Blackfire Crystal Coat problems...

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Bonesteel

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It's been a long day...
I finished washing, decontaminating, and polishing my new WRX today. I figured I would knock out the coating tonight., but I was wrong.

I hit it with the BF Paint Prep, and started applying the BFCC with a LC wedge applicator. Maybe I'm just an idiot, but I can't get the BFCC to level for the life of me. The bottle says wait 1 minute for it to flash after you apply it. That didn't work. I tried other areas and varied the thickness and wait time, but it just doesn't wipe off. It's like smearing super glue across the paint. I don't know what to do differently.

I had to use an excessive amount of pressure and oscillation to finally remove it from the hood...I'm exhausted. After spending 2 hours on the hood, small section of the roof, and A-pillar, I'm over it. If the current condition of the coating is any indication of what it will look like when it cures, the results won't be good. It's uneven, streaky, and hazy.

What am I doing wrong?
 
Bonesteel said:
It's been a long day...
I finished washing, decontaminating, and polishing my new WRX today. I figured I would knock out the coating tonight., but I was wrong.

I hit it with the BF Paint Prep, and started applying the BFCC with a LC wedge applicator. Maybe I'm just an idiot, but I can't get the BFCC to level for the life of me. The bottle says wait 1 minute for it to flash after you apply it. That didn't work. I tried other areas and varied the thickness and wait time, but it just doesn't wipe off. It's like smearing super glue across the paint. I don't know what to do differently.

I had to use an excessive amount of pressure and oscillation to finally remove it from the hood...I'm exhausted. After spending 2 hours on the hood, small section of the roof, and A-pillar, I'm over it. If the current condition of the coating is any indication of what it will look like when it cures, the results won't be good. It's uneven, streaky, and hazy.

What am I doing wrong?
Click to expand...
I think maybe it's bad,I had the same promblem on a Silverado and chucked it.I think black fire coating is awesome,but seem to think there is too much product in bottle thus doesn't last.If you had the same promblem I don't even know how you wiped it off.was the applicator clean as well the towel.I apply and immediately wipe it off one panel at a time.Temps can be a promblem if it's to cold.see what it looks like tomorrow as I'm posting this at 3:30 in the morning.
 
I used eraser not the precleaner,the precleaner maybe giving you the promblem but I doubt it,just looking at all problematic angles .when did you buy it and was it stored properly.
 
Is this the newest product out in a spray form nozzle,if so I never used that only the product that came out a year ago sorry I wasn't much help.
 
Sounds like you may have used too much. On my 1st car (my daughters) I know I did but it did come out fine but on the white it was a real pain to see what was being covered. And yes the leveling was real work.

I also did my brothers Escalade and did use more sparingly but still was work to level and I tried different times from application to leveling of 1-5 min and still acted the same. But it still turned out fine.

What I found was to work in small sections and apply fast.

Now with WG uber it is quite different you apply the same way but after the 1min wait you go over it one more time with the applicator then wait 1 more min and very lightly buff. And you have no problem doing larger areas like half a hood or full door.

Also uber has a more glassy finish.

Here are a couple pics of my brothers truck I sent him when I had the left side done. And a pic of mine with uber. I didn't take my pics of mine since we had snow moving in and wanted to get it in the garage.

Also I used a 20% ipa solution on my daughters and the Blackfire prep on the Escalde and it made no difference.

4.JPG

3.JPG

Left-1.jpg
 
I'm giving up, and just applying Crystal Seal for now. I tried putting it on thinner, and wiping more quickly this morning. Still really difficult...nothing like the YouTube videos. I was going to use the CS on everything else anyway. I've never use it before, but I like it so far.
 
Bonesteel said:
I'm giving up, and just applying Crystal Seal for now. I tried putting it on thinner, and wiping more quickly this morning. Still really difficult...nothing like the YouTube videos. I was going to use the CS on everything else anyway. I've never use it before, but I like it so far.
Click to expand...

Was this application the first time you opened the product and removed the seal?

Crystal Coat needs to be applied very, very thin, like how Mike shows in this video:

[ame]www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UXF7bD34Zs[/video]
 
Nick@Autogeek said:
Was this application the first time you opened the product and removed the seal?



Crystal Coat needs to be applied very, very thin, like how Mike shows in this video:
Click to expand...


Brand new bottle. Ordered just a few weeks ago. The seal was opened immediately before application. I tried to follow the way Mike did in that video, but it just wasn't working out.

I just finished up with the Crystal Seal. I was running out of time. I worked on my car about 14 hours yesterday, hoping I could get it done. When things went sideways with the CC, I had to give it up.
 
I too had the same problem. I thought it was the weather at the time (90+ degrees, 80%+ humidty), but now I'm beginning to wonder. I found it VERY thin and runny when applied, but once spread out it became sticky almost instantly.

I found it so sticky that the MF towel I was using for leveling was sticking to the paint. The only way I could do any leveling to the product was let it dry for a while and then try to buff out the high spots, which was very difficult. Otherwise, the product was so tacky to the touch everything stuck to it. I also had to extricate a bug that happened to land on the vehicle and became stuck in the coating!
 
I think it was too warm, or you have a bottle that needs to be replaced. I have had to exact same experience in +80 degree ambient out side air. Microfiber tried to glue itself to the surface leaving me wondering if I gave too much, or too little time. I tried it on another car in cooler temps and had no issues at all. It is a great product, so I would try a sample panel in cooler temps and see if it continues, if so the try to exchange for a fresh one. Best of luck.
 
Did you ensure that the Paint prep was completely flashed away and buffed off via mf towel before application of the coating?

What is the temperature range and humidity levels you are working in?
 
Mike@DedicatedPerfection said:
Did you ensure that the Paint prep was completely flashed away and buffed off via mf towel before application of the coating?



What is the temperature range and humidity levels you are working in?
Click to expand...


I prep'd the whole car, starting with the hood. I started coating the hood so it hat plenty of time, but it was completely clean and dry.

Temperature, I would assume was around 60 in my basement garage, which is loosely climate controlled. I'm sure it wasn't more than 60. It was in the low 30s outside and dry, so I'm sure the humidity couldn't be more than 30-40%.

It sucks, because I wasted a decent amount of money. I may try it on the wheels next week.
 
Nick said they use the more expensive heat seal on the bottle to give it longer unopened shelf life, once exposed to air it will start cross linking and that the product is only good for a month after opening. I bought some when it first came out. I did a Civic SI with no problems, then close to a month later did a Honda Accord with no issues. Both these applications were in higher (85+) temperatures with moderate humidity.
Now I'm a little concerned about the two bottles I just got on BOGO. There is a good chance that inventory has been sitting on the shelf for a while. I'm trying to line up three cars that I can coat within a month before I open it. One other thing...I did not use their prep. Just IPA.
 
Bonesteel said:
I prep'd the whole car, starting with the hood. I started coating the hood so it hat plenty of time, but it was completely clean and dry.

Temperature, I would assume was around 60 in my basement garage, which is loosely climate controlled. I'm sure it wasn't more than 60. It was in the low 30s outside and dry, so I'm sure the humidity couldn't be more than 30-40%.

It sucks, because I wasted a decent amount of money. I may try it on the wheels next week.
Click to expand...

If the bottle was new and the seal was not broken, then the product itself is not defective. From what you described, it was simply applied too thick. Crystal Coat is not the easiest coating to apply, but the results are well worth the extra effort that is required even when applied correctly (thin thin thin!).

I would hate for this to leave a bad taste in your mouth, so I will gladly send you another bottle to replace what you already used. Send me a PM with your order number or email address.

DaveT435 said:
Now I'm a little concerned about the two bottles I just got on BOGO. There is a good chance that inventory has been sitting on the shelf for a while. I'm trying to line up three cars that I can coat within a month before I open it. One other thing...I did not use their prep. Just IPA.
Click to expand...

There's nothing to be concerned about. Our inventory is perfectly fine. :dblthumb2:

I would however encourage you to follow our recommendations and use the Crystal Coat Paint Prep instead of IPA. :props:
 
My experience with it is almost the same. First time, put it on and took it off. I was working on a full size 4 door truck, it was like I was in a race. Bottle sat for maybe a month inside in my closet. Next time I went to use it was a disaster. Sticky nasty mess. Bottle exceeded 70mph towards the trashcan. Hard earned money down the drain.
Got lucky I had another coating at the house already, different brand. Mine had the flip top, which I think was part of the problem, could be wrong though.
 
I consider myself an experienced novice when it comes to coatings. I've tried PBL, Gtechniq, 22ple, Gyeon Booster and CQuartz. They're all different and temp/humidity affect the application of them all. But, if there's one thing I learned with each application, it's that I used too much product the previous time. I have no experience with BF coating, but it does sound like you applied it too thick. Just my thoughts.

Glad to hear you're getting a new bottle from AG - killer customer service!

Maybe try smaller sections with much less product and then ramp up. You've probably done a lot of this, but that's how I had to dial in 22PLE the first time.

(Sent via my mobile device)
 
kevincwelch said:
I consider myself an experienced novice when it comes to coatings. I've tried PBL, Gtechniq, 22ple, Gyeon Booster and CQuartz. They're all different and temp/humidity affect the application of them all. But, if there's one thing I learned with each application, it's that I used too much product the previous time. I have no experience with BF coating, but it does sound like you applied it too thick. Just my thoughts.

Glad to hear you're getting a new bottle from AG - killer customer service!

Maybe try smaller sections with much less product and then ramp up. You've probably done a lot of this, but that's how I had to dial in 22PLE the first time.

(Sent via my mobile device)
Click to expand...


Yup... I'm with you Kevin. I've used CQuartz (both consumer and pro), Gtechniq, PBL, Duragloss, Optigloss, even the one that Meguiar's came out with, to name a few. By FAR I'd say that the method of application is where you need to be the most critical.

Using the CarPro foam block with suede microfiber cloth is THE WAY to go. :dblthumb2:

I've tried the round foam applicators, even the massive (for a coating applicator) LC foam wedge, and can't stand them.

You just can't get the precise, even, consistent, thin, works the first time, application like you do with the CarPro block and suede cloth. ;)

That being said... glad to read any and all input on the BF coating because it's the one coming next! ;) I'm thinking AG should and COULD offer a coating that is every bit as thick, durable, and strong as any "pro" coating out there. :props:
 
cardaddy said:
Using the CarPro foam block with suede microfiber cloth is THE WAY to go. :dblthumb2:

I've tried the round foam applicators, even the massive (for a coating applicator) LC foam wedge, and can't stand them.

You just can't get the precise, even, consistent, thin, works the first time, application like you do with the CarPro block and suede cloth. ;)
Click to expand...

Great tip! I wasn't a fan of the the OPT foam applicator I used to apply OPT Gloss Coat. Next car, I'll definitely try the CarPro setup you mention.
Thanks! :props:
 
Definitely agree with the MF suede and block. I abandoned the gtechniq glaze and just bought a large sheet of the MF suede that I cut up and size to whatever block I'm using. CarPro has the nicest blocks in my opinion, but the 22ple block is nice for holding and you can wrap a MF suede around a LC block as well. Gyeon basically uses the same block as CarPro... MF suede is the way to go.

(Sent via my mobile device)
 
eaglefan said:
My experience with it is almost the same. First time, put it on and took it off. I was working on a full size 4 door truck, it was like I was in a race. Bottle sat for maybe a month inside in my closet. Next time I went to use it was a disaster. Sticky nasty mess. Bottle exceeded 70mph towards the trashcan. Hard earned money down the drain.
Got lucky I had another coating at the house already, different brand. Mine had the flip top, which I think was part of the problem, could be wrong though.
Click to expand...
The flip flop top I only got a glk 350 and a caddy cts and was super super easy to apply and remove.That all changed when I tried to use it on a Silverado could not get it off,even tried lacquer thinner nothing,ended up polishing the affected area.The product is great just with a little mysterious promblem .
 
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