We Say
While the market for car waxes is constantly evolving and endlessly fascinating, some things never change, and one of them is that sooner or later most manufacturers try their hand at producing waxes for specific colours and/or paint types. This holds true across the full spectrum of production, from cottage industries to luxury brands, and in many cases their success (or otherwise) is determined mainly by the quality of their marketing effort, as opposed to the performance of their product(s). Why is this so? Mainly because of the difficulties involved. To tweak a wax formula in an objective way towards a specific visual goal or optimal compatibility with a specific paint type requires (expensive) research and development, and even then is limited in scope; there is only so much you can do from a chemical standpoint (the visual difference between different wax finishes is always going to be subtle, as the vast majority of their ingredients are always very similar). Furthermore, in the case of paint types, wax manufacturers are aiming at a moving target that is outside of their control; car manufacturers routinely update the type of paints they use in response to technological advances, evolving performance requirements and legislative pressures.
Given the above, it should come as no surprise that we are often sceptical of waxes developed for specific colours, and even more so of those formulated for specific paint types. However, we always test them in the usual way, just in case any of them turn out to be good and break new ground. In this respect, BLACKFIRE BlackICE Hybrid Montan Sealant Wax has pleasantly surprised us. We tested it for longer than normal as we wanted to be certain, but it really does do what BLACKFIRE claim, which is to make black and other dark-coloured paints look amazing. By employing a unique wax blend with strong jetting properties, it delivers a mind blowing finish characterised by a level of depth and gloss that is bordering on the ridiculous; in strong, direct sunlight a degree of shimmer is actually noticeable on dark-coloured paints. Furthermore, it is incredibly easy to apply and buff off (which makes it a great choice for use on soft paint types), does not mute or otherwise degrade metallic or pearlescent paint effects (thanks to the inclusion of super-polymers) and typically gives upwards of three months of protection on a daily driver following a single application. In short, it raises the bar for colour-charged waxes, and really delivers on dark-coloured paints.
Given the above, it should come as no surprise that we are often sceptical of waxes developed for specific colours, and even more so of those formulated for specific paint types. However, we always test them in the usual way, just in case any of them turn out to be good and break new ground. In this respect, BLACKFIRE BlackICE Hybrid Montan Sealant Wax has pleasantly surprised us. We tested it for longer than normal as we wanted to be certain, but it really does do what BLACKFIRE claim, which is to make black and other dark-coloured paints look amazing. By employing a unique wax blend with strong jetting properties, it delivers a mind blowing finish characterised by a level of depth and gloss that is bordering on the ridiculous; in strong, direct sunlight a degree of shimmer is actually noticeable on dark-coloured paints. Furthermore, it is incredibly easy to apply and buff off (which makes it a great choice for use on soft paint types), does not mute or otherwise degrade metallic or pearlescent paint effects (thanks to the inclusion of super-polymers) and typically gives upwards of three months of protection on a daily driver following a single application. In short, it raises the bar for colour-charged waxes, and really delivers on dark-coloured paints.
Key Features
Beading8/10(Compared To Others)
Durability3 Months +(Average Value)
Slickness8/10(Compared To Others)
Description
BLACKFIRE BlackICE Hybrid Montan Sealant Wax is a colour-charged wax that combines a range of exotic natural and synthetic ingredients to give the ultimate finish on black and other dark-coloured cars. Referred to internally as Project 23, due to the twenty three months of research and development that went into its formulation, BLACKFIRE BlackICE Hybrid Montan Sealant Wax started out as a simple idea, but quickly turned into an obsession for one particular member of the BLACKFIRE team. This individual's life-long infatuation with car waxes, coupled with his desire to achieve the ultimate finish on black paint, resulted in a new direction being pursued in the wax blending process. Instead of relying solely on highly-refined Brazilian carnauba wax, BLACKFIRE BlackICE Hybrid Montan Sealant Wax also includes a high proportion of montan wax - a relatively rare natural wax extracted from lignite in Germany. Montan wax, when processed and refined, is known for its colour-enhancing properties (a phenomenon commonly referred to as jetting), particularly on dark-coloured surfaces. In order to push the boundaries further, BLACKFIRE's chemists also pioneered an additional colour-charging process to further enhance this jetting effect on dark-coloured paint, with the aim of not only maximising surface gloss but also producing mile-deep reflections in the finish.
To ensure that BLACKFIRE BlackICE Hybrid Montan Sealant Wax would be suitable for use on daily drivers as well as show cars (i.e. that it would have durability measurable in months rather than weeks) BLACKFIRE's chemists then fused the same revolutionary super-polymers widely used across the BLACKFIRE range with the carnauba and montan wax formulation, reinforcing the already impressive level of protection afforded by this duo. The net effect of this hybridisation process is a wax that imparts a show winning finish and a more than adequate level of protection for daily drivers; BLACKFIRE BlackICE Hybrid Montan Sealant Wax typically offers upwards of three months of protection on vehicles that are prepared properly (i.e. fully decontaminated and polished) first. Given the obsessive nature of the work that went into its formulation, it should come as no surprise that the final production version of BLACKFIRE BlackICE Hybrid Montan Sealant Wax is crafted by hand and presented beautifully in an air-tight jar. Furthermore, in order to meet stringent quality standards, each jar is visually inspected and random testing is performed to ensure that no impurities made it through the refining and blending process.
To ensure that BLACKFIRE BlackICE Hybrid Montan Sealant Wax would be suitable for use on daily drivers as well as show cars (i.e. that it would have durability measurable in months rather than weeks) BLACKFIRE's chemists then fused the same revolutionary super-polymers widely used across the BLACKFIRE range with the carnauba and montan wax formulation, reinforcing the already impressive level of protection afforded by this duo. The net effect of this hybridisation process is a wax that imparts a show winning finish and a more than adequate level of protection for daily drivers; BLACKFIRE BlackICE Hybrid Montan Sealant Wax typically offers upwards of three months of protection on vehicles that are prepared properly (i.e. fully decontaminated and polished) first. Given the obsessive nature of the work that went into its formulation, it should come as no surprise that the final production version of BLACKFIRE BlackICE Hybrid Montan Sealant Wax is crafted by hand and presented beautifully in an air-tight jar. Furthermore, in order to meet stringent quality standards, each jar is visually inspected and random testing is performed to ensure that no impurities made it through the refining and blending process.
Specification
| Adds Protection | Yes |
|---|---|
| Application Method | By hand only |
| Beading | |
| Carnauba Content (By Volume) | Unspecified |
| Durability | 3 months + |
| Enhances Gloss | Yes |
| Flake Pop | |
| Glossiness | |
| Layerable | Yes (allow 8 hours between coats) |
| Recommended For | Dark solid-coloured finishes |
| Reflectivity | |
| Richness | |
| Size | 210 g |
| Slickness | |
| Trim-Safe | No |
How To Use
BLACKFIRE BlackICE Hybrid Montan Sealant Wax should only be applied by hand. For best results it should be applied to freshly cleansed paint two to three panels at a time and as thinly and evenly as possible using the supplied BLACKFIRE Foam Applicator Pad. The resulting film should then be buffed off within a few minutes of application using either the supplied buffing towel or a PB Deluxe Buffing Towel; there is absolutely no need to allow the film to dry fully before it is removed (if you do, you will find it more difficult to remove). Please note that the colour-charged nature of this wax will stain your applicator pads and buffing towels; this is normal behaviour and nothing to worry about, although you may wish to set aside a specific set of applicators and towels for this task.