Banana Gas- An invitation to NAMers to test a new product!

[umberto]

I would ask where to purchase the Victoria but it is probably a secret

[OctaneGuy]

Hahaha

Originally Posted by umberto

I would ask where to purchase the Victoria but it is probably a secret

[bamatt]

Originally Posted by umberto

I would ask where to purchase the Victoria but it is probably a secret

umberto, it's not a secret. Just click the link in my earlier post. That's where you purchase it. It comes from it's creator, a guy in Canada, but shipping is already figured in the price & doesn't add a dime. I think I got mine in a week. I ordered the smallest one & I think it is going to last me for awhile. Ooooh it looks so good over the Epic

ETA: OK did I miss some inside joke

[OctaneGuy]

Naw just Victoria's Secret....

Originally Posted by bamatt

ETA: OK did I miss some inside joke

[bamatt]

Originally Posted by OctaneGuy

Naw just Victoria's Secret....

WOW did you guys hear the gust of wind as that one went whooshing over my head I get it now, duh

[BlimeyCabrio]

Originally Posted by bamatt

WOW did you guys hear the gust of wind as that one went whooshing over my head I get it now, duh

It's OK - we all know that you don't wear underwear.

[bamatt]

Originally Posted by BlimeyCabrio

It's OK - we all know that you don't wear underwear.

Uhhh you swore to me that you would not tell anybody about that

[BlimeyCabrio]

Ooops. Did I say that out loud?

Nevermind.

Nothing to see here. Move along.

[kenchan]

[lotsie]

It's so nice to moderate a forum where the regulars share each others secrets

Mark

[lotsie]

Well after washing my MINI the other day, I think the Gas is gone.

I started here, almost 3 months ago;
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...4&postcount=76

Some pics from the other day.

No beading at all;


Still beading where it was applied over the Zaino, but I think all that is there is Zaino;


Not bad for 3 months. Think I'll just keep using it on those areas that have no wax on them till it's warm enough to do a full wax/sealant in the spring.

Mark

[kenchan]

yah, looks like it can use some Hydro right about now.

[lotsie]

Actually I had just sprayed hydro on before taking the picture. After my normal wipe down I sprayed a little water on the area and the hydro beaded up the water as per normal

Mark

[kenchan]

oh i see. beading would tighten up after 24hrs.

[bee1000n]

Originally Posted by lotsie

Well after washing my MINI the other day, I think the Gas is gone.

Yikes. Three months doesn't seem like very long to me. I'm about 6 months into a Klasse AIO+SG job and it's still beading like mad. All that elbow grease must have been worth it.

I'm probably polishing and waxing this weekend, and was considering using my BG sample. I think I'll just use it on the boot. It should be clayed and sealed every 3 months anyway since it gets so filthy.

[OctaneGuy]

3 Months for a carnauba product is in line with how long they traditionally last. The ease of applying BG is unlike anything else, almost as easy as using Hydro, lol.

You want a longer lasting product, a sealant/polymer based product will go twice as long.

Richard

Originally Posted by bee1000n

Yikes. Three months doesn't seem like very long to me. I'm about 6 months into a Klasse AIO+SG job and it's still beading like mad. All that elbow grease must have been worth it.

I'm probably polishing and waxing this weekend, and was considering using my BG sample. I think I'll just use it on the boot. It should be clayed and sealed every 3 months anyway since it gets so filthy.

[lotsie]

I agree with Octane Guy, and I don't think BG was developed to be a long duration protectant. Rather I see it as an easy to apply, buff up kind of thing, that gives a very nice look, and some protection.

I think it's use will be to help boost other protectants, as it looks great when applied. So my plan is to use it for club events to spiff up things, ya gotta look good, well the MINI anyway, but not as a long term wax/sealant.

Also this is a first run field/real world test, who knows, long term may come from this

I still give the product a

Mark

[bee1000n]

Originally Posted by OctaneGuy

3 Months for a carnauba product is in line with how long they traditionally last. The ease of applying BW is unlike anything else, almost as easy as using Hydro, lol.

You meant BG, not BW, right? Or is this your subliminal sales pitch for Black Wow?

[OctaneGuy]

Haha yeah, was a typo...lol

Originally Posted by bee1000n

You meant BG, not BW, right? Or is this your subliminal sales pitch for Black Wow?

[Prima Car Care]

Nick here.
Yes, BG really isn't made to compete with a sealant. The twins would just spank it in durability. What I wanted was something super-easy, goof-proof and good-looking. I just last weekend applied it to Heather's rig on a 40 degree day in the direct sun. That is strength of BG.

As lotsie mentioned, durability is certainly a goal, but not at the expense of usability. We'll keep poking at it and see what comes.

[leslie]

I know I'm many months late but here's my review..

Process:
1. Washed with NXT wash, lambswool mitt, bucket, and grit guard. (Sorry, I couldn't get myself to use the soap they had at the do-it-yourself wash)
2. Clayed with Meguiars clay and QD.
3. Taped off clear bra bonnet/headlight edge, MINI badges, sidemarkers, and 'Cooper' badge.
4. Applied Banana Gas with DP Skinny: Squirted BG on Skinny for the body, and squirted BG directly on the roof and worked in with Skinny. Since I worked on the roof last, I got kindda tired and decided to squirt it directly onto the surface. Plus I'm only 5'1" so I had to drag out a chair to finish the job.
5. Once Geoffrey was covered in Banana Gas he was then wiped off with a Monster Fluffy.
6. I was multitasking as I was removing Banana gas so the sun went down before I could take a good look at the "after".
7. The following morning I used Slick to wipe down the spots that I missed.

My overall review:
I did this on Geoffrey, and since he's BRG (a dark metallic colour) I noticed that the Banana Gas hid a lot more flaws than when I just use Hydro. My usual swirly areas (the horizontal area on the boot) don't look as bad in direct sunlight. The Banana Gas was also easy to apply/remove on the clear bra but I noticed that the bra appears to be a bit hazier with the Banana Gas. I don't know if I'm just being picky or if it's always been like that so I will wait until dave comes over and he can take a look at it. I was also thinking that I would Hydro one half of the bonnet and Banana Gas the other half the next time Geoffrey gets a bath.

I like the ease of applying/removing Banana Gas in that you can do it very easily and somewhat quickly while you're standing on a chair and talking on the phone. I know others mentioned the Banana Gas having a weird smell, but I didn't find it to be totally unpleasant. I used to use NXT wax and I eventually had to stop using it because the smell made me nauseous.

Since I left my job Geoffrey is now parked outdoors about 99% of the time so he'll be a good candidate for how well the Banana Gas holds up through rain and sunshine. We're in Southern California though so it should be more sun than rain, but who knows.. Geoffrey's next bath should be in about a month so I will try to post periodic updates before then.

[Prima Car Care]

Great review, leslie923! I especially had fun reading your candid descriptions of chairs and phones,etc. Thanks for your feedback.

Many of you here are great at including lots of detail and conditions in your reviews. This makes the review significantly more beneficial than a less detailed one. Thanks all! We're compiling all of the reviews, past and ongoing, to determine how to make BG even better or possibly just leave it as is.

-Heather

[lotsie]

After I wash both MINIs today, I'm going to re-apply BG to the areas that have worn off.

Mark

[Modnar]

I felt so guilty about not actually using my BG sample, that I broke down and tried it last week. My original plan was to try it out on the gf's new to her '01 Civic that probably hasn't ever seen wax, but I got tired of waiting. Plus I've never waxed a car before so I admit I was a bit intimidated. It's hard not to be hanging out w/ all you OCDetailers.

I was in a bit of a hurry, as I had to get it done before the aforementioned ladyfriend got there, so to say it was a bit of a rush job would be an understatement. I decided to go w/ BG on just the bonnet, so I could compare it to what I've been doing on the rest of the car, which is Hydro.

I hadn't planned to wax when I started, so I just did a regular wash with my remaining Meguiar's Gold Class, and not something to strip anything still on the car. (Though w/ the serious lack of water beading I was getting, there really wasn't anything to strip.) After washing I waffle weaved it dry, did the windows w/ Clarity and then, since the lady wasn't there yet, decided to give it the 'Gas.

It was maybe 60ish, with some sun so not ideal detailing weather, but the paint wasn't hot either. I shook, shook, shook, shook, shook, shook, shook, shook, shook the bottle, then applied it to the bonnet w/ a MF Skinny Ap from DP. It was crazy liquidy, so it was hard to tell how much to put on the applicator, especially since it just schlucked it right up.

I squirted it on until I had maybe a quarter sized spot on the pad and then applied it to the bonnet until I stopped seeing any residue, then I'd reload and continue applying. I didn't tape (yes, I know, I should be punished), and I was in a hurry, so I did get it on the trim a bit but it wiped right off.

It hazed on contact (Or seemed to. Any spot that didn't I applied more to.) and then I removed it w/ a starfish MF mitt thingy (also from DP), and, after that accidentally sucked up a whole carpload of water from the chrome grill trim, a Platinum MF (also from DP). Removal was insanely easy, the mitt was awesome. End of story. I got a tiny bit accumulated along the edge of the clear bra, but this came off easily w/ a quick swipe of a MF towel along the seam.
I tried to take before and after pictures, but honestly you really can't tell much of a difference in them. In person though, both I, and my expensive detail product skeptic of a ladyfriend, thought the BG sections had more of The Shiny (tm) than the spots that had just gotten Hydroed. It wasn't a huge difference, but we both noticed it. And that still seemed to be the case even after the Hydro had cured. (Side note: Does BG cure? I'm assuming yes, since it's a synthetic/carnauba hybrid.)

It's been on a week or so, and water beaded quite nicely when I washed it the other day.

I'm pretty pleased with the product. It claimed to be foolproof, and I'm a pretty big fool, and it still passed the test. I'm going to refrain from any further Hydroing when I was to compare the durability of BG vs. Hydro. Hydro's still easier as you're going to probably be drying anyway (unless you're some kind of fool) so there's no extra work. But if you're going to apply wax, I can't imagine it getting any easier than Banana Gas was.

[Modnar]

Double post, eh? That was odd.