Has anyone used this stuff? It's mighty expensive (about $100 for a tiny bottle of the stuff, plus a tiny container of the 'polarizing crystals' you apply before applying the actual toughguard. they claim 5 years, no waxing, for new cars. yeah, i bought the stuff, but am now having second thoughts. one friend says 'you're an idiot!', another says 'who knows, and if it does last five years, you've saved some time and money on waxing!'. they do offer a 90 day refund policy on the unused stuff. i guess i'm kind of worried i'd do more harm than good applying the stuff (they claim it bonds PTFE [teflon] to the paint).

So is there anyone on the board who has used it? did it go on reasonably well, and have you like the performance so far?

nothing? nobody's used it? ouch. looks even more like i shoudl return it!

Huh... interesting premise, actually. I'd be interested in seeing if this stuff works as well as they claim. Since you already bought it, I volunteer you as guinea pig :D Seriously, though, if you're going to try it, I would get some products to make sure your paint is EXTREMELY clean first. Something like Meguiers paint cleaner or some detailing clay. Let us know what you decide.

I'd sure like to get a look at the actual wording of their guarantee. If you aren't satisfied, can you get your money back?

Jordan

heh. yeah, i'll agree to being volunteered as guinea pig! what the hell, i already bought the stuff, might as well try it and see.

the guarantee part is kind of 'hinkey', that's for sure. full refund for unused portion within 90 days. they 'guarantee' it'll last for five years on a new car, but there's no wording at all beyond that as to recourse if it doesn't.

we'll see what happens! will apply it next weekend, probably.

I think I'd try to get a refund if I were you.

Just so everybody knows, products which claim to bond Teflon on your car are B.S. Teflon is applied to kitchenware to make the surface slick and protect it. It works, but Teflon must be applied at extreme temperatures to bond. That's why its not put on after your car is painted. It would melt everything off!

Return it, it sounds like a scam.

thanks for the input everyone.

i initially thought it was a scam too. but it was the 'testimonials' page that caught me. it has letters from customers - usually with letterhead and signatures - going back to 1987!

that much made me think 'if it's a scam, how the hell could they stay in business so long?'
http://www.toughguard.com/letters-cars.html

I don't know...

I do know what it takes to bond Teflon though

Give it a shot, and email me in 5 years to tell me if it works or not!!! :D

Ant- That may be true for binding PTFE directly to metal, but there are other methods for binding it to different materials. Dupont has a teflon fabric protection system now that comes with a lifetime guarantee against staining. I've seen it in action, and it's pretty amazing. It has to be applied be a professional, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't involve any extreme temperatures. Fabric doesn't do too well under those conditions ;)
www.dupont.com/teflon/fabricprotector/index.html (http://www.dupont.com/teflon/fabricprotector/index.html)

Jordan

Not trying to start a flame, but it prob. isn't real teflon, real teflon doesn't go on fabric at all! But I am aware of that product, and scotchguard makes a similar one. It works upon initial application, but give it a year or so, and it won't; I used the scotchguard version on my old (blah) Ford Probe GT, and it worked wonders at first, it made liquids bead up like wax! After a year, coke got spilled on my seat and it was instantly absorbed, leaving my seat an unpleasant brown, coke smelling mess. I'm sure if its applied every year, it would have worked though.

BTW, doesn't that guy on that website look like Jackie Chan!?!

[ June 12, 2001: Message edited by: Ant WRX ]

perhaps part of the problem is nomenclature. technically, it's simple PTFE, not Teflon (the brand name). Dupont coating fluoroadditives are known as Zonyl. Part of the reason PTFE is useful in waxes and coatings is because of the extremely tiny particle size - from 3 to 30 microns, so they can fill pores in the paint.

lots of fascinating info for dweebs like me at
http://www.dupont.com/teflon/fluoroadditives/

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

just a wee bit of a followup here.....i applied the ToughGuard a couple of weekends ago. Took a few hours. i bought an orbital buffer to apply it and buff it out. two coats as per the instructions. still have about 1/3 of the *two* fluid ounce bottle left - they say the thinner you apply it, the better, and they are right!

damn, i have never felt the paint of a car feel smoother. try and lean against the car and you fall over, cuz your butt slides right off! :lol:

haven't washed it yet - probably will after work tonight. if this stuff does last five years like they say, i'll be one happy camper not having to wax every few months.

it looks great. i also had some moderately deep scratches on the trunk lid (rested a heavy cardboard box on it while unlocking, then slid it off without thinking). had debated taking it to a shop to have them buff them out before doing the ToughGuard, but as it turns out, the scratches are now just barely visible after the ToughGuard. seems it filled them in and smoothed them out.

i am one very happy camper!

How about an update?