Cleaning & Protecting Top
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From: Santa Cruz, CA
Cleaning & Protecting Top
There has been considerable discussion about the composition of the roadster top. Vinyl vs cloth. I think the final agreement is that the material is primarily cloth but may have a vinyl underlayer.
I have been trying to find a product to clean and protect the top that is specific to this type of material but all the auto supply stores I have been to said they don't know of anything. What have you found that is a good cleaner and protectant? One product does both or do you need two different prodcuts?
I have been trying to find a product to clean and protect the top that is specific to this type of material but all the auto supply stores I have been to said they don't know of anything. What have you found that is a good cleaner and protectant? One product does both or do you need two different prodcuts?
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From: Got Roadster?
What I've heard:
- RaggTopp line from Wolfsteins Pro-Series www.wolfsteins.com.
- Other care and cleaning at www.haartz.com.
- Don't forget the manual says use mild soap for cleaning.
- RaggTopp line from Wolfsteins Pro-Series www.wolfsteins.com.
- Other care and cleaning at www.haartz.com.
- Don't forget the manual says use mild soap for cleaning.
A friend of mine owns a Auto detail shop. He suggested & sold me a gallon jug of Finale Products...."Leather Treatment"...for leather and vinyl. I have a SuperBlack/Black Roadster. What a beautiful rich looking appearance it gave to the top. No side effects like gathering dust & etc. The label says that it leaves leather soft - restores oil & protects - non-staining. So far...I'm very happy with the results ps.. I also use it for my Hot Tub cover!
Originally posted by elyliu
hmmm where can you get this Finale Product?....
and leaves the top looking dark?....do you have pics, sluggoZ?
hmmm where can you get this Finale Product?....
and leaves the top looking dark?....do you have pics, sluggoZ?
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Just had my top replaced. I had it outsourced to a place that specializes in convertible tops, the busines has been around for 75 years doing convertibles so I figured he should do a good job.
I asked him what the top was made out of. He said it was made out of "stayfast" which is a synthetic material made by Haartz. They purchase it sometimes when they custom make soft tops. He said its definatley not Canvas but not really Vinyl either. He said to use vinyl cleaner or mild soap.
Waterproofing is not neccessary. The top doesn't have to bead water, the synthetic material is water proof. This is opposed to canvas which should bead because its not waterproof.
Just though I would pass along what he told me.
I asked him what the top was made out of. He said it was made out of "stayfast" which is a synthetic material made by Haartz. They purchase it sometimes when they custom make soft tops. He said its definatley not Canvas but not really Vinyl either. He said to use vinyl cleaner or mild soap.
Waterproofing is not neccessary. The top doesn't have to bead water, the synthetic material is water proof. This is opposed to canvas which should bead because its not waterproof.
Just though I would pass along what he told me.
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From: San Diego, CA
Originally posted by maxpowers
Just had my top replaced. I had it outsourced to a place that specializes in convertible tops, the busines has been around for 75 years doing convertibles so I figured he should do a good job.
I asked him what the top was made out of. He said it was made out of "stayfast" which is a synthetic material made by Haartz. They purchase it sometimes when they custom make soft tops. He said its definatley not Canvas but not really Vinyl either. He said to use vinyl cleaner or mild soap.
Waterproofing is not neccessary. The top doesn't have to bead water, the synthetic material is water proof. This is opposed to canvas which should bead because its not waterproof.
Just though I would pass along what he told me.
Just had my top replaced. I had it outsourced to a place that specializes in convertible tops, the busines has been around for 75 years doing convertibles so I figured he should do a good job.
I asked him what the top was made out of. He said it was made out of "stayfast" which is a synthetic material made by Haartz. They purchase it sometimes when they custom make soft tops. He said its definatley not Canvas but not really Vinyl either. He said to use vinyl cleaner or mild soap.
Waterproofing is not neccessary. The top doesn't have to bead water, the synthetic material is water proof. This is opposed to canvas which should bead because its not waterproof.
Just though I would pass along what he told me.
From Haartz:
"A three ply composite made of 100% acrylic square weave outer fabric, a butyl rubber inner layer and a 100% cotton drill lining fabric."
A quick search on the net revealed the acrylic is made from plastic. The instructions for the Ragtopp protectant for vinyl tops describes it can by used on vinyl, rubber, plastics etc.
This is probably where my installer was coming from.
"A three ply composite made of 100% acrylic square weave outer fabric, a butyl rubber inner layer and a 100% cotton drill lining fabric."
A quick search on the net revealed the acrylic is made from plastic. The instructions for the Ragtopp protectant for vinyl tops describes it can by used on vinyl, rubber, plastics etc.
This is probably where my installer was coming from.
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From: Santa Cruz, CA
Originally posted by goldndwgz
use Raggtopp
http://www.topoftheline.com/ragcleanprot.html
http://www.autopia-carcare.com/exter...-top-care.html
use Raggtopp
http://www.topoftheline.com/ragcleanprot.html
http://www.autopia-carcare.com/exter...-top-care.html
I ordered Raggtopp from the first above link and I concur that this is an excellent product. The cleaner works well and the protectant sheds water like off a duck's back. I've attached a pic to show how the water beads up after applying the protectant.
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From: San Diego, CA
Originally posted by Zcool
I ordered Raggtopp from the first above link and I concur that this is an excellent product. The cleaner works well and the protectant sheds water like off a duck's back. I've attached a pic to show how the water beads up after applying the protectant.
I ordered Raggtopp from the first above link and I concur that this is an excellent product. The cleaner works well and the protectant sheds water like off a duck's back. I've attached a pic to show how the water beads up after applying the protectant.
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From: Santa Cruz, CA
Originally posted by SpyderGurl
Zcool . . . what did u use to apply those 2 products
Zcool . . . what did u use to apply those 2 products
I scrubbed the cleaner on with a soft bristtle scrub brush, rinsed it off and once the top was completely dry sprayed on the protectant. It comes in a spray can. You have to be careful not spray the protectant on painted surfaces or windows. I used an old bed sheet to protect these surfaces by opening the top and putting the sheet in place and then closing the top but not quite all the way so that it latches.
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From: Maryland
Re: Cleaning & Protecting Top
Originally posted by Zcool
There has been considerable discussion about the composition of the roadster top. Vinyl vs cloth. I think the final agreement is that the material is primarily cloth but may have a vinyl underlayer.
I have been trying to find a product to clean and protect the top that is specific to this type of material but all the auto supply stores I have been to said they don't know of anything. What have you found that is a good cleaner and protectant? One product does both or do you need two different prodcuts?
There has been considerable discussion about the composition of the roadster top. Vinyl vs cloth. I think the final agreement is that the material is primarily cloth but may have a vinyl underlayer.
I have been trying to find a product to clean and protect the top that is specific to this type of material but all the auto supply stores I have been to said they don't know of anything. What have you found that is a good cleaner and protectant? One product does both or do you need two different prodcuts?
Wash my top with water only when I wash my car (spring water).
Use Formula 2 on ragtop, dash, center console. - cleans/protects.
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