Cladding black or gray?

[Usual Suspect]

My VX is Proton yellow. Is the cladding supposed to be gray? Or is it always black and mine's just faded or discolored?

[tom4bren]

Darker than grey but not quite black.

There are many products available to 'treat' your cladding. I use Mother's: Back to Black - available anywhere car care products are sold.

Here's one:

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?t=15140&highlight=cladding

You'll have to use the search function to spend the next 8 hours reading everything posted on the topic.

[MSHardeman]

Yes, if the cladding is grey and has some whittish areas then it's dried out and needs a drink. There are a lot of products that many members have used so you have to find one that makes you happy. I use Zaino's tire treatment on my cladding. It attracts some dust and dirt, but looks good when it first goes on.

Good luck and welcome to the family.

[tom4bren]

I'll stick with my assessment: darker than grey but not quite black. You can see what I mean in the photo. Higer res is available at: http://www.pbase.com/tom4bren/090530_window_fixin_party.
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/cladding1.jpg

[nfpgasmask]

When properly cleaned and conditioned, your cladding should look like this:

http://www.nofuture.com/myvx/pics/013.jpg

The cladding will fade over time to sun exposure, so if you want it to look nice and dark, start treating it regularly with one of the products recommended here. Personally, I use Stoner Trime Shine after every hand washing and not only does it make my cladding look like above, after several treatments it makes it very easy to clean and it stays pretty dark even when dry and dirty.

Bart

[tom4bren]

Bart,

Ya missed a cupla spots on the passenger door. :)

[nfpgasmask]

Bart,

Ya missed a cupla spots on the passenger door. :)

Yeah, the one thing about Stoner Trim Shine is that it will attract dust.

Bart

[CrnCnn]

Unless you paint it....

[tom4bren]

y'all gotta quit takin me seriously.

I was KIDDING

[CrnCnn]

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/IMG_0595.jpg

A little scale of darkness....

[tom4bren]

Yup - but they're all the wrong color :)

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/cladding2.jpg
The one that looks like it just rolled off the assembly line belongs to CobraJet. The one that has an attitude is mine (I don't treat my cladding everyday like he does - mine hadn't been done for about a month).

[CrnCnn]

Yup - But Cladding is Cladding... I didnt think that it matters. :)

[tom4bren]

Yup - cladding is cladding.

I just needed and excuse to post a cool pic.

Actually, contrast can make a huge difference in perception of color - that's my story & I'm sticking to it.

[CrnCnn]

Yup - cladding is cladding.

I just needed and excuse to post a cool pic.

Actually, contrast can make a huge difference in perception of color - that's my story & I'm sticking to it.

It is a cool pic.

[nfpgasmask]

y'all gotta quit takin me seriously.

I was KIDDING

I know you were, and it works equally as well to annoy you when I make it sould like I was taking you seriously. :p

Bart

[Jolly Roger VX'er]

Bart,

Ya missed a cupla spots on the passenger door. :)


I started laughing as soon as I read this....




Yeah, the one thing about Stoner Trim Shine is that it will attract dust.

Bart

Then I was surprised HE took you Seriously.....



y'all gotta quit takin me seriously.



I was KIDDING

And now the reveal.......



I know you were, and it works equally as well to annoy you when I make it sould like I was taking you seriously. :p

Bart


Now I'm truly laughing out loud.........:p


Back on Topic....I sometimes use Maguiars Tire Shine on mine if I want the shiny & wet look....but....it definately attracts dust & bugs when first applied....however...if you wash it off it looks pretty stout for at least a couple of weeks (ungaraged).

Just after application:

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/2008_Moab_Utah_pics_002.jpg

After washing & sitting outside for a period of time:

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/Vermont_VX_Trip_002.jpg

[tom4bren]

I found something recently by accident. I was treating the Recarro's to some leather protectant. I oversprayed and hit some of the console. It looked so good, I continued the process on much of the interior. It's still looking great 3 weeks later.

I'm not sure if I'd try it on the exterior cladding since it will collect dust & the Mother's B2B still works for me.

BTW Bart - LMAO - U Da Man (second only to Moncha of course)

[Jolly Roger VX'er]

I found something recently by accident. I was treating the Recarro's to some leather protectant. I oversprayed and hit some of the console. It looked so good, I continued the process on much of the interior. It's still looking great 3 weeks later.


That's what happened to me too when I was treating my Recarro's with Maguiar's Leather Foam Protectant/cleaner....I wound up putting it all over the dash and door panels and console and it seemed to dry to a shiny protectant instead of the greasy usual products (Armor All, STP, etc...).

[Ldub]

I found something recently by accident. I was treating the Recarro's to some leather protectant. I oversprayed and hit some of the console. It looked so good, I continued the process on much of the interior. It's still looking great 3 weeks later.

I'm not sure if I'd try it on the exterior cladding since it will collect dust & the Mother's B2B still works for me.

BTW Bart - LMAO - U Da Man (second only to Moncha of course)


That's what happened to me too when I was treating my Recarro's with Maguiar's Leather Foam Protectant/cleaner....I wound up putting it all over the dash and door panels and console and it seemed to dry to a shiny protectant instead of the greasy usual products (Armor All, STP, etc...).

:hj:...:ot:...:hj:...:ot:...:hj:

AND THAT HAS WHAT TO DO WITH CLADDING ???

AaaaaHa-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha....:laughing:...:laughing:...:laughing:

Sorry guys, the king of the thread jackers wanted to be the first to use the new smilies...just messin'...:flower:

Note: Not to be taken seriously...:rolleyesg...:smilewink

[Sprey]

Im using Mothers Back to Black as well

These pics is when i first got my Vx and the very first treatment.
Id say my vx had green cladding since it was imported in 2001. Because on the rego details its classed as green and grey.
Tryed in the grill made it nice and shiny but yea definitly was hard to clean the dirt out of the gaps afterwards

http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk404/sprey16/IMG_0737.jpg
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk404/sprey16/IMG_0736.jpg
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk404/sprey16/IMG_0735.jpg

[nfpgasmask]

Yeah, I tried the Mothers stuff and it does work, but in the long run I just found Stoner Trim Shine to be easier. You just spray it on, dab up any drips and voila!

:D Bart

[Jolly Roger VX'er]

:hj:...:ot:...:hj:...:ot:...:hj:

AND THAT HAS WHAT TO DO WITH CLADDING ???

AaaaaHa-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha....:laughing:...:laughing:...:laughing:

Sorry guys, the king of the thread jackers wanted to be the first to use the new smilies...just messin'...:flower:

Note: Not to be taken seriously...:rolleyesg...:smilewink

First I wuz gonna say: 'I have no response to that'...but that seemed like playgerizm!

Well,,,maybe you should put us both on your ignore list.....oh wait a minute...I've heard that before...some other thread or some other topic?? :_thinking (I'll have another cup of coffee and maybe it will come to me...:razzgray: :razzgray:)

back on topic...:drama:....(and I do like the new smilies :yesb:) I've often thought about hitting the local GM (Government Motors) dealer about acquiring some of the 'Avalanche' body panel treatment to try as an experiment...one of these days...:rolly:

[pointup]

has anyone ever used wd-40 on their cladding?

[VX KAT]

has anyone ever used wd-40 on their cladding?

yeah, i recall somebody mentioning it...maybe a search would find it, or it might be too long ago.

[Ebenezr]

The best use of wd 40 is to cut the grease off my hands after doing mechanical stuff. It works better than anything to clean hands. Then I use gojo or something. Off topic I know.