Yay! I'm glad you were able to remove the RR! Sorry it didn't work out for you, of course, but I'm happy to hear it is reversible!
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Yay! I'm glad you were able to remove the RR! Sorry it didn't work out for you, of course, but I'm happy to hear it is reversible!
VT--- Yup, see my Post #7 of this thread. My 4-pack of TS-1 (cost = $30) just arrived in the mail today.:bgwb:Quote:
Originally Posted by vt_maverick
KAT,
Sorry you are having such a fiasco with your cladding. I really think there must be some magical barrier on your cladding!
I'm a good time on and still no flakes/chips. I am seeing some thinner spots where I may reapply after washing several times, but it's been by FAR the best treatment I have done with my cladding. I did however pretty much windex the entire surface before putting mine on.
I just don't want others to be completely scared off. Although, I am glad to know that were I to develop chips I can take it off completely with a powerwasher. I reality though it would probably be to just put it back on with a clean slate. I mean, I think I could go a full year or more at this point without having to treat my cladding at all!
I hope whatever you try next works out much better though Kat. I know the feeling when your baby just doesn't look her best!
Good luck!
- Technocoy
Glad the TS-1 arrived RIff....hope you get to apply it soon.
Does it give any special prep advice for the surface?? I haven't gone back to their website since the product was first mentioned a few weeks ago, so don't recall.
Let us know how it goes!!
I'm still just amazed how easy this was to blow off....guess that's cuz of that magical barrier! (Hey I'm almost starting to believe that :rollo:)
For now, I'm gonna bow out of this debate..... Once the weather cools off, I will be prepping my VX for a complete paint job.
That includes spraying ALL the cladding with a fresh coat of black. I figure, since the VX has seen 10 years worth of sun out in the southwest, everything needs to be renewed.
Quite often, after the plastic has turned light grey too many times, wiping it down only helps for a couple days at a time.
My "mini poll" question.....
What color cladding should I go with: true black or dark grey? ;)
Luna, I know you're experienced and know the cladding needs lots of prep before painting, but take a look at this Isuzu bulletin. It shows what needs to be done depending on what brand products you use.
Cladding Refinish Procedures-Part 1
Cladding Refinish Procedures-Part 2
Cladding Refinish Procedures-Part 3
Cladding Refinish Procedures-Part 4
Cladding Refinish Procedures-Part 5
Mark
It's impressive that Isuzu actually puts that info together... These bulletins are exactly what I was referring to when I mentioned there are numerous procedures to go along with numerous products.Quote:
Originally Posted by deermagnet
Only one of these products (Spies Hecker..high end, expensive) talks about restoring texture back to a repaired piece.
I, unfortunately, had to repair the left, rear bumper cover after only owning our VX for 2 weeks...http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/da...s/P1000041.JPGhttp://www.vehicross.info/gallery/da...3_edited-1.jpg
I'd go with matte black, seems like it would look uber cool. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Luna X
You should go back to the original blackQuote:
Originally Posted by Luna X
.... and doesn't "original black" spark up that old, what color IS the cladding debate?!?Quote:
Originally Posted by circmand
Me? NO! Would I do that? I am sure I have no idea what you are talking aboutQuote:
Originally Posted by Luna X
Im glad this topic is back up. I used the TS-1 when i first got my VX last fall. I used one wipe for the job, including the hood insert. It went on very easy, and quickly.
My clading was very faded, and it brought it back to better than factory. I loved that it made it nice and dark without looking wet or greasy.
The TS-1 didnt drip, even when it rained a few days later. and i had zero dust colection. It lasted about 8 weeks and looked great! but once it wore off, it went back to the faded grey almost overnight.
Ive never seen it in a store. only at a Chevy parts department or online.
I will be staying with the TS-1 once i can get some more. i dont think anything else is worth the hassle.
So here's a question for our TS-1 converts, how long should I wait after my last B2B application to try TS-1?
Good question, and one I don't think anyone has the answer to since TS-1 just came to the fore front of applications for our cladding. Maybe Riff Raff will have a answer since TS-1 was just delivered to him. Maybe there is some insight on the spec sheet for prep.Quote:
Originally Posted by vt_maverick
Obviously you MUST wash it with dish soap before application of TS-1:)Quote:
Originally Posted by vt_maverick
This stuff is really sounding better & better. Do you happen to have any pics when it was on??Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyingV77
I've got to reread the info online, but I didn't think it would wear off, anybody else think that too?? :?:
ill try to get some more at the begining of the week and take befor and after pics... if i can wake up during the day. working nights can suck some times. oh and every product wears off eventualy.
didnt get a chance to do my cladding. ive been busy updating my home security. i cought the naibors trying to steal my wheels, im down one center cap.
Off your stock rims?!?
nope, my new rims
I was cleaning up and found some of this old tire gel I used to use in my car show days, it was the best thing I ever found for tires, looked good for a long time so decided to try it on the cladding, we will see how it holds up to my dirt road lol:
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5150.jpg
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5151.jpg
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5152.jpg
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5153.jpg
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5155.jpg
What kinda tire gel did ya use? Lots of us been using Meguiar's Endurance High Gloss tire gel for 'bout eight years now. I love that stuff. After applying I rub it down with dry paper towels and it gives a nice wet, but not too wet look. I think there's a low gloss version which some seem to like more.
If there's dust or dirt on it, wet paper towels bring it back. It only needs to be re-applied after driving in the rain.
I forget who turned us on to this product for the cladding way back in the day, but I'd just like to thank them again. :yes: :thumbup:
http://www.wtv-zone.com/markg/mags/mags4/1125.jpg
http://www.wtv-zone.com/markg/mags/mags4/1102.jpg
Mark Griffin (a VX lifer) :_steering
That's it! I used that for my tires back in the day on my Camaro and I loved it, found it sitting in a box and decided to try it out, that's funny lol. Says "lasts weeks not days" on it right
Yeah, it'll last weeks without driving high speed thru heavy rain. If it sits in the rain, wet towels clean it up nice. A short drive in some light rain and ya might be okay.
Mark
rained a little today and still looks alright. If it last between washes (usually a week or 2) I'm ok with that. As long as it doesn't start running and looking worse than not having it "coated" at all
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/da...Protectant.jpg
It worked easy and looks great...the hood insert is amazing. It causght my eye since it actually had a picture of cladding on the bottle.
It was dark when I finished so pics tomorrow...:yeso::bgwo:
That's the same stuff I tried a week ago... just got rain for the first time today and it's already running!!! I'm hoping that it's due to there being some amount of B2B left on the cladding from previous applications.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mile High VX
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/da.../DSCN02711.JPGQuote:
Originally Posted by Mile High VX
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/da.../DSCN02722.JPG
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/da.../DSCN02741.JPG
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/da.../DSCN02731.JPG
And a question for any of the original owners...did the side marker lens housing and the cladding match when your VX was new, or has it always been much darker?
I'm anxious to see how it holds up to washing and rain.
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/da.../DSCN02762.JPG
I never noticed, but now that you mention it, they are just a little bit darker. Like the difference between dark gray and darker gray, but not quite black... (I'm having a Déja vu moment.)Quote:
Originally Posted by Mile High VX
I went over with a light coat of ICE and then sprayed interior Turtle Wax on the cladding. It has held up 3 rains now and no streaking. This is what I have always done. Other than the pre coat of ice. I didnt like that since ICE is not super shiny.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/99-IS...611205e2#v4-38
Looks like they used the black and not the dark grey which is a better match from what I've heard.
Alright I put my above coat(s) on the first of the month and it has still not streaked. I have sprayed it down too. Ill try to take a picture tomorrow.
Update from previous post... I applied another coat of this stuff over the weekend and had different results that are encouraging. When I did the first coat a few weekends ago, the cloths I used were completely black after applying it. At the time I thought it must be a byproduct of the Meguiar's product (similar to what happens when you rub a cloth over a fresh coat of tire black), but when reapplying it Sunday night it didn't turn the cloths black at all. Now my suspicion is that the black substance was actually Back to Black residue coming off the cladding.Quote:
Originally Posted by vt_maverick
The Meguiar's product is very similar to their Cleaner Wax in consistency (thick just like liquid wax) as well as function, as Cleaner Wax removes crap in your paint that washing doesn't. Back to Black on the other hand is a thin, runny substance that looks oily after application. So now I wonder whether the running was due to the last remnants of B2B preventing the Meguiar's stuff from fully adhering to the surface. Can't wait for the next rainfall to see if the running stops or at least slows. I know I had terrible problems with B2B running at first, but after reapplying it every few weeks for several months the streaking was much less pronounced. Let's hope it's the same with this stuff.
Oh and one more thing - the label is right, you can definitely use a car duster on it without streaking the coating or rubbing dust/pollen into it. Anyone who's tried using a car duster on B2B treated cladding should know that's a huge improvement.
That is freaking awesome. I wonder how much it would cost to do that? I assume since the "naked" VX pics look like they were taken in his garage that he probably did it himself though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mile High VX
I thought so too, so I wrote to the seller: Here's response:Quote:
Originally Posted by vt_maverick
Dear purple.kat1,
The plastic coating is called Gator Back, and it is a GM product, made for the vinyl bits of their Avalanche
trucks. I can't remember exactly where to buy it, I bought it both from their site and once from eBay, but if
you do a Google search is is easy enough to find. The color of your current panelling isn't an issue, as this is
like a paint in that it coats and covers the surface entirely, but it is actually and aerosol form of plastic, so
once it is sprayed a chemical process begins and as it cures it actually bonds with the plastic on your
cladding and becomes part of it, resurfacing the old with a new layer of plastic. It is also more fade resistant
that the stock material. I keep an extra can of it on hand to use in case anyone scratches my bumper while
parking etc... But I have not had to use it yet, so it is durable. You will need about six to eight cans of it
depending on how heavy handed you are in your application, I am usually of the more is better schoool of
thought, and you best result is going to be if you take the time to remove all the cladding entirely, give is a
good sanding with a fine grit paper, and a thorough wash and dry, then apply in a sealed area.
I can't tell you exactly how many hours of labor are involved as I did this at the same time as the cutting and
buffing of the paint, but the two together took about thirty to fourty hours of work, so if you don't have the
time and space to do it yourself, it would likely be quite expensive, although I am sure a pro could do it in
far less time.
hope that helps...C.
I recall Luna said NOT to sand the cladding. I might look into this stuff further, and as to cost.
Riff- Have you applied the TS-1 stuff yet? If not, think you'll be doing it in the near future? I'm still thinking about that product too.
What I wonder is what's the difference between Gatorback and TS-1? Weren't they both recommended/created/owned by GM?
http://www.gatorbackcoatings.com/
$22.95 for an 11 oz. areosol can. Fully cladded Avalanche takes 8 cans, but says for vehicles with bumpers and running boards it takes 2 cans.
Areosol cleaner also available for $7.95 and contains no mineral spirits.
Some good customer testimonials and the GM service notices.
I would guess that this process would cover scratches and slight imperfections.
Hmmm, I'd like to see some close-up photos of the end result. I definitely don't think the cladding would look nearly as awesome if the factory texture was sanded off. Or does this coating leave a similar texture?
If you look at the application instructions they have some good close ups of the Avalanche cover that shows how it leaves the factory texture...Quote:
Originally Posted by RickOKC
Ah ha. Thanks! AND, it looks like the seller from eBay sanded his cladding, yet I don't see that as part of the "official" instructions from GatorBack.
I wonder if the right color to order is Dark Gray or Black. Maybe I should start a poll? :p