F11 - Love it, but is there a better choice

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pittpens24

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I am always trying new products like many of us - almost like an addiction. New to the online game of professional products and with soo many choices out there, where to begin?

I'll start by saying I have a 2018 Black Silverado. I recently corrected and topped with Fuzion.(you may have seen my Fuzion help post)

I've used almost everything available OTC for a maintainer with the best so far being Lucas Speedwax and Meguiar's Ultimate QD until I tried F11.

F11 is glossier and much more slick than the other two - also the 1st product I ever bought not available OTC.

I searched and found nothing about F11 on here so what is the deal? Obviously it is $$$, but works incredibly for what little knowledge I have.

What I love about it is:
The slickness it produces, dust doesn't stick to it so easily(godsend on black)
Much better performance than the Lucas or Megs QD in the sense bugs and bird dropping practically wash off with a garden hose
Deep Gloss
Easy application
Works wonders on plastic trim, tonneau cover and glass as well
**The best thing is rain protection - repels road grime and splash up on the sides - looks like it was just washed after driven through the rain and dries on its own with no water spots or dirt. No other product has come close to that thus far.

Cons:
$$$$
Streaks so it is not as user friendly as Lucas Speedwax
Little more work to remove

I know you professionals have tried it and I also know it is expensive and you are running a business so there are cheaper alternatives for clients, but I am looking for what you would put on your own car where true product performance is the end result.
 
I get notifications from some of these products, like the one you mention on places like Facebook.

And I will not say that any are bad, although many make some quite bold claims.

While I haven't recently hunted this site, I suspect this product you mention and like is not sold here, and thus it is usually frowned upon speaking about such other products. Sorry, but that's the way it is, it's their site, and they have to make some rules and regulations to keep things orderly.

By no means am I trying to say because they are not sold here, that they are somehow duds, quite the contrary, maybe are very fine products.

There's many products sold here that you won't commonly find on store's shelves, take for instance one being Collinite.

There's others I have seen advertised, and sure they have followers and fans. One, my friend has recently tried on his '65 Black Caddy, Prod**a, and likes it a lot, again not sold here, yet. But some of these products might become staples here one day, many have from countless manufacturers.

About all I can add, is many products can do some good things, but often not all. You would not expect a spray detailer to last a year or more like a hardcore ceramic coating, they weren't commonly designed for such. Just like a detailer surely doesn't want to use a more difficult to use Hard Paste Wax after every wash.

About the best advice I can give, is to use what you like, and what gets the job done best for you
 
There are countless boutique products made all over the USA that outside those local areas, nobody's ever heard of them.

Again, because such small time makers exist doesn't make them inferior to the better-more widely known products available.

One company's line I used to use years ago, are now long gone, and were based in Chicago was a company called "Nu Look".

Companies such as this and many others can commonly cater to detailing shops, sell in large bulk quantities often.

You want a gallon, 5 gallons, and even 55 gallons of a certain product, be it a shampoo, a tire dressing, wax, perfumes, compounds and polishes, no problemo.
 
MarkD51 said:
I get notifications from some of these products, like the one you mention on places like Facebook.

And I will not say that any are bad, although many make some quite bold claims.

While I haven't recently hunted this site, I suspect this product you mention and like is not sold here, and thus it is usually frowned upon speaking about such other products. Sorry, but that's the way it is, it's their site, and they have to make some rules and regulations to keep things orderly.

By no means am I trying to say because they are not sold here, that they are somehow duds, quite the contrary, maybe are very fine products.

There's many products sold here that you won't commonly find on store's shelves, take for instance one being Collinite.

There's others I have seen advertised, and sure they have followers and fans. One, my friend has recently tried on his '65 Black Caddy, Prod**a, and likes it a lot, again not sold here, yet. But some of these products might become staples here one day, many have from countless manufacturers.

About all I can add, is many products can do some good things, but often not all. You would not expect a spray detailer to last a year or more like a hardcore ceramic coating, they weren't commonly designed for such. Just like a detailer surely doesn't want to use a more difficult to use Hard Paste Wax after every wash.

About the best advice I can give, is to use what you like, and what gets the job done best for you
Click to expand...

Oh Crap! I did not even think of it that way - just thought of this as a detailing forum. So sorry if I overstepped forum rules
 
Now that I think about it, I didn't overstep any boundries. I am simply asking for a better performing product. Honestly I didn't even look to see if it was sold here, but assuming from the previous post it is not.
 
Back in the 70's and 80's and when I switched to using many of Nu Look's products, I was mostly using off the shelf stuff. Many products were within the Meguiars line, and some others, Blue Coral, Slipstream Airplane Wax, Treewax Boat Wax, and others. The Slipstream and Treewax were hard Carnauba Pastes, and a ##### to apply and remove, so was Blue Coral Paste.

The Meguairs line back then made very fine products, but many of their sealants and waxes back then just weren't cutting it on daily drivers. After a wash or two, the products were gone, and offered zero protection.

I began to think many of the Meguiars products back then were more suited for the show car circuit, and garage queens.

Whereas Nu Look's products were heavily laden with pure Carnaubas, many times I'd watch the owner making his waxes, and they were vastly more durable that what I could find from many off the shelf products to be had back then. Frank the owner always told me that many of the Meg's products were just loaded with silicones for shine, but no durability.

Fast forward to today, lots of breakthroughs have been made, research, chemistry has gotten considerably better.
 
How often would you say you apply F11?

The hot product on here for slickness and gloss, while also being very affordable is Beadmaker. It's main knock is it doesn't last a long time. If you apply every couple weeks, I think you'll be very pleased with it from the reviews I've read. When you run out of F11, give this a shot: Renny Doyle Double Black Bead Maker Paint Protectant and you can also buy it in gallon form: Renny Doyle Double Black Bead Maker Paint Protectant

Even better is if you watch for deals, you can get a pretty decent savings (25% off at times). I have no personal experience with F11, but everything I've read about it is it's an overpriced sealant.
 
limited0602 said:
How often would you say you apply F11?

The hot product on here for slickness and gloss, while also being very affordable is Beadmaker. It's main knock is it doesn't last a long time. If you apply every couple weeks, I think you'll be very pleased with it from the reviews I've read. When you run out of F11, give this a shot: Renny Doyle Double Black Bead Maker Paint Protectant and you can also buy it in gallon form: Renny Doyle Double Black Bead Maker Paint Protectant

Even better is if you watch for deals, you can get a pretty decent savings (25% off at times). I have no personal experience with F11, but everything I've read about it is it's an overpriced sealant.
Click to expand...
Been doing it after every wash(once a week or two if it rainy - my work parking lot is dirt )
Seems the more layers, the better the resistance to rain splatter, bug juice and bird droppings. One bottle did my truck 10x.
Beadmaker sounds like the same type of product. Will def give that a shot! Thx

Sent from my SM-G973U1 using Tapatalk
 
I've never used it before and I don't watch the videos for it on Facebook as they simply look like they are produced and targeted at the masses. Nothing wrong with this but I'm not part of the masses they are targeting.


Here's what I like, it's one of my favorite products. It too is expensive but it's good.

Pinnacle Black Label Diamond Surface Coating


I had a Mercedes-Benz last week that I had to coat the hood after a clear bra was installed. (already did the rest of the car). I used the PBL Surface Coating as a secondary layer on the horizontal surfaces because it make the paint feel so slippery.

When the car came back the owner showed me some "spotting" on the rear of the car. The "Spotting" would NOT rub off. I had to mechanically remove it using a polish. The spotting was a little bit of PBL Surface Coating overspray I had sprayed some onto the TOP of the trunk lid and some overspray drifted down on to the vertical panel.

After machine polishing the coating off I then chemically stripped the paint and replaced the coating.

What this showed me and the owner was how tough the PBL Surface Coating is.


For what it's worth, I use the PBL Surface Coating on my wife's Honda H-RV. Been using it since we bought it. I frequently update this thread with pictures of water beading.


KILLER CAR WASH - Wolfgang Uber SiO2 Coating Wash


This is from last Saturday morning, see post #26

c087fb2e6ad203481d3e31c6d5bc7084.jpg





The wash is the Wolfgang Uber SiO2 Coating Wash but the BASE product on the paint is the PBL Surface Coating.

Good combo.


Here's a thread dug up "today" for another thread where I used the PBL Surface Coating.


OriginalBASECOAT/CLEARCOAT paint - 1996 Porsche 993




:)
 
There's countless of great products here to use, which will serve a similar purpose of let's say a bi-weekly detailer after you wash.

And there's others that are basically just as easy to use as a detailer spray, such as some of the wipe on-walk away products (WOWA's) but last considerably longer and protect very well.

For instance, Duragloss Aquawax is a product I like. After trying a small bottle gotten here once, my next orders were typically the large Gallon Jugs. Quite inexpensive as well IMO. Works great as both a drying aid, and as a detailer spray. Not designed for long life, but it is a great topper to use over other waxes and sealants as a maintenance product I've found.

WOWA's such as Optimum Opti-Seal and Ultima Paint Guard Plus are again two killer products, so easy to use, and there are others. They go quite far, one bottle of either will do usually dozens of vehicles, durability on a daily driver is quite good, I would say is about between 3-4 months. Great especially in areas where you don't wish to be dealing with build ups of residues. Or you want to lay down some good protection and not spend hours on end.

Many spray on products now tout SIO additives in them, and again, there's a good number to choose from here.
 
Mike Phillips said:
I've never used it before and I don't watch the videos for it on Facebook as they simply look like they are produced and targeted at the masses. Nothing wrong with this but I'm not part of the masses they are targeting.


Here's what I like, it's one of my favorite products. It too is expensive but it's good.

Pinnacle Black Label Diamond Surface Coating


I had a Mercedes-Benz last week that I had to coat the hood after a clear bra was installed. (already did the rest of the car). I used the PBL Surface Coating as a secondary layer on the horizontal surfaces because it make the paint feel so slippery.

When the car came back the owner showed me some "spotting" on the rear of the car. The "Spotting" would NOT rub off. I had to mechanically remove it using a polish. The spotting was a little bit of PBL Surface Coating overspray I had sprayed some onto the TOP of the trunk lid and some overspray drifted down on to the vertical panel.

After machine polishing the coating off I then chemically stripped the paint and replaced the coating.

What this showed me and the owner was how tough the PBL Surface Coating is.


For what it's worth, I use the PBL Surface Coating on my wife's Honda H-RV. Been using it since we bought it. I frequently update this thread with pictures of water beading.


KILLER CAR WASH - Wolfgang Uber SiO2 Coating Wash


This is from last Saturday morning, see post #26

c087fb2e6ad203481d3e31c6d5bc7084.jpg





The wash is the Wolfgang Uber SiO2 Coating Wash but the BASE product on the paint is the PBL Surface Coating.

Good combo.


Here's a thread dug up "today" for another thread where I used the PBL Surface Coating.


OriginalBASECOAT/CLEARCOAT paint - 1996 Porsche 993




:)
Click to expand...

Man that car looked incredible! Ty for the link!

I'm not usually the type to fall for those products either, but the ads wore me down to be honest. If the product is expensive, but works, lasts and is a many use product, then I don;t mind spending the money when broken down on a per use basis. I cringe as I type this, but people will spend $20 plus to go through an automated car wash. Point is if you get say 10 uses out of a $100 bottle it comes down to $10 per use, I'm good with that as long as it is worth it.

Saw that post on the SI02 wash and was wondering. I do use a foam cannon 1st to help remove excess dirt followed by a 2 bucket wash method on the black. Would you foam it with the SI02 and follow up with as well or is that just a waste and use my fav soap in the cannon and follow up with SI02 in the wash bucket?
 
SI02 finishes scare me to be honest. Especially to use on my show car. I know they produce a hard coating which is the factor to me that intrigues and scares me. Great for the fact that it creates a barrier on top of the paint, but scary because we do not know the long term effect since it is still "new". My Camaro is black with white stripes. The white stipes are a white base with snow white pearl sprayed over real rose lace. I am afraid that it could turn the white/pearl yellowish and have that effect that happens to the White pearl Cadillac. Not an issue if it comes off, but I have read wet sanding may be required. Not something I want to mess with as of yet
 
Polishing removes ceramic coatings, not sanding.
 
pittpens24 said:
SI02 finishes scare me to be honest. Especially to use on my show car. I know they produce a hard coating which is the factor to me that intrigues and scares me. Great for the fact that it creates a barrier on top of the paint, but scary because we do not know the long term effect since it is still "new". My Camaro is black with white stripes. The white stipes are a white base with snow white pearl sprayed over real rose lace. I am afraid that it could turn the white/pearl yellowish and have that effect that happens to the White pearl Cadillac. Not an issue if it comes off, but I have read wet sanding may be required. Not something I want to mess with as of yet
Click to expand...


What is new, SIo2 or your paint?
 
Rsurfer said:
What is new, SIo2 or your paint?
Click to expand...
Paint is 2 years old but I was referring to SI02 coatings. Even places that offer it professionally are few and far between

Sent from my SM-G973U1 using Tapatalk
 
That's no doubt because of the types of agreements pro detailers must agree to with companies that make such products. Usually I think it means ordering such and such amount within certain given periods of time. And there's other factors I believe. That would mean a detailer and/or shop would no doubt need a high volume of vehicles where some would opt for such coatings.

That, and the high costs of having such coatings applied by a professional are prohibitive to some people.

For the years I've been around here, and have seen the Ceramic-Quartz Coatings arrive, I've read countless posts about problems with them, but 99% of those problems were commonly user induced issues, not with the products themselves.

With my use of products such as Carpro CQuartz, I've never seen issues such as yellowing, flaking, noticeable visual failure that the vehicle now looks like a total mess, that in retrospect the coating was a bad choice to take.

They just gradually wear away over time and with washing, that they slowly lose their hydrophobicity, and mar-swirl resistance qualities. With my use and experience on my own vehicle, this took very close to around a 2 year period of time.

Most say don't use coatings if you're the type of person that likes trying different products regularly because after a coating is applied, there's no need to then. Looking at coatings one way, they are relatively cheap in the long run, and save a lot of work for a vehicle owner, simplifying vehicle maintenance.

After a coating is applied, like they say, it's like hitting a freeze frame on the paint, that's it. Unless you have money to toss to the wind and recoat like it's a wax, there's now no coming behind where you say to yourself "gee, I think I'll polish my trunk lid a little more, it's not looking as good as the rest of the car".
 
Someone's putting ALOT of money into advertising this F11, this I know! All I know about F11 is this, "F11 is no joke!".

Try a gallon of Beadmaker and i say a gallon because it's that awesome and inexpensive, talk about something not being a joke, THIS is actually true here

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
As for a show vehicle that is not in any way a daily driver, then I'd say there's a lot of pros and cons to a paint coating IMO. Yes, paint is paint, but a show vehicle isn't being subjected to the rigors that a daily driver is for one.

I'm of the camp that would agree with some of the show car owners I know, and how they feel, "less is better". One friend of mine with his show winning fully restored all black 1968 SS396 Chevy Chevelle basically does noting to his vehicle except hit it with a detailer spray prior to showing the vehicle. This vehicle is no longer driven on the street ever.

The only "driving" that's done is putting it in, and taking it out of his $16K Enclosed Car Trailer to take to shows.

The only damages I've seen that has occurred to his paint under very close scrutiny, is you might see a little teensy weensie sleek here and there, mostly where I seen it was on one of the front fenders, and that is no doubt caused by taking the car cover on and off since it was last painted. As everyone knows, on black paint you see everything! On any other color, such could never even be seen.

Last time that car was in a shop for such work, re-spray-etc, I recall him saying they handed him a $40K Bill. Ouch! LOL Estimated value of this car he's told me, $120,000. He's got more trophies than Carter's got Pills!
 
pittpens24 said:
I am always trying new products...

I've used almost everything available OTC
for a maintainer with the best so far being
Lucas Speedwax and Meguiar's Ultimate QD
until I tried F11.


F11 is glossier and much more slick
than the other two...

Obviously it is $$$, but works incredibly
for what little knowledge I have.

What I love about it is:
The slickness it produces,

dust doesn't stick to it so easily
(godsend on black)

Much better performance than the Lucas or
Megs QD in the sense bugs and bird dropping
practically wash off with a garden hose

Deep Gloss

Easy application

Works wonders on plastic trim,
tonneau cover and glass as well

**The best thing is rain protection -
repels road grime and splash up on the
sides - looks like it was just washed after
driven through the rain and dries on its
own with no water spots or dirt.

No other product has come close to that thus far.


I know you professionals have tried it and I
also know it is expensive and you are running
a business so there are cheaper alternatives
for clients,

but I am looking for what you would put on
your own car where true product performance
is the end result.
Click to expand...
Find something you like and use it often

IMO:
You’ve taken one of my favorite Mike Phillips’
adages to the next level; ie: Loving a product
evokes way more passion than liking a product.

With that in mind:
Listing another ‘maintainer product’ that I believe
to be either “a better choice”; or, that “I would put
on my own car where true product performance is
the end result”...would be a moot point.


pittpens24 said:
I searched and found nothing about F11
on here so what is the deal?
Click to expand...
I’m sure that by now you have the gist of this
Forum’s intentions well in hand. Amiright?



Bob
 
Klasse Act said:
Someone's putting ALOT of money into advertising this F11, this I know! All I know about F11 is this, "F11 is no joke!".

Try a gallon of Beadmaker and i say a gallon because it's that awesome and inexpensive, talk about something not being a joke, THIS is actually true here

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Definitely will give beadmaker a try. Reaf great things about it

Sent from my SM-G973U1 using Tapatalk
 
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