Are we actually regressing using coatings instead of waxs?

[acuRAS82]

Accumulator mentioned it, but what turns me off about the application of true coatings is my worry of rushing, missing high spots in those initial application moments, and seeing them days later under different lighting conditions. I only use true coatings on windows and wheels, and this happened in numerous places on my wife’s windshield. I tried to live with it but every sunny day they would be staring you in the eye while driving.

i value the look of my car paint much more than windows or wheels, and I don’t want to find 10 high spots that bug my OCD, so right, wrong or otherwise, I dread coating application, beyond just the prep thing.

 

[Accumulator]

acuRAS82- Well, at least you *tried* on the windshield I lack the requisite confidence to try that and I fear that what you`re experiencing would simply drive me nuts.

Oh, and I am curious about something- how do Glass Coatings do on windshields that are all pitted/scratched/etc.? Does that make things more problematic or not?

 

[rlmccarty2000]

acuRAS82- Well, at least you *tried* on the windshield I lack the requisite confidence to try that and I fear that what you`re experiencing would simply drive me nuts.

Oh, and I am curious about something- how do Glass Coatings do on windshields that are all pitted/scratched/etc.? Does that make things more problematic or not?

I haven’t noticed any increase in the visibility of pitting or scratches by coating glass, if anything coatings may fill a little making the pitting less noticeable.

 

[Accumulator]

I haven’t noticed any increase in the visibility of pitting or scratches by coating glass, if anything coatings may fill a little making the pitting less noticeable.

Ah, interesting!

I was wondering whether the imperfections make for a more challenging application.

 

[acuRAS82]

Ah, interesting!

I was wondering whether the imperfections make for a more challenging application.

I’m in agreement with rlmccarty, I didn’t see a difference in imperfections after the coating nor did I notice them hindering the process.

As far as my experience, you and I are similar in our fears, and I was bothered by the high spots for quite awhile until I polished off and tried again. My next fear was that I rubbed so much on the next application that maybe I was removing the coating itself, along with the high spots.

Either way I don’t like the application at all compared to wax/sealants

 

[The Guz]

Coatings are not for the hobbyist detailer. Those of us who are not professional detailers do this because we love working on our cars. Coatings are for people that don`t really enjoy or have the time to devote to the more frequent waxing, polishing and general caring required of non coated cars. For them coatings are a no brainer. But for those of us who have the time and the mind set to work on our cars, get enjoyment out of that work rather than see it as a chore, I say waxing/sealants/QDs and all the other stuff that goes with traditional care is the way to go. I would go one step further and say the more frequent attention is a form of therapy for some of us, even pride. By their very nature coatings are meant to be relatively maintenance free for a year or more. I would go nuts if I could not experiment with new stuff every couple months or so. Doing that would defeat the purpose of coatings. Forget the shine, durability, ease of application, etc. - it is the actual rubbing on my car that turns me on!

Completely disagree with coatings not being for the hobbyist. Well pretty much don`t agree with a majority of this entire statement. It`s all a mater of personal opinion anyway.

This kind of mentality typically comes from someone who has not even ventured into coatings. Maybe I am wrong in assuming you have not tried one. Some of us that have gravitated towards coatings have thought like this at one point.

There is also the misconception that once a coating is applied, that car care is thrown out the window and it is a set it and forget it mentality. Coatings still need to be cared for. One just has to understand the pros and cons of a coating.

As Dan mentioned as one gets older one prefers to have more time for other things.

I do agree that it is personal preference in the grand scheme of things. If one likes to wax then by all means wax. There is nothing wrong with that or even using a sealant.

I coated my daily driver and the garage car. I would not have it any other way.

Accumulator mentioned it, but what turns me off about the application of true coatings is my worry of rushing, missing high spots in those initial application moments, and seeing them days later under different lighting conditions. I only use true coatings on windows and wheels, and this happened in numerous places on my wife’s windshield. I tried to live with it but every sunny day they would be staring you in the eye while driving.

i value the look of my car paint much more than windows or wheels, and I don’t want to find 10 high spots that bug my OCD, so right, wrong or otherwise, I dread coating application, beyond just the prep thing.

Coatings much like life is a challenge. Without taking that challenge we get nowhere. What I mean by this is to don`t let others scare you away from trying a coating if you have not tried one at all. Not all coatings are the same. We learn from our mistakes. Do some take a little more effort to apply? Sure they do. Should you be turned off by them? No. The best advice I can give you is to research and learn to filter out the relevant posts from the irrelevant posts.

Like everything technique is important. Once that technique is learned it`s a cake walk.

I have tried many coatings, maybe I should create a thread like Budget and capture my thoughts on the various coatings I have used and in general they are all relatively easy to apply. I have experienced high spots when I first started. As a matter of fact I have left a high spot or two on purpose to see what happens as time goes by on personal vehicles.

 

[Chopper280]

Let me start off by saying that I have coated several cars. After about 1 panel you know how to look for high spots.
Personally I prefer sealants and waxes. I like to experiment with different products and I have plenty of time being retired.
We have 3 cars with sealant or sealant and wax. 1 car is coated with the new Blackfire coating (which is nice).
To my point.
After driving in the rain it takes the same wash job to clean all of them. They are all dirty, not filthy but dirty. It takes me the same amount of effort sealant or coated.
I know someone is going to say I don’t know how to wash a car.
Oh well, whatever.

 

[acuRAS82]

To The Guz: I completely agree that coating application can probably be learned quickly. If I had desire to have coatings on my paint I would jump in knowing that I probably won’t achieve great results at first but that they will come with better technique through experience (similar to polishing). My main reason for not wanting coatings is that I would feel guilty polishing them off after 6 months max. I can’t go so long before wanting to polish and try something new since I’m a hobbyist with only 2 cars and a handful of friends/family that I work on.

To Choppers point, I like playing with all different products, enough that I make time whenever possible, be it 11pm, 6am, or my son’s nap time. I get a certain thrill out of using new things and then watching the results, then tweaking sprays/QDs, then eventually start over with something new.

 

[acuRAS82]

I got off on a tangent above, but my point to Guz was that although I’m not a huge fan of coating applications, I would not let that alone keep me from enjoying coatings if I wanted them. It is however a negative to me if I’m comparing coatings vs. wax/sealants

 

[Stokdgs]

I think the reason Coatings were/are so easy for me to apply, was probably because I graduated with Honors from the Zaino School of Thin, Even, Coats...

Well, that and years of wet, block sanding prior to painting, taught me how to absolutely make a straight, even line across a panel with the same amount of downward pressure..
Then, of course, the priming and painting, where you have to absolutely hold the gun the exact distance across a panel to get even material coverage..

And then, keeping the same amount of pressure with the Makita across a panel, same thing...

If one can get this and really work at getting it right, then the even, thin, coat application of any coating will be pretty much trouble free..
Also, there cannot be enough stress on having Superior Lighting above and around the vehicle to help you see any oopsies` as you go..

I remember the first time I applied my first Optimum Coating - I was a little nervous for a minute... then I remembered.... It`s just like Zaino .... Thin, Even, Coats... Keep track of the last coat.. .Overlap a little and apply the next one... just like Zaino...

And for sure, coating the wheels of the Bimmers, and all the other vehicles we had = way, way, less wheel cleaning time; the inner wheels, always looked beautiful whenever they were washed.. Again, I only use Carpro Reset on all coated vehicles and have never had an issue with it or the coated vehicle...

A few years back, I was constantly driving back and forth to Texas from California to help take care of my aging Parents.. I would be gone months at a time..
Sometimes I would barely have time to get the Jeep washed and it might be at one of those touchless car washes at the Union76 stations, etc...

When I finally got to stop this constant driving, my Optimum coated Black Jeep paint was way less than Optimum for sure...
All those car washes just helped contribute soap gunk that stuck to the coating like glue..

Took a few Reset washes and like magic, the Coating was back, and all was good again...
And very little paint defects in all that black paint.. The coating took the hit, and when I removed it with Optimum Finish, it was very easy..
This was at 4+ years with Optimum OptiGuard I believe it was called...
Dan F

 

[BudgetPlan1]

I have tried many coatings, maybe I should create a thread like Budget and capture my thoughts on the various coatings I have used

Would love to read it, would be very cool.

I have left a high spot or two on purpose to see what happens as time goes by on personal vehicles.

My door jambs are quite the laboratory of odd combos, prep tests, coating on top of coating, etc.

 

[jrock645]

Coating is definitely worth it. Easier to wash, needs less time washing, and your car will look better with less effort. If you love waxing your car every week, you still can. But you don’t have to. That’s the nice thing about it. You get the result without all the work. And some of us like the process, but it’s nice to not have to go through it all when you don’t have the time.

 

[upon3]

As someone who tends to subscribe to the comments of guys like Brown, Rose, Phillips and Kosilla on the exaggerations and hype of coatings, I have also wanted to experiment with them, too. The costs and my old school methodology with waxes and sealants are still keeping me in the, "prove it to me" phase with coatings. I`m pretty sure I am ready to jump in, at least in the shallow end.

I`m curious which ones you guys are using and preferring, especially those of you who have experimented with multiple products. I`m not the kind of guy who`s going to try a dozen different brands before deciding on one—I`d rather find one product from a company I trust (McKees, Wolfgang, CarPro, etc.) and learn how to use it, then be done with my learning curve.

Importance (in order): ease of use, price, aesthetics, product availability, durability, longevity

Suggestions?

 

[The Guz]

To The Guz: I completely agree that coating application can probably be learned quickly. If I had desire to have coatings on my paint I would jump in knowing that I probably won’t achieve great results at first but that they will come with better technique through experience (similar to polishing). My main reason for not wanting coatings is that I would feel guilty polishing them off after 6 months max. I can’t go so long before wanting to polish and try something new since I’m a hobbyist with only 2 cars and a handful of friends/family that I work on.

To Choppers point, I like playing with all different products, enough that I make time whenever possible, be it 11pm, 6am, or my son’s nap time. I get a certain thrill out of using new things and then watching the results, then tweaking sprays/QDs, then eventually start over with something new.

I got off on a tangent above, but my point to Guz was that although I’m not a huge fan of coating applications, I would not let that alone keep me from enjoying coatings if I wanted them. It is however a negative to me if I’m comparing coatings vs. wax/sealants

I don`t detail for a living nor do I want to because I would be pretty darn expensive. I went from waxes to sealants and now coatings. Detailing for me is just one hobby among others I have. I am thankful that I have a good job that allows me to purchase things in order to provide reviews for the Autopia and Autogeek family.

Like yourself I have two vehicles to maintain along with a couple family members. Guess what, they all have coatings on it haha. I have come to accept the limitations of them with having all the pros. For one I get to test out various coatings among them. Yes I do have some coating left over and for me that is not a big deal. I will often find another use for it if I can. I am not too worried if it goes bad because I did not use it all up.

I typically test out a coating for a minimum of 1 year. If it performs well after 1 year then I will often let it go for 2. At that point I polish and re-coat whether it be with the same coating or another. I do not feel guilty polishing a coating off before the claimed durability. I did it with Optimum Gloss Coat as I was unimpressed with it.

Now a days there are coatings that offer 1 year, 6 months. For example Gyeon CanCoat. The benefits of a coating with a sealant like longevity (6-9 months).

Here is another thing. I can polish every 1-2 years and for one I am not removing that much paint compared to polishing every 6 months. That is just me. Yes it takes time to prep the surface. It does not have to be 90-100% perfect as the definition of perfection differs from person to person.

As I mentioned once a car is coated, car care is still important. The interior always needs a refresh as do various parts. But for me coatings allow me to enjoy other things.

Per Mike Phillips find something you like and use it often.

Would love to read it, would be very cool.


My door jambs are quite the laboratory of odd combos, prep tests, coating on top of coating, etc.

I guess I need to start jotting my thoughts down to get something up.

I do plan to coat my door jambs with some left over coatings I have.

As someone who tends to subscribe to the comments of guys like Brown, Rose, Phillips and Kosilla on the exaggerations and hype of coatings, I have also wanted to experiment with them, too. The costs and my old school methodology with waxes and sealants are still keeping me in the, "prove it to me" phase with coatings. I`m pretty sure I am ready to jump in, at least in the shallow end.

I`m curious which ones you guys are using and preferring, especially those of you who have experimented with multiple products. I`m not the kind of guy who`s going to try a dozen different brands before deciding on one—I`d rather find one product from a company I trust (McKees, Wolfgang, CarPro, etc.) and learn how to use it, then be done with my learning curve.

Importance (in order): ease of use, price, aesthetics, product availability, durability, longevity

Suggestions?

Here`s the thing. Most coatings on the market perform very similar. Look is subjective as a lot of the looks comes from polishing. I would not buy too much into the longevity claim. That is going to vary by the environment that the vehicle is exposed to.

From what I have tested I would recommend CarPro Cquartz, UK, Cquartz TiO2 (a little easier to use than UK), Gyeon Syncro, Gyeon CanCoat (excellent starting point but not the longest lasting), Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light + Exo combo (exo can be a little finicky but the learning curve is small). One thing to keep in mind that coatings tend to feel a little tacky. Some brands have developed a top coat to add slickness such as Syncro. You will get other recommendations but for the most part these won`t break the bank.

 

[jatleson]

I think the reason Coatings were/are so easy for me to apply, was probably because I graduated with Honors from the Zaino School of Thin, Even, Coats...

I believe Collinite offers a similar course.

 

[jatleson]

As someone who tends to subscribe to the comments of guys like Brown, Rose, Phillips and Kosilla on the exaggerations and hype of coatings, I have also wanted to experiment with them, too. The costs and my old school methodology with waxes and sealants are still keeping me in the, "prove it to me" phase with coatings. I`m pretty sure I am ready to jump in, at least in the shallow end.

I`m curious which ones you guys are using and preferring, especially those of you who have experimented with multiple products. I`m not the kind of guy who`s going to try a dozen different brands before deciding on one—I`d rather find one product from a company I trust (McKees, Wolfgang, CarPro, etc.) and learn how to use it, then be done with my learning curve.

Importance (in order): ease of use, price, aesthetics, product availability, durability, longevity

Suggestions?

Doug - hope the move is going well. If you want to make a trip north, you can see my comments in person. Its raining, my tee time was cancelled, I`m up so lots of time to post.

Anyone who reads my posts knows I use some of Garry Dean`s products (some, he has a ton now). I also don`t buy into all the coating hype, but they do provide protection as good or better than a sealant, make the car way easier to clean and honestly are not that much more difficult to apply than any other sealant. That previous statement is comparing against the two main sealants I use, Collinte and Powerlock.

The two coatings I use on my cars and would use on a customer`s car are both from Garry Dean, Force Field Pro (FFP) or his yet to be publicly released Ceramacrylix (CX) (horrible name, good product) coating line. I won`t get into the hype about either product, he does that just fine on his own. Here are my thoughts on how they stack against your criteria:

ease of use
- FFP: Applies with a finishing pad on your DA (I use Griots Black Boss pads). Even, small sections. Follow-up with the boost spray to level and wipe away. Has a full system to prep the surface if you buy into that
- CX: Applies just like a wax, recommended to use DA. Let cure for an hour (it will haze), wipe away. Will stain trim. I was shocked at how easy the removal was
price - not cheap, same ballpark as other well regarded coatings
aesthetics - I`m impressed. But lets be honest, anyone on this forum has nice looking paint regardless of the product used
product availability - only through him. But he is extremely responsive
durability - on the wheels the CX is pretty impressive. I`m very happy with how easy the cars are to clean, it is different (aka easier) than when Powerlock was on the car
longevity - TBD, ask again after the summer and better yet after the winter.

 

[upon3]

Doug - hope the move is going well. If you want to make a trip north, you can see my comments in person. Its raining, my tee time was cancelled, I`m up so lots of time to post.

Thanks, I`m currently sitting in the new kitchen, literally surrounded by about 2 dozen boxes. Yesterday was zero hour, so we`re all still a little groggy from the move. Nothing broken, and I have an insulated garage again, so I`m excited.

ease of use
- FFP: Applies with a finishing pad on your DA (I use Griots Black Boss pads).
- CX: Applies just like a wax, recommended to use DA. Let cure for an hour (it will haze), wipe away. Will stain trim. I was shocked at how easy the removal was

Does it ruin the pads or can it be cleaned out like a wax or sealant? I haven`t seen other coatings applied in this way.


I have been looking at coatings for a while now, and I think once the house stuff settles a bit and my garage becomes navigable again, I may experiment on the house cars. My wife`s black XC90 would be a perfect test dummy.[/COLOR]

 

[scharnhorst310]

As someone who tends to subscribe to the comments of guys like Brown, Rose, Phillips and Kosilla on the exaggerations and hype of coatings, I have also wanted to experiment with them, too. The costs and my old school methodology with waxes and sealants are still keeping me in the, "prove it to me" phase with coatings. I`m pretty sure I am ready to jump in, at least in the shallow end.

I`m curious which ones you guys are using and preferring, especially those of you who have experimented with multiple products. I`m not the kind of guy who`s going to try a dozen different brands before deciding on one—I`d rather find one product from a company I trust (McKees, Wolfgang, CarPro, etc.) and learn how to use it, then be done with my learning curve.

Importance (in order): ease of use, price, aesthetics, product availability, durability, longevity

Suggestions?

I`ve not used gyeon cancoat but from what i`ve seen price and ease of use it looks like a very very good product for someone coming from waxes and sealants.

Now from what I use that that I would say is easy to apply, I actually like 22ple HPC, and the reason is the way it hazes over when its ready to be buffed off. That to me is the difficult part of coatings, making sure you`ve buffed everything off completely, and it can be hard to tell with some coatings and paints if you missed a spot. HPC leaves a very prominent haze effect. Downside is cost, upside durability and longevity.

 

[jatleson]

Does it ruin the pads or can it be cleaned out like a wax or sealant? I haven`t seen other coatings applied in this way.

When I use the stuff, I have a bucket of pad cleaning solution mixed up and when I`m done with the pad or microfiber for that matter, put it in the bucket and let it sit. When it is time to clean-up, I use a PW to ensure all the product is out of the pad and let them dry. I haven`t had any problems reusing the pads.

BTW - jealous of the insulated garage

 

[Justins00ss]

As most know my business is mainly correction and coating work. But that doesn`t mean that every car is a coating candidate. Sometimes budget or there ability to maintain it can be a deciding factor. For instance I booked a husband and wife with 2 Lexus sedan`s the other day. They were interested in coatings but due to there living situation (condo) they cannot and don`t have the ability to properly hand wash the vehicle. I could do it for them but they are very busy so they told me they run through a touch less wash once or twice a week. So no coating for them as it`s a waste of there money. They are going to have the vehicle done 1-2 times a year with a good sealant instead.


Now for me personally my 3 personal vehicles are coated with my top shelf coating. IGL Kenzo. Having my show car/toy 06 GTO coated makes my life easier because I`m so busy with work I can spend 45min cleaning it up and it looks unreal still. Same goes for my wife`s Mazda that gets 500 miles a week on it. A good maintenance wash and it looks freshly detailed. I used to have time to lightly polish and seal my own stuff all the time. Now I`m lucky if I can give all 3 a proper maintenance wash in the same month.