DFB
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- Aug 12, 2019
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Bilt Hamber Atom Mac
Bilt Hamber have risen to prominence over the last few years with detailing-specific products such as Touch-less, Auto-Foam and Surfex HD. What many may not know, the brand also manufactures a wide range of chemicals for use in multiple industries. From anti-corrosion agents to rust converters, paint prep products to seam sealers, specialty lubricants to cavity waxes. Apart from the obvious detailing-centric products, there is one product within the range that doesn't necessarily stand out as being valuable for detailing, one whose name doesn't do the product justice......................................
What Is Atom Mac -
Bilt Hamber Atom Mac is a contact corrosion inhibitor that provides an invisible atomic barrier against corrosion and rust forming on unpainted metal surfaces. Atom Mac can be used to protect vehicle undersides, water collecting voids such as chassis rails, suspension, bicycles, machinery and garden equipment. However, in the detailing world, Atom Mac can be used to prevent flash rust on steel brake rotors after washing. Atom Mac can also prevent potential damage caused by brake pads fusing to brake rotors and neutralize corrosive winter road salt.
No doubt many have felt the disappointment of your freshly cleaned wheels being showered in rusty dust the very second you apply the brake next, which is especially noticeable on black or dark wheels. Traditionally, the cure for this flash rust was to dry the rotors quickly after washing, be that with a blower or moving backwards and forwards while dragging the brakes. My neighbors already think I'm nuts without partaking in such driveway antics........................................so Atom Mac solves the issue on multiple fronts.
How To Use Atom Mac -
Atom Mac is supplied as a concentrate, so it needs to be diluted before use. For brake rotors, it works best when used at a 5% dilution, this would equate to 25ml of Atom Mac added to 475ml of water for a total volume of 500ml.
1. After cleaning each wheel, apply a few sprays of Atom Mac directly onto the rotor.
2. After washing and rinsing the rest of the car, reapply Atom Mac to each rotor.
3. From here, dry the vehicle as you normally would. Using a blower here will help dry the rotor much quicker and improve the overall result.
Usage Notes -
- Atom Mac is safe on painted surfaces and won’t damage the finish, so don't worry about overspray or residual product dripping onto the wheel.
- While the overspray won’t harm the wheel, make sure to specifically target the rotor.
- For sufficient coverage, be generous. This is one of those cases where more is better.
- You will get the best results from Atom Mac using the double application outlined above, as in after cleaning each wheel, and again after the final rinse. However, depending on weather conditions, you can get by using a single application after the final rinse.
- Atom Mac is removed from the rotor when you next drive the car, it will not hamper braking performance or safe operation of the vehicle.
- While somewhat expensive, when used at the 5% dilution a 500ml bottle of Atom Mac will go a very long way.
- How much flash rust that develops is dependent on weather conditions and the metal composition used in the rotors themselves. I've noticed some European vehicles don't rust as quickly or as severely, and obviously, carbon-ceramic rotors won't rust at all.
- You may still get some mild rust residue, usually from where the caliper obstructed the rotor. However, the overall reduction is significant and virtually eliminates dusting.
Final Thoughts -
Having also used the similar Hydes Serum Rus-stopper, I've found Atom Mac to be more effective. It might sound tedious applying a product like this, but in reality, it would add nothing more than a minute to the whole wash process. In fact, even with the double application, its quicker and easier to use a product like this than playing the backwards and forwards driveway shuffle. And no more rust-colored wheels.
Bilt Hamber have risen to prominence over the last few years with detailing-specific products such as Touch-less, Auto-Foam and Surfex HD. What many may not know, the brand also manufactures a wide range of chemicals for use in multiple industries. From anti-corrosion agents to rust converters, paint prep products to seam sealers, specialty lubricants to cavity waxes. Apart from the obvious detailing-centric products, there is one product within the range that doesn't necessarily stand out as being valuable for detailing, one whose name doesn't do the product justice......................................
What Is Atom Mac -
Bilt Hamber Atom Mac is a contact corrosion inhibitor that provides an invisible atomic barrier against corrosion and rust forming on unpainted metal surfaces. Atom Mac can be used to protect vehicle undersides, water collecting voids such as chassis rails, suspension, bicycles, machinery and garden equipment. However, in the detailing world, Atom Mac can be used to prevent flash rust on steel brake rotors after washing. Atom Mac can also prevent potential damage caused by brake pads fusing to brake rotors and neutralize corrosive winter road salt.
No doubt many have felt the disappointment of your freshly cleaned wheels being showered in rusty dust the very second you apply the brake next, which is especially noticeable on black or dark wheels. Traditionally, the cure for this flash rust was to dry the rotors quickly after washing, be that with a blower or moving backwards and forwards while dragging the brakes. My neighbors already think I'm nuts without partaking in such driveway antics........................................so Atom Mac solves the issue on multiple fronts.
How To Use Atom Mac -
Atom Mac is supplied as a concentrate, so it needs to be diluted before use. For brake rotors, it works best when used at a 5% dilution, this would equate to 25ml of Atom Mac added to 475ml of water for a total volume of 500ml.
1. After cleaning each wheel, apply a few sprays of Atom Mac directly onto the rotor.
2. After washing and rinsing the rest of the car, reapply Atom Mac to each rotor.
3. From here, dry the vehicle as you normally would. Using a blower here will help dry the rotor much quicker and improve the overall result.
Usage Notes -
- Atom Mac is safe on painted surfaces and won’t damage the finish, so don't worry about overspray or residual product dripping onto the wheel.
- While the overspray won’t harm the wheel, make sure to specifically target the rotor.
- For sufficient coverage, be generous. This is one of those cases where more is better.
- You will get the best results from Atom Mac using the double application outlined above, as in after cleaning each wheel, and again after the final rinse. However, depending on weather conditions, you can get by using a single application after the final rinse.
- Atom Mac is removed from the rotor when you next drive the car, it will not hamper braking performance or safe operation of the vehicle.
- While somewhat expensive, when used at the 5% dilution a 500ml bottle of Atom Mac will go a very long way.
- How much flash rust that develops is dependent on weather conditions and the metal composition used in the rotors themselves. I've noticed some European vehicles don't rust as quickly or as severely, and obviously, carbon-ceramic rotors won't rust at all.
- You may still get some mild rust residue, usually from where the caliper obstructed the rotor. However, the overall reduction is significant and virtually eliminates dusting.
Final Thoughts -
Having also used the similar Hydes Serum Rus-stopper, I've found Atom Mac to be more effective. It might sound tedious applying a product like this, but in reality, it would add nothing more than a minute to the whole wash process. In fact, even with the double application, its quicker and easier to use a product like this than playing the backwards and forwards driveway shuffle. And no more rust-colored wheels.