How useful is Reflect applied by hand? I appreciate it won’t be as good as using a Rupes, which ain’t cheap, know what I mean. Can you give us some tips on hand polish please?
Hi Jacob, great question! For sure, you can use it by hand and as you said it is going to be more work for less results however you can do it. As far as tips go: 1. - Work a smaller area than with a machine. By hand you should stick to no larger than 1 Sq. Ft. area at a time MAX. 2. - Select either one of our ergonomic foam applicators with the handle OR the Microfiber Madness Waxing Moon Deluxe which works very well, or even a microfiber towel like the Yellow Fellow. 3. - If using a towel like yellow fellow then keep it flat and folded nice and flush with paint. Never let it bunch up. 4. - Use even pressure 5. - Use far faster hand speed then you would with a machine. I hope this helps! Best, Corey
REALLY helpful man! Thanks so much for this. I was going back and forth between M205 and Reflect. I think Reflect is a much more cost-effective option where I live, so will go with that! Thanks
Yes and no... ON Textured plastic either one could stain it. If it is perfectly smooth plastic then it will not stain. Just wipe right back off with alcohol.
Sir, after I used Carpro Fixer with Dewalt rotary on the soft paint it created a hologram and haze. please advise which product should i use reflect or essence+ to remove this defect? by using rotary too.. Thank You..
Try a test spot with Reflect and a rotary pad. If you have both polishes then you can test spot essence as well. If you have trouble with both then use S40 from Scholl Concepts. Their finishing polishes excel with a rotary machine on any paint.
What I do to center the pad right in the middle is a put my flex Velcro face up and then I put a hand screw driver handle side going in and then I use that to guide the pad right in the center when I buy buffing pads for my Dewalt it came with these little tubes to help you center the pad so that’s where I got the idea from
I just got delivery of my new Land Cruiser 300 GR Sport in Eclipse Black. I’m planning on applying the CQuartz UK 3.0. I’m wondering if I can use the Carpro Reflect Polish as a first step preparation of the paint of course after a proper decontamination with Reset Shampoo, Carpro ultra fine soft white clay bar with Nv Purify. My question is, is it a good idea to do the Reflect Polish first and then do the Carpro Essence as a primer for the CQuartz UK 3.0? Do I use Carpro Eraser after Essence the same way I use it after Carpro Reflect? And what pads to use for both polishes if you recommend both? I have DA polishers and plenty of pads including Scholl soft black waffle and Scholl orange pad and scholl orange spider pads. I would really appreciate your prompt response as I’m trying to organise time to do ASAP. PS I declined the offer from my Toyota dealership in Australia to apply any kind of long term protection as I don’t trust dealers.
Hi Sam, great questions! If you use the Reflect (which is a great option) then there is NO need to use Essence Primer. The word "primer" can be taken out of context. Essence DOES leave something behind that adds gloss but will NOT make the coating last any longer. I would choose either Reflect OR Essence. Both will make the paint very glossy and you can't lose either way. If you are just prepping the paint and not trying to remove anything more than micromarring then go with the Neo Honey spider pad. If trying to remove some swirls then move up to a more aggressive pad. If the swirls are deep then you need more than reflect or essence.
@@SkyCarCare thank you so much for your prompt response. I decided to give Essence a miss and will stick with Reflect. I thought Carpro recommended Essence as a primer for the CQuartz coating??? I’m planning on doing 2 coats of CQuartz UK 3.0 then Gliss on top. The car is brand new and after I washed it I didn’t see deep marring or scratches or swirls. Can I use the Scholl Orange Spider Pad with Reflect instead of Scholl a Honey Spider Pad? Is the Honey Spider Pad softer than the Orange Spider Pad? Which one suits best for this type of application? Thanks again Cheers Sam
Hi Sam, I wouldn't say they "recommend" essence as a primer but they refer to it as a primer because it leaves a layer of Sio2 behind when applied in that manner. When we first launched it I wrote the wording like that for CARPRO for a variety of reasons as we were launching it at SEMA and its great for describing but I didn't mean to give the impression that it makes the coating last longer. Yes, you can use the orange pad instead. I don't think we have ever seen or used the orange spider pad here @@samg8388
My truck is 4 years old..It seems like overytime i use my DA polisher i get paint chips..Any thoughts?..Thanks for your videos..Im also getting ready to cc my truck,,but i just used a all in one (rupes uno1)But now I'm told that will need to be removed!
Hi Joe, thanks for the question! Well, the DA use should have zero affect on getting paint chips. Purely coincidental. It could be that you notice them after you use your DA because some polish gets into some tiny existing chips and the white residue makes them stick out more. OR just that once you get the surface all shiny then there are no swirls to camouflage the tiny chips and they become more visible. Other than that, I can't think off anything. You are correct that the UNO1 must be removed in order for a ceramic coating to bond. If you would like to ceramic coat it then I would wait until it is near the end of its life and then give the surface a good decontamination, light polish with Reflect, Eraser panel wipe, and then Coat.
@@SkyCarCare Thank you for the response..one last question..I have a brand new car, Im planning to use this finishing polish and then ceramic coat like I said but the thing is I want to use this product without using any compound etc...The plan is wash the car, clay bar, use reflect polish, clean the surface and apply ceramic considering its a brand new car. Any suggestions will be very helpful.
@@rajatmahadevan9470 Yes, that is a very good plan and there is no need to use a heavy compound unless you are trying to remove deeper defects. All tips we think of off top of our heads are in the video.
@@SkyCarCare Went pretty good, still had a few scratches but i'm sure with doing it more i can figure out how to get them out. They don't look to be deep scratches.
Hi Karthik, that all depends on the type of paint, what machine you use, the method in which you polish, what pad you pair it with, and your environment (humidity, temperature, etc). CARPRO Reflect is one of my absolute favorites for most conditions. Scholl Concepts S30 is VERY versatile regardless of all variables. CARPRO Essence is probably the glossiest overall (it is a hybrid with both ceramic and abrasives). Finally, if polishing with a rotary machine and skilled at it, then Scholl Concepts S40 has the finest abrasives of anything on the market for the glossiest true finish.
@@arukarthik1986 with a DA any of these I mentioned work well. S40 will still work with great it but is capable of its highest performance via rotary.
Thanks for the question! You will want to add protection after this step. This product is to remove a small amount of clearcoat in order to perfect the paint and permanently remove the swirls.
@@customerservice9897 thank you for the response ! I bought this and the fixer. I think fixer may cut too much into the clear cut from my understanding 😕 so I probably won't be using that. But thank you. Now I need to find a good protection!
@@XxLaMaravish13xX Yes, if Reflect is able to remove the damage then no need to use Fixer. However if it is not then Fixer is not too aggressive relatively speaking and more of a medium compound.
Hi Mark, sorry we didn't see your question! Depends on the paint but the CARPRO Gloss pad is excellent for finishing on many paints. While the spider pad is our favorite, that GLOSS pad and also the Lake Country pads are very good.
Honestly I find you guys should have shown a Before and After so we can really see how the product worked. I understand you're probably just showing how much product to apply on the pad but we needed to see the effect it had on the paint. Hopefully this comment helps for future videos.
Great video! What's the best sort of hand applicator pad to use with CarPro Reflect? Got some quite awkward spots to work on with my car which isn't suitable for a machine. Is it a finishing pad you need?
Thanks Nick! Yes, a finishing pad generally although by hand a polishing pad might be better. I have two recommendations... If it is in a wide open area then use the Scholl Concepts NEO Honey Application Puck and if it is in really tight spots then use the CARPRO Plush Microfiber Gloves (Pair) (I pasted links but I guess UA-cam is not down with it :)
Yes, as long as you do not need a more aggressive polish (aka the damage is light to medium light) then this is great as a one step on most paints. On softer paints there are better options for finishing down. On harder paints this is probably the best option.
@@SkyCarCare I have a 2018 ram 1500 in brilliant black that’s the paint with the sparkly stuff in it and it’s not that beat up but I think it’s time to polish it out and lay down some more reload lol
Hello, does the carpro esscence expire or does the container have an expiration date once opened? How long does it last since I see that it has a label attached with the date of manufacture and nowhere do they explain that, thank you very much, excellent videos. Greetings.
Thank you so much for the kind compliment! Yes, it does expire BUT the time depends on how it is stored. For instance assuming the lid is closed between uses and it is kept out of sun and in climate control (Between 35 ~ 105 F) then you can expect 2 ~ 5 years. The date of manufacture is listed in Day / Month / Year so you can add a minimum of 2 years to that date for expiry if stored on the more extreme sides of 35F ~ 105F. If it Is stored REALLY well like 55F ~ 80F, then it is possible it will last 5 years.
Hi, my new black metallic car is coming soon. I would like to polish it before using the turtle wax 75 paste wax topped off with the turtle wax graphene infused flex wax. Do you recommend reflect for this or do you have other suggestions?
Hi Milan, yes, the Reflect is a great choice. Regardless of the type of protection you choose to finish with, CarPro Reflect is fantastic fishing polish to get the gloss right before protecting it.
Great question Khalid! You are absolutely right. Great for adding gloss to cars already in great condition or as a second step after a compound on more heavily damaged cars.
On a new car, is it possible to lightly polish by hand vs machine? Does the Reflect polish affect painted chrome areas (i.e. trim around windows, front grille, etc)
You can lightly polish. But it will take more time and wont be as affective as using a machine. It's possible, but be prepared for a lot of work. If its true chrome, reflect will have some affect at correcting it. But if it is "plastic" chrome, I would recommend taping it off before polishing around it.
After polishing you will need to do an IPA wipe-down. CARPRO Eraser for example to remove excess polish/oils, and allow the sealant/coating to bond properly 👍🏻
Great question Dooson! Yes, after polishing it is recommended to do a panel wipe (CARPRO Eraser) to remove any trace mineral oils left behind by the polish. While Reflect does not contain any durable fillers, it does use mineral oil as lubricant and its best for your sealant to bond direct to the paint for longest durability.
@@SkyCarCareI just got delivery of my new Land Cruiser 300 GR Sport in Eclipse Black. I’m planning on applying the CQuartz UK 3.0. I’m wondering if I can use the Carpro Reflect Polish as a first step preparation of the paint of course after a proper decontamination with Reset Shampoo, Carpro ultra fine soft white clay bar with Nv Purify. My question is, is it a good idea to do the Reflect Polish first and then do the Carpro Essence as a primer for the CQuartz UK 3.0? Do I use Carpro Eraser after Essence the same way I use it after Carpro Reflect? And what pads to use for both polishes if you recommend both? I would really appreciate your prompt response as I’m trying to organise time to do ASAP. PS I declined the offer from my Toyota dealership in Australia to apply any kind of long term protection as I don’t trust dealers.
Best video by far on how to use reflect. Not even Carpro did one. It's one of the fastest and best finishers out there.
Thank you so much Amien! I'm so thrilled you enjoyed the video. I LOVE Reflect.... Nothing else like it and so fast (like you said)
Proper job Corey, digging all the fresh content! Super helpful, keep up the nice work!
Thank you so much for the feedback!
Warmest Regards,
Corey
How useful is Reflect applied by hand? I appreciate it won’t be as good as using a Rupes, which ain’t cheap, know what I mean. Can you give us some tips on hand polish please?
Hi Jacob, great question! For sure, you can use it by hand and as you said it is going to be more work for less results however you can do it. As far as tips go:
1. - Work a smaller area than with a machine. By hand you should stick to no larger than 1 Sq. Ft. area at a time MAX.
2. - Select either one of our ergonomic foam applicators with the handle OR the Microfiber Madness Waxing Moon Deluxe which works very well, or even a microfiber towel like the Yellow Fellow.
3. - If using a towel like yellow fellow then keep it flat and folded nice and flush with paint. Never let it bunch up.
4. - Use even pressure
5. - Use far faster hand speed then you would with a machine.
I hope this helps!
Best,
Corey
I have a black car sapphire black. Which one is the best for maximum gloss? Essence or reflect
Also doing a cutting polish before
It depends on how workable your make of paint is. Essence is probably the glossiest option.
REALLY helpful man! Thanks so much for this. I was going back and forth between M205 and Reflect. I think Reflect is a much more cost-effective option where I live, so will go with that! Thanks
Awesome! Im stoked it was helpful! Have a great day!
Can reflect be used on plastic and trim or does it stain?
Also does ultra Cut work on plastic and trim or does it stain?
Yes and no... ON Textured plastic either one could stain it. If it is perfectly smooth plastic then it will not stain. Just wipe right back off with alcohol.
@@SkyCarCare thank you!
Sir, after I used Carpro Fixer with Dewalt rotary on the soft paint it created a hologram and haze.
please advise which product should i use reflect or essence+ to remove this defect? by using rotary too..
Thank You..
Try a test spot with Reflect and a rotary pad. If you have both polishes then you can test spot essence as well. If you have trouble with both then use S40 from Scholl Concepts. Their finishing polishes excel with a rotary machine on any paint.
What I do to center the pad right in the middle is a put my flex Velcro face up and then I put a hand screw driver handle side going in and then I use that to guide the pad right in the center when I buy buffing pads for my Dewalt it came with these little tubes to help you center the pad so that’s where I got the idea from
Thank you, thats a great tip Edward
I just got delivery of my new Land Cruiser 300 GR Sport in Eclipse Black.
I’m planning on applying the CQuartz UK 3.0.
I’m wondering if I can use the Carpro Reflect Polish as a first step preparation of the paint of course after a proper decontamination with Reset Shampoo, Carpro ultra fine soft white clay bar with Nv Purify.
My question is, is it a good idea to do the Reflect Polish first and then do the Carpro Essence as a primer for the CQuartz UK 3.0?
Do I use Carpro Eraser after Essence the same way I use it after Carpro Reflect?
And what pads to use for both polishes if you recommend both?
I have DA polishers and plenty of pads including Scholl soft black waffle and Scholl orange pad and scholl orange spider pads.
I would really appreciate your prompt response as I’m trying to organise time to do ASAP.
PS I declined the offer from my Toyota dealership in Australia to apply any kind of long term protection as I don’t trust dealers.
Hi Sam, great questions! If you use the Reflect (which is a great option) then there is NO need to use Essence Primer. The word "primer" can be taken out of context. Essence DOES leave something behind that adds gloss but will NOT make the coating last any longer. I would choose either Reflect OR Essence. Both will make the paint very glossy and you can't lose either way. If you are just prepping the paint and not trying to remove anything more than micromarring then go with the Neo Honey spider pad. If trying to remove some swirls then move up to a more aggressive pad. If the swirls are deep then you need more than reflect or essence.
@@SkyCarCare thank you so much for your prompt response.
I decided to give Essence a miss and will stick with Reflect.
I thought Carpro recommended Essence as a primer for the CQuartz coating???
I’m planning on doing 2 coats of CQuartz UK 3.0 then Gliss on top.
The car is brand new and after I washed it I didn’t see deep marring or scratches or swirls.
Can I use the Scholl Orange Spider Pad with Reflect instead of Scholl a Honey Spider Pad?
Is the Honey Spider Pad softer than the Orange Spider Pad?
Which one suits best for this type of application?
Thanks again
Cheers
Sam
Hi Sam, I wouldn't say they "recommend" essence as a primer but they refer to it as a primer because it leaves a layer of Sio2 behind when applied in that manner. When we first launched it I wrote the wording like that for CARPRO for a variety of reasons as we were launching it at SEMA and its great for describing but I didn't mean to give the impression that it makes the coating last longer.
Yes, you can use the orange pad instead. I don't think we have ever seen or used the orange spider pad here @@samg8388
@@SkyCarCare thank you my friend, you’re a champion 💪
My truck is 4 years old..It seems like overytime i use my DA polisher i get paint chips..Any thoughts?..Thanks for your videos..Im also getting ready to cc my truck,,but i just used a all in one (rupes uno1)But now I'm told that will need to be removed!
Hi Joe, thanks for the question! Well, the DA use should have zero affect on getting paint chips. Purely coincidental. It could be that you notice them after you use your DA because some polish gets into some tiny existing chips and the white residue makes them stick out more. OR just that once you get the surface all shiny then there are no swirls to camouflage the tiny chips and they become more visible. Other than that, I can't think off anything.
You are correct that the UNO1 must be removed in order for a ceramic coating to bond. If you would like to ceramic coat it then I would wait until it is near the end of its life and then give the surface a good decontamination, light polish with Reflect, Eraser panel wipe, and then Coat.
Can I apply ceramic coating after reflect?
Absolutely! It is normally the last step in correction. You will just need to do a panel wipe prior to applying the ceramic.
@@SkyCarCare Thank you for the response..one last question..I have a brand new car, Im planning to use this finishing polish and then ceramic coat like I said but the thing is I want to use this product without using any compound etc...The plan is wash the car, clay bar, use reflect polish, clean the surface and apply ceramic considering its a brand new car. Any suggestions will be very helpful.
@@rajatmahadevan9470 Yes, that is a very good plan and there is no need to use a heavy compound unless you are trying to remove deeper defects. All tips we think of off top of our heads are in the video.
Please make a video on fixer and polish
Thank you for your feedback! I THOUGHT we had one from long ago but maybe you are right :) - we will add it to the list.
@@SkyCarCare thank you :)
Can you post on Fixer and Essence?
Sure, let us know any specific questions and I am happy to answer. As far as dedicated videos to each of those, we will add them to the list!
Just amazing how little is needed, polishing my car soon with this product so good to see just how little is needed
Let us know how it goes and THANK YOU for the support ❤️
@@SkyCarCare Went pretty good, still had a few scratches but i'm sure with doing it more i can figure out how to get them out. They don't look to be deep scratches.
I thought reflect and ceriglass were made ONLY for glass???
Reflect is made for paint and also works FINE to clean glass. Ceriglass is made for severely damaged glass
@@SkyCarCare ah, my bad. I don’t know why I thought it was for glass
Pls send specific link for honey spider pad, the one you have brings up 300+ items
Here is the link - the yellow ones on this page are the Honey Spider www.carpro-us.com/skys-the-limit-spider-pads/
Hi what's the best final finish polish. High gloss finish
Hi Karthik, that all depends on the type of paint, what machine you use, the method in which you polish, what pad you pair it with, and your environment (humidity, temperature, etc). CARPRO Reflect is one of my absolute favorites for most conditions. Scholl Concepts S30 is VERY versatile regardless of all variables. CARPRO Essence is probably the glossiest overall (it is a hybrid with both ceramic and abrasives). Finally, if polishing with a rotary machine and skilled at it, then Scholl Concepts S40 has the finest abrasives of anything on the market for the glossiest true finish.
@@SkyCarCare thanks for your reply. Am using shine mate dual action polisher.
@@arukarthik1986 with a DA any of these I mentioned work well. S40 will still work with great it but is capable of its highest performance via rotary.
Nice video! Do I have to put a wax/sealant after applying this? Or is this the last step?
Thanks for the question! You will want to add protection after this step. This product is to remove a small amount of clearcoat in order to perfect the paint and permanently remove the swirls.
@@customerservice9897 thank you for the response ! I bought this and the fixer. I think fixer may cut too much into the clear cut from my understanding 😕 so I probably won't be using that. But thank you. Now I need to find a good protection!
@@XxLaMaravish13xX Yes, if Reflect is able to remove the damage then no need to use Fixer. However if it is not then Fixer is not too aggressive relatively speaking and more of a medium compound.
What’s a good alternative for the spiderpad?
Hi Mark, sorry we didn't see your question! Depends on the paint but the CARPRO Gloss pad is excellent for finishing on many paints. While the spider pad is our favorite, that GLOSS pad and also the Lake Country pads are very good.
Honestly I find you guys should have shown a Before and After so we can really see how the product worked. I understand you're probably just showing how much product to apply on the pad but we needed to see the effect it had on the paint.
Hopefully this comment helps for future videos.
You are 100% correct. It was lazy on our part this time around and we will do better moving forward
Great video! What's the best sort of hand applicator pad to use with CarPro Reflect? Got some quite awkward spots to work on with my car which isn't suitable for a machine. Is it a finishing pad you need?
Thanks Nick! Yes, a finishing pad generally although by hand a polishing pad might be better. I have two recommendations... If it is in a wide open area then use the Scholl Concepts NEO Honey Application Puck and if it is in really tight spots then use the CARPRO Plush Microfiber Gloves (Pair) (I pasted links but I guess UA-cam is not down with it :)
@@customerservice9897 thank you so much for this information! that helps massively and is it the same approach if wanting to use carpro essence?
@@nickhastings6705 yes
Can this be use as a one step using orbital polish on black paint
Yes, as long as you do not need a more aggressive polish (aka the damage is light to medium light) then this is great as a one step on most paints. On softer paints there are better options for finishing down. On harder paints this is probably the best option.
@@SkyCarCare I have a 2018 ram 1500 in brilliant black that’s the paint with the sparkly stuff in it and it’s not that beat up but I think it’s time to polish it out and lay down some more reload lol
@@cwboydgo323 Haha! That Reload has so much depth when you lay it down! Hard to resist
Hello, does the carpro esscence expire or does the container have an expiration date once opened? How long does it last since I see that it has a label attached with the date of manufacture and nowhere do they explain that, thank you very much, excellent videos. Greetings.
Thank you so much for the kind compliment! Yes, it does expire BUT the time depends on how it is stored. For instance assuming the lid is closed between uses and it is kept out of sun and in climate control (Between 35 ~ 105 F) then you can expect 2 ~ 5 years. The date of manufacture is listed in Day / Month / Year so you can add a minimum of 2 years to that date for expiry if stored on the more extreme sides of 35F ~ 105F. If it Is stored REALLY well like 55F ~ 80F, then it is possible it will last 5 years.
Hi, my new black metallic car is coming soon. I would like to polish it before using the turtle wax 75 paste wax topped off with the turtle wax graphene infused flex wax. Do you recommend reflect for this or do you have other suggestions?
Hi Milan, yes, the Reflect is a great choice. Regardless of the type of protection you choose to finish with, CarPro Reflect is fantastic fishing polish to get the gloss right before protecting it.
@@SkyCarCare tnx. I also hear good things about essence from carpro and m3 from Koch chemie
is it a good choice for brand new cars that do not have heavy scratches? just to add more clarity to the paint.
Great question Khalid! You are absolutely right. Great for adding gloss to cars already in great condition or as a second step after a compound on more heavily damaged cars.
Great review mate Subbed.
Thank you Tom!
Of all das, the throw on that was really noticeable!
On a new car, is it possible to lightly polish by hand vs machine? Does the Reflect polish affect painted chrome areas (i.e. trim around windows, front grille, etc)
You can lightly polish. But it will take more time and wont be as affective as using a machine. It's possible, but be prepared for a lot of work. If its true chrome, reflect will have some affect at correcting it. But if it is "plastic" chrome, I would recommend taping it off before polishing around it.
Once you have finished polishing does the car require any other products or can you go straight to the sealant?
After polishing you will need to do an IPA wipe-down. CARPRO Eraser for example to remove excess polish/oils, and allow the sealant/coating to bond properly 👍🏻
Great question Dooson! Yes, after polishing it is recommended to do a panel wipe (CARPRO Eraser) to remove any trace mineral oils left behind by the polish. While Reflect does not contain any durable fillers, it does use mineral oil as lubricant and its best for your sealant to bond direct to the paint for longest durability.
@@SkyCarCareI just got delivery of my new Land Cruiser 300 GR Sport in Eclipse Black.
I’m planning on applying the CQuartz UK 3.0.
I’m wondering if I can use the Carpro Reflect Polish as a first step preparation of the paint of course after a proper decontamination with Reset Shampoo, Carpro ultra fine soft white clay bar with Nv Purify.
My question is, is it a good idea to do the Reflect Polish first and then do the Carpro Essence as a primer for the CQuartz UK 3.0?
Do I use Carpro Eraser after Essence the same way I use it after Carpro Reflect?
And what pads to use for both polishes if you recommend both?
I would really appreciate your prompt response as I’m trying to organise time to do ASAP.
PS I declined the offer from my Toyota dealership in Australia to apply any kind of long term protection as I don’t trust dealers.
@@samg8388 Yes, whether you use reflect or Essence, Eraser is best to use. See my reply to your first post with these quests for the answers
Dusting is not an option. No thanks!