Ask the Detailer

Thanks for that link! Lots of handy info.

 

I picked up some Ultima pgp anyone know if it can be applied over Meguires UC or UP? I did read about using it over Ultima paint prep but can't find any locally. Apparently Ultima doesn't have any fillers for swirls etc is the reason. Thanks.

 

I can not see a reason why it couldn't? What's interesting is that it is a wipe on - walk away type product, so I'd be inclined to do some paint prep prior to application to make sure you get a good bond with the surface

 

I was planning on stripping all the old wax then just using a pre polish as a way of helping to mask any imperfections before appying UPGP. It's a waterbased product though so there's that too. Supposed to use some of their polish but can't locate any in Canada.

 

Anyone try Carpro Essence Plus as a stand alone?

 

I have tried essense and it's pretty damn good. I'm pretty sure essense plus is for polishing out ceramic without damaging it. Essense is a polish, primer, but also gives months of protection.

 

Sounds good. Carpro says Essence plus is awesome as a filler for swirls and scratches on damaged ceramic coatings but also works great that way on bare paint.
Sounds easy to use, rub on whole vehicle by hand then buff off.

https://www.carpro-us.com/compounds...nce-plus-non-abrasive-gloss-agent-500ml-17oz/

 

There are a LOT of posts here so I am going to try one. Over Thanksgiving I am going to attempt some minor rust repair under my bed rail cap where the topper rubbed for years. Surface rust. I think I gently get off the caps and hope they don't crack, Sand. Prime with rust converter primer, paint, not sure about top coat. I am going to pay someone for the rest but the problem is we are installing racks in a week or so....and don't want to have uninstall them. Any good videos for doing a perfect job? #1 is going to the dealership to get some touch up paint. I am pretty sure my unopened 12 year old bottle is not any good anymore?

 

@Omohundro may have some tips.

 

Can you maybe post a few pictures of what you are going to repair?

 

These are where a camper shell rubbed. Seems to be minor surface rust to me but once I clamp on bed racks I wil have to remove the bases to repair so it seems a good time. ........ to get-r-done -- ok I am attempting to embed media first picture attempt.

 

You are on the right track. After you clean the rust out the best you can and apply your primer. I would look into some enamel paint to touch it up, nothing is going to match that great and enamel will be the best for what you have going on. Go to a part store and tell them what you have and they should help you out.

 

Thanks. They fixed me right up at Advance Auto. Even had packs of assorted sandpapers for it. So I have some primer, some touch up paint and some clear coat.

 

Over the years, the original black finish has been scratched off areas on my dash.
I think a previous owner had a large key chain that they dragged along the dash as they entered & exited the vehicle. My Question: Is there an easy way to improve the appearance that does not involve removing the dash? Touch up paint?

 

you may could try this. It's for a bedliner but it may just work to touch up those spots. It dries and does not migrate



Oh, I just found this too. I may try this on my some places as it's good for vinyl

 

https://www.solutionfinish.com/ may help. Other people here have spoken highly of it. I'd bet someone else will comment on whether it's a good idea to try it on a dashboard though.

Shine supply has a similar product that you may want to look at.

 

Any of you guys try using a paint cleaner like TAC system paint cleaner instead of claying? Supposed to help with not marring the finish like a clay bar.

https://www.tacsystemusa.com/car-care-supplies/paintwork-cleaner/

 

The repair of my rust spot on the back is going well [still in progress] but I do NOT like the primer I got from Advance (Duplicolor) and assume their paint would be just as bad. Very runny and not a good sprayer and I see this is a common complaint and it was well agitated and I have sprayed plenty of paint in my life. I think maybe the white rustoleum would be a better primer? Or is this just a paint that needs to be better mastered?

Also the Toyotoa touch up paint was a pen and a little brush like one you would use for white out. I feel like it would go better with a softer brush LOL can I use testors enamel paint if I can find a match for 040 super white?

Other good suggestions for spray primer and maybe spray or brush on touch up paint? . I feel like I can tackle the entire rear of my tailgate where the camper shell rubbed off the paint.

 

AutomotiveTouchup.com has great supplies for color matching

 

I tried Shine Supply Trim Paint for the first time yesterday. Unless I had some major operator error, it’s not good at all. Nowhere near the ease of use and result that Solution Finish has. I should’ve gotten pictures, but it just left a globby, streaky mess. I ended up scrapping it off as best I could.

 

Also tried Shine Supply Daddy-O sealant for the first time. I’d assumed it was a competitor for Jescar Powerlock. It did ok, but not nearly as good as Powerlock. Very little gloss, and left streaks that I’ve never gotten with Jescar.

I love Shine Supply, but I can’t recommend Daddy-O or Trim Paint to anyone. Trim Paint was just bad, and Daddy-O is not on Powerlock’s level. No reflection on Shine Supply’s overall quality. Like any company, there’s good and bad. These two are just not as good as the alternatives.

 

Got to try out the Meguiar's Perfect Clarity Glass Care Kit on the rest of the wife's van and will be utilizing on the truck soon! Very happy with ease of use & results.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRyCKrrk0uA

 

Also decided to mess around and do a quick wash on the truck....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7id9uj1tsss

 

Is it just a cleaner, or a coating also?

 

The kit comes with the compound, sealant, and the application pad for each. About $15

 

Anyone know the make up of a proper ceramic coating?

What I got is:

TiO2 <5% [Titanium Dioxide]
SiO2 <10% [Silicon Dioxide]
4SiO4 <2% [Ethyl Silicate]
(C2H6OSi)n <10% [Poly Dimethyl Siloxane]

 

From what I understand a true ceramic coating contains quite a bit of silica and some have titanium. Less than 10% sio2/silica doesn't make sense. some spray sealants contain more than that. I thought some ceramic was around 70% sio2 but I could be wrong
Edit....carpro cquartz UK has 70% sio2
Regular cquartz ceramic also has tio2 in it. Everyone one is a little different

 

A lot of water in it too. No real ceramic coating comes in a diluted form that I've seen. That'll 'learn meh not to go to the dealer. In my defence, I hadn't read anything here on these forums before I ordered my truck so by the time I had, it was too late. I guess that's why they "touch it up" for "life"... They just splash on some sealant here and there. Well, at least i won't be worried about going through the touchless wash before I bring it.

 

The “coatings” that dealerships apply are a scam. When we bought my daughter’s Honda, the price included I think almost a grand for something I didn’t recognize. I asked what it was, and the salesman said it was for a coating they apply. He said that all their cars have it, so it was just part of the deal.
Told me how great it was for protecting the paint, keeping it clean, etc. He even said “this coating costs more than twice as much to get done elsewhere”. I asked him if it was a ceramic coating, he said yes.

I took him back outside with the complimentary bottle of water he’d given me. I poured it all over the hood, and it didn’t run off at all. I told him they were full of shit, and if he didn’t remove the charge we were out of there. He tried to argue a little until I explained to him that I know exactly what should have happened if the paint was coated. They took the charge off.

I did give him a little FYI though. “If a customer specifically asks you not to wash a car they are buying from you, there’s a good chance they aren’t going to buy your coating either.”

 

And don’t feel bad about falling for it. Most of us would or did before we were educated about it.