To continue my review of Prima products, I'm now weighing in on Prima Epic. Saturday I did a 2-bucket wash and then started to clay. I didn't budget time well, though, so only was able to clay the roof, driver and passenger side and boot, then apply Epic to the roof, passenger side and boot. Today, I only had a little time, so I put Epic on the driver's side, after doing a quick clean with Prima Slick since the car had sat overnight.

Tomorrow (Mon.) I hope to finish the wax with the bonnet and bumpers after work. I know... I should really be able to do all of this in one day, but I started late on both days and the clay added to my time. And since I don't have a garage, once the sun goes down, that's it.

Anyway, the results are pretty good. The Epic is easy to put on, although it feels strange, at first, not using much. And I was only able to let it set for about an hour, but even in that short period, it was easy to buff off with the Paradise Monster Fluffy. It looks nice, too, but I'm not yet seeing the "wetter" look after a night's curing. Maybe tomorrow? Or perhaps that gets better if it is left on longer before buffing off?

I also applied Prima Nero to the black trim today and love the look of it. I'll have to see what the durability of it is, but it is so easy to apply that even if it doesn't last too long, I can always reapply.

I can already see that I'm going to be buying lots more product though.

So far, I like Epic. It is definitely easier to apply and take off and less greasy feeling overall than Meguiar's NXT (which is the wax I used the first time). Also, I didn't feel like it was as hard to get off of the plastic trim (some trim had Nero after the wax and some trim had Nero before). And I really enjoyed using the Paradise Skinny applicator. I found it a lot easier to use than the round applicator pad that came with NXT. The Skinny feels like just the right size for my hand and is thin enough that it helps me feel the application better (if that makes sense).

Here's a pic of the results (and remember, the bonnet hasn't gotten the Epic treatment yet:



black trim.... sweeeeeet


strange... the paint on the left of the pic almost looks like it has grit on it, but that's just the sun catching the metallic in the paint (at least I hope):



Some observations/questions...

I was realizing as I was doing it that the MINI really requires a lot of upkeep. I mean, I never did any detailing before this car, but the black trim adds time and the more cleaning I do, the more I realize how many different tasks there are. I didn't even get to the wheels this weekend.

While claying, sometimes when I was sliding the clay across the paint surface, it actually felt a little gritty underneath. And this was after a good wash and some quick detailing with Prima Slick. That doesn't seem good. But when I looked at the clay, there were only a few times it looked somewhat contaminated (dirty). Also, I was kneading the clay into itself while using, but doesn't that mean that I'm really dragging some of those contaminants across the paint again at some point? After completing a large section (say one side of the car) I used a new piece of clay. But, if I didn't knead the clay, I'd go through a lot of clay, no? By the way, the Slick seemed to work well with the Meguiar's clay I was using. I used Meguiar's Quik Detailer last time and didn't feel that same grittiness during the slide, though... but I can't imagine that Slick would cause the difference in feeling, would it?

I'm still not loving quick detailing. At one point, I thought I'd be able to wax the bonnet, so I quick detailed it with Prima and a Monster Fluffy. There was some dirt on the Monster Fluffy (and this was after the car had been washed the day before and sat overnight in the driveway). It just feels to me that that dirt has got to be scratching the paint, even if it is barely noticeable.

Oh, I used Clarity again with the glass cloth. Loving it!

Scorecard, in case you are wondering (scale of 1-4):

• Prima Clarity and glass cloth = 4+

• Prima Nero = 4

• Prima Epic = 4

• Monster Fluffy = 4

• Waffle Weave towels = 4

• Prima Slick= 3
(I withold my 4th thumb because I still can't
get used to my Monster Fluffies turning green,
even though they wash up and Slick works fine.)

• Paradise Skinny applicator = 3
(great to use, but one had a minor defect, I think)

 

Looks very nice and good write-up. You know I thought your bonnet looked a little dull and lifeless - not!

 

>• Prima Slick= 3
(I withold my 4th thumb because I still can't
get used to my Monster Fluffies turning green,
even though they wash up and Slick works fine.)
>>

you should use the DP Platinum MF towel when detailing.... then
it won't turn green like you said. that's wat i use now a days...
which reminds me, i need to wash mine.

also, if you need slick to remove the epic's haze, you used too much epic.
(i didn't read your entire post, but if you did, then you did).

 

thanks minimaybee and kenchan... i was beginning to wonder where the love was.

hmmm did a make a detailing or posting faux pas?

 

im not sure what you're asking...

 

mostly rhetorical... because there weren't many replies :(

 

I wouldn't be discouraged. 95 people have viewed your post and it is really quite complete so it does not beg for response other than an "atta boy/girl".
So atta boy/girl!
Now quit reading NAM and get that bonnet done already!

 

Epic FTW!!!!

 

I shouldn't be so greedy... or is that needy? I guess I'm just excited by the products and the outcome.

and yes, I need to finish the bonnet, but work is interfering.

boy, btw

FTW?

hope everyone has a good holiday!

 

are we like 5 years old?

 

Hey, md... little problem: The driver's side is a little more reflective than the passenger's side.



Kidding... looks great ! Nice job.

 

Well I was out detailing all day yesterday, so I'm just catching up.
Good work on the observational writeup. One thing that you may or may not understand is that a lot of times these reviews seem more like fluffy (monster fluffy??) advertorials rather than an end user gleefully telling all their friends about this new discovery.

Also you have questions as well as observations posted in the same post--about how splitting it up? Your Subject is Prima Epic, but you ask about using Clay. Someone not curious about Epic may not even see your question.

Also you posted a great picture of the MINI that doesn't have Epic on it. How much better will Epic look? Maybe the topic should be-Epic versus NXT??

To really showcase a product, you need to show before and afters, and hopefully there is a visual difference between the two, otherwise there is no sense in using it.

IMO, we won't see much difference between NXT Tech Wax and Epic from a looks standpoint, however I so much prefer using Epic over NXT--well except for the smell, I like the smell of NXT better. I've seen some great looking pix of Epic but what did it look like before Epic?? I have no question that Epic is a great product, I continue to use it on my customer cars almost daily!

I hope you understand I'm just making some constructive criticism based on my experience of doing these writeups.

Richard

 

Hey Richard - all good points... thanks for your comments!

I was aware that it did look a bit like an advertorial, but I also like posts that talk about a product and then show you where to get them. Newbies (myself included) may not always know anything about the products being talked about or where to get them. So I like the link function... as is evident.

In actuality... I was half kidding about not getting many comments... no big deal, it's just always surprising to see which posts get lots of comments and which don't.

I agree about the before pictures... they're always good. I do enjoy your picture posts. They are quite informative. I took some before pics, but they really don't look that different. I mean, I do think the MINI looks better with Epic, but it doesn't quite show in the pics. And the Nero definitely makes the black trim look much better, I think.

And part of my experience is that the application of Epic feels easier to me, even though I haven't done that much detailing.

As for the clay... i saw your comment in the other clay post and need to order your DVD!

 

Yep,

that's why I don't post every car I detail. Some cars the pictures don't really show all that much difference. Even though in person it looks great. A good Before and After photo comparison will let you see the improvement, but I find that for instance, it's pretty hard to tell the difference between Meguiar's M21, NXT Tech Wax, or Epic purely from a reflection/gloss/wetness comparison. They all look great, but obviously they each have difference and benefits/drawbacks--well Epic doesn't except for maybe it's smell. It's got a great looking bottle and label design with an "all natural" product inside--no artificial colors or fragrances added. LOL. I think it needs a "refreshing" and uplifting smell too, LOL.

But seriously,for me, after I polish the paint, the car already looks dripping wet and glossy, so as long as the wax I apply doesn't diminish this effect, then I'm happy, and Epic does that for me very well. Plus I'm happy knowing that my favorite QD (Slick) and Spray Wax (Hydro) complement Epic during maintenance! What's important here is ease of use!

 

i got a bottle of hydro and roach juice coming my way. hehe

 

All kidding (or at least most kidding) aside - that's a product improvement suggestion for Heather - Maybe add a little essence of Rosemary or some chemically compatible synthethic equivalent to the Epic... I agree with Richard - we should be able to get a little aromatherapy out of our marathon detailing sessions...

 

There is also a very compelling reason for smells. It helps differentiate products on our buffing pads. I can smell my Meguiar's pads and know whether I have #21 or M80 or M83 or M7 on it just by the smell. What that means, is that if I were in a jam, I might clean off a M83 pad and use M80, but if it has M21 (wax), I'm not going to put a polish on it and use it--i.e., I might mix pads that have polishes, but I won't mix pads with polishes and waxes.

Of course Meguiar's M21 is also purple, so it leaves the pads purple. That can be viewed both ways as positive or negative.

IMO, the Prima products, would certainly benefit by a bit of fragrance. If they need help, my father is a chemist--a very well known and respected emulsions expert actually who consults for all the major cosmetic companies like P&G, Estee Lauder, etc....--and actually invented the process known as LEE (Low Energy Emulsification) that's taught in textbooks today. That's how my Octane products came to life!

 

Dude, you are so multi-faceted, you blind me with your brilliance.

We're not worthy. But we're glad to have you around.

 

Hey that's not right! I invented the Low Energy Emulsification ... or at least the low energy part.

So we now know that OG is a pad sniffer. Wouldn't the lack of smell be an indication that your pad last had Epic on it? Actually all the Prima products smell great - not as good a Zaino - but they do smell good. The exception being Epic which (and Heather can jump in here) was left without a fragrance to appease the detailing aficionados that believe a fragrance masks the true smell of a wax so you can't tell what chemicals are in the stuff.
Who cares as long as they aren't using essence of dog poo or monkey vomit.

 

okay... that got a laugh out of me!

i guess i'm lucky in this respect, not having done much detailing work, i didn't miss the lack of smell. however, should i get into the heavier detailing with polishers and pads and all, octaneguy's comments make sense

and I agree with Blimey... we are not worthy, but we are lucky

 

Hahaaha OMG.

Well that could be the case if you only used Epic. But there's also Swirl, Finish, and Cut. The real problem would be Swirl and Finish since they could be used with the same polishing pad. Amigo is black so there is no confusion there.

But you're right, the way I differentiate between Meguiar's waxes and Prima's is by lack of color and looking for that Prima chemical solvent smell--however, I do use those same finishing pads with Meguiar's polishes like M82 that also don't have color and not much of a smell either, so it's not foolproof either.

 

so you are doing everything by smell.

 

Haha well I've got over 40+ buffing pads...

 

We are looking into adding some various dyes to the polishes so they are more easily distinguishable by sight.

Regarding the smell though... MiniMaybee is right. There is actually a very large group of car care aficionados who do not want scents added to waxes and polishes. From their perspective, not only does a scent cover up the *real* smell of the chemical but it is also seen as unprofessional. I know, I know... that seems pretty silly from both my and NAMers perspective but its true! We can't please everyone ya know!

That's why we make sure to have fun smells in the non wax and non polish products... we've gotta have some fun in the product line! So, we pleased one group by leaving smells out of the wax and polishes, while pleasing another group by including smells in the rest of the line. Kind of a happy medium??

I like BlimeyCabrio's idea of essence of Rosemary... Hmmm, now that would be interesting! Maybe for the wheel cleaner?? That would be very strange for a wheel cleaner... I'll have to keep thinking.

-Heather

 

I think if you put Epic in a 1 quart plain old white or "natural" bottle with a simple, no frills label that says EPIC Pro "High Grade Synthetic Polymer Wax", and put any kind of distinguishable scent so it smells different from other products--doesn't need to be perfummy--it's now a Pro product.

Remember a "professional" scent doesn't have to be floral or fruity. You know that "new car smell"?? Maybe we need a "new wax smell" Or "freshly waxed".

Richard