Textured Surfaces

[pjf]

I have textured black plastic trim which appears faded. If wax gets on the trim, it embeds itself into the dark textured surface and looks grayish. I suspect that the textured black gelcoat hardtop that I plan to buy will have the same problem.

(1) What will remove wax and dirt from textured trim & gelcoat?
(2) What will keep the textured surfaces black and shiny?
(3) What will keep the gelcoat from oxidizing?
(4) Is there a finish that is appropriate for both painted & textured surfaces?

Thanks!

[RogueGypsy]

Re: Textured Surfaces

I have textured black plastic trim which appears faded. If wax gets on the trim, it embeds itself into the dark textured surface and looks grayish. I suspect that the textured black gelcoat hardtop that I plan to buy will have the same problem.

(1) What will remove wax and dirt from textured trim & gelcoat?
To remove wax from the plastic try one of the quick detailer prods. If it's really stuck persuade it with a nylon brush and some detailer. Regular washing and/or M40/M39 should take care of the dirt. Gelcoat is similar to the clearcoat on your paint, treat it the same way. Check out the Marine section for more good info.
(2) What will keep the textured surfaces black and shiny?
For the black plastic any of the trim detailers will work, a favorite is Gold Class Trim Detailer.
(3) What will keep the gelcoat from oxidizing?
Keep it clean and waxed.
(4) Is there a finish that is appropriate for both painted & textured surfaces?
For the textured plastic, no. For the textured Gelcoat, yes. There are specific prods for Gelcoat, but any of the Megs waxes for paint will work on gelcoat.


Thanks!

Hope that helps,
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[pjf]

Re: Textured Surfaces

Have you seen wax on textured surfaces? On my black plastic trim, it gets into the grooves and turns white.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Textured Surfaces

On my textured trim pieces i sprayed some all purpose cleaner on a old microfiber. Worked it in on the surface and followed it up with a couple of applications. Then after I got it all cleaned, I treated it with All season dressing. From then on that area is always the first area I tape off. Good luck.

[Derrick]

Re: Textured Surfaces

On my textured trim pieces i sprayed some all purpose cleaner on a old microfiber. Worked it in on the surface and followed it up with a couple of applications. Then after I got it all cleaned, I treated it with All season dressing. From then on that area is always the first area I tape off. Good luck.

APC works pretty good and i have also found super degreaser to really get off wax and polish splatter easily. Then follow up with a good dressing. I use either GC Trim detailer or hyper dressing

[pjf]

Re: Textured Surfaces

The hardtop manufacturer (www.xtremetops.com) recommends "Armor All" for its UV protectants to keep the gelcoat from oxidizing. Per the hardtop manufacturer "Armor All" is light enough to remain clear on the textured surface which is similar to that of the Jeep Mopar hardtop. Does Meguiars have a better product to protect dark textured gelcoat surfaces?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Textured Surfaces

The hardtop manufacturer (www.xtremetops.com) recommends "Armor All" for its UV protectants to keep the gelcoat from oxidizing.

Checked out the website, nice looking hardtops...

Did they recommend a specific Armor-All product? Armor-All make a number of different types of products.

Does the exterior surface have a hard shiny look to it like most car paint or does it have a flat looking finish like flat paint or primer has?

[pjf]

Re: Textured Surfaces

Checked out the website, nice looking hardtops...

Did they recommend a specific Armor-All product? Armor-All make a number of different types of products.

Does the exterior surface have a hard shiny look to it like most car paint or does it have a flat looking finish like flat paint or primer has?

The hardtop has a flat textured gelcoat finish. The manufacturer says that the surface resembles that of the Jeep factory "Mopar" hardtop surface. The manufacturer recommends a UV protectant to prevent the finish from oxidizing. He suggested Armor All but admits that there may be alternatives that he is not aware of.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Textured Surfaces

The hardtop has a flat textured gelcoat finish.

This is key...

Most people think of a smooth, shiny hard surface when they think of a gel-coat finish, (assuming it's in new condition), but their is also a finish like you describe that is flat, that is not smooth, hard and shiny.

If you apply a wax or wax type product that dries as a part of the use of the product it will turn white on the surface and complete wipe off will be difficult if not impossible.

So what the manufacture is telling you is to apply a protectant that will basically soak into this type of finish, (to some level), and will not dry or turn white which is how most vinyl dressing will react. This is just a guess as we have not worked on this type of top before.

Not sure we're ready to make a recommendation for a surface like this just yet. We sure would like to see one of these tops first hand.

Anyone in the SoCal area have one and want to bring it by so we can take a look at it?

If you haven't done anything to the top yet, maybe just hang tight and we'll see what we can find out.

[marales]

Re: Textured Surfaces

Well,when the wax dries in the trim, it's surfase looks grayish.To avoid this you must use Meguiar's Trim Detail.Also, M39 and M40 makes good job.However, you must to have good applicator for this job.A paint brush will help you because it will put the trim detailer in the pore of the surfase and it will clean it gor the wax

[pjf]

Re: Textured Surfaces

If you haven't done anything to the top yet, maybe just hang tight and we'll see what we can find out.

Thanks!