Just applied Opti-Coat 2.0 - Need Some Help

The Critic

New member
Hey guys,

Long time reader but first time poster.

I applied Opti-Coat 2.0 to my daily driver today and have some questions that I could use some help with.

Prior to application, I washed/nanoskin mitt med/iron-x paste and did a 1-step polish with HD Polish using an Uber green pad. After polishing, I sprayed and wiped down the car with a 50/50 mix of Optimum Power Clean (and rinsed), and was able to confirm that all beading was gone.

Here are some events which occurred during application that I would like some feedback on:

- During application, I applied OC 2.0 and waited 5-7 min (per the OC 2.0 label) before attacking the high spots. After waiting the prescribed amount of time, the high spots were no longer of a rainbow color -- they had become mere smudges. However, these smudges removed easily with a no/light pressure wipe using a MF towel. I also went back after another 30-45 min and wiped a couple more spots as-needed (but with more pressure). Was this correct?

- On the first two panels I did, I had wiped down the high spots with a MF towel while the spots were still a "rainbow." I became concerned so I went back 30 min later and decided to recoat those panels. Is this okay? I remember reading a post from Chris@Optimum that you can do two back-to-back coats of OC within an hour.

- I decided to do the right-side and the roof of the car on the driveway (due to better lighting). After finishing the right side and doing 3/4 of the roof, a couple drops (literally) of rain came down. I sped the car into the garage and blotted up the few drops that had contacted the side panels. However, the roof got a couple bunch of drops on the area that was still flashing.

So, I waited for the OC 2.0 that was still flashing on the roof (which now had a few drops of water on it) to finish, and I wiped down the roof and re-coated the whole roof altogether. Therefore, I expect the roof to turn out okay.

My question is: the side panels that got a few drops had been done for 15 minutes and were dry to the touch. I understand that Optimum says you need to wait 1 hr before the coated panels can contact water, but I cannot imagine that 5-10 drops on a coated panel (that were wiped up within a min) would cause major issues. Has anyone else ran into a similar situation?


Thanks in advance for your help and your responses. The car is sitting in the garage right now so tomorrow's sunlight will be the real test - I hope there aren't any high spots remaining. :wall
 
Did you wipe each panel with ipa or eraser prior to coating? Not sure about the rain as I have no experience. 5-7 minutes is too long to wait to level hi spots IMHO.
 

The first problem I see is that a "50/50 mix of Optimum Power Clean" is not the recommended prep for OC2.0. This could be the real source of problems long term if the coating fails. You need to use a some kind of panel prep like IPA, CarPro Eraser, or any other number of panel wipe products that remover the polishing oils but also leave nothing behind.

The recoating you did was perfectly fine and really ensures you got full coverage.

On the panels that got wet and you didn't recoat, you may want to go back and do so just to make sure everything is okay. But I think this is a minor thing due to not using a panel wipe prior to application.

 

The first problem I see is that a "50/50 mix of Optimum Power Clean" is not the recommended prep for OC2.0. This could be the real source of problems long term if the coating fails. You need to use a some kind of panel prep like IPA, CarPro Eraser, or any other number of panel wipe products that remover the polishing oils but also leave nothing behind.

The recoating you did was perfectly fine and really ensures you got full coverage.

On the panels that got wet and you didn't recoat, you may want to go back and do so just to make sure everything is okay. But I think this is a minor thing due to not using a panel wipe prior to application.


Thanks. The reason I did not use an IPA wipe was because Chris @ Optimum posted that he only uses a wash with Power Clean before application, so I did not do it. His post also mentioned something about Eraser possibly leaving something behind, which is why I only washed with OPC.

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Did you rinse the power clean or wipe it off?

As far as the rain drops, and wiping them off, I have no idea if you will be okay. I remember speaking to Dr. G about this some time ago and his thoughts were that a little moisture might slow the process but shouldn't hurt anything. However agitating (wiping) the mositure could remove the coating before it has fully cured.

Keep an eye on it, and look for the coating to fail in those areas, although I think you will be ok.
 
Did you rinse the power clean or wipe it off?

As far as the rain drops, and wiping them off, I have no idea if you will be okay. I remember speaking to Dr. G about this some time ago and his thoughts were that a little moisture might slow the process but shouldn't hurt anything. However agitating (wiping) the mositure could remove the coating before it has fully cured.

Keep an eye on it, and look for the coating to fail in those areas, although I think you will be ok.

Thanks. I rinsed off the Power Clean. I guess that I may want to consider another coat before the 30 day window is up.


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Thanks. I rinsed off the Power Clean. I guess that I may want to consider another coat before the 30 day window is up.


I would verify with Chris@Optimum that Power Clean is acceptable prep for OC. I personally have never tried or considered it.

Based on what I know of using OC and my experience with OC Pro, you need to do a "panel wipe" wipe-down to ensure everything is perfectly clean when not using Optimum polishes. When using Optimum polishes you they say you can do an ONR wipe down in place of a "panel wipe".

 

I would verify with Chris@Optimum that Power Clean is acceptable prep for OC. I personally have never tried or considered it.

Based on what I know of using OC and my experience with OC Pro, you need to do a "panel wipe" wipe-down to ensure everything is perfectly clean when not using Optimum polishes. When using Optimum polishes you they say you can do an ONR wipe down in place of a "panel wipe".


I e-mailed Chris and went over the prep process and my questions with him. He did not have an issue with the prep process so I guess it was acceptable.

He stated that the areas that prematurely saw water droplets may have some smears develop, but should not cause a durability issue. However, I have not seen any smears (except for 1) so I think I'm OK there.
 
I e-mailed Chris and went over the prep process and my questions with him. He did not have an issue with the prep process so I guess it was acceptable.

He stated that the areas that prematurely saw water droplets may have some smears develop, but should not cause a durability issue. However, I have not seen any smears (except for 1) so I think I'm OK there.


That is good news. And I learned something new as well.
 
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