Desertnate
Well-known member
- Aug 5, 2013
- 6,233
- 287
For those who may have seen part of this on the Detailing 101 Facebook page, I'll apologize in advance for the double-tap.
Background:
This weekend, I was able to get my hands on the car my daughter drives. Between classes and work she isn't able to provide me much access to the vehicle, so when I get it I must make the time count. Also, since it sits out 24/7 and doesn't get washed as often as it probably should, I figured a coating was in order. I need maximum durability.
Last year I attempted to apply the Blackfire Crystal Coating and it was an absolute disaster, and frankly I was really apprehensive trying another coating. In the end, I had nothing to worry about, this was a totally different experience.
After test spots revealed the Mazda paint was a little harder than I remembered, Meguiars Ultimate Compound on a white Lake Country Flat Pad turned out to be the perfect combo for the level of correction I needed. Once that was done, I prepped the surface with Blackfire Crystal Coat Paint Prep.
Review:
Paint Coating, nano paint sealant, ceramic paint coating, nano paint coating
My first thought was, "This product is stupid easy to use!". I'm not sure what I was expecting after my last experience, but this coating far exceeded expectations. The coating spreads very easily with the Lake Country Coating Applicator, and in an enclosed garage with high-ish humidity and 70*F temps, flashed fairly slowly. High spots were rare, and the few I did have simply took a very light pass with a MF towel to knock them out.
I really like the spray bottle method of product delivery. A couple of quick spritzes per section allowed me to spread the product quickly and easily. I have a feeling I was holding the bottle too close to the surface and most likely over applied. I'm sure I'll perfect the technique as I use this coating more. I didn't run a stop watch, but the process seemed to be far faster and more simple than applying a wax.
Lighting for me was an issue. Even with a set of work lights on a stand, my lighting situation isn't ideal. Correction of defects isn't difficult, but when applying products like this coating which goes on really thin on a highly metallic paint it was often hard to see the whole process well. Before attempting to do this again, I think a head-mounted LED light will be in order.
Once applied and the curing started, the coated areas were very slick, and had a nice shine to them.
Here are a few quick pictures of the results. Skies were heavily overcast and due to time constraints, I was using my cell phone vs breaking out the SLR. Hopefully these images will represent the work well.
Summary:
- This product is VERY easy to apply and a perfect beginner's coating. My last attempt with the Blackfire coating left me on the edge of abandoning coatings for good, but this product is the polar opposite when it comes to ease of use.
- Application time may be faster than waxing/sealing, and I found it to be less labor intensive.
- Produces a very slick surface.
- Due to lighting conditions, I can't make a good judgement on the shine. My initial thought is the Blackfire coating produced a deeper shine and slight darkening of the paint. One could easily tell the difference between areas which were coated and those without. This product didn't do that, the gloss was only a slight improvement over the corrected paint surface.
I give this coating a big "thumbs up" and declare myself a fan. Even if I only get 12~18 months of protection I'll still be happy. For daily drivers the protection and appearance are a good match and the cost makes it a no-brainer if you want to dip your toe in the pool of paint coatings.
Background:
This weekend, I was able to get my hands on the car my daughter drives. Between classes and work she isn't able to provide me much access to the vehicle, so when I get it I must make the time count. Also, since it sits out 24/7 and doesn't get washed as often as it probably should, I figured a coating was in order. I need maximum durability.
Last year I attempted to apply the Blackfire Crystal Coating and it was an absolute disaster, and frankly I was really apprehensive trying another coating. In the end, I had nothing to worry about, this was a totally different experience.
After test spots revealed the Mazda paint was a little harder than I remembered, Meguiars Ultimate Compound on a white Lake Country Flat Pad turned out to be the perfect combo for the level of correction I needed. Once that was done, I prepped the surface with Blackfire Crystal Coat Paint Prep.
Review:
Paint Coating, nano paint sealant, ceramic paint coating, nano paint coating
My first thought was, "This product is stupid easy to use!". I'm not sure what I was expecting after my last experience, but this coating far exceeded expectations. The coating spreads very easily with the Lake Country Coating Applicator, and in an enclosed garage with high-ish humidity and 70*F temps, flashed fairly slowly. High spots were rare, and the few I did have simply took a very light pass with a MF towel to knock them out.
I really like the spray bottle method of product delivery. A couple of quick spritzes per section allowed me to spread the product quickly and easily. I have a feeling I was holding the bottle too close to the surface and most likely over applied. I'm sure I'll perfect the technique as I use this coating more. I didn't run a stop watch, but the process seemed to be far faster and more simple than applying a wax.
Lighting for me was an issue. Even with a set of work lights on a stand, my lighting situation isn't ideal. Correction of defects isn't difficult, but when applying products like this coating which goes on really thin on a highly metallic paint it was often hard to see the whole process well. Before attempting to do this again, I think a head-mounted LED light will be in order.
Once applied and the curing started, the coated areas were very slick, and had a nice shine to them.
Here are a few quick pictures of the results. Skies were heavily overcast and due to time constraints, I was using my cell phone vs breaking out the SLR. Hopefully these images will represent the work well.
Summary:
- This product is VERY easy to apply and a perfect beginner's coating. My last attempt with the Blackfire coating left me on the edge of abandoning coatings for good, but this product is the polar opposite when it comes to ease of use.
- Application time may be faster than waxing/sealing, and I found it to be less labor intensive.
- Produces a very slick surface.
- Due to lighting conditions, I can't make a good judgement on the shine. My initial thought is the Blackfire coating produced a deeper shine and slight darkening of the paint. One could easily tell the difference between areas which were coated and those without. This product didn't do that, the gloss was only a slight improvement over the corrected paint surface.
I give this coating a big "thumbs up" and declare myself a fan. Even if I only get 12~18 months of protection I'll still be happy. For daily drivers the protection and appearance are a good match and the cost makes it a no-brainer if you want to dip your toe in the pool of paint coatings.
