DIY Ceramic Coating

[Dazsw]

I do not but come the time will have access to a decent area to work in.

That is why i was looking at Cquartz uk:

From their website
Features:

• Compare to the best professional coatings available but easy to use for the amateur detailer
• CQuartz UK is the easiest to apply coating on the market. No matter how cold, hot, or humid the application is simple

I do understand that timing, wind, dust and any other containment will be crucial and my very footsteps will kick dust up but ....... i am not worried my car is 14 years old and with the stone chips touched up by the previous owner it's never going to be car show perfect but it is in good hands and within my ability to pull it off.

To add i think the key will be just to go slow and work on small areas at a time, carefully and methodically because it flashes so quickly you just wouldn't be able to do a big area.

What i am interested in has anyone pulled it off if so how did you get on and was it worth the results?

Mate I can assure from having applied ceramic coatings to probably 100 vehicles, if not more, temperature and humidity affects the application and performance.

An easy coating to use is Gtechniq Exo V4.

It is very forgiving, and if you mess it up, will machine polish off easily.

Work on small areas for sure, once you are used to applying and removing and the product, then you can apply to larger areas.

Ceramic coatings all flash differently, heat speeds it up. I mentioned EXO as it really is forgiving and great for a beginner.

And I understand your car is 14 years old and your not that bothered, but in that case why bother at all? Dust will waste the coating, you will be dragging dust all over the place, it will stick to the microfibre clothes and jusdt make a mess.

If you really want to do this, do it right

People will have pulled it off, but the coating won't last if application is not good.

 

[chrisk2010]

Mate I can assure from having applied ceramic coatings to probably 100 vehicles, if not more, temperature and humidity affects the application and performance

Thanks for taking the time to reply Daz, I have researched the same i'll do my best to select right day to apply it not having the luxury of humidity controlled space to work in but i do have options a warehouse or a workshop.

An easy coating to use is Gtechniq Exo V4.

Thanks Daz i'll take a look at that one too.

Ceramic coatings all flash differently, heat speeds it up. I mentioned EXO as it really is forgiving and great for a beginner.

Have you used Cquartz 3.0 how well does that flash?

And I understand your car is 14 years old and your not that bothered, but in that case why bother at all? Dust will waste the coating, you will be dragging dust all over the place, it will stick to the microfibre clothes and jusdt make a mess.

My car is 14 years old and i'm very bothered i have spent countless hours polishing, waxing, claying making that car as perfect as possible and take great great care and pride in my work and ability. I can't understand why people say why bother at all ? It sounds like the suggestion is to spend hours, cleaning, claying, polishing, glazing, waxing when to me applying a ceramic coating makes sense.

The area I'll work in will be as prepped as the car i won't be doing this out on a main road, i've spent ten years prepping machinery and some car parts for the spray booth and have some experience plus with my current job i have to monitor dust and powder to undergo LEV inspection to a pharmaceutical level.

I know the coating needs looking after as normal but the benefits seem to out way cost otherwise i wouldn't consider it however i do love the challenge and expanding my skill level.

If you really want to do this, do it right

I aim to do it right, what do you suggest?

If i came to you with my 14 year old car that two years i done a paint correction on what would you recommend doing?

Again thank you for replying i do appreciate the feedback and experience.

 

[Dazsw]

Personally I didn't like the cquartz stuff, found it just not that good in all aspects, other people love it, but for me I wouldn't use it.

If the paint was corrected 2 years ago, it should still be in good nick.

But when applying a coating you want it to look it's best before application, so I would assess the paint and if it needed another little polish, then it would get it.

Your doing the right thing by asking questions, too many people buy the stuff, watch a youtube video, then trash their paint lol!

 

[chrisk2010]

Personally I didn't like the cquartz stuff, found it just not that good in all aspects, other people love it, but for me I wouldn't use it.

If the paint was corrected 2 years ago, it should still be in good nick.

But when applying a coating you want it to look it's best before application, so I would assess the paint and if it needed another little polish, then it would get it.

Your doing the right thing by asking questions, too many people buy the stuff, watch a youtube video, then trash their paint lol!

Thanks again Daz i'll have a look at the one you recommend.

I was taken by Cquartz due to it claiming to have a wide temperature range and being more tolerant to the uk climate it'd give me a wider window in which to apply, though i don't plan to do much of this for a good few months yet.

I do plan to do a correction again over two years although my car is in good nick and i'm very careful there are some light scratches but 99.99% less if would have been having this cleaned at a local car wash. I neglected to request for Mercedes not to wash my car on it's B service a few weeks ago and instantly noticed the swirls upon collection .. bit of a DOH! moment.

I am doing my best to research as much as i can as i do before i start any project and the application technique will repeat in my head constantly until the day which will hopefully ensure a smooth finish rather than haphazardly applying it and ending up with a lot of high and low points which'll result in starting again.

I know temperature will be critical to the application affecting cure time if i leave it too late and it gets too hot then it a no go as it'll more than likely instantly flash. On the same note if i apply too soon and the air is cool and humid then it won't flash quick enough which will slow me down no end.

The youtube videos are to be taken with a pinch of salt the pro that review these have no doubt put alot of thought into the day they chose as your not going to want to c*ck it up and put it on the net. There are a few which have given an honest application though.

 

[Dazsw]

I think you will get on fine bud, plenty of research and take your time.

Keep the applicator loaded with product, if it dries it will drag and mar the paint.

Use plenty of microfibre clothes. I would wipe over with one, then use a second to sweep the residue. Don't wipe hard your just gently going over it.

Always sweep past the area you work on as it is easy to miss small patches, correct lighting is paramount as again it is very easy to miss little bits of product.

Make sure to put the lid back on the bottle each time you load the applicator.

An average car I would use 10 microfibres in total.

There's loads of stuff that I will forget to add here as I just automatically do them

 

[Deleted member 126251]

I think you will get on fine bud, plenty of research and take your time.

Keep the applicator loaded with product, if it dries it will drag and mar the paint.

Use plenty of microfibre clothes. I would wipe over with one, then use a second to sweep the residue. Don't wipe hard your just gently going over it.

Always sweep past the area you work on as it is easy to miss small patches, correct lighting is paramount as again it is very easy to miss little bits of product.

Make sure to put the lid back on the bottle each time you load the applicator.

An average car I would use 10 microfibres in total.

There's loads of stuff that I will forget to add here as I just automatically do them

Time for a YouTube video then.

 

[chrisk2010]

I think you will get on fine bud, plenty of research and take your time.

Keep the applicator loaded with product, if it dries it will drag and mar the paint.

Use plenty of microfibre clothes. I would wipe over with one, then use a second to sweep the residue. Don't wipe hard your just gently going over it.

Always sweep past the area you work on as it is easy to miss small patches, correct lighting is paramount as again it is very easy to miss little bits of product.

Make sure to put the lid back on the bottle each time you load the applicator.

An average car I would use 10 microfibres in total.

There's loads of stuff that I will forget to add here as I just automatically do them

Thanks Daz, there's a lot of good tips there.

I have started making list and plenty of clothes, swedes and a spare applicator is on there if anything I've aired on the side of caution allowing for dropping anything I'll use.

I have gone for 300gsm microfibres as i think they'll be low pile enough while still treating surface with care.

The only thing that's a bit vague is the time between coats does 30-60 minutes sound about right? I would imagine you'd need to be applying this well before it cures so 30 mins sounds about right if the product cures in 60 mins otherwise on coat wouldn't stick to the other.

 

[Dazsw]

Thanks Daz, there's a lot of good tips there.

I have started making list and plenty of clothes, swedes and a spare applicator is on there if anything I've aired on the side of caution allowing for dropping anything I'll use.

I have gone for 300gsm microfibres as i think they'll be low pile enough while still treating surface with care.

The only thing that's a bit vague is the time between coats does 30-60 minutes sound about right? I would imagine you'd need to be applying this well before it cures so 30 mins sounds about right if the product cures in 60 mins otherwise on coat wouldn't stick to the other.

I couldn't give any advice on cquartz stuff, whatever they suggest should be good though.

With the gtechniq I would wait around 5-6 hours before applying another product.

 

[chrisk2010]

I couldn't give any advice on cquartz stuff, whatever they suggest should be good though.

With the gtechniq I would wait around 5-6 hours before applying another product.

Thanks Daz, they vary so greatly from thread to thread more research needed

 

[Dazsw]

Thanks Daz, they vary so greatly from thread to thread more research needed

If I can help in any way mate, I will try

Just purchased a 2012 C63 Coupe, pick it up on Saturday.

Same day the Gtechniq C5, EXO and CSL arrive along with touch up paint which is needed for a wee stone chips.

Fun times ahead.

 

[LeeJV]

How are you getting on with this so far Chris??

I've been doing quite a bit of this lately, I started off doing Wheels on all our cars, and used Carbon collective Platinum, GTECH C5 and KKD Wheel armour, thought that if I can do this on wheels then panels should be a breeze. I did my Wife's GLE with Gyeon Cancoat as a test bed and have to say that I found it extremely simple to do. longevity is only about 6/12mnths but found it great as an intro to coatings.

1 thing I will say is that I found the 70/30 Zero buffing cloths/ Pearl weave cloths great at removing the product without any problem. its not really buffing the coating, more like passing over the coating to level it.
I left the coating for a Min of 1 hour before the next coat, if the 2nd coat is applied too early it wont bond if the previous coat hasn't fully cured... Kinda like painting a wall, if the 1st coat isn't dry, the 2nd coat makes the 1st coat live and slows the curing process even more

TAC systems have also released and new Coating designed with high application temps in mind and gives plenty of working time too.

 

[chrisk2010]

Morning Lee,

It's nice to see someone dipping into the world of ceramic coatings!

I have been doing plenty of research and adding to various baskets but haven't taken the step yet. Our new born is keeping us very .......... awake! at the moment so am planning to get this done around May hopefully couple it with the bank holiday weather permitting.

Practicing of the missus car is my plan too I like the sound of the Gyeon Can Coat (added to basket) i applied two coats of Double speed wax to her 7 seater last weekend after claying and i ached after, more because of the cold than the actual application i think but the poor thing truely needed it.

I have noted that paying attention to applying and watching for the high and low points is very important as well as the overall temperature and humidity to ensure a nice smooth finish but with the factors taking on board i'm not deterred.

The more i look into it though the more i convince myself this is within my skill set though I'm not knocking professional detailers at all like everything detailing is an art but these products are developing quickly and the application will evolve to become easier making it within the grasp of the weekend DIY'er.

The fact of the matter is i don't have £800 or even £300 to spend getting a ceramic coating but for £50 odd i'll give it a go.

Going small areas at a time waiting for it to flash and buffing/wiping off is exactly what my dad said to me when i was 8 and handing me a tin of Gold Simoniz before sendig me out to clean, polish and wax his 7 series so the fundimentals are there lol.

Have you got any pics of the result?

 

[LeeJV]

Its very simple do Chris, if your competent enough to MOP your car then coating is easy.

The biggest reason for it to fail would be down to prep.

I didn't take any pics buddy. but can assure you its a great intro into the kit.

If you haven't bought a coating yet then I would definitely look into cancoat. I did 2 coats on the whole GLE inc all the plastic trims, wheel arches, roof bars etc only used 1/3 of the bottle.
Its very thin to apply with no drag, and removes very easy, if it does flash off too fast where you feel the towel grabbing or you've got some high spots, don't be tempted to buff hard, just add a little more product to it and then level it off.

Then if the weather is a little dodgy that week, add a coat of Cure to protect the coating while it cures.

 

[Yex]

I used Carbon Collective ceramic coating on my wheels and it looked much better when cleaning than it used to but then I got a few bits on the car done by a professional and the difference is night and day. I don't have the patience of others to go through a trial and error process but I do read the instructions and follow them to the letter. After my wheels were done properly they are seriously easy to clean using Maguiars stuff and come back as new again every time.

I know it only lasts 6-12 months but am happy to pay to have them done again when required

 

[Wotchmaker]

Carbon Collective