Coating applicators and application

[fightnews]

I see a lot of people using the yellow and black lake county applicators for coatings. What about those suede cloths they sell to wrap the applicator? They are supposed to be better? Anyone use them?

 

[TTQ B4U]

I see a lot of people using the yellow and black lake county applicators for coatings. What about those suede cloths they sell to wrap the applicator? They are supposed to be better? Anyone use them?

I highly recommend the CarPro Orange applicators, their suede cloths and then also really really love their 16x16 Suede rags for removal. I usually flip the suede applicators part way through the vehicle and use two total per vehicle. Drop them in some Towel Kleen once done. Same with their 16x16 towels. I use about 2-3 per vehicle when removing the coating. Drop them in after use too. Wash them by hand seperately, rinse and hang dry. They clean up great and dry super soft. ZERO lint too. Especially nice vs MF Rags given some coatings can be a bit "grabby" when wiping off.

 

[vobro]

I highly recommend the CarPro Orange applicators, their suede cloths and then also really really love their 16x16 Suede rags for removal. I usually flip the suede applicators part way through the vehicle and use two total per vehicle. Drop them in some Towel Kleen once done. Same with their 16x16 towels. I use about 2-3 per vehicle when removing the coating. Drop them in after use too. Wash them by hand seperately, rinse and hang dry. They clean up great and dry super soft. ZERO lint too. Especially nice vs MF Rags given some coatings can be a bit "grabby" when wiping off.

Ditto

 

[Rsurfer]

I highly recommend the CarPro Orange applicators, their suede cloths and then also really really love their 16x16 Suede rags for removal. I usually flip the suede applicators part way through the vehicle and use two total per vehicle. Drop them in some Towel Kleen once done. Same with their 16x16 towels. I use about 2-3 per vehicle when removing the coating. Drop them in after use too. Wash them by hand seperately, rinse and hang dry. They clean up great and dry super soft. ZERO lint too. Especially nice vs MF Rags given some coatings can be a bit "grabby" when wiping off.

I agree on the 16X16 for removal, but a mf applicator applies smoother than the suede apps.

 

[dcjredline]

Ive used the CQ Foam and Suede wraps too. Ive not tried to save them after application but I have only done like 6-8 cars so havent wasted too many of them. For removal I like the MF better than the big suede but there isnt really anything wrong with the suede I just have a hard time trusting it.

 

[Fast Eddie]

I do tons of coatings now and use the CarPro suede cloths and applicator exclusively. Nice and smooth finish. I buy the large CarPro suede cloths and cut them into applicator size. Cheap and disposable.

 

[fightnews]

I highly recommend the CarPro Orange applicators, their suede cloths and then also really really love their 16x16 Suede rags for removal. I usually flip the suede applicators part way through the vehicle and use two total per vehicle. Drop them in some Towel Kleen once done. Same with their 16x16 towels. I use about 2-3 per vehicle when removing the coating. Drop them in after use too. Wash them by hand seperately, rinse and hang dry. They clean up great and dry super soft. ZERO lint too. Especially nice vs MF Rags given some coatings can be a bit "grabby" when wiping off.

Ok nice I have some suede cloths already I will look into the towels. Does the suede give you more even finish?

 

[fightnews]

Does anybody try buffing off with a da and a microfiber bonnet or is that overkill?

 

[TTQ B4U]

Ok nice I have some suede cloths already I will look into the towels. Does the suede give you more even finish?

Even finish? Not sure I follow you there? They do remove the residual coating material very easily. For me the main reason is I do a ton of pure black vehicles and even with my own pure black car, they leave ZERO lint or dust, etc. I don't care what MF Rag is out there, I find they all eventually shed something at some point and it's super noticeable on black. Yeah, I'm that OCD. Not with the Suede rags. For that reason too, I use them with my detail spray after I wash my car.

 

[fightnews]

Can you use the carpro essence before any coating? If so can you use it on a waxed car to prep the paint before coating without using anything else?

That's what I meant by even. Leveling off the excess product

 

[TTQ B4U]

Can you use the carpro essence before any coating? If so can you use it on a waxed car to prep the paint before coating without using anything else?

Essence is an SiO2 Based product thus I would only use it on compatible coatings. The base isn't going to cure to the point of non-adherence right away just as with SiO2 coatings, thus why one waits an hour before applying a second coat but not say 2 weeks. Yes, essence can be used to remove old wax and as a prep for such coatings. Most coatings however will have their own "prep" product and that's typical. No different than paint brands having their own brand primers. That said, I've used Essence with CarPro and McKee's with fine results. Others will argue differently and that's fine. My wife's van was prepped with Essence and topped with 2 coats of McKee's last year and it's doing awesome. I posted in another thread a couple weeks back about the follow up.

 

[fightnews]

Essence is an SiO2 Based product thus I would only use it on compatible coatings. The base isn't going to cure to the point of non-adherence right away just as with SiO2 coatings, thus why one waits an hour before applying a second coat but not say 2 weeks. Yes, essence can be used to remove old wax and as a prep for such coatings. Most coatings however will have their own "prep" product and that's typical. No different than paint brands having their own brand primers. That said, I've used Essence with CarPro and McKee's with fine results. Others will argue differently and that's fine. My wife's van was prepped with Essence and topped with 2 coats of McKee's last year and it's doing awesome. I posted in another thread a couple weeks back about the follow up.

ok nice, do you have any pictures of your audi?

 

[BudgetPlan1]

Even finish? Not sure I follow you there? They do remove the residual coating material very easily. For me the main reason is I do a ton of pure black vehicles and even with my own pure black car, they leave ZERO lint or dust, etc. I don't care what MF Rag is out there, I find they all eventually shed something at some point and it's super noticeable on black. Yeah, I'm that OCD. Not with the Suede rags. For that reason too, I use them with my detail spray after I wash my car.

I'm trying these this weekend on a black car; small for application (As usual) but using the 16x16 for coating removal will be a first for me.

 

[Rsurfer]

I'm trying these this weekend on a black car; small for application (As usual) but using the 16x16 for coating removal will be a first for me.

You should have at least two suede towels to remove the coating. Mark the corners 1,2,3,4, so you will know what side is used. The towel will build up with product and start smearing if you don't use a clean towel often.