My methods for applying Opti-Coat

[Anthony Orosco]

Hey Anthony,

I like the way you approached the application of Optimum Opti-Coat! I call this thinking out of the box and the pad & towel approach is very interesting.

Optimums instructions say to apply the product to the supplied foam pad then apply to the finish. As everyone knows, foam absorbs liquids and Optimum Opti-Coat is no different. Because of this, some of the Optimum Opti-Coat stays with the pad and eventually evaporates resulting in wasted product.Your method uses the foam pad as a contour cushion and the plastic glove keeps the product from being absorbed therefore more efficient use of product.

I am curious about fiber or errant particles of paper towel through. What sort of towel are you using and how soft is it?

Were you applying Optimum Opti-Seal or Optimum Opti-Coat with the spray gun and what pressure setting were you using?

Awesome Video Anthony!! rops:

Thank you, my pleasure to make it.

No fibers left behind, the towels are very soft......I will get the brand name when I get back to the shop tomorrow and post it.

It was the OC 2.0 I was spraying which when spraying does not leave as much of a heavy residue as if applied by hand, also the air I was blowing on it speeds up the flash off process a great deal.

For pressure I am spraying at around 25 to 30psi.

Anthony

 

[Y2KSVT]

Awesome video, Anthony! I see Opti-Coat 2.0 sales increasing due to your post!

As for the blue shop towels, I love them! They're very strong, very soft, and they don't lint at all. You can buy them in a box that you pull out like tissues (think Kleenex), or you can buy them in a roll, which is what I prefer.

I'll definitely be using your technique when I hop on the OC 2.0 wagon! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Anthony Orosco]

I have always been a fan of Anthony Orosco

Hey! I have a fan, most awesome and humbling.......likewise. :xyxthumbs:

Very good instructive video. Never thought of putting the foam pad in a glove to prevent product waste by absorption.

When using the small detail sprayer, are you diluting the product in some manner? I can't imagine squirting enough OptiCoat2.0 into a gun to get the gun to even notice it's got anything in it. Maybe an airbrush with it's tiny little cup, but not a real gun.

Hello,

Nope no dilutions. Although I will mess around with things at times:buffing:

We order most of the time several pro syringes of OC at a time. It just so happens that we also had several syringes of the consumer version so I dumped those into my mini-gun.

The mini-gun by the way is an Iwata LPH-80. It's a sweet spray gun, cost is around $400.

Anthony

 

[Setec Astronomy]

I did notice the Optimum shirt and logo but didn't know he's been instrumental in the development of Optimums line.....WOW!! rops:

I'll let Anthony correct me, but I guess I would call him the "alpha" tester, and probably the inspiration for some of the products.

 

[Anthony Orosco]

Awesome video, Anthony! I see Opti-Coat 2.0 sales increasing due to your post!

As for the blue shop towels, I love them! They're very strong, very soft, and they don't lint at all. You can buy them in a box that you pull out like tissues (think Kleenex), or you can buy them in a roll, which is what I prefer.

I'll definitely be using your technique when I hop on the OC 2.0 wagon! Thanks for sharing!

Hey that's cool....glad you liked it!

Anthony

I'll let Anthony correct me, but I guess I would call him the "alpha" tester, and probably the inspiration for some of the products.

Eh....yeah kinda. Ron and I get ideas and then see if Dr. G can formulate it and we go from there. In the case of Opti-Seal and Opti-Coat it was a brain storming over lunch in Dallas several years ago now with Dr. G.

I said I wanted a sealant that just wiped on then evaporated, after a few more margaritas Dr. G said....."Hell yeah, I can do that!" (No. that's not what happened I am just embellishing here) Seriously though he did state it was something he could do so after testing and testing and testing Opti-Seal was born from the Opti-Coat testings but it wasn't the super durable sealant I wanted so we continued the testing of the Opti-Coat samples and finally was able to zero it in. That's the Readers Digest condensed version.

There are always things on the horizon though.....so keep an eye out!

Anthony

 

[umi000]

Ah, that is interesting - I hadn't heard that Opti-Seal was a fruit of Opti-Coat product development; if anything, I'd have thought that Opti-Seal was the one which led to Opti-Coat. So, will Optimum be releasing an Opti-Seal 2.0, for those people who don't want to get into coatings at the moment, but want a boosted-durability sealant?

 

[Hoytman]

It's Opti-Coat 2.0 in the demo.

It doesn't become airborne in the manner of excessive over spray like spraying a base color or clear coat. Now if I were to spray an entire car with opti-coat then I do mask certain areas off but for this demo I did not.

Thanks for watching!

Please don't take any of this personal, it's not meant to be, but I'd like to make some comments.

First,
I don't see how you could coat that 1 truck in just 20ml of OC 2.0. Even with what little bit you sprayed on the side of the truck, there was a large amount of overspray (that's wasted product). The over-spray is there, watch the video yourself. That said not to seem hateful, rather, in case you haven't watched it.

Second,
Unless a person gets this product in large quantities, I can't see them trying the spray technique even if it is that easy.

Third,
With the over spray that I seen in the video, all of it was going over top what appeared to be a bedside. Is that correct? I would think had this been a front fender with the over spray going over the hood that the hood would have needed to get wiped down.

The video was excellent and it certainly appeared easy to spray.

Fourth,
Optimum must be giving you huge price breaks, plus supplying you by the pint, quart, or gallon, and then charging the rest of us through the roof.

Now some of you might think I'm ... well ... something (insert whatever), but something just doesn't add up. Not saying the guy is lying, rather, I may not be understanding how this could be without an astronomical amount of product compared to getting 2-4 cars from 20ml of product that some claim they are getting.

Just some thoughts.

That truck was dripping wet...before the OC.

 

[Flash Gordon]

Thank You.

I'm in Texas (San Antonio) and very kind of you to consider our shop in that regard.

Anthony

Cool

Now I know where to send the good ppl of San Antonio :xyxthumbs:

Hey! I have a fan, most awesome and humbling.......likewise. :xyxthumbs:


Anthony

You have two fans

You won me over with that thread over at the other place :dblthumb2:

 

[CEE DOG]

Thanks for the reply Anthony. I had heard you had been spraying it on and was curious. Thanks for the video. I myself am quite happy with my current means of application I settled on but very much appreciate your knowledge and experience as well. Btw, you might look into using the carpro mf suede cloths with your method. Check it out, safer than a shop towel and you can still use your method.

Personally I like buffing it in with the foam applicator and still use very very little product. It never really seems to me like it soaks into the foam enough to waste product. With that method I don't have to use a towel an any places other than intricate areas. Wide open car panels I can apply and walk away without ever touching it with a towel.

 

[ArkayoDeetayo]

How much actual product of OptiCoat2.0 would you need to apply it via spray method? (for instance, is how much they give you enough for one full application on the car?)

and also, assuming those are the same towels sold at costco, with the manly mechanic doing a pose, wouldn't that scratch the paint? I tested it on my own car several times and each spot left scratches.

 

[pixelmonkey]

Thank you, my pleasure to make it.

No fibers left behind, the towels are very soft......I will get the brand name when I get back to the shop tomorrow and post it.

It was the OC 2.0 I was spraying which when spraying does not leave as much of a heavy residue as if applied by hand, also the air I was blowing on it speeds up the flash off process a great deal.

For pressure I am spraying at around 25 to 30psi.

Anthony

good info, but i'm curious about using the paint gun to install the coating.

with the flash process from wipe happening so fast, i'm in fear that it wouldn't bond correctly with the clear when coming from a paint gun. seems like the pressure and travel of the product would cause the flash to happen, to an extent, before it touches the clear coat.

NO doubt, it would make application smooth and level.

this would be a good test for durability if 1/2 a car was sprayed and the other 1/2 was applied by towel.

hope out opti rep comments on this thread!
chris<pixelmonkey>

 

[Hoytman]

Anthony,
I was in a hurry to give a reply and then leave home after posting. I tried to write in a way that wouldn't seem offensive.

After coming home and re-reading my post I realized I probably could have done a better job voicing (ha ha writing) my concerns so as not to upset anyone. That wasn't my intent and you have my apology in advance if I offended you.

The video was great, and seemingly works very well. I was just wondering how much product was actually being used.

I still say that truck looked fabulous even before the opti-coat application.

 

[silverfox]

I'm not so sure about wiping immediately after applying with the MF towel (just like wiping off wax)...I didn't do that, and actually I only used the MF towel in those areas that didn't flash off quickly.

I recall Dr G saying something to the effect that you would never see a painter wipe off your car immediately after applying clear coat...same principle. High spots, yes...but to wipe off as you would wipe off wax or polish...I question that approach.

 

[Anthony Orosco]

Please don't take any of this personal, it's not meant to be, but I'd like to make some comments.

First,
I don't see how you could coat that 1 truck in just 20ml of OC 2.0. Even with what little bit you sprayed on the side of the truck, there was a large amount of overspray (that's wasted product). The over-spray is there, watch the video yourself. That said not to seem hateful, rather, in case you haven't watched it.

Second,
Unless a person gets this product in large quantities, I can't see them trying the spray technique even if it is that easy.

Third,
With the over spray that I seen in the video, all of it was going over top what appeared to be a bedside. Is that correct? I would think had this been a front fender with the over spray going over the hood that the hood would have needed to get wiped down.

The video was excellent and it certainly appeared easy to spray.

Fourth,
Optimum must be giving you huge price breaks, plus supplying you by the pint, quart, or gallon, and then charging the rest of us through the roof.

Now some of you might think I'm ... well ... something (insert whatever), but something just doesn't add up. Not saying the guy is lying, rather, I may not be understanding how this could be without an astronomical amount of product compared to getting 2-4 cars from 20ml of product that some claim they are getting.

Just some thoughts.

That truck was dripping wet...before the OC.

I never take a detailing reply personal as it's such a subjective area. So on to my reply.

First, I never said I coated the entire vehicle with that amount of product. I only sprayed that rear quarter panel for demonstration purposes. As I said I have been promising people I would post up my methods.

Secondly one syringe will cover a car using a mini-gun such as the one I showed. Not the 2.0 syringe but the pro version.

Third, incorrect. Again the over spray is not like that from spraying a clear......I sprayed a Porsche hood yesterday and the material from paint is heavier, settles and dries on nearby surfaces. OC does not harden in that manner so any over spray can be easily wiped away which is not an issue seeing as how a quick buff down is always recommended, either by hand or spray.

Fourth, so what if I am getting a huge price break? That shouldn't matter to anyone. Hell I've been at this for 25 years now giving away free advice on these detailing forums, through emails and over the phone. Opti-Seal and Opti-Coat and kinda like my brain fart so if I get it for free it shouldn't be of anyone's concern. I'm paying though just like everyone else but I do order several syringes at a time so if I want to spray a car then I order enough to do so, simple as that.

Lastly, its not a truck but a 1994 BMW 840.

Thank You,
Anthony

 

[Anthony Orosco]

In regards to wiping opti-coat down.......please understand that one should wait a period of time to flash.

My purpose in the video was to demonstrate mainly the application methods I use and not so much on a step by step course. So it's best seen as a condensed instructional.

I should of voiced that on the video and I can now see where some people may get confused or get the wrong impression on application.

So even after spraying I give the product some dwell time and then buff it down but to conserve time on the video I just buffed it down quickly to demonstrate again my methods.

My apologies for any confusion.

Anthony

 

[Anthony Orosco]

Anthony,
I was in a hurry to give a reply and then leave home after posting. I tried to write in a way that wouldn't seem offensive.

After coming home and re-reading my post I realized I probably could have done a better job voicing (ha ha writing) my concerns so as not to upset anyone. That wasn't my intent and you have my apology in advance if I offended you.

The video was great, and seemingly works very well. I was just wondering how much product was actually being used.

I still say that truck looked fabulous even before the opti-coat application.

I appreciate your concern and apology. I have though not taken it personally, as I stated it's just detailing, which is such a subjective area.

Thank you for the thought and also kind words.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Boy you guys are a tough crowd. I know Anthony from another forum, and he's not just "some guy" who came here to hype his application method. Anthony is fairly modest...so maybe I have to toot his horn a little since he doesn't post here much.

Not only is Anthony a fantastic detailer with a well-established business (with Ron, they do detailing, PDR, PPF, and tint), he is the founder of the Optimum Forums and as noted earlier in the thread, the inspiration for these WOWA products. I know you Geeks think of Chris Thomas as the forum "face" of Optimum products, I know that face to be Anthony Orosco, from back when Opti-Coat was just a nameless product he used to tease us with, describing a product he was testing which would last for years.

That's not to take anything away from Chris, you guys just need to give Anthony some slack, he's been using Optimum products longer than anyone, back when OCW was called Sunwax and when the polishes were developed for the factory paint lines.

PS Anthony, you need to fix that link in your sig, it's not working for me.

 

[Hoytman]

When I seen that role in the fender it looked like bedside to me. Iwasn't really paying to much attention anyway as I was too busy watching you spraying the OC.

My fourth point was more to explain that some folks probably couldn't order that much Anthony, not to imply that what is your business shouldn't be your business. You can certainly apply as much, or as little product as you see fit.

One thing customers or others who watch you apply the product can't say is that you didn't coat it well. It's definately covered well for sure. That only benefits the customer.

You didn't include how much product you used as information (unless I missed that as well...and being in a hurry I could have), so I was left to assume how much may or may not have been applied.. I think it's fair to say other's shared the same concerns. Not that we care how much product you used (or what you payed for it), but as a concern to how much we might expect to use vs the cost of doing such.

There's no issue with what you pay, or even if you pay. Again, I assumed that Optimum products could quite possibly supply some detailers with OC/OG in larger quantities than 40ml, and if so, why don't we hear more about it. That was the thought process when I wrote that, as well as 40ml may indeed be the largest quantity available.

I could care less how much product you like to apply, as it's your choice, and it seems to work well for you.

Again, your video was great. You did a great job showing how you apply it and I understand that was the sole intent of the video. It just left a few, at the least me, wondering about a few things like how much product was applied and if over spray was a concern.

These are not loaded questions but legitimate one, proved by me saying I've never applied the product before...but I have a tube at the office waiting for me.

I really didn't mean to put you on the defensive, as I have no reason to do that.

Looks like you first reply to me, and my second post...we may have been typing at the same time. I understand if I offended you a bit. Again, you have my apology.

EDIT: Crap, crossed posted again.

Definately respect your skills man.

 

[TLMitchell]

An interesting thread, Anthony. Thanks for posting it and doing the demo vid. I've Opti Coated my bike and truck piecemeal for experimentation purposes. The silly-soft finish on the bike was my primary reason for using OC, even applying Opti Seal with a foam pad left marks. So I obviously was looking for a better application method.

Interestingly, I've been using those blue, paper shop towels to apply Rain X etc to glass for years. In addition to the softness it's convenient to have a square edge for getting into corners without leaving product on adjacent trim. A total coincidence I wrap around a latex glove with a pad inside, for glass I had a piece of square foam in there.

I tried this method with Opti Coat 2.0 and it's a definite winner. I'd done different parts of my truck with foam and MF pads with good results. On the soft, black bike the included foam pad was a disaster. Although any marring was really minimal the edge around the pad is a killer on soft paint if you're ever-so-slightly clumsy. I was evening out some high spots on the bike and caught that edge on a section and the edge of that lip is sharp enough to have left a scratch. Nothing severe enough that you could feel but the Opti Coat had to come off and I had to recompound and polish.

Redoing the same panel using the shop towel/glove/pad method was effortless and didn't leave any marring of any kind anywhere. A first for any kind of work on or around this paint! It swirls if you look at it.

Once I get a few blobs sanded down and the rest of the bike compounded and polished to perfection I'm looking forward to the results using this method. Only time will tell whether Opti Coat will be the answer to my frustrations but it's certainly got to be a huge improvement over the OEM clear powdercoat H-D uses.

For anyone else considering this method, you can't see if you have product on a foam or MF pad left after you start spreading it around. With Opti Seal the trick was to press it against glass to observe if you still had product to work with... might not want OC on your glass, With the blue shop towel you can actually see the fibers still contain moisture. A handy bonus.

TL

 

[D_Nyholm]

Would you mind linking these towels? Or are they the ones you get from Costco in a 4 pack? What else are you using them for? I might want to pick some up and try to OC my black Porsche since it seems similar to the bike mentioned above. How has that helped with the marring if I may ask?