Sonax BSD Application - Why is it so difficult?

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Jayfro

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First off, let me say I incredibly pleased with the results of Sonax PNS and BSD, it looks awesome and i recommend it to everyone i speak to!! The issue I'm having is applying BSD to my car (black acura tlx) and my wife's car (white x3 bmw) after washing and having the product dry....or in this case, not dry which in turn starts to streak when it eventually dries. I have to go back with a Scangrip light over the entire car to make sure the streaks are gone...which takes a looong time!

When applying, the car is completely dry and in the garage, I'll either spray directly onto the panel or a soft MF towel, wipe product in using straight arm motions then come back with a second MF towel to wipe dry. The towels I'm using a medium/soft density, MF towel (think its the same towels part of the PNS Towel Combo). I've also tried applying to a MF sponge....same results. I thought I may be applying too much product but I think I've tried less....with the same results. I also remembered to "shake well and often"!

I think the issue may be the climate when applying. The weather last night when I was applying was around 92-95 degrees with about 85-90% humidity (at 9:00pm :mad:)!

I would appreciate any input if there is a better way to apply BSD....again, I love the stuff but just looking for a better/easier way to apply.

Thank you,
Jay
 
Jayfro said:
First off, let me say I incredibly pleased with the results of Sonax PNS and BSD, it looks awesome and i recommend it to everyone i speak to!! The issue I'm having is applying BSD to my car (black acura tlx) and my wife's car (white x3 bmw) after washing and having the product dry....or in this case, not dry which in turn starts to streak when it eventually dries. I have to go back with a Scangrip light over the entire car to make sure the streaks are gone...which takes a looong time!

When applying, the car is completely dry and in the garage, I'll either spray directly onto the panel or a soft MF towel, wipe product in using straight arm motions then come back with a second MF towel to wipe dry. The towels I'm using a medium/soft density, MF towel (think its the same towels part of the PNS Towel Combo). I've also tried applying to a MF sponge....same results. I thought I may be applying too much product but I think I've tried less....with the same results. I also remembered to "shake well and often"!

I think the issue may be the climate when applying. The weather last night when I was applying was around 92-95 degrees with about 85-90% humidity (at 9:00pm :mad:)!

I would appreciate any input if there is a better way to apply BSD....again, I love the stuff but just looking for a better/easier way to apply.

Thank you,
Jay
Click to expand...
I've never used PNS but I have used BSD. I'm guessing the humidity has a lot to do with it. Humidity messes with most products, even the easiest to apply.

Now BSD is definitely not the easiest to apply. It's very thick and can be grabby. I haven't tried to dilute but I know a lot of people have and it's much easier to use that way.

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The heat and humidity were definitely working against you. Try applying with a damp MF and buffing off with a dry MF.

Also look into flairosol spray bottles. They can be found at local hair salons, amazon, etc... The spray pattern that comes with the BSD bottle is less than ideal. The flairosol spray pattern is a fine even mist which is all you really need when working with BSD. Just avoid windy conditions since the wind will just take the mist away.
 
I’ve been using both PNS & BSD for years and will bet your climate is what made it streak. Almost anything is hard to work with in those conditions.
A couple things to try are using BSD as a drying aid or cut it 1:1 with distilled water. FWIW, I like to use shorter nap towels with these products.
 
I'm in South Alabama, and during conditions like this, I make sure car is cool, and use a damp microfiber to apply. Short nap is better to apply, longer nap to buff. Apply to a very small area at a time.

Bill
 
I’m guessing the problem is the temp + humidity because I use this stuff all the time on black no problem.

One thing you can do, is spray the towel instead of the panel. Once the towel becomes a bit wet with product - it may be easier. Other thing you can do is decrease the amount of product you apply and the work area you are applying it to.

I believe the formula of this product has evolved. I just went from a very old bottle to a very new bottle & didn’t have a problem with either though.

Some things just don’t work for some people in some instances and it could be next to impossible to figure out why that is or fix it.
 
Jayfro said:
I think the issue may be the climate
when applying. The weather last night
when I was applying was around 92-95
degrees with about 85-90% humidity (at 9:00pm :mad:)!

I would appreciate any input if there is a
better way to apply BSD....
Click to expand...
That air (atmospheric) temperature; and that
level of humidity; results in having a dew point
of 91.6° F.

Meaning: the air is nearly saturated with water
vapor; nearly to the point where the evaporation
process is non-existent.

There has to be ‘some room’, as it were, in the
atmosphere, in which a product—that’s applied
in its liquid/fluid state—to then be able to release
its evaporative ingredient(s) into; ultimately reach-
its desired, finished state (solidified).


I’ll suggest that you:
Try it again when the humidity, dew point
and atmospheric temperatures, are more
at odds with each other.



Bob
 
FUNX650 said:
That air (atmospheric) temperature; and that
level of humidity; results in having a dew point
of 91.6° F.

Meaning: the air is nearly saturated with water
vapor; nearly to the point where the evaporation
process is non-existent.

There has to be ‘some room’, as it were, in the
atmosphere, in which a product—that’s applied
in its liquid/fluid state—to then be able to release
its evaporative ingredient(s) into; ultimately reach-
its desired, finished state (solidified).


I’ll suggest that you:
Try it again when the dew point and
atmospheric temperatures are more
at odds with each other.



Bob
Click to expand...

For us laymen: Bob says "Do not apply in hot & humid temperatures!!"

;)
 
Wow! Thank you for all the input!! I was just in Vegas last week, played golf in 90-100 degree weather and barely sweated!! I like the aerosol can and damp cloth ideas, I'll try one of those on my wife's car next week.

Unfortunately our weather in Houston/gulf coast is very humid (understatement of the year), about the only time our dew point is low is in October or November for a day or two!!!

Again, thank you very much.

Jay


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BSD has a reputation for being difficult to apply and remove. I mix it 50/50 with CG V07 and goes on and comes off easy. I picked up this tip from the guys on Detailing World and they have been using it this way for over a decade.
 
Jayfro said:
Wow! Thank you for all the input!! I was just in Vegas last week, played golf in 90-100 degree weather and barely sweated!! I like the aerosol can and damp cloth ideas, I'll try one of those on my wife's car next week.

Unfortunately our weather in Houston/gulf coast is very humid (understatement of the year), about the only time our dew point is low is in October or November for a day or two!!!

Again, thank you very much.

Jay


Sent from my iPad using Autogeekonline mobile app
Click to expand...

Yes sir. It gets insanely humid here on LI as well.

I would never think of applying any LSP or humidity-sensitive product during those peak days.
 
rlmccarty2000 said:
BSD has a reputation for being difficult to apply and remove. I mix it 50/50 with CG V07 and goes on and comes off easy. I picked up this tip from the guys on Detailing World and they have been using it this way for over a decade.
Click to expand...

Are you talking about the V07 hybrid quick detailer sealant?
 
Yep... applied BSD on a humid Sunday this weekend and I was cursing to myself the whole time. As mentioned above, I switched to a short nap towel for applying and a long nap, and very dry MF to buff, and that made it a little easier. Took longer than usual but the car sure is shiny! BTW, I only apply the BSD every 2-3 washes, which works out to be every 3-6 weeks.
 
Jayfro said:
I was just in Vegas last week, played golf in 90-100 degree weather and barely sweated!!
Click to expand...

I recall being in Vegas, outside all day in 108F and not sweating either and wondered whether that’s healthy or not? Am I not sweating because 108 doesn’t seem hot compared to 85F humid, or does the humidity spark something else in the body telling it to sweat?

On that particular trip I got home and had almost a wrinkly tan, and was very dehydrated despite barely sweating.
 
Jayfro, I feel your pain. Walk to the mailbox and get soaked with sweat. Its Relentless!
 
How often do you use the BSD?

If you like to spray it on the paint I would get a Flairosol fine mist spray bottle the one that builds up a pressure in it. This you get a even and less product used when sprayed on the paint. You can test with one spray in a short nap mf towel to wipe it in the paint and prime the mf towel with 1 spray first. I start at the roof and useally 3-4 sprays is only needed. See how it's spreading and just when you feel it's not spreading out anymore you spray 1 spray in the mf towel and move on. The application mf towel should not getting so much wet when you apply it. And if it gets saturated take out a fresh one. When you gently wipe it in and you see it starts to disapare. I take a plush mf towel around 500gsm and get the last of the BSD residue off. Flip to a fresh side often and it's useally when you see streaking left behind the mf towel has soaked up what it's able to do and you flip or refold or switch to a fresh one. If useing to much of product you need to be doing this very often. Otherwise 2-3 wipe off towels to a medium sized car. Also do not let it sit or dwell it's a wipe on wipe off product when used as a topper kind of product.

Most LSP products has problems when the humidity and heat is high. And if it's dew I don't use any protection. If you have a garage just let it be until the morning when the dew has stopped coming and apply it then.

You can test with a fine mist setting on a spray bottle to apply it with. But since you have PNS on the paint already or haveing a good amount of BSD left on the paint. I would spray it in a mf towel to apply it. A little product goes a long way with BSD. Rlmccarty mentioned CG V07 spray sealant and 50/50 with BSD is a well used mix here in EU and seems to be working great for those who useing it. You can also dilute it 50/50 with distilled water or even 1:3 if you use it as a drying aid. I use plush mf drying towels when I have used it as a drying aid. I don't like to be useing a drying aid at all and prefer to ad some gloss and protection on a dried paint after the wash. Also when you have something like PNS and top it with BSD or topping often with only BSD. You reach a point when your paint is saturated with the product. And you get trouble to apply a protection as the paint is not bonding as much of it. On something like PNS I would not use BSD more than monthly as it's very durable and even on it's own. This is also in good conditions to apply it in. If you want to use a drying aid I would go with McKees 37 N-914 rinseless wash and dilute it to QD dilution. Then you have your PNS and BSD shine and works on it's own as N-914 don't leave anything behind. Think Griots Garage Brilliant Rinseless Wash is also a product that don't leave anything behind. Much easier to work with in high humidity and heat I think too. If you get still residue or high spots a second dry plush mf towel to wipe it off can be needed. And do this as you apply it so it don't bond so hard. The benefit with BSD when it's a little grabby is that you feel when you have gotten it off as you will be feeling a little less grabby when it's off. With a plusher mf towel you would feel it easier and a more slick feeling from it.
 
Update...I applied BSD onto my wife's X3 this morning after washing by spraying BSD onto a low pile damp mf towel and wiping with a second mf towel, it worked like a champ!!

Since her car is white and hard to tell/confirm results, I applied it to the trunk lid of my black Acura the same way using the same mf towel...results were confirmed!

Thank you for all the help, it is GREATLY appreciated.

Jay


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