I would also like to know how well essence plays with hybrid finishing pad on Flex 3401.
Car Pro Essence Reviewed! 6 Months of Testing by OCDetail
- Thread starter Jsmooth
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I would also like to know how well essence plays with hybrid finishing pad on Flex 3401.
RaskyR1
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Would love to hear about the actual testing and how he came to that conclusion.
A2D Signature
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I did, and then I went on carpros forum and they make NO mention of it possessing coating properties. However, on the AG thread the guy says there's coating properties. They contradict eachother. I wouldn't ask if I wasn't confused.
builthatch
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link?
Jsmooth
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I tried a couple other coatings on top of essence and I would not be confident putting anything other than carpro coatings on top of it. How ever I run over an existing coating application with essence and top it with finest. That came out awesome! And created a really crazy glow.
Busy mind
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No worries about Essence weakening any of the previous coating? I'm super curious on the longevity of it all. Common sense tells me that even with Finest on top, it will fail when the first coating fails, however I'm keeping an open mind. Pics of the crazy glow?
I was going to put BF coating on top of Essence for my family car, but I'll wait for more testing.
zmcgovern45
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I've also been trying non-CarPro coatings on top of Essence. I will monitor the durability throughout the winter, but after my discussions with Avi and my previous testing with coating on top of other straight polishes, I am not concerned.
It was explained to me that when using Essence properly by machine, the majority of solvents will evaporate during the polishing cycle, and therefore there is not much of anything left on the surface... not enough to worry about interfering with a coating in most instances.
It was explained to me that when using Essence properly by machine, the majority of solvents will evaporate during the polishing cycle, and therefore there is not much of anything left on the surface... not enough to worry about interfering with a coating in most instances.
VP Mark
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That makes sense. Essence seems to have a really short working time.
I don't understand the chemistry behind how Essence (or the primer products used in other coating systems like Modesta) can leave behind a layer of protection that on its own only lasts 6-12 months, yet allows the subsequently applied coating to last several years as it would had the coating been applied to bare paint. Seems totally odd to me! No reason to doubt the claim, but the chemistry of it is probably beyond me.
leonidnep
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sealthedeal
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It turns out the reasoning is more principles oriented than testing (or may be he did test but of course it's too early to say something conclusively and as a brand representative he wouldn't want people to use the combo and fail down the road and complain)...
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builthatch
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Dr. G confirmed what Yvan is saying, btw.
just throwing that out there.
just throwing that out there.
RaskyR1
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Given Essence just became available here on AG I suspected he hadn't actually tested it yet. Even if he obtained a sample at SEMA I'm not sure that would be adequate time to say definitively that it won't work.
IMO his comments also seem to based on the idea of traditional glazes and fillers, which clearly Essence is not, though I can agree with his thoughts on traditional glazes and definitely wouldn't try applying it over say Megs #7. I look at it this way...Gloss-Coat and Opti-Coat are compatible with Opt polishes and ONR. I know there is something left on the surface after using the polishes and ONR is said to leave behind protection of it's own. If these coatings are compatible with those ingredients is it to far fetched to think they may be compatible with Essence?
Rather then sit here and speculate, lets wait and see actual results from testers with no vested interest in either company. I know a few have already started testing so now it's just a matter of waiting. Or you can always just try it for yourself. Both products are simple to use so your only out a couple hours time and a few bucks if it fails.
builthatch
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Given Essence just became available here on AG I suspected he hadn't actually tested it yet. Even if he obtained a sample at SEMA I'm not sure that would be adequate time to say definitively that it won't work.
IMO his comments also seem to based on the idea of traditional glazes and fillers, which clearly Essence is not, though I can agree with his thoughts on traditional glazes and definitely wouldn't try applying it over say Megs #7. I look at it this way...Gloss-Coat and Opti-Coat are compatible with Opt polishes and ONR. I know there is something left on the surface after using the polishes and ONR is said to leave behind protection of it's own. If these coatings are compatible with those ingredients is it to far fetched to think they may be compatible with Essence?
Rather then sit here and speculate, lets wait and see actual results from testers with no vested interest in either company. I know a few have already started testing so now it's just a matter of waiting. Or you can always just try it for yourself. Both products are simple to use so your only out a couple hours time and a few bucks if it fails.
that is why i inquired with Dr. G as opposed to believing anything from the field (yet).
he understands chemistry more than any of us by an exponential factor. could he just be saying it isn't compatible because he's guessing? uhh, maybe. that is definitely possible.
but it's also possible the guy just understands what Essence is made of, what it does and why his coating isn't ideal on top of it.
my turn to guess: we'll see!
thanks.
RaskyR1
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The same could be said for the chemists who designed Essence, who also "understand chemistry more than any of us by an exponential factor". They have already said they believe it "should" be compatible with other coatings, but they haven't tested it either.
I think some of the confusion also is the standard the guys are Optimum are holding it to. If they say it's not compatible, that doesn't necessarily mean it will fail right away. The latest version of Gloss Coat is claimed to last up to 3 years. If Gloss Coat only lasts a year over Essence, maybe that would be "compatible" to some of us, but I doubt that would be good enough for Optimum to declare it "comparable" since customers are for sure going to start using the product that way.
So since they have a product reputation to protect, I doubt you will see the company endorsing a prep product they haven't tested.
So since they have a product reputation to protect, I doubt you will see the company endorsing a prep product they haven't tested.
RaskyR1
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Gloss-Coat is a consumer product and I definitely wouldn't expect authorized Opti-Coat installers to use Essence prior to coating. For consumers I can see why they would want to use it though as it does add a nice look.
The Guz
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