Eldorado2k
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- Nov 9, 2015
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Pans “reviews” are more like narrations of the product descriptions. Cookie cutter and never has anything negative to say. According to him every product might as well be perfect. Lol.
Has anyone compared BFs SiO2 spray sealant to Carpro Reload
- Thread starter MrOneEyedBoh
- Start date
Pans “reviews” are more like narrations of the product descriptions. Cookie cutter and never has anything negative to say. According to him every product might as well be perfect. Lol.
AZpolisher15
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- Nov 9, 2015
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Eldo, I'm fairly certain you'd LOVE the BF SiO2 Spray. I don't think I've ever used anything that gives as much for as little effort. Appearance = as good as any traditional sealant I've ever applied (and better than many). Ease of use = about like using a spray wax, you just need to work a little more quickly. Longevity = I need more time to comment. We will see, but after two weeks it looks like and reacts to water just as it did on day one. I'm impressed. It's almost coating-like.
Eldorado2k
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- Nov 9, 2015
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Right now I’m pretty happy with the Ech2o/Reload hybrid. [3oz of each into a 32oz bottle] Not to mention, for about the same price of 1 RTU 32oz. bottle of Blackfire, I get Five 32oz. bottles of Ech2o/Reload spray mix.
RippyD
Active member
- Jan 24, 2016
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Sheedding water like the day it was applied for 2 weeks isn't uncommon for a sealant. Doing so for 6-8 10 weeks I would consider it competing with the best sealants. Garaged/not garaged, wash product, and weather are also factors.
Calendyr
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- Jun 9, 2013
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Well for this product the person who sent it to him told him he was getting 6-8 months durability out of it. But... he is a reseller, so I really don't know how trustworthy that makes it.
Calendyr
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I like that combo too, but if Reload is a 1 month product, I wonder how durable this can be? I use it as a drying aid, so I don't know how it would work as a standalone product. It does bring the cost down a lot from using Reload as a drying aid... about a fifth of the cost, so that is pretty nice
MrOneEyedBoh
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- Mar 3, 2013
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To me using these sealants as drying aids, you're watering them down to an extent. I spoke with Nick @ McKees and he recommended me to use his 10 min sealant as a drying aid. It'll add to the coating and add gloss etcI like that combo too, but if Reload is a 1 month product, I wonder how durable this can be? I use it as a drying aid, so I don't know how it would work as a standalone product. It does bring the cost down a lot from using Reload as a drying aid... about a fifth of the cost, so that is pretty nice
albertoaguilar8
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- May 12, 2017
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Ive used both CarPro Reload and BF SiO2 spray sealant. I was a fan of reload, excellent product but you have to be really careful to avoid streaking. That is why I ordered a bottle of BF SiO2 spray sealant, to have another option. Definitely, BF is easier to apply, gloss is even better and also cheaper!!! Indeed, I ordered a gallon (taking advantage of te a 25% off sale) to used as a drying aid. Hope this helps!
rlmccarty2000
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- Dec 23, 2013
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I’ve done some testing on 12 different SiO2 toppers and my question for everyone is when do you say a product is dead or ready for reapplication? Is it when beading deteriorates where water runs instead of beads or is it when the beads are not tight? Or maybe when the gloss deteriorates? Other?
Second question: Why use a topper over a coating? To save the coating? To protect the coating from waterspots? To add gloss? Can’t keep your hands off of your car? Other?
I think these are valid questions and until we can set values and reasons it is near impossible to have a meaningful discussion on SiO2 toppers. It’s kind of like saying Product X lasts 6 months only to see an asterisk next to it that says “only if vehicles is stored indoors”.
I could be digging too deep but we all want to know which product will last the longest or have the most gloss. We can’t depend on manufacturers claims as they are in it for dollars and I don’t think Consumer Reports loves us. Lol.
Second question: Why use a topper over a coating? To save the coating? To protect the coating from waterspots? To add gloss? Can’t keep your hands off of your car? Other?
I think these are valid questions and until we can set values and reasons it is near impossible to have a meaningful discussion on SiO2 toppers. It’s kind of like saying Product X lasts 6 months only to see an asterisk next to it that says “only if vehicles is stored indoors”.
I could be digging too deep but we all want to know which product will last the longest or have the most gloss. We can’t depend on manufacturers claims as they are in it for dollars and I don’t think Consumer Reports loves us. Lol.
acuRAS82
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- May 30, 2017
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RLM, my top needs for topping with a SiO2 over non-coatings is: 1) Gloss 2) Adding nice water behavior 3) Extra protection 4) Extending LSP durability (by being sacrificial). In that order, but they are all pretty close.
Sorry, I know your question applied to topping coatings, where my #2 would become a non-factor, but it’s given my preference of LSP (sealants and waxes).
Sorry, I know your question applied to topping coatings, where my #2 would become a non-factor, but it’s given my preference of LSP (sealants and waxes).
rlmccarty2000
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When/how do you determine the SiO2 is gone?
acuRAS82
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As a topper, I could only guess by when the gloss/look has gone, and in this situation I’m not too concerned about whether the topper has gone as the car should still bead based on the topper OR LSP.
If I was to use as a stand-alone like in your tests, I would go by when the beading has 80-90% stopped across the most tired panels (no sense in only having part of the car protected while part isn’t). At this point, I wouldn’t feel good about assuming my paint is protected “good enough” any longer.
In other words, I’m hesitant to call a protection dead as long as it is still beading in some way, even if not as tight or uniform beads as right after application.
Disclaimer: yes, I know that beading is not a 100% accurate indicator that protection still exists, but this is where I let experience and common sense guide me (i.e. if the paint looks dull, faded, oxidizing or something just looks wrong, it would raise a flag).
BudgetPlan1
Well-known member
- Dec 21, 2015
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Can't say for certain if the product is 'dead' or merely covered up by the rigors of daily use, but I'd generally say 'something' needs to be done when the paint is not exhibiting normal characteristics, or what I've come to be used to as normal.
Hopped in wife's car today, about a 45 minute freeway drive in rain. Car had excellent beading when I first got in but as soon as we hit freeway, beads/water were not running off hood in the same manner as they usually do. I suspect the entire vehicle is grimed-out as windshield was not displaying decent water behavior either and its coated with something, H2GO I believe.
Car has been sitting outside without being washed in about a 1 1/2 months (hey, I've been busy!); rain, leaves, blowing dirt...point being if I washed it, the normally great water behavior will likely return...it always has. When the topper is truly dead, it won't be the beading that tells me, it'll be how water is behaving on the hood while under way immediately after a wash.
I'll use a booster for a variety of reasons:
1. I'm a sheep and thusly cannot think on my own but rather follow the directions of the 'shepherd', in this case the coating mfg who recommends doing so..."Bleet, bleet...I am a marketers dream!"
2. I'm lazy. My favorite booster works very well as a drying aid and it makes drying easier and quicker, and adds some 'protection' to boot. What is it protecting? Heck, I dunno...perhaps the "Maybe it doesnt really help but certainly can't hurt" philosophy is in play here.
3. Who am I kidding; what am I supposed to do after a wash? I know I, like many others, toss about 'longevity' as a key attribute for any LSP-ish product when, in my case, I can't make it more than 1 or 2 washes without rubbing something into the paint. Whether it does actually improve gloss, or any other pleasing characteristic is pretty irrelevant because I *think* it does.
I think a true evaluation of the absolute NEED for products like this may be best left to the pros; not because they are experts but perhaps they have a structure in place that is more conducive to letting things run their full course. For myself, I'm just too curious to leave well enough alone for a long period of time on my personal cars.
However, on the fleet vehicles I've coated at work that get done and then remain untouched for 6-7 months, 15-20k miles...well a bit different story emerges. I judge those by how clean they look consistently and the quality coatings DO maintain that without the use of boosters past the initial application. But then what is that telling me? Is it telling me the coating itself maintained that look it is it telling me the topper I applied initially actually lasted 6 to 7 months. I suspect the former but suppose the latter could be true as well.
Crap, I just typed myself either in a circle or into a corner...dunno which. Can I sum it up with "I dunno, I just do it for fun"?
Desertnate
Well-known member
- Aug 5, 2013
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This is my number one reason for using a topper/drying aid.
I have to wash my vehicles outside without any shade. I ALWAYS have at least a few water spots which neccessitates a drying aide or post-wash wipe down. If it is going to happen anyway, the product might as well be one which adds a little short-term protection to help out the LSP.
rlmccarty2000
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- Dec 23, 2013
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BF SiO2 will work fine. Problems with Reload (or any spray) are usually related to over application or contaminates on the surface. Application of the two is different. The BF needs to be sprayed liberally onto the surface and wiped with a damp MF towel and Reload should be sprayed onto a damp towel and applied. Don’t ask me why but they work better this way.
Personally I would skip both and use IGL Ecocoat Premier. It costs more but it actually lasts much longer.
Personally I would skip both and use IGL Ecocoat Premier. It costs more but it actually lasts much longer.
As RLM said, BF SIO2 should work fine. It's the best at not streaking, at least for me. His 2nd comment about IGL Premier may also be spot-on. I've begun testing it and it is possibly even easier to apply, and seems to exhibit longer durability. Also it has zero dangerous chemicals in it. It is pricey, buy hey, I do this for kicks and it's a hobby. The manufacturer considers it an entry level coating, not just a 'topper'. My thanks to BudgetPlan1 for offering me a generous sample of IGL Premier for testing. It may be the best freebie I ever scored.
rlmccarty2000
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- Dec 23, 2013
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You might as well throw PBL Coating Booster in the ring as well. Lol