Any of these products stand out to you? What is your favorite (even if it isn't in this comparison)? What is your prediction on which will be the best overall product?
Penetrol is one that gets recommended often on the forums, but it's not available everywhere. Honestly, since these will eventually get faded again, I'd just go the best route and paint them with SEM Trim Black spray paint. Looks as good as new and will last longer.
This is the kinda video I was looking for, you did an outstanding job with the comparisons and the test. I will be using your affiliate link!!! Thank you!!!
Forever black is my favourite. It's the only one that seems to last. It will need at least 2 maybe 3 coats for the first time application or it will look streaky. It goes quite a long way. Used 2 bottles in the last 8 years on my Ford Transit van which has not flaked off and still looks good. I go over it once every 12 to 18 months or so to keep it looking good. Tried loads of other brands but they either flaked off, went patchy or weathered away too quickly. Not a fan of the ceracote either as I find it too shiny.
Nice video! I used a pocket torch for my 2003 tj last 3yrs ago. Still black and shines never get dull or faded. No other chemical been used just the torch.
@@WilliamVGProbably. There are lots of videos of people restoring plastics with heat guns and torches. Works better than any of these products if you are reasonably careful and lasts way longer.
That black stuff and forever black have the brush marks because you applied so much. They are dyes, and really thin coats work best followed by a second coat if needed. When I use them, I spread it until it almost seems like it's spreading dry. I use the amount you used to do probably 1/5th of a bumper... They are also pretty permanent, as well as the cerakote which I think is a ceramic but don't quote me, haven't used it, but know from other people it's pretty good. I like the dyes more because they're matte like most trim, can always dress or ceramic coat it if gloss is preferred, but they're all better on interiors.. they will work in a pinch for exterior though.. that said, the rest are dressings and will only last maybe a few washings or 1 -4 weeks. I love forever black. I have used it on customers cars and 10 months later it looks just as good as when I applied it. Another less well known dressing that works great on exterior is Meguiars all season dressing. It's marketed for tires but works great on trim! and it's solvent based instead of water, so it doesn't run in the rain like VRP and other dressings and lasts much longer. Plus it smells like grape! lol
Great vid. As a JK owner whose Jeep sees off-road (AOAA/rausch creek), the fenders and trim take a beating. I have used Maguire's back to black which works well. It still only take a time or two out in the coal dust to deteriorate. I'm really interested to see the cerakote product. Seems like it will repel better. I wonder how it would hold up on steel bumpers?
maybe they made a change at some point over the last 3 years, but the directions for the Cerakote I bought recently say do not apply more than one coat.
Over the past 3 or 4 years I have tried everything on my 20 year old pickup trucks black trim here under the brutal sun in Southern Florida. Most of the trim was very very light grey, with some areas even white. The last thing I used was the Cerakote, I really wanted it to work. I can tell you this from experience, it is a nightmare to apply on very smooth plastic finishes. You'll get better results on a finish which is somewhat textured. Although as hard as I tried, and followed directions, it did not go on evenly, but it did look much better than before. Fast forward now four months later and the ceramic coat is still intact but somehow the finish underneath it is once again fading to its previous shades of light gray and white. I have no idea how that can happen. So now this can only mean that I'm going to have to go through the painstaking nightmare process of removing the ceramic coat with headache inducing acetone, (nail polish remover), as instructed by customer service at Cerakote. If I could've purchased trim fenders for this truck, I would've done so a couple of years ago. But since it is so old nobody carries them anymore. My next solution is one which I didn't want to turn to, because you cannot armor-all it afterwards. And that will be just flat out painting the fenders and trim with black trim paint.
So basically by buffing side to side you contaminated the surface with the neighboring product. Not necessarily the dyes but the cream/ gel type like VRP etc.
I have a 2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon that I use daily. I wanted to keep the fenders clean and bright. So I wash it 2-3 times a week and use a quality car wash. I clean the fenders only using a car wash with no wax. I decided to try Turtle Hybrid Vinyl Restore for Fenders. This is the worst chemcial I ever tried. It ran, blotches and smudges and began to peel when dried. Almost impossible to remove without damaging the vinyl. We use car washes, purchased a bug and tar remover pad, added Dawn to the warm water. Emailed Turtle Wax several times in one week, no response!! Decided to Try Mother's Heavy Duty Trim cleaner using their small brush. Finally I used the Bug and tar wash pad spreading the trim cleaner. Wiped drie with micro clothe and next cleaned entrie fender using another pad in warm water with dawn. Rinsed and dried. In my garage I spread Mother's Back to Black with a new micro pad. After 2-3 applications and buffing fenders look new. Back to Black will last 2-3 washes but easy to apply and looks new each time. I've done 5 other Jeeps in 1 week using this method and each customer are really happy with the results. I get $110.00 for fender job. Not one complaint. Now I have another 15 customers who want just the fenders restored. My total cost for materials is $25.00
This was helpful! I was getting screwed by all these random parts coming in here and there and then watching this video reminded me of years ago when I was thinking about buying a wrangler. Strange, like I was being coded by life and other. So at least watching this video gave a solution, seriously why is fixing a vehicle and ordering parts that difficult! I'm excited though because I ordered trim that was supposed to be grey and showed up black. Now I don't have to buy more useless shit that will sit around the garage! Thanks! I am probably going to go with cericote
Maybe I'm too picky but after those results, I wouldn't use any one of them on my Jeep. Doesn't look anywhere near original ABS black. You tried the heat gun method?
tired of amazon..why cant i buy ceratoke locally...guess i'll never use it..ill go down your list and use guys that work with folks with an actual store with local employees. I appreciate your time and effort..very useful and informing..thank you big time
I used the Cerakote trim restorer. The Good- it works. The Bad- 10 wipes is stupid, this is a foolish application. Not nearly enough material to do anything but a very small area. It's just not cost-effective. The Ugly - I followed the directions to a 'T' and because there is such a small amount of product on 10 small wipes, it's a rip-off. This resulted in streaks. I believe the product is solid but this application method is nonsense. You need a bottle of the liquid and application rag. Their application method again is foolishness. I was very disappointed. You would need about 20 tiny wipes per fender so that's 2 packages per fender Which is about $40/ fender ($20/ 10 Wipes). $160 to do all 4 fenders is a lot.
I did my whole jeep (front + back bumpers, Handles, plate and tire holder, cowl guards, and mirrors) all with one package, you have to apply in the buffing motion with slight pressure, just wiping it on will not suffice, a little goes a long way, Each bumper took two wipes, everything else one. Either you're driving an all trim car or you have no idea what you're doing
I could not agree with you more. That kind of of background “music” is annoying and completely unnecessary. Ruins a lot of otherwise good videos. It’s like you’re trying to have a conversation with someone and there’s some little kid in the background yammering on.
What kind of annoying music are you playing in the background? And why do you use so much product on each test area. You could do and entire piece with the amount you use.
I appreciate that you tested some products that “Project Farm” didn’t test, but if you haven’t seen his video, please take a look. His videos are a case study in succinct, straight to the point productions. You could take a lesson from him, as your video is WAY to long and wordy. 35 minutes! Are you kidding me? Do I really need to see you remove and tape the fenders, read the instructions to us, etc? I ended up just skipping to the end.
Cerakote is way too shiny , it gives away that it's been altered or treated . If it wasn't for the minor streaks , I'd go forever black . It looks more factory correct.
I know this video is two years old but I was just now watching it just to see some other products I have a Jeep Modification and detail shop, you're not giving VRP a fair chance first you're not applying it right to begin with, in your video you put way too much on, and yes it does soak in Very Well" to the Jeep fenders and bumpers, all you need is a small amount I usually apply it, LET IT SOAK IN, and it does, and then I'll do it two more times, with just the same small amounts, I've been using it for the last 4 years on my customers Jeeps , it works great and last a long time, I find it hard to believe do you actually thought that big glob of VRP was actually going to soak in 🙄