Finish Kare # 146 Anti-Static Finish Restorer

What is it?

Finish Kare #146 Finish Restorer Poly Wipe Spray Detailer - Anti Static
A multi-purpose product - cleaner, clay lube, QD or waterless wash

What Does it Bring to the Table?

Finish Kare #146 Finish Restorer Poly Wipe Spray Detailer is the perfect
spray detailer where the removal of light surface accumulation is needed.
Blended from highly reflective premium polymer resins, anti-corrosive agents,
UV inhibitors, mild cleaners and patented anti-static agents, #146 gently
removes smudges, light soil, oxidation, hard water spots, bug splatter and
other light contaminants while creating a winning high gloss finish with lasting
protection, and reduced dust attraction.

http://s5.postimg.cc/lnnmzv587/fk146as.jpg
The product bottle, showing how much was used to clean all the paintwork,
except the wheels, on my Laguna Coupe.

What Am I Testing It On?

Well protected Renault paint.

What Do I Think of it?

It's another product from the Finish Kare stable that's versatile in use, which
off-sets its initial costs very well. Attempting to describe this product and to
categorise it I think would become a matter of perception. Alex at Serious
Performance mainly promotes it as a clay lube. Indeed, it was as part of one
of Alex's clay and lube deals that I purchased #146.

Over the past few days my car has been collecting a fair bit of dust, not at
all helped by the brisk Easterly breeze now blowing. So, this was an ideal time
to put this product to the test. Normally, in these circumstances I'd be out
there using my bucketless wash technique, but on this occasion I simply
substituted this with the #146.

To all intents and purposes I was testing it as a waterless wash. The results
were very impressive. One thing about FK products, they always come with
a quality spray head, so applying the product evenly was a breeze. Initially,
I tended to crop-spray the area to be cleaned, especially the horizontal
surfaces. When it came to wiping, there was a bit of a surprise in store.

Whilst I have limited motor function I'm also far more aware of drag. With my
usual bucketless wash wiping I'm expecting some drag from the MF cloth as
I slowly rotate it with my wrist as I'm progressing along the roof for instance.
With #146 the lack of drag was significantly noticeable. Its cleaning capacity
certainly wasn't lacking either!

http://s5.postimg.cc/dd8ayt7av/r12coupe33.jpg
Trying to get a decent picture of the cloth in the breeze was a bit difficult.
This picture doesn't do justice to the product's cleaning ability, sorry.

I also tried a second application in one area and quickly came to the conclusion
that I wasn't achieving any further cleaning or other benefit from it. Several Qds
will kind of "layer" by a second application; the surface slickness improves a tad.
This doesn't happen with #146!

http://s5.postimg.cc/qnrkel8hj/r12coupe34.jpg
Sun in a difficult place to get a decent picture, but then my car in a clean
condition is no stranger here :)

Pros

Ease of use comes straight in as my number one reaction. A versatile product
that does its job well and, unlike other waterless washes I've used, it doesn't
dry white in awkward places. Where it will score highly is in its anti-static
properties, the bain of well protected paint surfaces. It wasn't shy at tackling
the remnants of bug splatter either.

Cons

Not so much of a con, but worthy of comment; there's no inherent reminder
of care in use of this product and its slickness as you wipe could easily give
you a false sense of security. In turn you could start to get a bit careless
and mar your paint. I would also highly recommend that users read and
observe the instructions on the bottle. Allowing the product to dry before
wiping it could cause problems.

Cost is a bit of a factor, but then I'm spoiled by cheapness of my usual product.
In its sector, certainly amongst other waterless wash products and clay lubes,
it is good value for money, simply from its effectiveness.

Conclusions
One common question asked is what to take to a show to help prepare your car
when you get there. There's no question that having found #146 it will always
have a place in my "show prep kit". As a QD it's very much at the cleaning end of
the spectrum, so it doesn't displace the popular FK#425 QD at all. For anyone
who may not trust rinseless wash products as a QD, then #146 should fit the bill
perfectly.

At some time over the weekend I'm hoping to do a bit of claying, so I'll be
putting #146 through its paces in that capacity and report back.

Using FK #146 as a Clay Lube

I can only agree with Alex from Serious Performance about #146 being a good clay
lube. I'm still very much a learner with claying - I hadn't dare try it with my
gammy hands - but the slickness with which your hand can glide over the paint is
very confidence inspiring. There was also little fear of the liquid evaporating
before my eyes, so I didn't need to be wasteful with its application. In the
end I didn't wear gloves, or feel the need to.

The biggest hurdle with claying is in keeping the clay trapped in my hand, with
it acting as a kind of cage to allow the clay to do its thing without applying
pressure. Once you get this running it's easy to get distracted because of the
enjoyment, so you can either forget to add a spray or three, or even give the
clay a bit of maul to a clean surface. The snatching does give you a rude
awakening. :)

With its cleaning ability already there, clearing up ready for the next detailing
stage was a breeze with the #146. I certainly didn't feel any need for another
product, other than a damp MF cloth.

I do like versatile products :niceone:

Long-Term Report

Just a quick update on life with this product in my armoury. On days where I
could grab an hour or so of suitably warm weather, I've now finished claying
the car and it hasn't disappointed.

One place where it will definitely fit in is with cleaning the glass, even when
it's fairly hot and other products might instantly dry or evaporate! The #146
went about its cleaning with no fuss. For my gammy hands, it will certainly
displace other cleaners simply because it can be a "one cloth" clean, rather
than two. You just wipe off the dirt and watch it dry. Even the streaks left
behind on the door glass by internal condensation getting into the internal
rain strips are a breeze to wipe away. Unlike other QDs, like FK #425, I don't
get any impression of something being left behind, other than clean glass.

Where Do I Buy It?

Finish Kare #146 Finish Restorer is available from Serious Performance at
£11.95 for a 32oz bottle

Acknowledgements

My thanks to Alex at Serious Performance for his help and advice as always.

Regards,
Steve