in the window treatment (rain x) that seemed to be void of treatment after removing said bug.

Bug guts can be pretty corrosive, they can etch your paint if you leave them on the bumper/mirrors/etc. So it shouldn't be a surprise that that kind of chemical action will also remove a sealant like Rain-x.

 

[poweraid]

Before my detailing days it was always rain x - ah so so . then I bumped up to aquapel , works great , last longer than rain x . then finally I went opti glass coating , upkeep with optimum opti glass clean and protect .

 

[swanicyouth]

Pinnacle and Griots glass sealants are both good performers. Both are less smeary than RainX. Both Pinnacle and Griots seem the same to me, I use them interchangeably. I don't know how long they last, as I top them off every two to three months. They are still going strong at that time. The Griots is less $$$ than Pinnacle, but I believe the Pinnacle bottle is bigger.

The best way to apply them is to fold up a blue shop paper towel in eights and use that as an applicator. The blue shop towel soaks up very little product, as most of it will be stuck in the applicator. If you apply it this way your bottle will last forever. More is less with these products. It should take very little to coat glass. If you use too much, its going to be hard to get it off. Make sure its 100% dry before you buff it off.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

The best way to apply them is to fold up a blue shop paper towel in eights and use that as an applicator. The blue shop towel soaks up very little product, as most of it will be stuck in the applicator. If you apply it this way your bottle will last forever.

That's how I apply Rain-X...maybe that's why I still have my old bottle I think I did try it on a foam applicator once and it melted

 

[Detailing by M]

RainX
easy to get, easy to use. I've used it for over 30 years now.

 

[drbll]

I have been using Glass Science products for several years now and love them. The glass scrub on a 6" yellow scrubbing pad at a low speed, then seal it with Rain Clear. I do my maintanance cleaning with the Rain Clear cleaner/sealant spray and it tops up the protection nicely.

Glass Science Rain Clear Dual-Action Glass Cleaner & Rain Repellant

Glass Science Glass Scrub

Glass Science Rain Clear Gel

 

[JDGolden]

The problem i find with sealing glass is the friction from wipers will remove the treatment over time. I know ppl are sayin no ish sherlock....

Just throwin it out there..

Jetseal 109 works fine, with no crazy glare

Our best buddy..good ole Collinite 845 works great... and we know the sheeting properties are off the charts.

I actually am doing a test right now for this. I know ... i know.....its summer. But i put it on a week ago. [taped the windshield down the middle and applied to drivers side only] I want to test the Heat durability of 845 through the warm summers here and compare it to the paint treatment i did...... ah ha im always testing something < ! >

Personally I dont like rain-x.. because of the damn hard to remove film it leaves.... and dont get me started on the rain x blades..... i had them on a used car I bought......uuhhgh nightmare glare streaks

So 845 is ok to use on the windshield? I was not sure how it would react with wiper blades....