Ceramic coating
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 2,769
Likes: 1,116
From: Howell N.J
Ceramic coating
Hello all,
Looking for a decent shop to ceramic coat my '19 black G.S . Not sure if that is the way to go for a decent protection . I am not afraid to tackle this myself, I have the garage and the patience !
Thank you,one and all!
Rich K ( vette Ski )
Looking for a decent shop to ceramic coat my '19 black G.S . Not sure if that is the way to go for a decent protection . I am not afraid to tackle this myself, I have the garage and the patience !
Thank you,one and all!
Rich K ( vette Ski )
Drifting
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,972
Likes: 1,098
From: Texas Hill Country Texas
If you enjoy that type of work tackle it yourself...other than time and equipment with today’s technology it’s no problem. Check out autogeek for supplies and how to vids. Don’t cheap out on the DA orbital, I went with Flex. I did my Z06 at 1500 miles and have since done my Porsche Spyder and SUV—-easy peezy.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 77
Likes: 41
From: Chesterfield VA
If you enjoy that type of work tackle it yourself...other than time and equipment with today’s technology it’s no problem. Check out autogeek for supplies and how to vids. Don’t cheap out on the DA orbital, I went with Flex. I did my Z06 at 1500 miles and have since done my Porsche Spyder and SUV—-easy peezy.
Totally agree! Don't let black intimidate you. This took me about 20 hr over a long weekend. Better than yard work.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 2,769
Likes: 1,116
From: Howell N.J
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 5,515
Likes: 646
From: Silicon Valley and Yosemite, CA
OK, I will dive in here... I think most know I owned my own detail shiop in Silicon Valley. I was a black car specialist using ceramic coatings.
So a few tricks of the trade
Is this a lot, you bet, but it is the difference in creating a spectacular finish versus an OK finish. The above method produced many, many winners for Monterey Week shows. Many of my customers were asked not to enter anymore as they would consistently win their class year after year.
Hope this helps a little
So a few tricks of the trade
- I like the Flex 3401. It has great torque and not enough speed to burn the paint.
- my own personal preference is Jescars Correcting Compound
- I normally used 4-6 Meguiars Micro Fiber Cutting Pads DMC6 per car
- One for each panel. or close enough if the panels are small. Many people miss the fact the the compound gets loaded up in the pad and drastically reduces the pads effectiveness as you progress around the car. I would go as far as blasting the pad with compressed air every time I added product. This kept the cutting fibers from loading up too much.
- Follow the instructions on your compound, but ALWAYS finish with a very light touch, barely touching the surface
An MF pad while the best I have used in removing scratches/swirls does leave behind a micro scarred surface. The light touch reduces the micro scarring. - Then using your favorite polishing product, mine is still the Jescar Correcting compound, use a foam pad for the final polish.
- I like the Rupes Yellow Pads
- Use a light touch when polishing, this will remove the micro scarring and create an incredibly flat finish.
- Then apply your choice of Ceramic coating.
- For me it was one of the Kamikaze products, or the Feynlabs products.In my testing of many, many Ceramics these two gave the best shine, which means not only did the paint shine, but they brought out what the paint manufacturer was trying to create.. Pump up the metallics or Pearls in the paint.
- My test car 3 years later and subject to all kinds of CA weather(It does include snow and sand as it goes into the Sierra in the winter), still has an incredible look and gets nothing but compliments, wherever I go.
Is this a lot, you bet, but it is the difference in creating a spectacular finish versus an OK finish. The above method produced many, many winners for Monterey Week shows. Many of my customers were asked not to enter anymore as they would consistently win their class year after year.
Hope this helps a little
Last edited by Grzldvt1; Feb 8, 2019 at 04:36 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,503
Likes: 600
OK, I will dive in here... I think most know I owned my own detail shiop in Silicon Valley. I was a black car specialist using ceramic coatings.
So a few tricks of the trade
Is this a lot, you bet, but it is the difference in creating a spectacular finish versus an OK finish. The above method produced many, many winners for Monterey Week shows. Many of my customers were asked not to enter anymore as they would consistently win their class year after year.
Hope this helps a little
So a few tricks of the trade
- I like the Flex 3401. It has great torque and not enough speed to burn the paint.
- my own personal preference is Jescars Correcting Compound
- I normally used 4-6 Meguiars Micro Fiber Cutting Pads DMC6 per car
- One for each panel. or close enough if the panels are small. Many people miss the fact the the compound gets loaded up in the pad and drastically reduces the pads effectiveness as you progress around the car. I would go as far as blasting the pad with compressed air every time I added product. This kept the cutting fibers from loading up too much.
- Follow the instructions on your compound, but ALWAYS finish with a very light touch, barely touching the surface
An MF pad while the best I have used in removing scratches/swirls does leave behind a micro scarred surface. The light touch reduces the micro scarring. - Then using your favorite polishing product, mine is still the Jescar Correcting compound, use a foam pad for the final polish.
- I like the Rupes Yellow Pads
- Use a light touch when polishing, this will remove the micro scarring and create an incredibly flat finish.
- Then apply your choice of Ceramic coating.
- For me it was one of the Kamikaze products, or the Feynlabs products.In my testing of many, many Ceramics these two gave the best shine, which means not only did the paint shine, but they brought out what the paint manufacturer was trying to create.. Pump up the metallics or Pearls in the paint.
- My test car 3 years later and subject to all kinds of CA weather(It does include snow and sand as it goes into the Sierra in the winter), still has an incredible look and gets nothing but compliments, wherever I go.
Is this a lot, you bet, but it is the difference in creating a spectacular finish versus an OK finish. The above method produced many, many winners for Monterey Week shows. Many of my customers were asked not to enter anymore as they would consistently win their class year after year.
Hope this helps a little
.. Your car does have more shine in pictures...I wish I would have used more cutting pads as I only used 2, I learned for next time..
Last edited by cowboy casey; Feb 8, 2019 at 05:11 AM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 5,515
Likes: 646
From: Silicon Valley and Yosemite, CA
I did my own and could not agree more.. I have the Meguiar's G110v2 and it has worked perfect, yes it's older and not as powerful as the flex but it works, I may have to look into getting the flex .. Your car does have more shine in pictures...
I wish I would have used more cutting pads as I only used 2, I learned for next time..
.. Your car does have more shine in pictures...I wish I would have used more cutting pads as I only used 2, I learned for next time..
My steps in many shops are excessive, but my goal was to produce the absolute BEST finish for my customers that demanded it. For many production shops it was extremely excessive and a time waster, as they could not knock out the desired production numbers.
I was not interested in volume, just total quality.
Oh and those are not my pictures, they do look impressive and am impressed, it would be good to see the car in person.
I will be blunt I have seen many pictures fool people, the car needs to be seen in person. I have seen cars that show an incredible shine in pictures, and when seen in person are a swirled mess. Not saying that car is but have seen it happen.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 77
Likes: 41
From: Chesterfield VA
Nothing wrong with the Meguiars G110, Keep in mind as a pro detailer, my life was spent studying and testing what works the absolute best. My goal was to get my shops reputation as being the best in Silicon Valley amongst the elite. I was not worried about the Prius's or BMW's. Did them for revenue, but not my focus.
My steps in many shops are excessive, but my goal was to produce the absolute BEST finish for my customers that demanded it. For many production shops it was extremely excessive and a time waster, as they could not knock out the desired production numbers.
I was not interested in volume, just total quality.
Oh and those are not my pictures, they do look impressive and am impressed, it would be good to see the car in person.
I will be blunt I have seen many pictures fool people, the car needs to be seen in person. I have seen cars that show an incredible shine in pictures, and when seen in person are a swirled mess. Not saying that car is but have seen it happen.
My steps in many shops are excessive, but my goal was to produce the absolute BEST finish for my customers that demanded it. For many production shops it was extremely excessive and a time waster, as they could not knock out the desired production numbers.
I was not interested in volume, just total quality.
Oh and those are not my pictures, they do look impressive and am impressed, it would be good to see the car in person.
I will be blunt I have seen many pictures fool people, the car needs to be seen in person. I have seen cars that show an incredible shine in pictures, and when seen in person are a swirled mess. Not saying that car is but have seen it happen.
- Wash the car using soap cannon and Chemical Guys Honeydew Snow Foam Cleanser and CarPro Wool Wash mitt
- OPT Iron X
- Clayed the car with Griots Paint Cleaning Clay and Speed Shine
- Removed all paint defects using Griots DA Polisher, Lake County Flat pads (Orange and White), and Menzerna Polishs
- CarPro Eraser
- 2 coats of CarPro CQ
- CarPro Reload
- CarPro Essence with a CarPro Gloss pad to touch-up areas where Reload streaked (do some research before deciding to use Reload)
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,182
Likes: 1,740
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I plan to try this on my black Tacoma before I tackle the corvettes, since i don't care if I mess it up. I've never gone this far in detailing before. I usually only do a wash, clay, #7 polish and #26 wax. I recently started using the Blackfire SiO2 spray I got as a gift in lieu of the most recent waxing on the 88.
What exactly do I need? Is there a YT video
What exactly do I need? Is there a YT video
Last edited by vader86; Feb 8, 2019 at 01:49 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 77
Likes: 41
From: Chesterfield VA
vader86 - That's a great idea to start with your Tacoma. Below are some links that you might find helpful for both products and information as you venture down the rabbit hole.
https://www.autogeek.net
https://www.autogeekonline.net
https://www.autogeek.net
https://www.autogeekonline.net
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,182
Likes: 1,740
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I know of autogeek and buy occasionally, I'm more worried about the 'gotchas' that they may not go into in their videos.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 2,769
Likes: 1,116
From: Howell N.J
Can't do much right now, there are 2 small fish eyes on the front bumper that I did not see when I purchased the car.
I saw some kits on e-bay, including the 3401 buffer, compounds, polishers, pads etc. Not sure which route to go to meet my needs. I guess the car needs to be polished to remove the dirt, swirls and acid rain spots on the roof and mirrors.
It was made in 4/18 and I purchased it 12/18, sat for 7 or 8 mos. at Kerbeck before I bought it.
Rich K ( Vette Ski )
I saw some kits on e-bay, including the 3401 buffer, compounds, polishers, pads etc. Not sure which route to go to meet my needs. I guess the car needs to be polished to remove the dirt, swirls and acid rain spots on the roof and mirrors.
It was made in 4/18 and I purchased it 12/18, sat for 7 or 8 mos. at Kerbeck before I bought it.
Rich K ( Vette Ski )
Last edited by Vette Ski; Feb 8, 2019 at 06:07 PM.
Drifting
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,972
Likes: 1,098
From: Texas Hill Country Texas
The one gotcha I encountered was with the quartz coating, the first one I chose was a bitch to level
and finish...and I mean capital B! I’ve since moved on to more consumer friendly quartz coatings.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 2,769
Likes: 1,116
From: Howell N.J
It’s pretty much gotcha free with some casual research on Autogeek and just having some common sense. Always be less aggressive and work upwards.
The one gotcha I encountered was with the quartz coating, the first one I chose was a bitch to level
and finish...and I mean capital B! I’ve since moved on to more consumer friendly quartz coatings.
The one gotcha I encountered was with the quartz coating, the first one I chose was a bitch to level
and finish...and I mean capital B! I’ve since moved on to more consumer friendly quartz coatings.
Rich K ( Vette Ski )
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 5,515
Likes: 646
From: Silicon Valley and Yosemite, CA
Grzldvt - I agree that pictures can hide a number of issues, however, those pictures were "snapped" with my iPhone 8 under floresent lights. Below is another one taken in daylight. The car looks the same in person, I assure you. As you know I'm not a professional, but do all my own detailing and have had pretty good success with my cars at some major shows. Below is a picture of one of my other cars that have won a number of awards.
For what it is worth, fluorescent lights vary widely. Lighting is a PHd dissertation in it's own right. I converted my shop to LED's as they show even more issues, and these were unique LED's manufactured for highlighting defects in many situations, not just detailing. They weren't cheap by any stretch, but worked very well.
Plus I will add another tip for you, to give you a bigger edge. get a Xenon Light by Ryobi(Home Depot). It is brighter than the sun, shows off more defects, than you care to know about, but it helps create perfection. More often than not, that light has sent me running and screaming through the parking lot, because it literally finds EVERYTHING. You don't see the BIG picture with it, but once you learn it, it is invaluable in providing the perfect finish.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 5,515
Likes: 646
From: Silicon Valley and Yosemite, CA
You cannot go wrong with the Kamikaze products, you literally have an hour to work with it. Others you have minutes, especially n higher heat... aka 85 degrees and above. Some products at that temp and above cure so quick it is unreal. One way to solve it to work in smaller areas.