here's some info i previously put together for reference re: the application of 2.0. Chris, feel free to correct as needed : )
Process: Vehicle surface temperatures should be between 50*‐90*. Do not apply in the sun or during periods of high humidity. Wear clean, new disposable nitrile gloves. Surface preparation is of the utmost importance. Before coating application, the surface must be completely free of debris, dirt, embedded contaminants, surface damage, waxes or sealants. Pre‐treat the vehicle with a 4:1 dilution of Optimum Power Clean/water. Allow solution to dwell without drying on surface. Wash vehicle exterior with non‐abrasive liquid dish soap (e.g. Dawn). Clay bar surfaces thoroughly to assure they are smooth and free of embedded contaminants. If surface scratches or paint marring is
present, correct using appropriate polishing process until finish appearance is satisfactory.**
Again, it is imperative to assure that absolutely no residual waxes, sealants, paint protection or polishing oils are present on any surface to be coated. As a final step before treatment, it is recommended to wipe the surface down with a ~15% isopropyl alcohol/water solution and a high quality microfiber towel.
Surface working time with Opti‐Coat once it is applied to the panel is less than 10 minutes. Prepare syringe and apply an “X” pattern to the foam applicator. Working on one panel at a time, wipe thoroughly in one direction and then go back over your work in a perpendicular manner for complete, uniform coverage. The application must be thin and even. When carefully inspecting the surface, the freshly applied coating will “flash” away within a couple minutes leaving no lingering evidence of product application. If any haze, build‐up, rainbow appearance or distortion is evident, the coating is too thick and needs to be leveled manually. This can be done within a few minutes after application with the applicator or by lightly going over the area with a high quality microfiber towel until the high area is spread evenly and flashes away. Once the initial panel is completed to satisfaction, continue to the next. After initial priming, a few drops on the pad are all that should be needed per panel as subsequent portions of the vehicle are treated. After the 10 minute working time window, Opti‐Coat 2.0 is tacky during the curing process. Do not touch treated areas for an hour. Coating can encounter water after an hour but allow 24 hours before washing to assure curing has completed and product is thoroughly bonded to the surface. Applied coating will continue to harden for days, weeks or months, depending on environmental conditions.
After coating vehicle, it is recommended to immediately rinse and wash any towels or pads used during application to prevent Opti‐Coat 2.0 from hardening on media.
**Opti‐Coat 2.0 is a scratch/mar resistant permanent coating. It is not scratch‐proof. Light scratches can easily be polished away using typical light scratch or swirl removal techniques. In the rare instance further correction is needed, polishing through the coating will require reapplication in that area.
and here is some more info i added later regarding prep:
There are a few options for prepping surfaces to be coated with Opti‐Coat 2.0. This is assuming that the surface has been clay barred, there are NO scratches, hazing, damage, marks or defects that still need to be removed and you are simply ready to prepare the surface to be sealed permanently.
The easiest option is to wash the vehicle well with a Dawn dish soap solution. Let the soap dwell for a bit on the surfaces before rinsing without allowing the soap to dry. Rinse completely and dry thoroughly. As described in the product detail sheet, some people choose to instead use a 4:1 solution of Optimum Power Clean however a Dawn wash is typically adequate. For wheels it is recommended to pre‐clean with Optimum Power Clean. Full strength is usually overkill (3:1 is normally enough to clean dirty wheels) but it can’t necessarily hurt for this purpose. Spray the product, agitate with a mitt or appropriate brush and rinse well. Do not let the solution dry. Then you can wash with the Dawn solution. If you are planning on cleaning the inner wheel barrels, are more aggressive course of action might need to be followed to remove tar and road debris. There are many techniques for accomplishing this – any can be used as long as the process ends with the wheel being cleaned and dried thoroughly and completely.
The above info should be enough to assure a clean surface ideal for Opti‐Coat 2.0.
Many professionals and experts will take an additional final step after the above steps to assure a completely bare and clean surface. They use a clean high quality microfiber towel to wipe the surface a final time with Klean Strip brand Prep‐All, a wax and grease remover prep solvent found at Walmart. The downside to Prep‐All and similar prep solvents is the odor. A less offensive and more cost effective option is to wipe down the surface with a clean high quality microfiber towel and a 15‐25% solution of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and distilled water. IPA is found in various solutions on the shelf in any drug store, usually 50%, 70% or 91%. Math is required to figure out the proper dilution to get it to the 20‐25% alcohol range for your specific spray bottle size.
