Black Trim = Meguiars is Crap

[ts27330]

Mother's Back to Black works well for me.

 

[HotDamnGotaRam]

Best bang for the buck? Seems like a lot of this stuff is crazy expensive. Trying to fix my truck up on a budget.

 

[BigTex13]

Best bang for the buck? Seems like a lot of this stuff is crazy expensive. Trying to fix my truck up on a budget.

A can of SEM Bumper Coat or SEM trim Coat is about $20 and a 2 ounce bottle of Solution finish is about $15.

 

[HotDamnGotaRam]

The Cerakote Rapid Ceramic showed up this morning. I cleaned the areas to be treated with full strength Simple Green and applied the Cerakote as directed. Color wise the plastic trim looks like new (because it essentially is) but during the buffing step it feels noticeably slicker.

My truck isn’t garaged so the primary goal is to protect against UV and provide an easy to clean protective surface. Time will tell if the juice is worth the squeeze…

Wow, your truck looks great man! This is the product for paint though right? Did you use it on the whole truck? Any sign of streaking so far?

 

[Carnero Plateado]

Wow, your truck looks great man! This is the product for paint though right? Did you use it on the whole truck? Any sign of streaking so far?

It works on paint and the black plastic trim. I’m old school and still prefer wax on painted surfaces. I drove in rain Sunday so I washed the truck Monday and towel dried it. No streaks or discoloration before or after washing. I even used it on the wheels and steps which I assume are powder coated.

I’m going to test the Cerakote Rapid Ceramic on my wife’s Lexus to see how it holds up on paint, she runs it through the wash at least once a week.

 

[HotDamnGotaRam]

Decided to give Back to Black a try. Nearly bought some Cerakote until I started reading the reviews. It seems like a really good product, but having to apply it with towelettes sounded like a pain in the butt. Plus how much material do you actually get in total? An ounce? Seems crazy expensive and many said they had trouble applying it evenly because the clothes only remain moist for a stroke or two. I'll try to remember to update the thread once I try it, but I'm doing body and paint work on it right now so don't figure on washing it again for at least a couple weeks.

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

First photo works great on black wheels and tires, spray it on wipe it off. Quick easy, have to apply every time. This also works great on the black bumpers from ram on the warlock and rebel packages

The 2nd photo works great on plastic trim, mud flaps, running board plastic or metal, kinda like liquid shoe polish, last a long time.

 

[HotDamnGotaRam]

Cool, thanks! If the Back to Black turns out to be Back to the Drawing Board I'll check out the Mamba stuff. Just finishing up my paint work, hope to give the RAM a good bath here in a week or so after the paint has cured.

 

[Wild one]

I mix Mothers Protectant half and half with Mothers Back to Black,then cut it in half with hot water and shake the hell out of the mix,then pour it back into the empty protectant bottles.I use it on everything from tonnue cover / tires and even spray it liberally on the engine after washing the engine at the local coin-op carwash every week
Works for me.My 300 has 75,000 miles on it,and the engine still looks new with no aluminium corrosion

Protectant

Mothers® Protectant provides long-lasting, 30-day protection! It preserves and protects tires, bumpers, dashboards, door panels, running boards and window trim…just about anything that’s rubber, vinyl or plastic. Protectant beautifies and protects against the harshest of elements to keep your...

mothers.com

 

[abouttobeglue]

I started using the turtle wax graphene inside job. Does good, did the inside plastics, outside trim, tonneau cover, and wiped the tires with it.

 

[joesstripclub]

Decided to give Back to Black a try. Nearly bought some Cerakote until I started reading the reviews. It seems like a really good product, but having to apply it with towelettes sounded like a pain in the butt. Plus how much material do you actually get in total? An ounce? Seems crazy expensive and many said they had trouble applying it evenly because the clothes only remain moist for a stroke or two. I'll try to remember to update the thread once I try it, but I'm doing body and paint work on it right now so don't figure on washing it again for at least a couple weeks.

The ceramics are more expensive but you only need a very small amount and they last a lot longer. I think I used half a 2 ounce bottle to do my whole truck. My 350z was coated in 2020 and is just getting to the point I need to recoat it. The towelettes are to make sure you get no lint in the coating since its not coming off without some work.

 

[Jacob Maguire]

I am sure there are a ton of products that work just as good as this stuff. But this is what I have used for years and I highly recommend it. It's really meant for dirtbikes, quads and dirt toys to help keep the mud and dirt from sticking and just making the plastic of any color shine. But, it is incredible at bringing faded black plastic back to life too.

Maxima SC1

It lasts a long time. Easy to apply and if you buff it off a bit it'll give you that factory matte finish. Or you can leave it a bit heavy and it'll stay pretty glossy.

I have also had decent results with Chemical Guys VRP but don't put it on your wheels because it will fly right the heck off.

While I do like Meguiar's products, their trim restore has always left a lot to be desired for me. Too thin, doesn't soak in. Have to apply it way too often. Same goes for Mother's back to black.

Just like anything though, it's so subjective. Everyone has their own taste and preference. Maxima is my favorite and I always have a few cans in the garage.

SC1 fan here! Primary use is on moto stuff (dirtbikes, helmets, boots), also salt water rods/reels. The smell is a nice bonus. "Mechanic in a can" ; )

 

[Sherman Bird]

I bought the Cerakote based on Project Farm’s review, in the packaging is a card saying it is not for use on new trim. Has anyone tried it on new trim and were there any issues?
View attachment 573689

I try my best to watch Project Farm.... I really do. BUT: The Kermit the Frog voice is akin to fingernails on a blackboard, to me.... just sets my teeth on edge! His content is sort of interesting though!

 

[HotDamnGotaRam]

Thanks again guys. This has all been quite helpful. Fixed and painted the rusty rockers. Just got done sand blasting and painting the rims. Looking pretty spiffy with the Back to Black on the trim. Pretty impressed with it so far, but it's only been on there about a week and not a drop of rain yet.

 

[Dennis Younker]

I use Back To Black which works for me.

I was wondering if anyone was going to mention Back to Black by Mothers. All Mothers products work well for me. And I've been using Back to Black for years. Love it. https://mothers.com/products/back-to-black-trim-and-plastic-restorer-06112

 

[HotDamnGotaRam]

After 13" of lake effect snow and then a rain two nights ago I can report that Back to Black is also coming off, leaving black streaks on my truck. The trim still looks good, but the black lines down the sides of the truck do not. Guess maybe I should try some of that ceramic stuff. Or just live with it. The streaks wipe off easily and I don't mind reapplying it after each wash.

 

[Hambodian]

I found the Cerakote trim wipes are the only ones that has lasted for me. Just don't apply in direct sunlight as it dries out the wipes faster. Done a Mini Cooper and 2 Wranglers. Never had to reapply after many years. Made trim look like new.

 

[Pull Ya]

It seems that most all the products discussed here, people have had varying degrees of trouble with; does not last very long or is not waterproof etc etc. I hate to think about this as a solution but has anyone tried to just use a rattle can and paint the trim piece? As textured as some of the trim is, you could use a smaller amount of paint and still have the textured effect and the longevity of paint. Jus throwing this into the mix---
Jay

 

[Craig Muszynski]

I gave up on wipe on coatings years ago. Lat couple vehicles I've had with this issue get a four step process... that I need to do on my '14 Wagon this spring. I clean the hell out of them, plastic adhesion promoter then a very thin coat of base coat black and then a couple thin coats of 2K satin clear. I never need to touch them again