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Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
I`ve messed around with a pretty fair amount of consumer level coatings in the past 18 months including:
Cquartz Classic w/ Gyeon Cure
Wolfgang Uber Ceramic
McKees 37 Paint Coating
Gyeon Prime w/ Gyeon Cure
Gyeon Mohs w/ Gyeon Cure
Pearl Nano
Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light w/ Liquid Crystal C2V3
The Gloss Shop Ceramic Coating
22ple HPC w/ VS1 Final Coat
Feynlab Ceramic
Kamikaze Miyabi
Kamikaze ISM
Some were on personal cars, most were on fleet vehicles at work. All were decon’d/clayed/compounded/polished as necessary using a variety of machines (Flex 3401, Rupes LHR15 Mk2, Rupes LHR75 Mini, Griots Garage 6” DA), a variety of pads (LC flat, LC Hydrotech, LC Force Hybrid, LC Thin Pros, Rupes, Megs Microfiber discs, B & S Uro Cell, B & S Uro Tec, Scholls Spider Pads. Mostly for Flex was the LC Force Hybrids and usually on Rupes the Megs microfiber discs and Rupes foam pads) as well as a variety of compounds and polishes (Wolfgang Uber Compound, Total Swirl Remover, Finishing Glaze, Menzerna FG400, 2400, 3500 & 3800; Rupes Blue, yellow and white compounds/polishes, Sonax Perfect Finish, Jescar Compound and Finishing Polish, Scholl Concepts S20 Black and S40, Meguiars M101, M205 and D300).
Fleet vehicles were completed and then released into the wild, none have been washed since coating application. Most sit outside nearly all the time, likely average 20K miles since application. They ranged from 2016 Ford Transit Exteneded Vans (man, those things SUCKED to correct), Ford E250 panel vans from 2008 thru 2014 and Ford Ranger pickup trucks; all either bright red or a burgundy metallic color.
Our personal cars are a 2016 Honda Civic Coupe in Aegean Blue Metallic, a 2016 Subaru WRX in Crystal Black Silica Metallic (sold 1 month after doing the whole Kamikaze combo on it…oops!), a 2017 Honda Accord V6 Coupe in black, and a 2004 Corvette in, well…black, non metallic. They get washed when dirty using Gyeon Foam at 1:10 dilution w/ SunJoe SPX3001 pressure washer, MTM PF22 Foam Cannon, Gyeon Bathe, 1-bucket wash (gasp!), flood rinsed and then dried with platinum pluffle towels, using Kamikaze Overcoat as a drying aid about once a month.
As for my experience, well…perhaps ‘marginally functional garage hobbyist’ is the best way to describe it. Picked up a DA for the first time about 18 months ago when I bought the Subaru and realized just looking at it wrong would leave a swirl/mark. That’s when I began looking into coatings, first doing most of our cars with WG Uber Ceramic in Spring 2016. First use of Kamikaze was Miyabi + ISM + Overcoat in October 2016; added Infinity Wax to the mix in Spring 2017.
While all were solid products and there were really no disappointments in the bunch, I found nothing that gives me the satisfaction and comfort level of the Kamikaze products.
We`ve had it (Miyabi/ISM/Overcoat and added Infinity and Stance in Spring 2017) on one of our daily drivers since 10/2016 and our auto usage habits, local environmental conditions and maintenance routines haven`t fazed it one bit since application. It just always looks great to my eye, holds up, protects and keeps itself clean with minimal effort. It made it thru daily use in the NE Ohio winter without any noticeable degradation whatsoever and a good summer rainstorm is akin to a free car wash with this stuff; self-cleaning is simply without compare.
Does that make it the best consumer level coating in all the land? Really can`t answer that because there are so many individual and somewhat subjective variables involved in a statement such as that...but I can say that for ME, yes, it is the best coating in my world. The stuff just plain works.
Since this is all somewhat of a hobby for me, with the added benefit of incredible protection and appearance, at the end of the day it has to be fun too. The whole Kamikaze `experience` has been just too much fun for me to continue to look for the next greatest `thing`...every time I look at the cars I find some new nuance, smile and am reminded of all of the enjoyment that went into it.
And yes, I probably put way too much thought into It but that`s what hobbies are for, no?
Put it all together and this is what works best for me so I`ve finally got all our cars wrapped up with it and will now just sit back and enjoy its benefits for a while.
Regarding the individual products, *my* thoughts follow, totally subjective, tailored to what I want out of a coating, namely:
1. Great Self Cleaning Abilities: Our cars see rain and often get rained on in the morning and then sit outside in the sun in the afternoon; don’t like waterspots. I like clean cars but don’t like cleaning cars.
2. Durability and resistance to environmental contamination like water spots and bird bombs. Don’t wanna have to worry about running home and immediately dealing with removing things that would otherwise etch bare paint. Like hard water spots did to our Corvette during the Zaino years. Also has to last cuz I don’t wanna be hauling out compounds and polishes every Spring, given reasonable maintenance.
3. Appearance: Well, stuff has to look good. Has to accentuate body lines, curves and hard edges. It needs to make me stop and admire it when walking towards it, walking away from it or catching a glance in the garage when I take out the garbage.
Regarding the individual coatings I used while trying to find something that topped the Kamikaze products, I’ll offer up the most subjective of opinions below:
Cquartz Classic: Applied in January 2017 to a 2016 Ford Transit Extended Van. It’s a solid product, especially given the generally low cost. Application is easy, the looks are good. Finished application is not especially slick, so I topped it with Gyeon Cure. It has remained nice looking, resisted permanent water spotting. A solid, middle of the pack product that likely won’t disappoint. Nothing extremely notable about it to me, however.
Wolfgang Uber Ceramic: Applied in Spring 2016 to 2 of our personal cars, a 2016 black metallic WRX (daily driver all year long, garaged at night, likely 17K miles a year) and 2004 black Corvette (Spring/Summer/Fall usage, stored in winter, maybe 7500 miles a year, does see rain). Being stored thru the winter, the Corvette made it to Spring of 2017 in good shape with the WG Uber; the WRX, however, had completely failed on the vertical panels. Even decon and slight clay could not restore coating properties. IMO, this product, wheil looking good and easy to apply, is just not durable and given the relatively high cost, not among the best choices for me, all things considered.
McKees 37 Paint Coating: For the cost, this one surprised me. Used it on a friend’s car that gets occasional washing, daily driven, about 5000 miles year-round. Nice looks, easy maintenance when combined with another SiO2 add-on like or Gyeon Wetcoat or Cure. It’s still doing nicely after application in Summer 2016, generally maintained with Gyeon Wetcoat on occasion. On its own, maybe it wouldn’t last as long but I cant say for sure
Gyeon Prime: It’s nice, easy to use and has some good initial water behavior. Good glossy looks, I’d place it a bit below Cquartz. It just really didn’t do much for me.
Gyeon Mohs: This is a nice product, among the best at self-cleaning since applied to a fleet Ford Ranger in February 2016. Has always looked clean despite never having been washed since application. Beading has fallen off a bit but it still looks clean, shiny and to a none-ocd person, would look freshly washed. Seems to resist marring better than some of the others.
Pearl Nano: Base Coat/Top Coat system. I did a bright red Ford Ranger in this, never been washed since application in Feb/March 2016. Gotta kinda jump thru some hoops to get this stuff, did not excel in self-cleaning but was decent. Given the pricing (not outrageous, but in the 22ple HPC range for Base/Top 50ml), not something I’d be interesting in using again. It’s a nice product but not notable enough to continue with when easier, equal performing choices are available. Will say that their glass coating IS nice, worked better for me than Gyeon View or Kamikaze Intenso.
Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light: I really wanted to like this; I like the name, the packaging and the company and upon initial application (topped with Liquid Crystal C2V3) it darkened the bright red paint of the 2014 Ford E250 van I used it on. Nice, deep, rich gloss, easy application. Unfortunately, once released into the wild it was prone to water spotting (easily removed) and was probably the worst of all I tried in self-cleaning abilities. Oddly enough, about 3 months in it started keeping itself cleaner with no outside intervention except for Mother Nature and her rain. Have seen evidence that if topped with EXO, it’s a whole ‘nuther animal, with incredible hydrophobic properties which would significantly aid in self cleaning abilities.
The Gloss Shop Ceramic Coating: This was V1, they have since released V2 which I want to try sometime. I’d put it in the same class as Cquartz as far as performance goes. Longevity began to drop off as far as self-cleaning goes, but not to Gtechniq CSL levels. It’s good and I’ll bet if topped with an SiO2 booster, would amp up performance. The looks on a metallic burgundy paint in the sun was fantastic, really brought out the metallic.
22ple HPC: This was a favorite and for a while, I thought it was gonna unseat the Kamikaze as my favorite. Incredible gloss, most of any I used, the hard, candy gloss appearance. Great self-cleaning abilities, even 6 months after application with no washing/topping or anything. Application is bizarrely easy, very forgiving. It flashes much like a wax or sealant when time to remove so less guesswork there. I applied at the end of March 2017 to a 2016 Ford Transit Extended van, bright red, and it immediately gave that cliché’d Molten Glass look to the paint.
EDIT: The one downside with the HPC is that while they recommend multiple layers, they also recommend 24hrs curing between layers; that can be kinda inconvenient.
It was so nice that I used it on the 2017 black Honda Acccord Coupe I traded in the WRX on. Applied around July 4 to the Accord, it sure looked like a winner…until I pulled it in the garage next to the recently completed Corvette (Kamikaze Miyabi x2, ISM x1, Infinity Wax and Overcoat). The Accord with the 22ple HPC still looked glossy and nice, with a mirror finish that looked a foot deep. Unfortunately, the Corvette with the Kamikaze looked glossy and nice, with a mirror finish that looked a MILE deep. Goodbye 22ple, hello Kamikaze on the black Accord.
Feynlab Ceramic: I gave this a shot on the Corvette in between removing 2016’s WG Uber and applying the Kamikaze. It was crazy forgiving in application, long window between apply/remove and left a sharp glossy finish that was quite nice. Unfortunately, the self-cleaning and water behavior was poor, leaving significant water spots after a rainstorm. Again, easily removed with wash but still…not in Kamikaze league in that respect.
So, what conclusions have I come to after spending all that time (and money) auditioning all those coatings? Well, considering the climate I live in, the looks I like and the characteristics of coating that I consider primary, I’ve kinda settled on the below for folks who want their car coated; I broken into the top, money is no object choice and then the others at number 2a, b & c depending on conditions, color, appearance and durability desired.
1. Kamikaze Miyabi x 2, ISM x 1, (Infinity Wax optional, just gives a really nice, subtle ‘relaxed high gloss’ to the finish) and maintain with Kamikaze Overcoat. Looks are a mixture of high gloss, deep, warm, rich glow and the self cleaning abilities are beyond compare. Coming up on the 1 year anniversary of application to our daily driven, sits outside 8 months a year, metallic blue Honda Civic and the thing just *always* looks great. Sure, it gets a bit dirty and nose to paint you will see the dirt but the water spots after rain seem to shrink and disappear before spotting, taking much of the surface contamination with them. Bird bombs come off with little to no effort/pressure, even if dried by the sun, leaving no mark. Being a Kamikaze fan, I`m sure no one is surprised by this coming from me.
2a. Kamikaze Miyabi x 2, maintained with Overcoat. High gloss, hard candy type look. Great self cleaning and at $90 for 30ml, pretty good bargain. Would use on dark cars that don’t wanna go for the whole Kamikaze enchilada. Easy application, 5-15 minute window between application/removal given appropriate climate/temperature. Just so very easy to use.
2b. 22ple HPC. Much like the Miyabi alone, this high-gloss choice is good for lighter colored cars. Did a white Honda CRV in this and it really brought out the subtle metallic/pearl character of the paint. More $$ than Miyabi but nearly as stellar at self cleaning goes.
2c. Gyeon Mohs. Perhaps the best all-around choice for daily drivers at a reasonable cost. Great self-cleaning, and solid protection. I left a bird bomb on the hood for a week or so, backing in the hot summer sun and when it rained and removed itself, it left no mark. I think it’s one of the ‘harder’ coatings by reputation and I saw nothing that discredits that claim. I have seen that topping this with Gyeon Can Coat can add some longevity and amp up the gloss into ‘hard candy’ territory as opposed to it’s native deep, warm glow type gloss.
I`d still like to try the new McKees and the new Gloss Shop Ceramic soon (and I still have unopened Gyeon Prime, 30ml and Gyeon Mohs, 50ml, Gyeon Can Coat and Gyeon Booster in my cabinet) but I`m too tired, too broke (in my wife`s eyes regarding detailing expenditures anyway) and it`s kinda nice not having the next product and car on my mind. I am gonna use up Miyabi and ISM this weekend on a black Ford Escort daily driver for a guy at work, mostly to see how good I can get the paint and then to see how well Kamikaze holds up on a car that will likely see very little in the way of Autopian-attention. I also wanna try leveling/removing a coating with the CarPro microsuede towels that some people seem to enjoy using.
Its been fun and interesting for sure, no regrets...
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Thank you for taking the time to share all that information.
Jay
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Sweet post. Thanks for sharing the experience with all those. And saving me money from having to do it myself. Not that I would, but yeah. Thanks!
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Budget...you are a mad man but your thoughts and input on the variety of coatings really make us all better informed and much appreciated for efforts and documentation...nicely done
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Thanks for the great write up! Now try polish angel if you think kamakaze is easy!
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Great review(s)
Thank you!
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Couldn`t have done it without all you fine folks here on Autopia, you guys really know your stuff and are always willing to share...still reaching for Brandt, Ron and others levels of clarity!
Come quite a long way since I first picked up a Griots Garage 6" DA, slathered some compound on a foam pad, cranked it up to 6 and fired it up...before putting it down on the paint; quite a cleanup needed on the garage walls, ceiling and door and it took me about 20 minutes to find the pad, resting on top of the closed garage door edge. Bet I couldn`t do that again if I tried.
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mike lambert
Thanks for the great write up! Now try polish angel if you think kamakaze is easy!
Sigh...there`s always more unicorns to chase. Have had PA stuff in my cart many times. Maybe someday...
Thanks for all your help when I first tried Kamikaze a year ago....very much appreciate it.
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Dang it, with great info like this, rabbit hole here i come lol
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
No problem, glad to help! Just keep it in stock if you like it, you never know with Kai?
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
That Kamikaze combo looks killer, been eyeing it a while. You ever use the artificial clear coat? Curious if it’s really beneficial and worth it.
If I can swing an Acura for my next car(the new TLX with the red cockpit looks sweet), I’ll definitely go the kamikaze route.
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
A definitive guide to coatings! Thanks for compiling this info.
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Great reviews. This clears up a lot of questions I had about the various products you were testing. It does appear that many of the durability claims of many of the manufacturers comes up sadly short, too.
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mike lambert
No problem, glad to help! Just keep it in stock if you like it, you never know with Kai?
As a hobbyist, that just adds to the intangibly quirky appeal of the product. For a pro, could see it being an issue...
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Fantastic feedback Budget... truly enjoyed and appreciated all you have written on your coating journey. Hat tip to you sir
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jrock645
That Kamikaze combo looks killer, been eyeing it a while. You ever use the artificial clear coat? Curious if it’s really beneficial and worth it.
If I can swing an Acura for my next car(the new TLX with the red cockpit looks sweet), I’ll definitely go the kamikaze route.
Never used the ACC, I think it`s for very specific situations...whatever those may be.
Vid: https://youtu.be/SO-QP4WLY_s
Quote:
Originally Posted by
upon3
Great reviews. This clears up a lot of questions I had about the various products you were testing. It does appear that many of the durability claims of many of the manufacturers comes up sadly short, too.
I think a 70 mile daily winter commute can really take it`s toll on anything...we`ll see.
I`d guess longevity claims are `best usage case scenario` examples; 22ple HPC claims 3-5 years which in my case would be 60k-100k miles...thsts a tough thing to live up to in a northern climate for $179.
Even the Kamikaze claim of 24-36 months is gonna be 40k-60k miles if it holds.up. Still a tall order but within the realm of possibility I hope.
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Great mega review. I have also used a lot of coatings once and not too many twice. I guess I`m as happy as I`m but still looking for something better if that makes and sense. I`ve got some new stuff in the cabinet I need to find some time to use before the cold weather sets in.
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JSFM35X
Great meg review. I have also used a lot of coatings once and not too many twice. I guess I`m as happy as I`m still looking for something better if that makes and sense. I`ve got some new stuff in the cabinet I need to find some time to use before the cold weather sets in.
Yeah, there`s always something in the back of your mind wondering if there is something `better` but with the amount of coatings coming out each day it seems to be an insurmountable task to try even half of them. The self-healing aspects of some appear interesting but many are `authorized user only` products. I know Feynlab has a few of `em.
With unlimited funds, and unlimited vehicles to try them on (not to mention a whole lotta time) it`d be fun to continue searching but, alas, since I`ve found something that works for me I think I`m outta the game (until I get bored with doing nothing). Still have excellent choices to offer for various situations/needs/budgets as the Kamikaze stuff, 22ple HPC and Gyeon Mohs are all excellent solutions for my area, available for different levels of `need`. Not being a professional, or someone who even has folks cover materials costs, the financial end of it can quickly get outta hand, not to mention the time involved.
There`s always gonna be something `better` in somebody`s opinion but unfortunately the only way to find out if it`s better for *you* is to pony up and have at it. And I`m not even sure what `better` may be at this point...the things I have settled on meet all my primary criteria so, aside from self-healing, I wouldn`t even know what to look for. Hopefully for me, the trail of Unicorn Tears has reached it`s logical conclusion.
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Great review and thanks for putting all of that info together. I never really got bitten by the "coating bug". I detail my cars weekly and I still have cabinet fulls of sealants and carnuabas to go through :)
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Thanks for an excellent and informative post sharing real life results. I`d be interested in your thoughts comparing Kamikaze OverCoat to 22PLE VS1 Final Coat, used as maintenance products.Thanks in advance.
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
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Originally Posted by
bodidly22
Fantastic feedback Budget... truly enjoyed and appreciated all you have written on your coating journey. Hat tip to you sir
Could not agree more... thank you BudgetPlan1 for all of your contributions regarding coatings and your honest feedback.
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mike lambert
Thanks for the great write up! Now try polish angel if you think kamakaze is easy!
Thanks for your reviews BudgetPlan1 and taking the time to write all this and share your experience. Yourself and Mike were very helpful when I was gearing up to do ISM which has nothing but exceeded my expectations.
All this talk of PA around here and seeing all the great results and me winning gift box of PA, master sealant, rapid wax and glissante during Esoteric open house. I can`t wait to try it on my 300SRT.
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
As others have mentioned, a huge thanks for the feedback on everything you`ve tried on your coating journey!
Really handy to have a comparison of so many coatings in one place. I tried to start a thread for that exact reason on the sister site and never got any traction.
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
glfnaz
Thanks for an excellent and informative post sharing real life results. I`d be interested in your thoughts comparing Kamikaze OverCoat to 22PLE VS1 Final Coat, used as maintenance products.Thanks in advance.
No comparison, Overcoat (most notably in areas that see rain) is a product without compare. If the godz of detailing allowed me only one product to use as an LSP, i`d skip waxes, sealants, coatings and go with Overcoat. I`ve seen one guy who used it (Raven on some board/forum) who used it as and LSP and got a solid 6 months out of it. Well, OK mayb not coatings but the stuff (Overcoat) is simply *that* good. May seem pricey but the 250ml bottle I purchased in May 2017 is still 1/3 full and for the most of summer I`ve been using it as a drying aid after every wash on 3 cars simply because it makes drying easier. The protection and looks (looks even better after 24hr curing) are fantastic.
Now, that opinion is based upon my location/climate and the fact that my cars see rain whenever Mother Nature sees fit. I exchanged PM`s with a forum user in Arizona who mentioned he saw no significant difference between it and Gyeon Cure...because he rarely sees rain. Still, as a sacrificial layer, I have found nothing that comes close; 22ple VS1, Gtechniq Liquid Crystal C2V3, Gyeon Cure...not even close for me. Now 22ple has been dangling their Finitura product (same type of product as Overcoat but super-charged) since last May but have seen no release yet. That`s one drawback to 22ple - the mfg is pretty much non-existent in the online world (or maybe real world as well); occasionally answers queries on their Facebook page but no website or other contact info.
Sometimes it makes me wonder if it`s the Overcoat as opposed to the coatings themselves that`s doing the heavy lifting; boy, that would sure make all my work with coatings pointless!
The one other thing I forgot to mention regarding 22ple HPC is the recommended 24hr cure time between layers...that can be kinda inconvenient.
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BudgetPlan1
I think a 70 mile daily winter commute can really take it`s toll on anything...we`ll see.
I`d guess longevity claims are `best usage case scenario` examples; 22ple HPC claims 3-5 years which in my case would be 60k-100k miles...thsts a tough thing to live up to in a northern climate for $179.
Even the Kamikaze claim of 24-36 months is gonna be 40k-60k miles if it holds.up. Still a tall order but within the realm of possibility I hope.
I`m sure a long commute doesn`t help, but its really mother nature that pounds whatever is on top of the paint. The only way to really tell high mileage paint vs low (give all other things equal) is the rock chips. Durability figures always have to be taken with a grain of salt, or simply divide by 3 for a real car parked outside 24x7.
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Thank you!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BudgetPlan1
No comparison, Overcoat (most notably in areas that see rain) is a product without compare. If the godz of detailing allowed me only one product to use as an LSP, i`d skip waxes, sealants, coatings and go with Overcoat. I`ve seen one guy who used it (Raven on some board/forum) who used it as and LSP and got a solid 6 months out of it. Well, OK mayb not coatings but the stuff (Overcoat) is simply *that* good. May seem pricey but the 250ml bottle I purchased in May 2017 is still 1/3 full and for the most of summer I`ve been using it as a drying aid after every wash on 3 cars simply because it makes drying easier. The protection and looks (looks even better after 24hr curing) are fantastic.
Now, that opinion is based upon my location/climate and the fact that my cars see rain whenever Mother Nature sees fit. I exchanged PM`s with a forum user in Arizona who mentioned he saw no significant difference between it and Gyeon Cure...because he rarely sees rain. Still, as a sacrificial layer, I have found nothing that comes close; 22ple VS1, Gtechniq Liquid Crystal C2V3, Gyeon Cure...not even close for me. Now 22ple has been dangling their Finitura product (same type of product as Overcoat but super-charged) since last May but have seen no release yet. That`s one drawback to 22ple - the mfg is pretty much non-existent in the online world (or maybe real world as well); occasionally answers queries on their Facebook page but no website or other contact info.
Sometimes it makes me wonder if it`s the Overcoat as opposed to the coatings themselves that`s doing the heavy lifting; boy, that would sure make all my work with coatings pointless!
The one other thing I forgot to mention regarding 22ple HPC is the recommended 24hr cure time between layers...that can be kinda inconvenient.
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Great write up and feedback.
Good to know you found something that works for you. I sort of agree with that member that mentioned that there is no distinguishable difference for us folks who don`t deal with a lot of rain or harsh weather conditions. I am currently evaluating which coating will suit my needs.
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Budget Plan cracks me up! He was explaining in a response to me above, about a PM from a guy in AZ. That *was me*. Ha Ha.
But what I really meant and probably didn`t say correctly, was that for Bling & Gloss, I saw very little differences between the different SIO2 maintenance products Cure and Kami OverCoat. But with Cure I only see about 6-8 weeks of durability, and Budget above said he`s heard results of 6 months. That is a huge difference and might justify the higher price. I`d still like to know about 22PLE VS1 FC in comparative Gloss and durability to OverCoat. Budget Plan is a very helpful guy I might add.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The Guz
Great write up and feedback.
Good to know you found something that works for you. I sort of agree with that member that mentioned that there is no distinguishable difference for us folks who don`t deal with a lot of rain or harsh weather conditions. I am currently evaluating which coating will suit my needs.
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Awesome review, very insightful.
Glad you found what works for you and are no longer searching.
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dan
I`m sure a long commute doesn`t help, but its really mother nature that pounds whatever is on top of the paint. The only way to really tell high mileage paint vs low (give all other things equal) is the rock chips. Durability figures always have to be taken with a grain of salt, or simply divide by 3 for a real car parked outside 24x7.
Interesting...never really thought about it that way but hoods sure can get pretty toasty in summer sun; that can`t be beneficial for anything.
I`m just going off of my WG Uber which failed over the winter on the sides of the car while the hood, roof and trunk were still holding up reasonably well in terms of looks and water performance.
I guess I`m more of an optimist than yourself...i only divide mfg longevity claims by 2 for real world predictions.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The Guz
Great write up and feedback.
Good to know you found something that works for you. I sort of agree with that member that mentioned that there is no distinguishable difference for us folks who don`t deal with a lot of rain or harsh weather conditions. I am currently evaluating which coating will suit my needs.
Good luck with your search for a coating; it`s really interesting how many different factors go into making a coating `the best` for each individual. Kinda nicely illustrates that there really is no one answer to the universal question so often asked: `What is the BEST [insert detailing product here]?"
Which also helps explain my affinity for Overcoat; the water behavior of it is otherworldly in my neck of woods for our mostly daily drivers. And although I really like the way it looks, put it next to a similar, well maintened vehicle with another SiO2 topper and, in all honestly, i likely couldn`t tell the difference most of the time. It just excels in another area by such a margin that it moved up the ladder for me.
If one is not in need of that particular characteristic then it`s just another pretty face at a crowded dance.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
glfnaz
Budget Plan cracks me up! He was explaining in a response to me above, about a PM from a guy in AZ. That *was me*. Ha Ha.
But what I really meant and probably didn`t say correctly, was that for Bling & Gloss, I saw very little differences between the different SIO2 maintenance products Cure and Kami OverCoat. But with Cure I only see about 6-8 weeks of durability, and Budget above said he`s heard results of 6 months. That is a huge difference and might justify the higher price. I`d still like to know about 22PLE VS1 FC in comparative Gloss and durability to OverCoat. Budget Plan is a very helpful guy I might add.
Well, that`s pretty funny in a "My brain is likely addled by SiO2 and flourine" kinda way.
As for the longevity claim of 6 months, ya know how the internet can be; guy did seem credible and is still active occasionally regarding Kamikaxe though so it`s possible. May be an Aussie guy...
Yeah, not sure I could honestly tell between most SiO2 toppers just by looking at `em. Now have a rainstorm roll thru followed by sun and I could likely tell.
And 6 months I can`t speak to as I`ve never gone anywhere near that long; I used to go about a month or so before applying Overcoat with a microfiber applicator after washing and drying but have lately been using as drying aid after wash cuz it makes drying so much easier/quicker.
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
I agree with you. Between Cure, OverCoat, testing 22PLE, I`ll probably never know about durability because I always have something to put on the next time. OverCoat has off-the-planet beading, but here in AZ, it doesn`t rain, so I tend to focus on gloss and durability.
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Great info here! Thanks for posting.
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
This is a great summary. Thanks for posting your thoughts on this matter.
I haven`t tried Kamikaze coatings other than overcoat, but I have tried Mohs, and I agree with your thoughts on this. After having used Gtechniq, Pinnacle, 22PLE, Wolfgang, TAC, and PA, I think Mohs was the best all around. I have a bottle of TAC Prime that I haven`t tried yet and hope to soon.
(Sent via my mobile device...)
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GYEON Mohs Update after 8 months...
Gyeon Mohs – 2011 Ford Ranger, Bright Red
Applied 2 layers, Feb 20, 2017
Topped with Gyeon Cure, Feb 21 2017
Mileage since application approx 12K miles
Maintenance since application: None; no washing, no topping, no nuthin’
Vehicle sits outside pretty much 24hrs a day, Fleet Truck for seasonal pool company. Driven/used by staff, generally treated worse than a rental car.
Finally brought truck home to wash/check it all out. Truck has stayed clean and good looking throughout the 8 month period, among the best of the ones I was watching at staying clean.
Upon initially rinsing with hose, it appeared that ALL beading was gone from horizontal surfaces. Water just laid flat on hood and roof. To the touch, surface felt like it had no LSP of any type on it, no slickness whatsoever. A few bird bombs on hood rinsed off with a little pressure from hose. Vertical surfaces (fenders, doors and bedsides) still maintained what appeared to be slight hydrophobic behavior and just a slight amount of beading.
One area that appeared to still have initially coating present/water behavior was a small triangle below each side view mirror, first thought being that the small area was always shaded by side-view mirror…I dunno but it was a distinct triangular area on both doors directly below the mirror that looked like coating had been recently applied with respect to water behavior.
Baggie test felt like much contamination, very gritty. So, decided to try a few things:
1. Foam bath with Chem Guys Honeydew Snow Foam Cleanser at about 1:5 dilution with a MTM PF22 Foam Cannon, SunJoe SPX3001 1.76 GPM, 2030 PSI pressure washer. Let foam dwell for recommended time, 3 or 4 minutes and then rinsed with pressure washer. No apparent change to surface.
2. Bucket wash with Gyeon Bathe and then dry…No apparent change to surface.
3. Decon with Sonax Fallout Cleaner, saw a bit of bleeding, applied, and agitated with foam applicator pad, let dwell, rinsed with pressure washer. Bucket wash with Gyeon Bathe, dried…no apparent change to surface visually but baggie test showed about 75% reduction in surface contaminants…perhaps even a bit more.
4. Clayed very lightly with Nanoskin Fine Grade Clay mitt during another bucket wash with Gyeon Bathe, rinse and dry. Baggie test indicated very smooth surface but water behavior and feel of dry paint was unchanged…still felt/acted like no LSP was on surface. Nanoskin also left no marring for whatever that’s worth.
Generally the truck has been used and abused over the last 12K miles/8 months. Has the Gyeon Mohs held up? While it appears that the coating is gone (lack of water behavior and slickness, aside from the 2 spots under the mirrors), why does the truck always look clean and shiny? I dunno. Also, since claying with Nanoskin left no marring, is the coating still there at some level providing some protection to marring? I noticed some round stains prior to washing that indicated cups/cans/bottles were set there at some point, they easily removed during wash and tar on the rocker panels came off with much less effort than on non-protected vehicle, what gives? Again, I dunno. After using Booster, I think it might be a nice addition to a Mohs application. Doing a relatively new white Ford 150 w/ Mohs in a few weeks, think I’ll add the Booster just for fun after 2 layers of Mohs.
Anyway, I figured what the heck and after the above washing and decon I applied two coats of Gyeon CanCoat topped with an application of Gyeon Booster 12hrs later. Truck looks great again.
Other items of note:
Gyeon Foam > Chem Guys Honeydew Snow Foam, albeit more expensive
Gyeon CanCoat: Where have you been all my life? For a quick application of some protection, this stuff is just great. Applied to entire truck in about 10 minutes, great look, slick…no runs, no streaking. If this stuff lasts for even 3 months with somewhat regular maint. and the surface protection is somewhat solid, why this stuff is more popular I can’t understand. If this kinda thing woulda been available back when I was only semi-ocd about my cars, what a great option it woulda been. Due to its relatively low cost, easy application, great looks why mess around with stuff like sealants if this is available? Because of its low cost and relatively shorter lifespan, I could see applying this to a vehicle after decon/clay with no paint correction (if clay left no marring), much like many do with sealants/waxes but with the added protection of a coating. If this stuff woulda been around when I was a Zaino disciple, I woulda been far better off using it and get far better protection and self-cleaning behavior.
Gyeon Booster: This was almost as much fun (and similar low effort application) as the CanCoat. It’s a product that must be applied with a little faith and attention to ‘feel’. It flashes so quickly that you’re kinda going on faith as to where it has/has not been applied although the slickness it added immediately to surface gave another good indication as well. It added a nice bit of gloss and after letting cure for two days throwing a cup of water at the hood resulted in nice beads, most of which rolled right off the hood. The North American Gyeon rep indicated that Mohs + Booster is essentially a ‘consumer version’ of the pro-only Gyeon Durabead product, albeit slightly less ‘substantial’. I like it…kinda pricey, though. Ended up getting the Ranger covered with about 15-20ml of Booster.
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Re: GYEON Mohs Update after 8 months...
I`m loving on CanCoat as well.
I am 10.5 months in with CanCoat as my LSP. Holding up extremely well. Hoping to make to 12months. Then I will share all the images I have taken over the year. I do monthly maintenance and that is about it. Which is a wash and then aqua wax as a drying aid.
I will say at the 10th month wash I did notice the lower part of the fenders and driver door beading has all but stopped. Upper panels and horizontal surfaces still bead like crazy.
Daily driver driven 73-75miles round trip. Garaged at night.
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
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2 Attachment(s)
CSL & Cquartz Update
As the season is winding down, getting a closer look at some of the vehicles coated last winter/spring.
Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light (topped with Liquid Crystal C2V3 after application)
- Looks like it has been driven about 13K miles since application last January/February (I think...around that time anyway)
- Probably spent about 1/3 of that time parked inside warehouse at night, otherwise sat outside 24/7
- Tech says he ran thru touchless wash, soap and spray only, perhaps 2 or 3 times this summer
This was kinda an odd one; I really liked it at application time, darkened the paint a bit, glossy, good looks...to me, it actually had the appearance of being a `hard` coating if that even makes any kind of sense. I was thinking at the time it was gonna be one of my favorites but once it started being used, the vehicle was among the worst at self cleaning ability...lots water spots after rain. However, after about 3 months it started keeping itself cleaner and now is consistently one of the cleaner vehicles among the ones I did. There are indications of water spots in the paint, even after I wiped it down with a bit of ONR...they seem to be etched (maybe stained is a better word) but only to the point where they`d likely come of with a light to medium polish. Don`t wanna give up on Gtechniq so if boredom sets in, I still really want to try the CSL + EXO combo sometime this winter. I`d guess the EXO would provide the hydrophobic/self-cleaning behavior that CSL alone lacked and prevent the staining from water spots. I really like the Gtechniq packaging which sometimes is enough to make me wanna try a product...silly but it is what it is. Forgot to to baggies test on this before he left for the day. Anyway, can`t tell much but below is a shot of the hood:
https://www.autopia.org/forums/attac...id=33986&stc=1
Cquartz `Classic` (or whatever it`s called, not the UK version; topped with Gyeon Cure after application)
- Looks like it has been driven about 14K miles since application last January
- Probably spent about little to no of that time parked inside, sat outside 24/7
- Tech says never washed all summer long
First impression is that the Cquartz provided a little more protection against environmental marring/staining. No visible water spotting like the bare CSL. Truck stayed reasonably clean during the past few months. Baggie test indicates very, very fine contaminants on surface. Considered the Cquartz to be a middle/lower middle contender in all this but it`s kinda moved up the chain a bit due to lack of staining on paint and very light contamination. This truck (like most of them) saw a lot of miles this Spring/Summer, likely 50-60% freeway miles. Tech that had this van had some had some far-out jobs that needed attention each week. Overall more impressed with the Cquartz than I though I would be at the end of this.
https://www.autopia.org/forums/attac...id=33987&stc=1
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Thanks for the update. I thought I read that C2V3 was prone to spotting? Maybe I am confusing it with Exo V2.
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Nice info. I`ve been researching coatings & documenting things that are important to me and at this time I`m leaning towards the Crystal Serum Light + EXOv3 for my car next year so I`m glad to hear that CSL is doing well. Hopefully the EXOv3 will greatly reduce water spots.
ks
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Re: Think I`m done messing around with coatings, final thoughts...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
KEVINS
Nice info. I`ve been researching coatings & documenting things that are important to me and at this time I`m leaning towards the Crystal Serum Light + EXOv3 for my car next year so I`m glad to hear that CSL is doing well. Hopefully the EXOv3 will greatly reduce water spots.
ks
Yeah, the CSL was/is kinda wierd; top contender after application, slipped to near the bottom once out in the wild, slowly and quietly climbing back up the ranks. Cquartz currently in better shape even though likely sat outside more all summer.
Cquartz driver took vehicle home every night, left out in driveway, lotsa freeway miles. CSL tech more suburban driving, vehicle back inside warehouse probably 30% of the time at night.
Cquartz is just kinda consistently and quietly `good` as far as performance goes.
After the Mohs peculiarities, I`m really not answering many questions with this entire escapade.
Recent additions I`m watching now are Gyeon CanCoat + Gyeon Booster on one, Gloss Shop Ceramic on the other so there`s always something going on.
Still wanna find something decent to try CSL + EXO on; there`s just something intangible about the Gtechniq brand that appeals to me.