Q.Does 303 Aerospace Protectant always 'work' on fiberglass?
Q.Is 303 Aerospace Protectant safe for Plastic Windows?
Q.What is the Shelf Life of 303 Aerospace Protectant?
Q.When do I reapply 303 Aerospace Protectant to my Vinyl
Spa Cover?
Q.Is 303 Aerospace Protectant Effective On Latex Rubber?
Q.Milky or Dull Plastic Dashboard Windows?
Q.What's the right way to maintain the plastic windows in my soft-top?
Q.Which Product for a Jeep Top?
Question: Does 303 Aerospace Protectant always
'work' on fiberglass?
Answer:
Yes, 303 always works unless there is something on the surface keeping the 303
away from the fiberglass. This something can be a Teflon, silicone or polymer
sealant or fresh wax. If the surface has been freshly waxed, there is no need
to remove the wax. Instead, just wait a few weeks. Wax does not last long enough
to warrant the effort required to remove it.
Only about 2% of the time is prebuffing (compounding) necessary prior to using
303. When compounding is required to remove the heavy layer of accumulated oxidation,
be sure to use a rubbing compound that does not leave a coating or sealant.
Use one containing only the finest abrasive.
Question: Is 303 Aerospace Protectant safe for Plastic
Windows?
Answer:
YES. Actually, better than just “good”, 303 Aerospace Protectant
protects and dramatically extends the life of this clear vinyl windows. On the
vinyl windows in your convertible top, SUV soft-top, or boat enclosures, 303
Aerospace Protectant is the best thing you can do for plastic windows!
Question: What is the Shelf Life of 303 Aerospace
Protectant?
Answer:
If 303 Aerospace Protectant is protected from freezing it will retain its effectiveness
5 years or longer. (It is best to store most surface treatment products at room
temperature).
Question: When do I reapply 303 Aerospace Protectant
to my Vinyl Spa Cover?
Answer:
Use `303’s cosmetic properties and water repellency as a guide. A surface
treated with 303 Aerospace Protectant is water repellent (beads water). When
the water repellency begins to diminish, reapply.
Or (our preferred method) if you think it may be time to reapply but don't know
for sure, do a small spot with 303. If any of the color or luster comes back,
reapply.
Vinyl spa covers are one of the few Constant Exposure situations for vinyl.
Even RV vinyl awnings, vinyl convertible and soft tops, tonneau covers and car
bras are not constantly exposed…all day, every day. It depends on the
time of year and where you are, but typically with a spa cover reapplying every
30-45 days is sufficient to maintain a maximum level of UV protection.
Question: Is `303’ Effective On Latex Rubber?
This is a particularly appropriate question since latex (natural rubber) quickly
degrades when exposed to UV light and ozone.
Yes, 303 Aerospace Protectant is the most effective UV screening and anti-ozonant
protection for latex rubber.
Clothing used by kayakers and other white-water enthusiasts employ latex rubber
seals at the cuffs and collar. Since 1991 Kokatat, one well known manufacturer,
has treated the latex seals on their clothing with 303 Aerospace Protectant
and have recommended it to their customers, even packing a sample of the product
in Kokatat retail packages.
"Fit To Be Tied" is the California company that supplied the latex
clothing used in the Batman movies (remember Cat Woman’s outfit?). Also,
their black latex backdrops provided the dead flat-black background used in
so many Batman movie scenes. Since 1989, "Fit To Be Tied" has treated
all their latex merchandise with 303 Aerospace Protectant…again for the
product’s lustrous, non-oily cosmetics and unparalleled UV screening and
anti-ozonant properties.
Question: The plastic dashboard window on my car
is milky and dull - is there a way to fix this?
We have had a few consumers with this same type of problem. 303 itself will
not dull or make plastic milky. What has happen usually is someone used a type
of window cleaner on the plastic witch contained alcohols or ammonia, like Windex.
When these types of products are used it degrades the plastics - and if 303
Protectant is applied after, the problem becomes even more apparent.
How to solve your problem.
Using a fine rubbing compound remove the carefully polish out the milky look
of the plastic. The last and most important step is once you successfully removed
the cloudiness or milky look with the rubbing compound be sure to apply 303
Aerospace Protectant and polish dry.
Question: What's the right way to maintain the plastic
windows in my soft-top?
Answer
The material used for the `plastic' windows in convertible tops, soft-tops,
boat enclosures, etc. is a specialized type of vinyl called `Pressed Polished
Sheets', or 'pressed poly'. The material is actually two layers of non-colored
vinyl laminated together under intense pressure and high heat. This process
squeezes out all the impurities and renders it perfectly clear.
This material is soft and easily scratched and is not made in rolls but in sheets,
which are separated by paper. Also known as `sheet goods', finished stock is
always gently rolled and then stored and shipping standing vertically, never
laid down. Pressed poly is known by its gauge - 20 gauge is made from two 10
gauge pieces, 40 gauge from two 20 gauge pieces, etc.
On clear vinyl plasticize loss and UV exposure cause embrittlement, yellowing
and failure. Like all vinyl, clear vinyl contains plasticizers (to keep it soft
and pliable) and UV stabilizers (to retard UV degradation)
Clear vinyl loses its plasticizers much more rapidly than top-coated vinyl.
An UV protection added in the manufacturing process is less effective each day.
Consequently, if clear vinyl windows on a vinyl soft-top are not properly cared
for, they can fail within 2-3 years while the vinyl top itself will last for
years longer.
Question: I have a 3-year-old jeep with a factory top
that is starting to show its age. I was told the top material was vinyl but
it looks and feels like fabric. What is it and which 303 product should I use?
Answer:
All Jeep factory soft-tops, and the vast majority of aftermarket replacement
tops, are a specialized type of VINYL. Manufacturing involves an extrusion process
then topcoating followed by an embossing process. It is the embossing process
that provides the desired texturing…which some might consider a fabric
look. (The topcoat is for extra UV protection and mildew resistance).
So, the 303 product you need to restore that “like-new” appearance
and it keep it that way is 303 Aerospace Protectant, recommended for both the
top material and the clear vinyl.
