THE d'ELEGANCE FINISHING ver2

THE d'ELEGANCE FINISHING II
THE d'ELEGANCE DETAILING by KAI MORITA, Private Label

KIKUSUI LABEL - THE d'ELEGANCE SERIES is a special brand series created by our founder, KAI MORITA, under his private label. It is built around the specialty of KAMIKAZE COLLECTION: creating a show-stopping car, spending time and effort without holding back, with the aim of winning awards at Concours d'Elegance events.

A step up in water-polishing finish

When our CEO was 20, he was passionate about shoe polishing. To study the techniques of the professionals, he asked several well-known shoe polishers to show him their work. What they all had in common was that the final step was a finish using water.

Since then, he has researched water for his own polishing and for wiping off coatings: hard water, soft water, polishing water with slurry abrasives, and water infused with tourmaline. It's just water, but it's still water. He remembers, in his youth, studying how such a slight difference can decide the quality of the final step.

Among the products we have released in the past are KMKZ ION WATER and KAMIKAZE COLLECTION Polished Crystal Water. It is no exaggeration to say that water determines the final finish.

"Water" for wax finishing

Fifteen years ago, there were no polymer or ceramic waxes. Most waxes were hard, microfiber was not as advanced, and the more carnauba a wax contained, the heavier it was to wipe off.

So we wiped with a microfiber slightly dampened with water soaked in tourmaline ore. Residual components gathered more smoothly than with a normal wipe, and we could clear streaks from excess product and holograms from volatile components.

This product is based on that idea from more than 15 years ago, when the CEO was doing application work with waxes. It is that "secret finishing" step, turned into a product.

Wax and water

Wax and water seem like they don't get along, but they actually work well together. With the right microfiber, even difficult hard wax can be wiped off easily.

For the new second-generation FUJIN and RAIZIN, we looked at how their character had been pushed so far that workability suffered, and asked whether a more modern solution was possible. The texture changes with a quick detailer, and tourmaline water or alkaline water is too strong and affects the wax. This is the idea we arrived at.

This product does not have protective or water-repellent properties. It is "water" with nano-materials dispersed in it, for the final finish.

Boron nitride

First, we wiped off excess wax with the dispersed boron nitride used in RAIZIN. The wax came off easily and quickly. Hard wax usually feels harder to wipe than regular wax, and we also found that holograms were kept to a minimum. Intentionally created streaks finished cleanly, as if wiped with glass cleaner.

We then went on to water-sand polishing and wiped again, and watched the gloss build steadily.

When applying RAIZIN, hard wax can be hard to spread and the applicator hard to move. Some people spray water while applying wax to reduce application marks on the paint. Even in hard-wax and wet applications like these, boron nitride uses van der Waals forces to let you apply with less resistance. We felt wax and boron nitride were a good match in every way.

A generous amount of boron nitride

For this production, dispersion instructions and material distribution were provided by Nanotraction Suzuki. After testing at approximately double the dilution rate suggested by Suzuki-san, our CEO personally believes this is appropriate for wax application. If you feel the application is too thick, please reconsider your choice of microfiber, or dilute with pure water. In principle, dilution of more than twice the amount is sufficient for full effect.

Silica water from silica-eluting ceramic ore

Silica in ore generally does not dissolve into water because its crystals bond strongly. By blending silica components with different crystal properties, the silica (silicon) gradually dissolves into the water.

When silica water evaporates, fine crystalline particles remain on the surface. On paint, they settle into tiny irregularities and leave a texture that makes you wonder whether something was applied. Most of our water-based emulsion products use ionized or silica water in this way, but for this final-finish product, the natural ore is placed in the bottle as is.

*When silicon dissolves from the ore, many small bubbles may form inside the bottle. This is hydrogen, and it does not affect quality.

Boron nitride + silica water

"Wax finishing is water polishing." This product meets the specification our CEO was looking for.

Boron nitride is a strong insulator and helps reduce static charge, which has long been a weak point of natural wax.

We would like wax enthusiasts to try it as an application aid for hard-to-apply waxes, and to experience the water-polishing finish our CEO has pursued. You can of course use it with other waxes too.

I'll repeat: it's "water." It has neither water repellency nor protection. You can feel the difference as soon as you spray and wipe.

This balance is what makes THE d'ELEGANCE series, the CEO's private label, possible.

PRODUCT INFO
Ingredients: Soluble carnauba, special silicone, surfactant, fragrance, water, boron nitride
Volume: 300 ml
Country of Origin: Japan