I've heard from my bodyman, that they're great for today's shine, but bad
for tomorrow's re-paint.  Same as Silicones; just try to remove them
completely to prep for a new paint job.  You can't ever remove them, even
sanding down to bare metal just grinds the stuff into the surface of the
metal.  Paint won't stick and fish-eyes impossibly.  Snake -oil quick- fix
in my book.  Anything that easy is either too good to be true, or there's
some greater price to pay somewhere down the line........

A painter's out there to add a second opinion here?

Mike B.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Matt Drew" <t3vanagon@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2006 1:17 AM
Subject: Protectant Advice

> Howdy Volks!
>
> Well first off, the FANTASTIC news is that Blackbeard, my new (to me) '90
> GL
> Weekender arrived bright and early this chilly morning!
>
> It's been some time since I last piloted a Vanagon, so I don't have to
> tell
> you how absolutely WONDERFUL an experience it's been getting reacquainted.
>
>
> Whilst tooling about online, I ran across a link to a product called "5
> Star
> Shine", which the website touts:
> "is not a car wax. In fact, it contains no waxes of any kind. Our patented
> PPS formula protects your paint with PTFE (the same substance that makes
> nonstick cookware so slippery) for *unbeatable shine and protection
> guaranteed to last for years!*" . . . . "main ingredient, PTFE, is one of
> the most protective coatings known to man.", etc.
>
> Sounds great, right? Maybe a little too good to be true?
>
> http://www.5starshine.com/ppc/index.html?cache=5
>
> I dunno.
> Has anyone used ... or even heard of this stuff before?
>
> I know that we all care about our 'loafs of love' and want to take the
> best
> care possible, so I guess my SECOND question is . . . does anyone use
> anything OTHER than the 'protective wax' setting at the local
> do-it-yourself
> car wash?
>
> Cheers!
>
> Matt
> '90 GL "Blackbeard"