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How to prepare wheels for sealant application



sburrell93

sburrell93

Scotland - South
ClioSport Area Rep
I got my wheels powder coated last week, and want to get them properly sealed now. I've got CQuartz DLux stuff that I plan on using, but I've heard most of the work is in the prep and getting the wheels clean enough for it to apply properly.

The wheels have built up a fair bit of brake dust on them over the last week, so what's my best course of action to get them properly clean?

My plan was to clean them up with AF Imperial, give them a hit of Iron X or something similar, another going over with Imperial and then a rinse and dry.

Will that be enough to make sure I've got a nice clean surface to apply the sealant on? Don't really fancy applying it only to find out it's not went on properly and I've wasted half of it!
 
Coby.

Coby.

ClioSport Club Member
  XC60-R.......V40-R
A very very thorough IPA wipe down once properly clean prior to Dlux is needed.
 
Gally

Gally

Formerly Mashed up egg in a cup
ClioSport Club Member
As per JD spend as long as you need prepping the wheels mate. Eraser would be best if using Dlux. Keep things simple.
 
sburrell93

sburrell93

Scotland - South
ClioSport Area Rep
I'm always so impatient with prep work. Need to force myself to do this properly!

Is it worth topping it with a wheel wax to give a good finish or is that completely pointless? I'm useless when it comes to wheels lol!
 
Gally

Gally

Formerly Mashed up egg in a cup
ClioSport Club Member
Don;'t top with anything. Dlux, wipe off residue as per instructions then leave it.

Follow proper wheel cleaning instructions.
 
Y

Yellow Dave

  Golf GT & A4 Avant
I've had great durability from C5, but only recently used dlux on a friends car. To soon to determine it's overal performance
 
Gally

Gally

Formerly Mashed up egg in a cup
ClioSport Club Member
Martin. said:
Anyone else used Dlux enough to give a good view? Wanting some views on what one to order :)
Click to expand...

I find it great. Order a small bottle. I just don't get on with GT much these days. Dlux also can be used on paint at a push and plastics is it's forte.
 
Martin.

Martin.

gally said:
I find it great. Order a small bottle. I just don't get on with GT much these days. Dlux also can be used on paint at a push and plastics is it's forte.
Click to expand...

Nice one chap. Will order some now and use it on my wheels when they come back.

I used GT for my windscreen, can't remember what type it was, but it worked great and then seemed to not work at all soon after.
 
Gally

Gally

Formerly Mashed up egg in a cup
ClioSport Club Member
I would probably agree with that Dave. Water behavior and durability of dlux seems a tad better.
 
Gally

Gally

Formerly Mashed up egg in a cup
ClioSport Club Member
I think that's for wheel arches etc. It doesn't leave a nice finish, just a coating.
 
Martin.

Martin.

Yellow Dave said:
I personally prefferred GTechniq C5 to apply than DLUX
Click to expand...

gally said:
I would probably agree with that Dave. Water behavior and durability of dlux seems a tad better.
Click to expand...

How do you apply this DLUX stuff? I know there's instructions on the box but how do you do it?

I cleaned the wheels down (they were clean anyway as just powdercoated).

Dripped the product on the the application sponge. Wiped it over the entire wheel. But it left a slightly tacky finish and once touched it left a slightly white powdery texture.

So I literally had to rub the whole wheel hard with a microfiber to clear it. I was only expecting to have to brush it over. Seemed a massive pain in the arse and almost felt as I've I was just rubbing it all off.

Am I doing something wrong?
 
sburrell93

sburrell93

Scotland - South
ClioSport Area Rep
Martin. said:
How do you apply this DLUX stuff? I know there's instructions on the box but how do you do it?

I cleaned the wheels down (they were clean anyway as just powdercoated).

Dripped the product on the the application sponge. Wiped it over the entire wheel. But it left a slightly tacky finish and once touched it left a slightly white powdery texture.

So I literally had to rub the whole wheel hard with a microfiber to clear it. I was only expecting to have to brush it over. Seemed a massive pain in the arse and almost felt as I've I was just rubbing it all off.

Am I doing something wrong?
Click to expand...

That's the exact same as what happened when I applied mine. Came out fine in the end though and the coating seems to be brilliant.

How long did you leave it on for?

I found out when I was doing it I read the instructions wrong and in the temperatures I was working in (roughly 20c) it shouldn't have been left for more than a few minutes before wiping off. I left it for about 10 mins lol...
 
Martin.

Martin.

sburrell93 said:
That's the exact same as what happened when I applied mine. Came out fine in the end though and the coating seems to be brilliant.

How long did you leave it on for?

I found out when I was doing it I read the instructions wrong and in the temperatures I was working in (roughly 20c) it shouldn't have been left for more than a few minutes before wiping off. I left it for about 10 mins lol...
Click to expand...

I started doing mine outside, but after a few minutes in the sun realised it wasn't good. So wiped it all off with white spirit and left it.

Then later on in the evening I thought I'd try again, only this time did it inside.

I applied it to the entire front face of the wheel then the entire inside face. So was probably 10-15 minutes before I had started to rub it off.

Do you reckon we left it too long then?

Good to hear that yours seems to be working well though
 
sburrell93

sburrell93

Scotland - South
ClioSport Area Rep
I'm sure the bottle says from 5-30 degrees heat, leave it for 10 minutes to 2 minutes respectively (or something pretty close to that). So the warmer it is, the less time it needs to cure.

First 2 wheels I done I left it for a similar time to you, and it took me ages to rub it all back off. It did feel as if I was taking everything back off but it's definitely worked and left something behind.

After that I applied it in sections. So done the face, left it for the proper time then wiped off, then done the back etc. Came off a lot easier, although it was still a bit tough.

Maybe we've both done it wrong lol! I'm sure Gally or JD or someone can confirm though
 
Y

Yellow Dave

  Golf GT & A4 Avant
You shouldn't leave it to cure as the reaction happens almost immediately.

Apply to the rear of the wheel, then go back to where you started and lightly buff it off, so light that you're only really spreading the remaining product around, then lightly buff again to ensure excess residue. then do the same to the front.

You shouldn't be leaving it to cure first, and you shouldn't need to buff it off hard to remove it, and if it's curing all hazy or cloudy you've either applied too much or haven't fully removed the excess residue before it's set.

best to watch application videos on youtube
 
Martin.

Martin.

Yellow Dave said:
You shouldn't leave it to cure as the reaction happens almost immediately.

Apply to the rear of the wheel, then go back to where you started and lightly buff it off, so light that you're only really spreading the remaining product around, then lightly buff again to ensure excess residue. then do the same to the front.

You shouldn't be leaving it to cure first, and you shouldn't need to buff it off hard to remove it, and if it's curing all hazy or cloudy you've either applied too much or haven't fully removed the excess residue before it's set.

best to watch application videos on youtube
Click to expand...

Maybe I'm using the wrong materials.

They provide a sponge for application which seems fine. And some small cloths, almost like sunglasses cloths. But I found these to be rubbish and they just stick to the area causing you to lose grip.

It's not curing cloudy, but if touched, it goes bitty and a little powdery.

Going to try and find some videos. But I think maybe I'm applying a bit too much, and leaving it for a little bit too long. Certainly needed some elbow grease to rub it off!
 
Y

Yellow Dave

  Golf GT & A4 Avant
wrap the MF suede cloth around the block, first application of DLUX to the cloth use more than proceeding applcations (still don't need loads) as this will prime the applicator. it should then spread fairly easily without dragging and leave a feint clear smear as such on the surface.

Ideally the surface should be left for a few hours for best results, but if after buffing off its still going cloudy / powdery I would suggest you haven't removed all the excess coating.

I'll look tonight for a good application video to post up for you.
 
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