Talk me into ceramic coating

Lol

 

@booyaa let's see some more pics and what wheels are those?

 

My 2017 Limited black metallic is at the shop getting paint corrected and coated now. Here are the before pics:


Needless to say the swirls are insane. Hold the snickers and gasps. Before y’all crucify or otherwise make tremendous fun of my washing technique, my circular wash and dry pattern aside, I am very particular about hand washing and am trying to learn. Truck has never been in a car wash. I use two bucket method with grit guards, and use good detail products, including spray polish and the whole nine yards.

The detailer, who is one of the best in the Philly area, tried to make me feel better by saying the paint on this truck is brutally soft, and it doesn’t help the truck is black metallic, so I shouldn’t beat myself up too much.

Fast forward. After 4-stage correction and 3.5 days, it is looking more presentable (you be the judge):




Ceramic coating is next. Will send more pics as it cures. Rain isn’t helping.

 

I just mine back last Friday had the paint correction and ceramic coating done. I couldn’t be happier.

 

Borgs, that looks great!

Its funny that they told you that this paint is soft. I've got the black metallic paint, too, and I was wondering about it's durability. Before I had it coated, it was shockingly easy to scratch. Now that it's coated, I did manage to get a couple of minor scratches on the bed that are pissing me off. We loaded up the truck for a dump run and there's no telling what may have happened. Only one other person has seen the scratches so they really aren't bad. It's one.of those things I guess.

After the coat cured for 2 or 3 weeks, I gave the truck a good bath and hit it with Beadmaker. I still can't believe that the surface is even slicker than just the ceramic. I enjoy winter about as much as having a pineapple stuffed up my tail end but I'm really curious to see how my truck handles the funky weather.

The black metallic paint looks amazing when it's clean.

 

I guess my question is how easy will it be to swirl the paint once coated? I guess it should be pretty hard to swirl. I have a 5-year warranty on mine, so I am hoping it should be durable. I am interested to hear about the beadmaker.

 

I don't know how well it will resist the dreaded swirl marks yet. It's only been washed once since the coating was applied. I've got the 5 year warranty, too. Maybe we ended up with the same product.

The shop recommended using a no touch car wash. I've not tried such a thing so far as I'm perfectly content washing the truck at home. I use a foam cannon, quality name brand products and dry with a giant waffle weave towel from... I don't remember, some towel place recommended here or another forum.

I figure if I don't touch the paint, I can't scratch it. That just isn't very realistic though.

 

Truck looks great Borgs! Your detailer is right. The paint on these trucks is very soft, and black just compounds it. I’m very careful with mine, and I still have swirl marks all over it. When the sun is hitting mine full on, you can really tell.

As for your question, the ceramic coating will help reduce swirl marks, but not because it in itself resists them. What it does is do an amazing job of keeping dirt and particles from sticking to the paint, there by reducing the amount of contaminants between your towel and the paint.

The swirl marks aren’t from your towel, but from what they are pushing around on the paint. I’m sure you are rinsing your truck off before you wash it, but it’s next to impossible to get everything off that way. There will still be particles on the paint, even if you can’t see them.

A ceramic coating will greatly reduce the amount left behind after rinsing. Swirl marks are still possible, but a lot less likely. So, yes, it will HELP prevent swirl marks, just indirectly.

I’m not sure how well it cleans, but I’ve read a lot of guys don’t use towels at all after applying ceramic coating. They just spray it off with a pressure washer and go. Depending on the quality of your water, you can let it air dry. I couldn’t do that because mine is very hard. Other guys I’ve seen will take it for a drive afterwards to dry it off. I’d say give that a try, and see if it works. I suspect that using towels would still be necessary, but it depends on your expectations.

If rinsing and air drying don’t clean it well enough, try touchless washes. ONR and Ech20 rinseless washes also seem to do a good job of avoiding swirls. They have lubricants built in to help with it.

 

All great insight, Jason, thanks so much. Makes complete sense. Unfortunately we have very hard water as well, such that I usually need to use detailer or the rinse less washes after a wash (even if I completely dry in low/no sun). I really like the rinse less washes, so I am a bit comforted to hear using it wasn't the cause of the swirls.

Here are more pics from the detailer. These are after application of the ceramic coating, but before it is fully cured. I hope I can pick it up tomorrow night - really pumped.

 

I just went yesterday to a local guy who has been doing this since 2010. Seems like he knows what he's talking about IMO. I am going with the opticoat pro and with paint correction was quoted 755.00. He did a sample buffing on my truck and said it was in really good shape. I saw the work they were doing on a black Chevy truck at the time and he told me the paint correction was double the time and his cost was 1400.00 due to the quality differences in paints. They have over 50 5 star reviews and work in warehouse area garages to cut down on the overhead. I am also going with the film coating on the front bumper and nose of the truck and mirrors for 575.00 to further prevent chipping. My appointment is on the 28th. I'll post when it's done.

 

Beautiful!

 

That sure is a beautiful BLAAAACK (and fast, too) Tundra you have @Borgs

 

If/when the swirls show up again, can the paint be polished again without removing the ceramic coating?

 

Good question. I assume the paint correction took off some of the clear coat. The ceramic coats adds a layer of protection but that won't last forever. You only have so much of it I assume.

 

While I’m definitely not an expert, I’m pretty positive polishing will wear down the coating. Polishing works by removing clear coat, so there’s a finite amount of it that you can do. I have to assume it will eat through the ceramic also, since it’s on top of the clear coat.

 

I picked up my truck tonight. Insane. It was dark so I didn’t take pics. I spoke with the detailer - he said no polish needed for 5 years.

 

Can’t wait to see it!

 

Me too! In the daylight!

 

With not much sunlight anymore I had to snap these before I went to work this morning . I will get more this weekend when the sun shines. Very pumped, outside of perhaps a Lamborghini at the Philly auto show, I’ve never seen paint this glossy. Last night I shined an led headlight at the paint to get a look and was practically blinded by the reflection.



Big shout out to Nick at AODetail in Pennsauken, NJ. This is Ceramic Pro, a 5-year warranty. Wasn’t cheap but it looks insane and should make detailing a lot easier and effective the next 5 years. Nick has other options to suit all budgets.

Nick is a true pro and knows his craft. He took a lot of time to explain to me the process and care going forward. He sent a long detailed email with recommended products, which I will recreate later, to the extent folks are interested.

 

So....sexy!

Please post more pics..when you can!!

 

Wow! it looks amazing

 

Great googly moogly that looks amazing.

 

Looks great, Borgs. I'm definitely interested in the instructions given to you re caring for your new finish.

 

That is some seriously deep shine @Borgs!

 

I will say that @Borgs results have made me reconsider. I’m off all next week, and I’m thinking maybe I’ll try to do a panel or two. If it goes well, it may inspire me to get off my butt and get it done.

 

Truck had been parked outside since Wednesday. Quite a bit of rain and wind and debris flying around outside. I hit it with Leafblower Saturday and truck looks clean and freshly detailed. As promised, he are some recommendations from my detailer Nick:

Subject: Coating Maintenance
The key to safe washing is touching the car as little as possible. If you can pick yourself up a small electric pressure washer with brass fittings, that'd make your life so much easier. You'll also need Two Five Gallon buckets for a wash and rinse bucket. Each containing a grit guard to prevent reintroduction of dirt into mitt or onto car.(Two bucket wash explained below)

http://www.detailedimage.com/DI-Accessories-M12/35-Gallon-Bucket-P1103/Blue-S3/
http://www.detailedimage.com/Grit-Guard-M25/Grit-Guard-Insert-P119/

Our Favorite wash mitt

http://www.detailedimage.com/DI-Accessories-M12/Sheepskin-Wash-Mitt-wno-thumb-P209/

Our favorite shampoos for coatings.

http://www.detailedimage.com/CarPro-M53/Reset-Intensive-Car-Shampoo-P930/500-ml-S1/

http://www.detailedimage.com/GTechniq-M70/G-Wash-P1079/250-ml-S1/

http://www.detailedimage.com/Gyeon-M91/Bathe-P1422/400-ml-S1/

Optimum No Rinse will work as well for a winter wash. You'll use it just as the video on two bucket washing demonstrates below. Obviously you won't have the suds or pre/post rinsing.

Both regular Shampoos can be loaded in this foam gun to pre-treat the surface and draw the heaviest dirt off the vehicle before you even begin hand washing.

https://www.amazon.com/MATCC-Adjustable-Bottle-Lance-Connector/dp/B01CE78VO8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1489366649&sr=8-3&keywords=foam+gun

As for drying, a standard leaf blower works well or one of these

http://www.chemicalguys.com/JetSpeed_VX6_Surface_Air_Dryer_Blower_p/acc_303.htm

Solid Quick Detailers;

http://www.detailedimage.com/CarPro-M53/Reload-Spray-Sealant-P605/400-ml-S1/

http://adamspolishes.com/adam-s-ceramic-boost-8oz.html


An introduction to two-bucket washing;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVAxphcgKnY

Let me know if you have any questions about any of these products or their use.

Nick

AODetail

 

I am a believer in Ceramic Coating but waiting for the hype to die down. This should be able to be applied, when the car is new, after a clay bar process. Unless major paint correction, no way this should cost thousands.

 

@mgm16trdpro - Like several things on my truck, I also took your lead on coating as well. Looks killer. I haven’t had any nice sunny days to take pics yet.