Touched up trim, happy so far.

Here's a year update on trim detailing product video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Igo7o3vldZ0

 

Thanks for the sharing, but I'll take that video with a grain of a salt. For starters, the guy is using a cargo hold protector (mat) which he claims is thermoplastic, but seeing its pliability I'd say at best it's more like a thermoplastic elastomer (rubber). Right away my first question is why not just use a faded plastic exterior trim panel for your plastic trim restorer comparison as most of the exterior trim on vehicles is predominately plastic? Yes, I know some of those restorers can be used on materials besides plastic, like rubber, but for example Cerakote specifically says theirs is only to be used on plastic and NOT rubber. Also, let's not forget to mention the mat was blown away by a storm and found 1.5 miles down the road buried in the ground with mud & debris (acting as a protectant as well) caked over the Solution Finish section.

 

The only reason Apex uses a mat is because it's a large canvas to fit all test products. If he uses a vehicle the products will be all the place. Some in the front then the back. Some area wear protectants faster. A mat is a even playing field.

He tested the trim product that are most talked about. It could be unfair to Cerakote due to it wasn't design for rubber, or something flexible. Some coating/sealants I've seen starts to flake off on rubber.

It's probably good that the mat was blown away. It's been abused. If the products last, it will probably last on a vehicles during nasty weather, winter. Apex also mentioned that he experiment isn't a scientific research. It's based on his viewers suggestion or what he has lying around. Not all test has to be done in a lab.

Optimum Car Care uses a panel on his roof of his building, as a test area. You can say a control environment. Plus they have pro detailers uses their products on customers vehicles.

 

There are plenty of plastic trim panels he could of used to fit all the test products and if needed he could've simply shrunk the size of each test section as required (no need to have 1' x 1' sections like he does). Also, just to be clear I wasn't meaning for him to use the products on multiple trim panels in different locations while still mounted on the vehicle. The point I was trying to make is most of your average Joes buying these products, not to mention the way their marketed by the MFGs, are doing so for the faded exterior plastic trim (i.e. fender flares, bumpers, bed panels, cowls, etc.) on their vehicles, and any rubber trim to that is secondary and a fraction of the amount. So what I'm saying is he doesn't need to strap on a lab coat and turn this into a science experiment, but instead why not just keep it a simple apples to apples comparison to try and mimic the average Joe scenario application & use. Perfect example is this video where the guy took some faded plastic bed panels (similar to OP's panels in this thread) off a couple different Chevy Avalanches, applied 25 different restorers (viewer suggested), and subjected them to multiple washings and environmental exposure (i.e. sun/UV, rain, etc.) over time to see how they all held up. To me this better resembles your typical vehicle use case over a rubber cargo mat that was blown down the street like a rag doll, folded over in who knows what position on what hour/day/week, areas of it covered in mud/debris acting as a protectant from the elements (i.e. sun/UV exposure), etc.

Note, this is one update video of many that he made going all the way out to 1.5 years.

 

I seen this video before when I was looking at trim products.

Apex uses want he have lying around the shop. He not going to but something and just use it once for a demo. I'm not defending his channel or how he does thing. Their's a lot better channels out there.

The mat allows he to use a good area to demonstrate not a small area. It not fair for some products that wasn't design for that material. In which he says that in one of his video. He also uses customers vehicles with test product with their permission to see how long it last in real world application. The customers comes in for maintenance wash and he inspect the product/s he uses. Apex mentioned, Everyone have their own way of doing things. If anyone have any suggestions they're welcome to post opinions. If it make sense to him he'll use it in his videos. His viewer will be the judge. It a small channel, so there a budget in mind.

I get the point that you're making. Use the products on real daily driver.

Chicago Auto Pros uses his employees vehicles for test subjects in his videos.

 

I think we've officially hijacked OP's thread.

I didn't really start paying attention to trim restoration products until a few years ago when I finally had to restore the trim on my truck. Maybe it's just me, but seems like since then there are quite a few more trim restorers/protectants that have popped up on the market? There's definitely a lot more YouTube comparison/testing videos in the last couple years, so maybe this also helped bring some of the small/boutique brand products into the public's view as well. Either way, there's so many options nowadays it'll make your head spin.

 

Seems like a good discussion!
The Solution Finish job I did 6/21 is still holding up well. I did a bunch of trim on my Tacoma and the hard top on my wife's JK which wasn't looking good. A bunch of washes later it still looks good. Both cars are garaged and go in as soon as we get home.
I am going to try the cerakote wipes and see how I like them when its time to hit it again.

 

Nothing wrong with debating. Atleast we stayed on topic, of trim products.

When Solution Finish hit the market, There wasn't to many trim products on the marker. I think SF made some different in the market place as far as dye, trim product. Competition is great for the consumer.

I started looking into trim restoration product at the same time as you. I found a proper cleaning can do amazing job that someone may not need a trim product. There are some that are to far gone.

Some YouTube channel are sponsored so the review isn't going to be honest.

 

A few years ago when I did mine I was giving Solution Finish serious consideration at first. Longevity wise it seems to be much better than your standard run-of-the-mill lotion/dressing that wears off after you sneeze on it, not to mention the enhanced darker appearance it leaves with its dye formula. I think you're on the right track though going to a more "permanent" style coating like Cerakote when the time comes.