Thinking Aloud -- Carnauba's

ScottB

ScottB

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With all the recent sales of Megs#16 and Pinnacle Paste Glaz on Ebay for crazy prices in excess of 3x-4x what it listed for originally, do you feel that paint sealants will ever enjoy the success ?? Would you currently pay the same mark-up for any sealant on the market, or one that recently past ??

I mean for all the bashing that carnuabas take for being less durable (are they really, if we all detail every 4-8 weeks anyways) they certainly seem well sought after currently. Collonite, Souveran, P21S, MaxWax, and Clearkote are flying off the shelves at record pace currently.

And with several booster products coming to market that enhance durability, will it take long to design one compatible with carnaubas ?? If so, would we still look to sealants versus the top carnauba's only adding a drip or two of that majic durability concoction ??

Would like your honest unbiased opinions ... no products need mentioning, just thoughts.
 
I obviously don't feel the same as many detailers. I use a carnauba every time I detail a vehicle. I may or may not use a sealant but I always top with a carnauba. If they improve the product all the better but I'm good with carnauba's at the present time also.
 
I personally think that people are paying those crazy prices because those products are no longer available. I would not pay $80 for Paste Glaze, only Souveran paste is worth that. Same goes for #16 ($30-40), NO WAY!

As far as sealants, some of the nice ones like Menzerna FMJ, Wolfgang DGPS, DP new formula are VOC compliant, so there is no issues with getting them.

I use carnaubas because I like how it beads water, and I like it that it is more resistant to bird droppings, to which most of sealants have failed.

I wax once a month (carnauba) and it takes around 15-20 minutes to apply/remove, so there are no issues with that.

Just my $0.02.
 
Killer unless you live in a state where weather is a problem,colder climates = less of an opportunuty to layer a quality wax ,sealants are my choice of products during the winter months.I love to wax my car and if the colder climate,snow and salt wasn't an issue i would be more inclined to wax every 4-6 weeks. Meguiars #16 is supply and demand maybe nostolgic for some ,when its gone its gone and the ones who have will be the envy of the ones who don't 02..
 
I agree with supercarged, I think people just want something that they are not able to get anymore. Its a prestiege thing I think!! Like, look at me I have (insert number here) of (insert favorite discontinued product here). People might pay that much for sealants if they crack down on them in the future and companies are forced to reformulate them.
 
killrwheels@autogeek said:
With all the recent sales of Megs#16 and Pinnacle Paste Glaz on Ebay for crazy prices in excess of 3x-4x what it listed for originally, do you feel that paint sealants will ever enjoy the success ?? Would you currently pay the same mark-up for any sealant on the market, or one that recently past ??

I mean for all the bashing that carnuabas take for being less durable (are they really, if we all detail every 4-8 weeks anyways) they certainly seem well sought after currently. Collonite, Souveran, P21S, MaxWax, and Clearkote are flying off the shelves at record pace currently.

And with several booster products coming to market that enhance durability, will it take long to design one compatible with carnaubas ?? If so, would we still look to sealants versus the top carnauba's only adding a drip or two of that majic durability concoction ??

Would like your honest unbiased opinions ... no products need mentioning, just thoughts.
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Chemical guys has such a product, although I have not tried it yet: From what I have read and talked with the support, it is a synthetic sealant / carnuba mix. I see this as the future of waxes, synthetic durability with carnuba shine.

However, I think it is safe to say that a nice tin of nuba will always be around especially for the enthusiasts that wax atleast once a month. Even when I put a sealant on, its topped with a nuba. THe final glow it gives just cant be duplicated.
 
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Sealant + Carnauba = WIN

I just did my first detail today where I sealed then used a carnauba.... I really liked the results.

Personally if sealants ever get as high priced as top shelp nubas I wont use them... about the most Ill pay for a product is as much as a can of Souveran costs. I dont own one yet.. but more then likely will end up with a jar of it in the future. However I just got a tin of CG 5050... I may not even need the Souveran.
 
I guess I've always been an old fashioned kind of girl. As much as I like the sealants' shine, I still always prefer a good old fashioned carnauba paste wax. I love my Souveran and I don't feel the need to look any further. :)
 
ryandamartini said:
Chemical guys has such a product, although I have not tried it yet: From what I have read and talked with the support, it is a synthetic sealant / carnuba mix. I see this as the future of waxes, synthetic durability with carnuba shine.

However, I think it is safe to say that a nice tin of nuba will always be around especially for the enthusiasts that wax atleast once a month. Even when I put a sealant on, its topped with a nuba. THe final glow it gives just cant be duplicated.
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Poorboys has offered the same product for several years ... EX !

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With the offerings of the newer products that seem to do the job as good or better than the older products, I see no need to pursue the older non VOC stuff and pay 3x-5x what it is worth. The Earth isn't going to last forever and everyone has to do their part to ensure lasts as long as it can. If it requires eliminating products that damage the environment, than so be it. Sure, I've looked at the Megs 16 and wanted to try some, but I'm not going to pay more for it than it is worth. It's just a car wax folks! Collinite seems to have some products that work as well or better for durability(and are available). As for sealants....ease of use is amazing, but I like the looks and beading of a wax much better----let's you know it's there and working. I don't seem to get any beading with any of the sealants unless I top it with a carnauba. I really like the fact that manufacturers are developing mixes of sealants/nubas so you get the best of both worlds. I'm sure the sealants are there for durability and protection and I do use them, but I always top with a good nuba after the first wash simply because I like the look of a carnauba.
 
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When I do a full detail for a customer I give them the options of a sealant, wax or the combo of both. I tell them the benefits of each. When they hear the word sealant, their eyes roll. Seems that there's a stigma caused by the automobile industry using the words lifetime and sealant together. I just don't think the public believes that a product will last for 6 months. 9 out of 10 of my customers want to touch the paint too. If they don't feel and just wax'ed slick as glass surface they feel jipped. I'm just doing the sealant now for free on my established customers though. I feel that "I" will enjoy the benefits of an easier car to clean myself.

As with many things today, old is new. Retro seems to be a trend. Carnaubas will always win in sales over sealants. Period. I that marketting will be the key. Maybe an DP Spray Sealant with a tub of Max Wax at a package price is the key to getting sealants to move.
 
I too like the carnuba wax on frequently detailed vehicles. My Mach 1 sees Souveran on a regular basis.

That said, the BMW reseller I detail cars for puts more focus on "clean" ... really clean detailing and carnuba would take a back seat to that process. I finished the White 745 Li with a coat of Wolfgang DGS and he was amazed at the finish! Actually, the potential customer was in the shop and commented on the reflection in the finish.

Sealants in a volume setting (even small volume) make sense: easy on/off, great reflection, very good to excellent durability.

Carnuba's tend to be the "enthusiast" wax. Those folks who enjoy the process and want to squeek out all the depth in their paint tend to go this route.

Toto
 
Totoland Mach said:
Sealants in a volume setting (even small volume) make sense: easy on/off, great reflection, very good to excellent durability.
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Agree totally Toto (haha).
The DP Spray Sealant is like using a QD........so easy. I can do in 15 minutes on a Suburban.
 
Justin: Perfect thinking about the public perception of sealants and "lifetime finish".... Too often, they've been "sold" by the dealer for an exhorbitant amount on a paint sealer and now they equate that with sealants in general.

In my case, I prep used Bimmers for the shop owner, so the customer doesn't know what I used for the most part. I was fortunate to talk to the prospective customer of the 745 Li and he really understood the process after a nice conversation.

Toto
 
My own car gets both WG every 4-5 months and then Souveran every 3-4 depending on the weather, friends cars get one or the other depending how well i know them.
And if it's for my car then i'm happy to pay top money for a nuba
 
Carnauba's will still win, even the combo'd ones like EX don't last as long as their regular sealant counterpart (EX-P). I like topping EX-P with a wax like Natty's blue b/c even on light color's I get great depth and wettness. With that said, I have Collinite 845 and 915, and pry won't bother buying another sealant again for that reason, EX-P last a while anyway. The Collinite stuff not only looks great, but it's more durable then any sealant (especially 915) save for a full Zanio Process on a vehicle. So you get better durability and the look of a carnauba, can't beat that.
 
Surfer said:
Carnauba's will still win, even the combo'd ones like EX don't last as long as their regular sealant counterpart (EX-P). I like topping EX-P with a wax like Natty's blue b/c even on light color's I get great depth and wettness. With that said, I have Collinite 845 and 915, and pry won't bother buying another sealant again for that reason, EX-P last a while anyway. The Collinite stuff not only looks great, but it's more durable then any sealant (especially 915) save for a full Zanio Process on a vehicle. So you get better durability and the look of a carnauba, can't beat that.
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I think AG picking up Collinite is the best thing they could have ever done. All I thought of them was of durability but that is just the half of it. The whole line up looks wonderful and is alot easier to use than I assumed.
 
Maybe an DP Spray Sealant with a tub of Max Wax at a package price is the key to getting sealants to move.
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I think your right on that justin!!!!!!!!
Good call!
 
I personally don't believe in any sealants lasting 6 months+, leave that for commercial purposes. One of the longest lasting sealants like Klasse twins will last you 4 month, when label says 12. It might last even 12 month, if all those 12 month in will be in a garage, with a car cover on, and never driven in those 12 months. With that said after 4 months, durable sealants like Klasse Twins will fail. You might still have a little protection, maybe a couple square feet on doors, but that's it.
As far as Collinite products, I will have to try those.
 
Killr, I have always agreed on the thought that detailers spend way too much emphasis on durability. Do we really care about durability? You're right: most of us do add layer upon layer of sealants (for example) on our cars just about every change we get.
 
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