swanicyouth
02-06-2013, 01:06 AM
So, I was waiting for some stuff to dry in the dryer and started looking at the side of my toolbox. It has swirls and marring like an unpolished daily driver would have. It also happens to be painted Craftsman's finest single stage tool box black.
So, I was wondering how some glazes would do. I decided to put down a tape line and compare Poor Boy's Black Hole Glaze and Blackfire's Gloss Enhancing Polish. Everyone probably knows the PB's product is a glaze. However PB's also says it "cleans" dirt out of swirls.
BF GEP may not seem similar at first, but it also "cleans paint" and acts as a glaze. Per product description:
"BLACKFIRE Gloss Enhancing Polish is a non-abrasive polish, and glaze combination."
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/06/y6anuga6.jpg
First paint was cleaned with a MF towel using Sonus All In 1 APC. this products strips any polymers or waxes that may be on a surface:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/06/yteby5e8.jpg
Then the area was wiped down with 70% IPA. Both products were applied by hand using different ends of a folded MF towel. Both products were left to dry to a haze, per both directions. Then I removed them with opposite ends of another towel. Both products were then re-applied - a "second coat / layer".
I peeled back the tape and this is what I found:
BF left ... tape line middle.... PB's right
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/06/guqepysa.jpg
While neither product removed the swirls/scratches/defects 100%, both did a pretty good job hiding them. I took the previous picture with a 1,000 lumen light about a foot away from the surface to try and notice any difference. That's pretty bright - and pretty close. What I noticed is that defects are still somewhat visible close up, but from about 3-4 feet away in normal light they look pretty good (both) and any defect is very hard to notice (both). Each product added a lot of gloss and "shine" to the dull looking paint. Pretty much a tie there. Either of these products would substantially improve the finish of most daily drivers and add lot of gloss/shine.
Here is a pic with just the garage lighting, which is also fairly bright ( 8 x 6500k T12 fluorescents in a 1 car garage):
(BF left * PB right)
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/06/u6enybe6.jpg
Well its hard to pick a clear winner, but I do think the BF GEP looked a hair better and hid the defects a tiny bit better as well, but its very close.
Here is a pic with only the flash:
(BF left * PB right)
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/06/emezeva5.jpg
One other thing I can add is about application. While they both were very easy to apply, the PB BH was a bit easier. It's a little thicker and hazes faster. It also has a slight edge on removal, as removing it is literally effortless. BH also smells awesome, like grape. GEP has a faint chemical like smell. PB BH also left a slicker feeling to the surface. Also, if I recall correctly, the PB's product is just a few dollars less. However, the BF product does have the advantage of being a dedicated paint cleaner (removes old LSPs and a glaze). While PBs claims BH "cleans dirt out of swirls" I don't believe its recommended as a dedicated "pre-wax" cleaner (as in to remove your old LSP and leave a glaze in one step).
Well thanks for looking. Maybe I'll try some LSPs over them. Feed back welcome.
So, I was wondering how some glazes would do. I decided to put down a tape line and compare Poor Boy's Black Hole Glaze and Blackfire's Gloss Enhancing Polish. Everyone probably knows the PB's product is a glaze. However PB's also says it "cleans" dirt out of swirls.
BF GEP may not seem similar at first, but it also "cleans paint" and acts as a glaze. Per product description:
"BLACKFIRE Gloss Enhancing Polish is a non-abrasive polish, and glaze combination."
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/06/y6anuga6.jpg
First paint was cleaned with a MF towel using Sonus All In 1 APC. this products strips any polymers or waxes that may be on a surface:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/06/yteby5e8.jpg
Then the area was wiped down with 70% IPA. Both products were applied by hand using different ends of a folded MF towel. Both products were left to dry to a haze, per both directions. Then I removed them with opposite ends of another towel. Both products were then re-applied - a "second coat / layer".
I peeled back the tape and this is what I found:
BF left ... tape line middle.... PB's right
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/06/guqepysa.jpg
While neither product removed the swirls/scratches/defects 100%, both did a pretty good job hiding them. I took the previous picture with a 1,000 lumen light about a foot away from the surface to try and notice any difference. That's pretty bright - and pretty close. What I noticed is that defects are still somewhat visible close up, but from about 3-4 feet away in normal light they look pretty good (both) and any defect is very hard to notice (both). Each product added a lot of gloss and "shine" to the dull looking paint. Pretty much a tie there. Either of these products would substantially improve the finish of most daily drivers and add lot of gloss/shine.
Here is a pic with just the garage lighting, which is also fairly bright ( 8 x 6500k T12 fluorescents in a 1 car garage):
(BF left * PB right)
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/06/u6enybe6.jpg
Well its hard to pick a clear winner, but I do think the BF GEP looked a hair better and hid the defects a tiny bit better as well, but its very close.
Here is a pic with only the flash:
(BF left * PB right)
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/06/emezeva5.jpg
One other thing I can add is about application. While they both were very easy to apply, the PB BH was a bit easier. It's a little thicker and hazes faster. It also has a slight edge on removal, as removing it is literally effortless. BH also smells awesome, like grape. GEP has a faint chemical like smell. PB BH also left a slicker feeling to the surface. Also, if I recall correctly, the PB's product is just a few dollars less. However, the BF product does have the advantage of being a dedicated paint cleaner (removes old LSPs and a glaze). While PBs claims BH "cleans dirt out of swirls" I don't believe its recommended as a dedicated "pre-wax" cleaner (as in to remove your old LSP and leave a glaze in one step).
Well thanks for looking. Maybe I'll try some LSPs over them. Feed back welcome.