First go with Finish Kare 1000P, 2685 & 425

[Orca]

I've got the Finish Kare sample pack and a small sample of their 1000P sealant. While it is my white car that I am more keen to use the Finish Kare products on, I decided to have a play on our black car and see how just the paste waxes faired. I say paste waxes since 1000P is actually a sealant.

I picked my usual test panel: the boot and here's what we started with ...


http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/fk1/DSCF9970.jpg

... which I cleaned up with some Autobright Dry Wash, which is a waterless wash with a little polish in there and presumably some carnauba too. In hindsight I perhaps should have run a smear of paint cleanser over the panel.


http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/fk1/DSCF9974.jpg

Ready for a layer of Finish Kare 1000P?


http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/fk1/DSCF9977.jpg

I used a yellow foam applicator which was wiped into the surface of the sealant. The sealant is very hard indeed and while it does melt with a finger rubbed into the top it seems quite hard to get any out of the tin - a hard sealant, indeed. That said, a very little goes a very long way and I applied a thin layer across the panel with great ease - the sealant spread really well and did not dry out part way through application. This sealant cures very quickly and buffing off after only a couple of minutes was really easy, too.

What do Finish Kare say about the product?

Developed from a West German process called Synthesis 1000P is a blend of advanced pure synthetic materials. The result is a paste wax characterized by melting temps. of 250+ degrees, extreme hardness, extreme slickness, high gloss, and intensive wear without the quality fluctuations found in natural waxes. 1000P delivers heavy duty resistance to UV, hard water, acid rain, bug spatter, tree sap etc while creating a customer appearance. Excellent for use on all automotive paint, gel coat and metal surfaces including critical aircraft surfaces.

Cleaning: Low 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 High
Gloss: Low 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 High
Depth : Low 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 High
Protection: Low 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 High
Durability: Low 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 High

So, low cleaning which is good for layering and using on top of a layered set of products but not a great depth, made up for by high gloss, strong protection and long durability. I have read that a perfect partner to this sealant is the 2685 Pink Wax, which delivers a depth over the top.

Ready for a layer of Finish Kare 2685 Pink Wax?


http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/fk1/DSCF9978.jpg

... just a little smear is all that is needed. I know ... I know ... that pad is touching the ground, but it's my pad, my products, my car and my review and I'll do what I like LOL


http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/fk1/DSCF9980.jpg

Again, I found this wax of very much the same behaviour to apply and remove. The smell of both is quite chemically, but not unpleasant; more like reasonably pleasant furniture wax.

What do Finish Kare say about the product?

Using an advanced process #2685 is blended from #1 Brazilian Carnauba Wax and durable poly resins. The result is a soft easy on easy off past wax which delivers a ultra deep, ultra wet, ultra glossy custom show car finish. Excellent for use on all automotive and aircraft finishes.

Note: For extra effect base coat with 2180 Ultra Seal. Multiple applications of 2685 will result in increased depth, slickness, wetness and will conceal stubborn fine scratches and spider webbing.

Cleaning: Low 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 High
Gloss: Low 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 High
Depth: Low 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 High
Protection: Low 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 High
Durability: Low 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 High

Again, low cleaning which is good for layering (and notice that Finish Kare recommend layering this product), high gloss and depth but protection and durability is not as good as the underlying paste sealant. I'll get another couple of layers down over the coming couple of days. I can't say I noticed much increase in depth, but maybe that will become more apparent in due course and with more layers. It is certainly a bright, glossy look which I normally do not like on the black car (preferring deep, oily blackness to glossiness) but this seems to work well and I think the 2685 Pink Wax lends a certain warmth to the finish.

For fun, I cleaned up the bonnet with Autobright Dry Wash and then spritzed the panel over with Finish Kare 425 Ultra-Slick Poly Wipe Spray Detailer.


http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/fk1/DSCF99830.jpg


http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/fk1/DSCF9987.jpg

This product came out in a very fine mist and four or five pumps was sufficient for the bonnet. I wiped it in front/back stripes on the bonnet with a EuroW deep pile towel and then buffed it off, having refolded the towel.

Easy enough ... but I'm not sure on the the looks or the feel above my favourite QD, Lucas Slick Mist, but maybe black is not the best colour to reveal its best - it's certainly okay and I'll know more about it after some rain, a couple more uses and after viewing in different light.

I gave the boot a quick spritz down, too:


http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/fk1/DSCF9997.jpg

Nice, eh?

While the photographs do look much the same and are really just a nice set of pictures of those trees over the road reflected in the paint, what I hoped to show off was the brightness and clarity of the finish. Likewise, the panel should perhaps have been prepared with a treatment of paint cleanser before applying the waxes, since the existing finish was already very good. I hope my descriptions have done justice to this very pleasing experience.

I will probably continue this finish over the whole car and maintain with 425, which will give me some time in different light and conditions to properly evaluate these products.

I'll be giving the Finish Kare sample kit a proper outing on my white car in due course, polished first with the new Serious Performance polishes. Expect a full report then ...

[MidlandsCarCare]

My only comments would be that you need to leave 1000P on for 20 mins to cure properly - not remove immediately. Also, after a few days, when it has fully cured, it will look ever better - it seems to give the impression of a thicker clearcoat - very impressive stuff indeed.

The FK425 excels in its anti-static properties and ability to keep a car looking clean - I haven't cleaned mine in a week and it looks in very good condition still, which is impressive given the weather, grit, salt etc. It's better than Zaino at this IMO.

Thanks for sharing, great review and I'm glad you like them - I think they are superb value products.

	Zaino Car Care & Detailing Products Click the link to find out more...

[Orca]

Thank you for the tip regarding curing time. There are no instructions with the sample kit or the tins, so I was pretty much just feeling my way with it today and trying to remember what I'd read online.

Yes, I left both the 1000P and the 2685 maybe only a couple of minutes today and buffed off once they passed the "swipe test". I'll be able to get the rest of the car up to standard properly now and I gather from the blurb on the Finish Kare website that the 2685 will improve with layering.

Superb! Yes, I really enjoyed applying these products. Any tips on which shampoo is best for maintenance, along with the 425 spray? Perhaps the 1016 shampoo, which is listed as having the anti-static properties? I also have Duragloss 901 which I think would make a good partner.

[empsburna]

I think it might be time for me to try some of the 1000p, heard nothing but good things about it.

[Serious Performance]

A great write up Paul... Unexpected, so many thanks for taking the time to do it.

I've mailed you the FK Sample kit instructions for each product.

Cheers.
Alex.

[Orca]

Yep! Got it Alex. Thanks a lot ... I'll hopefully get it all right on my white car and bring this black one up to an even standard with the 2685 wax.

[Serious Performance]

A good way of adding depth to the FK finish is by using one of the Poorboys Poly Show Glazes underneath the wax. The FK #300 Hand Glaze gives a typical FK mirror reflective shine which I love but for those wanting to add more depth / gloss rather than get as high a shine as possible either the Black Hole or White Diamond work very well.

Cheers .

[Nickos]

does it work well with CK RMG Alex ? (got a bottle already)

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Nickos

does it work well with CK RMG Alex ? (got a bottle already)

It should do

[Serious Performance]

Yeah the 2685 will do just fine with RMG... But not the 1000P as it will be just slightly a to oily base for the sealant.