cmonkey713

Put the base coat of Bead Maker on after doing a deep paint correction to perfect as perfect can get on a black C-6 coupe. Does putting multiple layers of BM on provide additional protection and or a deeper shine on the black? What would be the point of diminishing returns on the number of layers?

FYRARMS

I maintain a friend's black show car for him, and the only protection on the paint is Bead Maker. I initially applied one coat to the bare paint, waited 12 hours or more, then applied a second coat. I did it more to ensure 100% coverage, but a little extra protection didn't hurt. I didn't notice any difference in the gloss or depth, though. I have read in some detailing forums that the guys who applied it weekly after every wash on darker paint colors actually experienced some haze. As if there was too much Bead Maker stacked up.

Loki 6

Exactly...it's not Zaino! You can't just keep layering until you trade in your Corvette.

If you were looking for additional protection and gloss and didn't want to ceramic coat the car...if you wanted to stay in the polymer world...

This is arguably the "best" solution I could think of:

https://www.esotericcarcare.com/poli...aster-sealant/

I'd use that product without question, if I wanted polymer goodness and maintain with Beadmaker

YO-EL

I believe its used as a "topper" with not long lasting effects...

cmonkey713

Thanks to all, two coats of BM and it looks great. I will now use the BM detail spray as needed. May try Polish Angle sealer after the next strip and polish.

Tiger Joe

I had beadmaker on a few cars over the past few years. I never had an issues layering it. I def didn’t put 20 coats on at once but I would usually give the car a quick once over ever couple weeks. No I’ll effects

Gixxerman

You can layer it all you want, but remember at the end of the day it is a topper meant to give a boost to the work below the topper..

cmonkey713

Today I reached out to Bob Phillips with P&S Bead Maker concerning the optimum number of layers for Bead Maker Sealer. He indicated that two and a maximum of three will give the most protection and shine, any more is diminishing returns and not needed.

DALE#3

I use Bead maker as a detail spray.Haven't noticed dulling. Usually washing before that.

BIGMAC

My experience supports that there is little if any benefit past two coats of BM.

walker3

wash my cars every week and detail with bead maker - cars are smooth, and helps washing and drying - truck is 6 years old and NO swirl marks (ceramic coating on the base)

Palmetto64

I've tried to like BM, but end up getting haze when using as a drying agent. The last time I tried it, I ended up using CarPro Eraser to remove it and then used C2V3 over the CQuartz UK ceramic coat. Maybe it was reacting with the coating...not sure, but it's done it on 2 different vehicles that I have the coating on.

FYRARMS

No secret that it doesn't work well on top of all coatings. It is hit or miss on most. However, on top of synthetic sealants and wax it works amazingly well, and no other topper will enhance gloss as well as it does. Personally, I would never hinder the characteristics of a coating by topping it with a mild synthetic sealant like Bead Maker. It's just counter-productive. I only use SiO2-infused/ toppers on SiO2-coated vehicles.

Loki 6

I've found like many other who use BM the trick is in the application technique and towels.

I've never been too big a proponent of the whole drying aid concept. While I don't generally disagree with its primary concept, or if it actually works, I always preferred forced air to dry the car. That being said, I've used different products (BM included) as drying aids from time to time in various wash situations.

And while our illustrious resident Jedi Master detailing guru @FYRARMS states above "it doesn't work well on top of all coatings", I'd be willing to respectfully suggest that perhaps it may not have been the coatings that were the issue. Please allow me to explain and share my experiences with it and the experiences of many here in South Florida.

• My experience is that BM is finicky to start with and many have a tendency to drench the panels with it because, well... "more is more better".
• Weather also plays a crucial role in BM's level of "friendliness" when it comes to application. Here in the hot sticky humid south east, BM works better when you spay most of what you are going to use in a section directly into an MF cloth and then the remainder directly on the panel. In other words, take 70% of the amount you want to use in an area, and spritz the MF towel, then hit that section of the panel with the remaining 30%.
• I've found that towels play a crucial role in BM application - I'd use a short nap 360-420 gsm 70/30 towel like an edgeless 365 as the application towel and move to a plush circular knit weave 500 gsm towel like an Eagle edgeless 500. The Twist loop fibers of many drying towels work well to dry the car, but in my experience, do little to buff in drying aids such as a drenching application of BM. I always had to go over the section with the plush towel (eagle 500 or similar) to buff anything out and get all the gloss I was looking for. And that is what I suspect might be happening to you.

I've found a few more tricks and techniques to use BM to its fullest potential, but I thought the comments above would be directly related to your poor experience in using it as a drying aid. I know plenty of guys with coated cars that swear by BM, especially at shows and in their pre-show prep. While some use it like its coming out of a garden hose instead of a spray bottle, some make it work quite well.

And like our resident Jedi Master Fyrarms states, I too no longer use it on my coated car since it is a step back in performance as compared to an SiO2 product, if all you want is insane gloss and slickness and are not concerned with water behavior and durability, it is a compelling product to use. But let me say this...once my BM supply runs out, I am moving over to what I call "the SiO2 version of BM" I am going to purchase Xtreme solutions Topper. I've had lengthy conversations with some guys doing shoot outs and all the results are congruent - Topper is the new BM type of product but a V2.0 in that it's chemistry profile is SiO2 and not polymer. The gloss and slickness are off the charts like BM but the water behavior and durability is a lot more inline with what you would come to expect from an SiO2 product.

I hope this helps, so maybe you give BM another chance with some different towels along side your main drying towel? Let me know if I can help you further.


Best to you and stay healthy,
Loki6

macguyver

My experience supports that there is little if any benefit with even one coat
Its probably well know on the many detailing forums & sub forums that I am no fan of BM- Now I usually dont post in threads related to BM anymore cause it just gets those who are BM fanatics upset, but every now and then I just cant help myself to chime in on my SEVERE dislike of BM & how much of a worthless product I know it to be from experience

CDNZ

It seems like results with BM vary greatly depending on what is underneath it/what your base is. I have been using BM regularly for 3ish years over “old school “ Collonite 915 carnuba and have had excellent results/performance and have never had a hint of haze or cloudiness or anything other than super slickness and very high gloss.

Mike00

I have seen Polish angel recommended a lot on here. I am down to the last bit of my blackfire crystal seal which I love (simple to apply). Would you recommend this as a nice a substitute since crystal seal was discontinued? Is it easy to apply also? I don’t mind some doing finished work but the easy of applying crystal seal makes it simple to apply every few weeks I like that part of low maintenance to be honest.

Loki 6

Wasn’t the BF crystal seal a spray on wipe off product?

The PAHG product I recommended in my post you quoted, Master Sealant, is a bit more intricate to apply (but not much) Should you want a spray on wipe off product, I’d strongly recommend PA High Gloss or PA Cosmic Spritz

Also to note, master sealant in not an SiO2 product it is a polymer. If you want the SiO2 version of Master Sealant, Cosmic Glasscoat V2.0 is the one you want. PAHG and PACS are also SiO2 products infused with TiO2 and either would be the perfect selection to maintain Cosmic Glasscoat, or use alone on your naked clear

macguyver

I have yet to find anything offered by anyone that can hold a candle to cosmic V2

Mike00

So the blackfire was just a wipe on product. The new SIO2 is wipe on and wipe off which I use on some vehicles but my vette as I feel like I get a better shine with the crystal seal. No idea why they disconinuted but it was a polymer also: BLACKFIRE Crystal Seal Paint Sealant, best paint sealant, paint sealer (autogeek.net)

I might have to try the cosmic glasscoat. Looking for something new to replace the crystal seal for a final topper/maintenance layer.

Edit - I probably should mention the vette is covered in llumar PPF. Are people using the glasscoat over it?