Paint Seal coatings

[empee]

Hi

I've finally committed and ordered our new (& first!) 'van, a Bailey Pageant 7 Bretagne.

I'm considering paying for the PaintSeal coating but it's not cheap at £400 but if I'm going to do it while it's new would appear to be the best time - but maybe not! Any comments welcome thanks

Martin

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Martin,

You could buy an awful lot of top quality wax - like Turtle Wax Platinum at around

 

[David.O]

Martin

I had a similar product on my car last year and I am well pleased with it, a quick rinse over with a hose and brush and the paintwork is like new. was it worth the extra for me yes I hate polishing anything. would I have my van done Yes. when I can afford it.

David

 

[empee]

Hi Rob, David

I'm with both of you on this one!

Do it yourself would appear the obvious route as it can't be that hard to apply anything to a shiny new van (unless it's raining!) I imagine the interior fabric treatment is spray on and that can't be too hard - take the cushions and carpets out and do it on the garage floor.

But is it that easy?

If it's going to be expensive for the stuff, messy / hard work etc then maybe just bite the bullet and let them do it at the dealers - at least they can probably do it indoors.

Anyone seen it done?

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Martin,

Fabric treatment - yes I've seen this done - but in a different area.

Our Eriba Touring caravan has a pop-top roof with a multi-layer fabric "skirt" - and the outer layer is an acrylic fabric coated at the factory with a fluoro-polymer (an advanced form of non-stick PTFE in liquid form)

Applying the coating at the fabric factory - long before it's fitted to the caravan - means it can be treated with an industrial fluoro-polymer solution, which then needs to be oven cured - and this should protect the fabric for 30+ years.

However, if (as one forum member did) the fabric is mistreated - maybe cleaned with the wrong cleaner - you can destroy the water repellent layer - and then have the job of applying the fluoro-polymer from a hand sprayer.

These sprays do re-proof the fabric, but they are never as good as the industrial coating applied at the factory - and the material used is 303 High Tech Fabric Guard.

And 303 HTFG is used for the after-market coating of seating in caravans and cars - it's very water repellent, has excellent stain resistance and spills just run off. The downside is that it doesn't last too long - about a year in high wear areas - because sitting on the seat rubs it off (eventually)

So - a 500 ml spray bottle of 303 HTFG will cost you around

 

[empee]

Thanks for that Rob

Is the Turtle Wax product pretty much the same sort of stuff as used by the professionals then (teflon?)- and is the paint coating applied just like a polish - ie. rub it on, let it dry, then polish it off? Sounds like it would be worthwhile for our car too - new this year and in metallic black - rewarding to clean but shows every mark! (previous was silver - didn't look much different before or after cleaning!)

Martin

 

[rob_jax]

Hi MArtin,

The TurtleWax Platinum Wax is a high carnauba content wax

The companion product TurtleWax Platinum Gloss Guard is a surface sealer that you apply after waxing the car (usually the day before to allow the wax to really harden)

So the hard part is that you get to wash the car, wax it and then gloss guard it the next day... It certainly feels like waxing the car twice - but the shine is pretty good.

Autoexpress did a review of car waxes in 2005 -

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/products/55103/car_polishes_and_waxes.html
Is it what the professionals use - it might be - or similar in a trade pack - but they too should be using a wax with a high carnauba content - and NO silicone.

The PTFE type fluoro-polymer spray does work very well on cloth car seats - my E-class has the part leather - part fabric "sports" seats and the fabric is perfect...

Robert

 

[empee]

Thanks Robert

Checked out the Autoexpress link - which led me to a later review (this year)

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/products/218733/polish_test.html
A new winner (Turtle still in the top 10) so I'll do some more research - need to question the PaintSeal literature claims of a '5yr guarantee' as Autoexpress don't mention anything like this length of time.

Thanks again

Martin

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Martin,

A few updates on car paint protection:

1. The Turtlewax Platinum Extra Gloss Guard can be used directly on new paintwork - and I guess similar products can be used in the same manner - that saves waxing the car first of all...

2. After the excitement of Saturday morning shopping, I've just waxed and gloss guarded my E-class and Brenda's A200 - I used about 1/5 of each product...

About

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Martin,

I had a look at the updated review - and the product mix is slightly "different" from the earlier "wax" review.

Manufacturers, reviewers and the public often regard the terms polish and wax as interchangeable, but they do have different meanings and different uses...

Polish or "cleaner wax" implies some sort of mild abrasive or cutting action - products like Mer have the mildest abrasive included to cut away any oxidise paint layer - and I wouldn't use those on a new car or caravan...

Wax - is the traditional sealer for a paint finish - and the very best shine and protection comes from materials like carnauba wax. I still think wax has a much better shine than the silicone fluoropolymer sealants, but a wax doesn't last as long...

Sealer - a long lasting silicone fluoropolymer that protects the paint or applied wax from water and atmospheric pollutants - and is certainly long lasting...

Robert

 

[empee]

Hi Robert

Maybe you could come round and .....!

Haven't managed to speak to Paintseal yet (kids off school!) You mention "NOT silicone" but then in your last post "Sealer - a long lasting silicone fluoropolymer" - is silicone an issue? (seem to recall it's hard to get off if repairs / painting required later)

From what you say if I can do this immediately I pick up the van I may just have to apply the sealer without having to do the polish first.

Thanks again

Martin

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Martin,

Silicone but not silicone...

That's one of the delights of this forum software - no possibility to edit a posting after you've hit the "submit" button...

My statements were accurate, but you'd need an understanding of Chemistry to see the distinction.

In the 70's and 80's, it was popular to add Silicone compounds to waxes and some waxes still do contain Silicones - these were Silicone polymers made from Carbon, Hydrogen and Silicon (but no Fluorine) - and are very good, long lasting lubricants.

Thetford toilet seal lubricant is one of these Silicone polymers - but get this on car paint and it never, ever comes off. Silicone polymers in waxes caused all sorts of fun for people respraying accident damaged cars.

Silicone Fluoropolymers are a different class of compound - and yes they do contain Silicone (and Fluorine), but they won't cause problems if you need the paint touching up.

Robert

 

[AlanJ]

Hi Martin

I recently purchased a Bailey Pageant Bordeaux and had the Paintseal external and internal furnishing done.

A super job and well worth the money when it comes to washing the caravan (no further wax needed for five odd years!!)

Have had same sort of product on my last two cars (both new) and again would highly recommend it as proven to work and save on elbow grease!!

Go for it...