Wet Foamed or Dry Foamed?

[GrabberBargeCaptain]

What's the closest analogue to Perl? Sounds like a 303 type product? Haven't tried yet but have heard good things. I've been applying 303 to the black plastic exterior bits on my Mustang weekly in the summer in the hopes that it doesn't turn grey from the sun.

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[skinnyb]

Best thing I have found for exterior plastics for protection is Carpro Reload. It's a ceramic booster. It gives it a nice darker richer look, plus protects for quite a while (month or more). Perl is very short lived as a rule. Also I never use Perl neat, but always dilute at least 1:1 for tires and 4:1 for other bits... Also for reference Perl stands for Plastic, Engine, Rubber, Leather. Is a very universal product, exactly like 303

 

[DFB5.0]

What's the closest analogue to Perl? Sounds like a 303 type product? Haven't tried yet but have heard good things. I've been applying 303 to the black plastic exterior bits on my Mustang weekly in the summer in the hopes that it doesn't turn grey from the sun.

Depends on what you intend to use Perl on. For external plastics, 303 is better than Perl, however as mentioned Reload will far outlive a water-based dressing. I also don't like Perl on interior surfaces or leather, again 303 is better.

If we are talking tires, 303 can actually be quite nice if you like a very subtle/barely there look -

Perl is super nice on tires because it produces a very dark look and can be tailored to gloss to satin to matte depending on preference. Perl can be used neat, but as mentioned, its best diluted 1:1 for tires.

As an alternative, NV Onyx is a ready-to-use product that being thicker can be cleaner to apply. Again, gloss to satin look.

Nv Onyx | Satin Tire Dressing – Parks Car Care

I also love Adam's Graphene Tire Dressing, again ready-to-use and delivers that deep black look without being too glossy.

Graphene Tire Dressing™ (adamspolishes.com)

 

[GrabberBargeCaptain]

I have a little bottle of Carpro Reload that came with a pack of Cquartz UK i bought but I never bothered with it. Wife's coating is still going strong after 3 years with no toppers or rejuvenation needed, just regular washes.

Maybe i'll give it a try on the plastics.

 

[MAGS1]

Dry foam results. Perl on the tires, no dilution. Pay no mind to my shitty lawn, it’s been super dry here and I get afternoon sun in front so the lawn just bakes.

 

[Evolvd]

Dry foam results. Perl on the tires, no dilution. Pay no mind to my shitty lawn, it’s been super dry here and I get afternoon sun in front so the lawn just bakes.

Are you on water restrictions? Looks like it’s just thirsty

 

[MAGS1]

Are you on water restrictions? Looks like it’s just thirsty

No, I just don’t feel like watering. I’ve got a half acre to water, my water bill would be through the roof LOL. It looks like this every summer then comes back looking good in the fall when it cools off and we get more rain. So I just leave it be

 

[Evolvd]

No, I just don’t feel like watering. I’ve got a half acre to water, my water bill would be through the roof LOL. It looks like this every summer then comes back looking good in the fall when it cools off and we get more rain. So I just leave it be

I dunno why but I can’t stand a dead or ugly lawn…and I also hate mowing

 

[kilobravo]

I actually burst out laughing after I hit, "Insert Quotes." <BSEG> Sorry about that folks but there were just too many things to which I wanted to reply. :=)

Best thing I have found for exterior plastics for protection is Carpro Reload.

I do all my "poly-whatever" with Reload at the same time I do the paint after each wash, Alex. But, that isn't because I think it does the best for black plastic, it's because most times I don't want to bother dealing with a different product and more towels. It's also because I do the "good stuff" every couple three months so it isn't the Full Monte. <chuckling>

Two that I think do a better job of making the black "pop" are, Wolfgangs Vinyl and Rubber Protectant and, CarPro Dlux. Wolfgangs though is much better suited for engine bay items as it stays slippery so I don't use it on the exterior trim on the Mustang but I do use it on the other two vehicles to save the good stuff. <smile>

I've also had these products in my list of plastic trim restorers to test. These are all from vids I've watched and saved on the Toob:

Lithium Trim Restoration Cube
Cerakote
Decon Black Tire Gel
Solution Finish Trim Restorer
Gtechniq C4 Permanent Trim Restorer

If any of you have experience with one or more of these, please chime in.

I never use Perl neat, but always dilute at least 1:1 for tires and 4:1 for other bits

Ditto, Alex.

Also for reference Perl stands for Plastic, Engine, Rubber, Leather

HOT DAMN, a way kewel new factoid, I never knew it was an acronym, thanks amigo!

But to be grammatically correct, I think acronyms should be in ALL CAPS. <grin> Someone give CP a ring, yeah? <BSEG>

..a very universal product, exactly like 303

I have never diluted PERL <laughing> that far but thinking about what it would look and feel like, I can see it being difficult to tell the difference aside from the different scents.

I use 303 for a number of things aside from detailing and it's one of those "good stuff replacements" I've mentioned previously for trim, etc.. <grin> I especially like it for the foldable vinyl bed cover on the pickup and, the stupid-heavy rubber mat in the bed. <laughing again..I HATE having to pull that thing out to clean the bed!) It does the job on the black plastic but to me, like Wolfgang's, 303 leaves a glimmer of slipperiness that I don't care for.

For external plastics, 303 is better than Perl, however as mentioned Reload will far outlive a water-based dressing.

Plus PERL would cost a whole lot more. :=)

303 can actually be quite nice if you like a very subtle/barely there look

Funny D but I've never tried it on tires thinking it would sling and attract grime. But obviously, if it's knocked way down, I agree the result is quite nice if that look is your goal.

As an alternative, NV Onyx is a ready-to-use product

Another product I've never tried but man, it's hard to tell the difference between it and PERL in your photos. Even better news, a liter is ten bones cheaper than PERL so I'm gonna have to have a looksee, thanks for the heads up.

I also love Adam's Graphene Tire Dressing

It too comes pretty darn close to PERL or OGTD and yet another I've never tried.

Wife's coating is still going strong after 3 years with no toppers or rejuvenation needed, just regular washes.

Maybe i'll give it a try on the plastics.

Kudos to the product you used Captain but IMHO, even the best coatings need a bit of rejuvenation lovin' at least twice a year and I hope you give that a try along with the plastic test. :=)

Dry foam results. Perl on the tires, no dilution.

I for one am impressed, Mark and it's gotta be deliciously enjoyable to shine up that GB. I have a special place in my old heart for paint colors without "metal flake." <smile> Give me a day or two and I'll gin up an edit of that photo as our ultra-harsh star pushed the camera sensor to its limits and then some. <grin>

Pay no mind to my shitty lawn, it’s been super dry here and I get afternoon sun in front so the lawn just bakes.

Are you on water restrictions? Looks like it’s just thirsty

As my man Meatloaf is known to have said,

"You took the words right out of my mouth," Brian. :=) But, I remembered the size of Mark's property and knew it was all about the cost of municipal H2O.

That's tough, Mark but there isn't a thing you can do about it. Fortunately, the northern grasses recuperate much more quickly than the "crab grass," aka St. Augustine we have down here.

We are very fortunate in this location because the properties are grandfathered with water wells while the rest of the city is not.

Back in the mid '80's we had a major league draught and it got so bad that we were all in danger of losing our entire lawns which would mean re-sodding them at a significant cost.

So my industrious neighbor at the time borrowed a 500-gallon tank trailer/pump rig from work and we would go to the water treatment plant and fill it up with gray water. One tank would just about do one of our properties which were tiny as in 80x100 then back we would go for another fill up. A lot of work in the hot sun but we saved all the lawns.

Mid-August is the dryest time down here and despite irrigating, the lawn has areas that are browning from the heat. I probably pump 50k-100k gallons of well water a month and doing the same thing with municipal water would be a large house payment so I feel ya, Mark.

Let us know how you like the IK!

FINALLY, I got caught up with the the quotes AND the additional posts that occurred while I was typing. Whew..BUT, I ain't quite finished. <BSEG>

Even though yours came earlier Mark, I wanted to move it to the end as I took delivery of the sprayer yesterday and I have a number of comments and questions. To get started, here's the unit.

First I wholeheartedly agree with the quality of construction and materials used, I was expecting much worse. Well-designed and a much better rig than I typically use for herbicides and pesticides. As far as questions..

Which color straw orifice do you find works the best for say foaming wheels?

I filled it halfway with water this morning, pumped it up a bit manually until I felt the resistance I'm accustomed to with other sprayers, and when I pulled the trigger the spray began "spurting" and I though it was just air in the line.

Left it running and the spurting never stopped so I'm wondering if this is because I only had water or does the unit always act that way? I hadn't seen what I saw in any of the vids so I'll guess that's not normal. But, all the clips I've seen had some form of detergent in them so I'll guess that is why she spurted.

Unfortunately, my main air compressor is tits up at the moment but I have a couple other very old ones although it'd be a short walk to air up the tank so my question is, if I pressurize it to say 50psi, will that be more than enough to do four large truck wheels without making multiple trips back to the compressor? Based on my "spraying experience," I'm gonna guess the answer is in the affirmative. <smile>

Thanks in advance.

 

[MAGS1]

I for one am impressed, Mark and it's gotta be deliciously enjoyable to shine up that GB. I have a special place in my old heart for paint colors without "metal flake." <smile> Give me a day or two and I'll gin up an edit of that photo as our ultra-harsh star pushed the camera sensor to its limits and then some. <grin>

Thanks KB! Always enjoy your photo edits .

Mine is actually Grabber Blue Metallic (was new for 2022), so there actually is metal flake in it. The flakes are quite small and it takes the right angle to see it. You can see it in the bottom right corner of this photo, I’ll get you a better shot when I get back home later

 

[GrabberBargeCaptain]

I wish the metallic flake was a bit more evidence in mine.

Yours looks great.. Not happy with the polish job i did on mine before coating, i did a pretty quick job just so i could throw a ceramic coating on there. next time i need to buy a smaller polisher as well because of all the damn curves on this thing, very hard not to get pad stall with my G9 .

 

[skinnyb]

Thanks KB! Always enjoy your photo edits .

Mine is actually Grabber Blue Metallic (was new for 2022), so there actually is metal flake in it. The flakes are quite small and it takes the right angle to see it. You can see it in the bottom right corner of this photo, I’ll get you a better shot when I get back home later

You took the words out of my mouth. Definitely Grabber Blue Metallic. That was the whole reason I bought it . It is amazing in the right light...

 

[skinnyb]

I actually burst out laughing after I hit, "Insert Quotes." <BSEG> Sorry about that folks but there were just too many things to which I wanted to reply. :=)


I do all my "poly-whatever" with Reload at the same time I do the paint after each wash, Alex. But, that isn't because I think it does the best for black plastic, it's because most times I don't want to bother dealing with a different product and more towels. It's also because I do the "good stuff" every couple three months so it isn't the Full Monte. <chuckling>

Two that I think do a better job of making the black "pop" are, Wolfgangs Vinyl and Rubber Protectant and, CarPro Dlux. Wolfgangs though is much better suited for engine bay items as it stays slippery so I don't use it on the exterior trim on the Mustang but I do use it on the other two vehicles to save the good stuff. <smile>

I've also had these products in my list of plastic trim restorers to test. These are all from vids I've watched and saved on the Toob:

Lithium Trim Restoration Cube
Cerakote
Decon Black Tire Gel
Solution Finish Trim Restorer
Gtechniq C4 Permanent Trim Restorer

If any of you have experience with one or more of these, please chime in.


Ditto, Alex.


HOT DAMN, a way kewel new factoid, I never knew it was an acronym, thanks amigo!

But to be grammatically correct, I think acronyms should be in ALL CAPS. <grin> Someone give CP a ring, yeah? <BSEG>


I have never diluted PERL <laughing> that far but thinking about what it would look and feel like, I can see it being difficult to tell the difference aside from the different scents.

I use 303 for a number of things aside from detailing and it's one of those "good stuff replacements" I've mentioned previously for trim, etc.. <grin> I especially like it for the foldable vinyl bed cover on the pickup and, the stupid-heavy rubber mat in the bed. <laughing again..I HATE having to pull that thing out to clean the bed!) It does the job on the black plastic but to me, like Wolfgang's, 303 leaves a glimmer of slipperiness that I don't care for.


Plus PERL would cost a whole lot more. :=)


Funny D but I've never tried it on tires thinking it would sling and attract grime. But obviously, if it's knocked way down, I agree the result is quite nice if that look is your goal.


Another product I've never tried but man, it's hard to tell the difference between it and PERL in your photos. Even better news, a liter is ten bones cheaper than PERL so I'm gonna have to have a looksee, thanks for the heads up.


It too comes pretty darn close to PERL or OGTD and yet another I've never tried.

Kudos to the product you used Captain but IMHO, even the best coatings need a bit of rejuvenation lovin' at least twice a year and I hope you give that a try along with the plastic test. :=)


I for one am impressed, Mark and it's gotta be deliciously enjoyable to shine up that GB. I have a special place in my old heart for paint colors without "metal flake." <smile> Give me a day or two and I'll gin up an edit of that photo as our ultra-harsh star pushed the camera sensor to its limits and then some. <grin>




As my man Meatloaf is known to have said,

"You took the words right out of my mouth," Brian. :=) But, I remembered the size of Mark's property and knew it was all about the cost of municipal H2O.

That's tough, Mark but there isn't a thing you can do about it. Fortunately, the northern grasses recuperate much more quickly than the "crab grass," aka St. Augustine we have down here.

We are very fortunate in this location because the properties are grandfathered with water wells while the rest of the city is not.

Back in the mid '80's we had a major league draught and it got so bad that we were all in danger of losing our entire lawns which would mean re-sodding them at a significant cost.

So my industrious neighbor at the time borrowed a 500-gallon tank trailer/pump rig from work and we would go to the water treatment plant and fill it up with gray water. One tank would just about do one of our properties which were tiny as in 80x100 then back we would go for another fill up. A lot of work in the hot sun but we saved all the lawns.

Mid-August is the dryest time down here and despite irrigating, the lawn has areas that are browning from the heat. I probably pump 50k-100k gallons of well water a month and doing the same thing with municipal water would be a large house payment so I feel ya, Mark.



FINALLY, I got caught up with the the quotes AND the additional posts that occurred while I was typing. Whew..BUT, I ain't quite finished. <BSEG>

Even though yours came earlier Mark, I wanted to move it to the end as I took delivery of the sprayer yesterday and I have a number of comments and questions. To get started, here's the unit.

First I wholeheartedly agree with the quality of construction and materials used, I was expecting much worse. Well-designed and a much better rig than I typically use for herbicides and pesticides. As far as questions..

Which color straw orifice do you find works the best for say foaming wheels?

I filled it halfway with water this morning, pumped it up a bit manually until I felt the resistance I'm accustomed to with other sprayers, and when I pulled the trigger the spray began "spurting" and I though it was just air in the line.

Left it running and the spurting never stopped so I'm wondering if this is because I only had water or does the unit always act that way? I hadn't seen what I saw in any of the vids so I'll guess that's not normal. But, all the clips I've seen had some form of detergent in them so I'll guess that is why she spurted.

Unfortunately, my main air compressor is tits up at the moment but I have a couple other very old ones although it'd be a short walk to air up the tank so my question is, if I pressurize it to say 50psi, will that be more than enough to do four large truck wheels without making multiple trips back to the compressor? Based on my "spraying experience," I'm gonna guess the answer is in the affirmative. <smile>

Thanks in advance.

Dude I can't with the quotes LOL . I just lump together and reply to all at once... My brain can't do all those clip and pastes for quotes LOL...

Love Reload on plastic for a topper for sure. But for ultimate protection, yes DLux is the bomb. I applied DLux to my Mazda over a year ago and still going strong. Reload works amazing every few months...

I did just get a bottle of NV Onyx, I am a sucker for trying things what can I say. I like D have tried Adams Graphene, PERL, and love KCx PSS as well. Darkside has moved to the back of my cabinet, I really have to be in the mood to slather that stuff on.. The ADS Tire dressing is nice too. I got enough dressing to last me a lifetime now. Especially since PERL I dilute 1:1 minimum so a liter will last me forever...

As for the IK sprayer, yes you have to have a foaming chemical for it to act right. Just water will act wierd. I do spray just water once in a while to clean out the guts. As for the nozzle, I use the default one, I have the others somewhere in my garage.. As for pressurizing it, it has a safety blow off valve, I just pump til it pops open and starts leaking then I go to town. As a rule of thumb for me, I can do one side of the car (wheels, tires, wheel wells) before the foam starts to peter out. I go back and pump her up again and do the other side. If I am foaming a whole car ( I do that from time to time with a high alkaline pre soak) I attach my little battery bicycle pump and let it run while I am moving to keep the pressure up...

 

[kilobravo]

Yes, the sumbitch has even more to say. <BSEG>

I forgot to include this comp I ginned up while replying earlier.

​

Didn't take the time to label each product, they are Onyx, Perl, Adam's, and Sarah's tire with OG's dressing. Adam's is too glossy for my tastes but Onyx and PERL are pretty darn close to my current fave, OG. I think OG's product is easier to apply and I always like his spray bottles.

 

[kilobravo]

My brain can't do all those clip and pastes for quotes LOL...

You're normal Alex, my brain is the oddball. ;=)

I can do one side of the car (wheels, tires, wheel wells) before the foam starts to peter out.

Exactly what I needed to hear and I think my old bod can make two trips, thanks.

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