ArmorCoat rocks!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,977
Likes: 256
From: St. Louis Missouri
I'm no fan of 3m having used it twice. Both on black cars. I live in FL, and it is a harsh environment w/ the sun and getting sandblasted. There are 2 grades of 3m and I went w/ the better one the second time which had a shiny clear finish. It scratched and got marred up easily. having black I'm sure it showed worse. I removed it to look better for my trade value, and if I had to respray that would have been an expense on a car I was trading. My tint installer recommended Cleartastic and I have found it to be much better, doesn't scratch easily and had a nice shine. I did my whole hood and no one catches it unless I point it out.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 159
Likes: 9
From: Greenville NC
Being that automotive clearcoat is some of the toughest, most durable, weather resistant stuff out there, I guess I have difficulty understanding why a softer, thicker material would be permanently put over the top of it. I would think that the armorcoat would be more susceptible to environmental aging and as or more difficult to repair than a good clear coat? If it were reversible and designed to cover and protect the clearcoat from damage, then I could see the utility much like for the 3m film. but is you have to scratch / scuff the clear, you lose the benefits of having a well done clearcoat, no?
btw. I have a phd in polymer chemistry and do isocyanate / polyurethane chemistry for a living... ;-) I also do my own paint work on many of my toys, but am more of a backyard hack - definately not a pro...
btw. I have a phd in polymer chemistry and do isocyanate / polyurethane chemistry for a living... ;-) I also do my own paint work on many of my toys, but am more of a backyard hack - definately not a pro...
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,977
Likes: 256
From: St. Louis Missouri
Being that automotive clearcoat is some of the toughest, most durable, weather resistant stuff out there, I guess I have difficulty understanding why a softer, thicker material would be permanently put over the top of it. I would think that the armorcoat would be more susceptible to environmental aging and as or more difficult to repair than a good clear coat? If it were reversible and designed to cover and protect the clearcoat from damage, then I could see the utility much like for the 3m film. but is you have to scratch / scuff the clear, you lose the benefits of having a well done clearcoat, no?
btw. I have a phd in polymer chemistry and do isocyanate / polyurethane chemistry for a living... ;-) I also do my own paint work on many of my toys, but am more of a backyard hack - definately not a pro...
btw. I have a phd in polymer chemistry and do isocyanate / polyurethane chemistry for a living... ;-) I also do my own paint work on many of my toys, but am more of a backyard hack - definately not a pro...
I said thicker and more durable. 
I can't tell you how/why it works. I can only tell you that it has worked well for me thus far.
