"Showroom New" Trim Restorer- info & experience

[DaveMcKenz]

Thanks to VX Kat. I was working on my soundproofing project. The weather was nice, 50 degrees and dry. I washed the car, wiped down the cladding with isopropyl alcohol. I thinned the SN with mineral spirits just a little, maybe 25%. I used a 4" foam brush and a throw away bristle brush for tight spots, cladding screws, etc. I have a proton yellow vx, so I used plain black dye. After one coat, the vx looked great, a couple of steaks and misses. The second coat really smoothed it all out. I used approx. 6 oz. of product, and the vx looks great! I could not be more pleased.
Thanks, Sue for being the Guinea pig.
Dave

[VX KAT]

Thanks to VX Kat. I was working on my soundproofing project. The weather was nice, 50 degrees and dry. I washed the car, wiped down the cladding with isopropyl alcohol. I thinned the SN with mineral spirits just a little, maybe 25%. I used a 4" foam brush and a throw away bristle brush for tight spots, cladding screws, etc. I have a proton yellow vx, so I used plain black dye. After one coat, the vx looked great, a couple of steaks and misses. The second coat really smoothed it all out. I used approx. 6 oz. of product, and the vx looks great! I could not be more pleased.
Thanks, Sue for being the Guinea pig.
Dave

Sounds like it will look great, the Proton with blacker cladding is awesome!
Don't recall anyone else cutting it with mineral spirits when applying it with a brush.....
Is there an advantage to thinning it out with brush use? Maybe less streaks or something??

[VXorado]

So I want to have black cladding to match my black hood, what do I get? Gatorback or Showroom New? Have we make a collective "forum decision" on which one is better?

[VX KAT]

So I want to have black cladding to match my black hood, what do I get? Gatorback or Showroom New? Have we make a collective "forum decision" on which one is better?

IMO, Gatorback is much smoother and uniform looking, BUT it will chip off when abraded. I found that SRN didn't really "chip" off when it got trail rash, but did show something like scratches from it, and you can just touch it up lightly with a rag. I think Grif, didn't you find that to be true? That's the ONLY reason I decided not to try GatorBack....so anybody that encounters trail rash....might want to seriously consider that. However, I THINK I recall Mike Nomy said he also could also touch up the GB with just spraying more on.....I think....I'd have to re-read this thread.


Oh, forgot to mention....hubby did drip just a few drops of gas on the cladding .. ...and because I had previously advised him to NEVER rub it with any type of rag...he left it and it came right off at home, no residual at all......well, maybe a few days off my life, but no visual evidence that the cladding ever got gas on it. (but hey, how can I be upset with my hunny doing me a favor and getting the gas that day ) ..

[DaveMcKenz]

Sounds like it will look great, the Proton with blacker cladding is awesome!
Don't recall anyone else cutting it with mineral spirits when applying it with a brush.....
Is there an advantage to thinning it out with brush use? Maybe less streaks or something??

Thinning 15-25% with mineral spirits is standard for varnish especially the first coat. It brushes and flows much easier. I found this to be the case with SN, and got very little streaking if any. It just felt right.
Dave