Coating application

DaveT435

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As more and more coatings are hitting the market I thought it would be nice to have one thread dedicated to knowledge that many of us have only learned from real world use. Things that are not in the directions but you have found made your application easier or helped avoid a problem. If this already exists sorry. So if you there is anything special about a certain coating please contribute to help other.
To start out...
Opti-coat 2.0 I learned that optimum temp range to be between 65 and 80 degrees. Anything lower than 65 can result in a very long flash time, leaving you wondering if you did something wrong. At 90 degrees I found that it flashed too quickly for my liking. I could barely get it spread and it was completely flashed. I would definitely not recommend application over 90 degrees at all.
Keep in mind this thread is geared toward newer Detailer's, not the pros.
Gtechniq C1. This product seems to have a larger temperature range still allowing easy application. The instructions say from 57-86 degrees. At 57 you obviously have a long working time and can do full panels with no issues. I actually applied it at 88 degrees, a little outside the recommended temp range. I found the product still very workable in smaller sections, half a panel at a time. From my experience I would estimate up to 80 degrees you are still fine to do a whole panel at a time. If at all possible have one person applying the product and another removing the residue. This should cut your application time drastically.

EXO this product the higher the temperature the smaller the section you want to apply and remove the residue. The temperature has much more affect on this product. I found that at 85 degrees a 2' x 2' section to work best and have the residue still be easily removed. Again I found a two person team to cut application to cut application time by about 70%. With both the C1 and EXO it' apply the product and in about 30 seconds remove the residue.
One last note, after opening these products the should be used within 30 days if stored in a cool dark place, this can be stretched to 60 days if refrigerated. I've heard the same about CQuartz. Hopefully someone who uses this product will post this information.
I hope this will help some people. Please users of other coating post anything that you've learned about that product that isn't in the directions.
 
CQuartz UK - application directions are pretty straight forward. I would like to emphasize ensure you buff of high spots before moving on to the next section.

Pinnacle Black Label Coatings - I've found that applying the coating with a foam block/4x4 suede mf strip keeps more product on the surface allowing you to spread it out more. Imo, it seems like the LC foam applicator absorbs quite a bit of product as you begin to spread it.
 
CQuartz UK - application directions are pretty straight forward. I would like to emphasize ensure you buff of high spots before moving on to the next section.

Pinnacle Black Label Coatings - I've found that applying the coating with a foam block/4x4 suede mf strip keeps more product on the surface allowing you to spread it out more. Imo, it seems like the LC foam applicator absorbs quite a bit of product as you begin to spread it.

I agree with both of you gentlemen.

I've used so far probably the two "easiest" coatings on the market, DP, and a little bit of Pinnacle GL. And used the the DP mostly, "outside", which were surely less than favorable conditions due to haste as one issue.

Sure, went to apply DP in what started as a mild light breeze, then got worse.

I think 1/2 the product went next door onto the neighbor's ride. I know I wasted product. Flash times were ridiculous, and this product flashes faster than anything I've ever used, instantly. I didn't help matters none.

And yep, more waste, applying with a standard run of the mill yellow foam applicator.

Although under a carport, and in shade, this too did not make application any easier, lots of reflective light, hard to see even with a halogen set up, I was IMO under very poor conditions to be applying any sort of coating.

These conditions have me concerned with moving up with the big boys, and trying to apply more "testy" types of coatings like CQuartz, GTechniq, Opti-Coat, etc.

Sure, I see CQuartz being applied like the vehicle is in direct sunlight, but I think these are not optimum, best to have a nice garage, no dust, no breezes blowing, and very good artificial lighting to better see what you're doing.
Mark
 
I know without a doubt, if somebody local ever approached me, and said "Hey Mark, I hear you're a fantastic detail man, I want you to detail, and coat my 2014 Stingray, or 2015 Yukon, can you decon, clay, polish, and protect my ride"?

The first question I'd be asking would be "Do you have a Garage"?

Farting around with my junker Kia, it isn't worth a carton of Cigs, so it really doesn't matter. But doing almost anything to a good vehicle outside is IMO a set of circumstances that will hamper even the best detailer.

We of course don't see people like Mike Phillips here, correcting and treating some best of show winner '66 blown Nova under some Cherry Tree. LOL
 
It seems sometimes we learn the easy way, and sometimes we learn the hard way. Of course there is an in-between where we somewhat succeed, and somewhat fail. We of course are all only human, we are excused when we make a mistake. We hope to learn from our daily mistakes, and move on.

The bottom line, even if applying a crap can of Turtle Wax, and getting bad results......

Rewind the tapes, think of what you've done. What could've been improved, what steps of time, and hard work, and sweat you wasted could've been improved, modified, to save yourself grief, gray hairs, and less than stellar final results?

Memory, and experience is sometimes a hard thing to call back upon in our daily lives.
 
wow i didnt know they expire. I opened cquartz the beginning of april and only used 1/4 of the bottle. i was planing on doing my daughters car soon.
how would i know if it is good or not?
 
If I remember correctly, Corey told me you should be fine up to 6 months after opening...
 
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