Any advice on maintaining a matte black decal?

[Jmac2087]

How To Maintain Matte Black Decals? (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/39786-any-advice-maintaining-matte-black-decal.html)


I wanted to ask if anyone has some advice on maintaining matte black decals?

I just purchased a new black ops jeep wrangler and I'm comfortable with detailing the paint and trim, but I have no idea how to maintain the large matte black decal on the hood.

It is a distinctive and prominent feature of the jeeps finish and want to keep it as new looking as possible long term.

Any advice would be welcome!


:xyxthumbs:

[Dr Oldz]

Some have used Ultima tire and trim guard with great results!

Ultima Tire & Trim Guard Plus, tire & trim protectant, tire dressing, rubber protectant (http://www.autogeek.net/ultima-tire-trim-guard.html)

[CaneCharger]

Like Jim said, I use UTTG on my mustang stripes

[01GreyStangGT]

PoorBoy's trim Restorer and Surf City Black Max.

[Dr Oldz]

PoorBoy's trim Restorer and Surf City Black Max.

I have found PB Trim Restore to run. I wouldn't suggest that. Never used the Surf City stuff.

[TLMitchell]

I wanted to ask if anyone has some advice on maintaining matte decals. I just purchased a new black ops jeep wrangler and I'm comfortable with detailing the paint and trim, but I have no idea how to maintain the large matte black decal on the hood. It is a distinctive and prominent feature of the jeeps finish and want to keep it as new looking as possible long term. Any advice would be welcome!

Mike Phillips did a post a few years ago on MOL titled "How to create a dark sheen on flat black plastic". Don't know if he's migrated the article to AGO, I didn't find it. They used Meg's Gold Class Trim Detailer... the liquid... on flat black louvers and rear spoiler on a Mustang. Might be something worth exploring for your Jeep.

I expect Mike will probably be along to either link or repost that article.

TL

[Mike Phillips]

Mike Phillips did a post a few years ago on MOL titled "How to create a dark sheen on flat black plastic". Don't know if he's migrated the article to AGO, I didn't find it. They used Meg's Gold Class Trim Detailer... the liquid... on flat black louvers and rear spoiler on a Mustang. Might be something worth exploring for your Jeep.

I expect Mike will probably be along to either link or repost that article.

TL

I haven't re-created either of my threads on working with flat or matte surfaces just due to the amount of watermarked photos in each thread.

Here's the link to my comments and suggestions on this process, I always ask people to READ the words carefully as I pick and choose my words for everything I post very carefully and for this particular article it's important.




Don't use products that dry and especially don't use products that dry white...

Working on vinyl graphics is tricky, what you want is something that first... wont cause any harm, second will improve and/or maintain the original color usually with an emphasis on bringing out the full richness of color.

I've used Meguiar's Trim Detailer (http://www.autogeek.net/megocltrde.html) for years with good luck including rubbing down the original vinyl graphics on an all original 1982 Corvette.

Meguiar's Gold Class Trim Detailer is for restoring and maintaining rubber, plastic and vinyl trim, so while it's not specifically made for vinyl graphics I've had pretty good luck with it.

Always test in an inconspicuous area before applying to the entire surface. Make sure you're getting the results you want and hope for before moving forward. In the case of an antique, it's a good idea to let some time go by to the test area before applying to the rest of the surface. This applies to any product you use on vinyl graphics.

The way to use it is to gently massage this product onto the surface using a clean, soft foam applicator pad, somewhat like you would rub skin lotion onto our face. Allow to penetrate for a few minutes and then softly wipe all surfaces down with a clean microfiber to remove any excess residue off the surface.

Here's a link to an article with some very detailed answers that pertain exactly to your issues, and I always ask people to read my replies very carefully as they are worded very carefully.

How To Maintain Vinyl Graphics/Stickers/Stripes/Decals (http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30045)





:)

[JCturboT]

I, until recently, have never used anything on my Super Bee's decals and just left them untouched.

Last weekend I decided to top the whole car with Opti-Seal this includes the paint, moldings, as well as the decals.

I like the results as they have a nice satin sheen not at all glossy like I see some pictures of vehicles with wax/sealant on them.

Plus I don't have to tape off all the decals which my car has a ton of.

http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd404/JCturboT/Superbee268.jpg

Jeff

[Mike Phillips]

I, until recently, have never used anything on my Super Bee's decals and just left them untouched.

Last weekend I decided to top the whole car with Opti-Seal this includes the paint, moldings, as well as the decals.


From the picture the car looks great! Did the Opti-Seal restore a dark sheen or leave the actual richness of the matte black alone?





not at all glossy like I see some pictures of vehicles with wax/sealant on them.




I've never seen waxes or sealants turn matte black surfaces glossy, just opaque and whitish with stains.

The product I've used up till now just leaves a darker, richer, matte sheen, no gloss, just what most people want, a dark, uniform appearance.

Most products either don't change the appearance, or stain it. Over time, the black matte surface, whatever it is, be it paint or a graphic sticker of some type, tend to dull and loose their dark richness of color.

So the trick is finding something that restores the dark matte look without making it shiny, glossy, gooey, or staining it.

It's easy to take care of a matte surface that's brand new... but over time the surface will become dull and lifeless.


Here's a tip for any lurkers reading this... this was written about car paint but you can apply it towards any surface and any product... the point being to,


"Find something you like and use it often" (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/24310-find-something-you-like-use-often.html)


Excerpt from the above article,



Here's what that means,

If you like a product, that usually means you like the experience of using it which includes application, that is you like how the product applies. It also tends to mean you like how the product removes, that is you like how the product wipes-off. It can also mean you like how fast or slow it dries or the fact that it doesn't have to dry at all and you can wipe it off immediately.

And usually and most important, it means you like how it makes the paint on your car look and that's a huge part of the big picture of owning and enjoying your car, truck or s.u.v. or special interest car.

You can't really know which product you like best until you've used a variety of products so finding something you like and using it often means you have to do some research and at some point make some purchases and then go out into your garage and do some testing to gain real world knowledge and experience.

At some point you will find a product you like and if you use it often then your car's paint will always look good because it's only when you neglect your car's paint that it goes downhill.




:)

[PA DETAILER]

off topic: nice jeep. like it so far. 2 or 4 door? heard and have been reading the new penstar engine is a hit in the new 2012. proabably in the manual on how to care for the matte black decals. if i remember on the hood decal on the mountian models, it stated just to use a quick detailer.

[Mike Phillips]

Mike Phillips did a post a few years ago on MOL titled "How to create a dark sheen on flat black plastic".

TL


Here's that article,


How to create a dark sheen on flat black plastic (http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32565)

Flat black looks cool when it's used to accent components rear window louvers on this Mustang. There are two problems with flat black surfaces

1) Over time the the flat black appearance becomes dull and loses it's dark sheen.

2) There's nothing really on the market targeted and the variety of different flat black components to restore and maintain their appearance.


Part of the problem is the material or the coating that makes up whatever the flat black component is varies greatly from from a thin vinyl tape used for graphics, to flat black paint used to paint components and flat black plastic which is where the pigment is throughout the entire plastic matrix of the component.

Meguiar's doesn't make a product specific to flat black surfaces just like no one else does, at least at the time stamp of the post. When left without options, a car crazy enthusiast has to take what they can get if it's shows to actually help, (solve the problem, and not harm, (cause a problem).

Meguiar's Gold Class Trim Detailer is for restoring and maintaining rubber, plastic and vinyl trim, so while it's not specifically for these louvers and the material they are made out of, it does work pretty good.

The way to use it is to gently massage this product onto the surface using a clean, soft foam applicator pad, somewhat like you would rub skin lotion onto our face. Allow to penetrate for a few minutes and then softly wipe all surfaces down with a clean microfiber to remove any excess residue off the surface.

The results are a deep, dark black sheen...



Photos courtesy of MeguiarsOnline
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1114/FlatBlackTrim000.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1114/FlatBlackTrim001.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1114/FlatBlackTrim002.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1114/FlatBlackTrim003.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1114/FlatBlackTrim004.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1114/FlatBlackTrim005.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1114/FlatBlackTrim006.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1114/FlatBlackTrim007.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1114/FlatBlackTrim008.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1114/FlatBlackTrim009.jpg




See what I mean about how black matte finishes become dull and lifeless over time and usually things like repeated washings and exposure to the sun?

Sooner or later you'll need a product that will restore a DARK SHEEN, not stain the black white or make it glossy, shiny or gooey.


A picture sure does say a thousand words...


:)

[Mike Phillips]

probably in the manual on how to care for the matte black decals. if i remember on the hood decal on the mountain models, it stated just to use a quick detailer.


Using a spray detailer is definitely a safe approach, not sure if they'll do this though...


Left side = AFTER Right side = BEFORE
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1114/FlatBlackTrim006.jpg



A person can always try though, use a tape-line like I did to see if there's any before and after differences...


:)

[Dr Oldz]

Wow those loovers look really good! They also look great on that car!
I feel from the time you did this article untill now that better products have come out....UTTG and WG ETS do come to mind especially in the durability and water repellency catagories.

BTW nice article, Mike!

[Mike Phillips]

Wow those louvers look really good! They also look great on that car!

BTW nice article, Mike!


Thank you sir, with over 28,000 posts on MOL I have a few before and after articles that are still around. That doesn't include the over 5000 posts/articles I lost when they changed forum software and then decided to go back to vBulletin and kill off the trial forum software.





I feel from the time you did this article until now that better products have come out....UTTG and WG ETS do come to mind especially in the durability and water repellency categories.




Could be. I have not had a car like the Mustang in the above picture with dull looking flat black surfaces to try the new products. It's easy to find a new car where the flat or matte surfaces still look good because they are still new and in excellent shape.

Again, the key to their success will be if they restore a deep, dark black SHEEN versus simply sealing the surface and protecting but leaving it faded and dull looking.

Flat black paint and flat black decals are kind of tricky to work on and if the cars belong to someone else you certainly don't want to make a mistake.


Maybe someone can duplicate what I did in the pictures above, you know, tape-off half and show the awesome results when they have a car to detail that will lend itself to a great how-to article with one of these cool new products.

Here's hoping....


:xyxthumbs:

[Bobby B.]

The 303 Aerospace protectant has always worked great for me on vinyl decals.