*NEW* BLACKFIRE Crystal Coat Paint Coating!

silverfox said:
I love these coating threads...the discussion immediately turns to topping them. Incredible.
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Sorry if it's a stupid question. Trying to think long term.

My truck sits outside in the Florida sun. I would like to keep the surface as slick as possible for as long as possible and I thought the spray wax (free sample that I chose) might be good to put on top of the Blackfire from time to time.
 
I applied this coating to my 2015 Sierra over the past weekend. Overall we had a pretty difficult time. I'm not sure if it was the heat or the humidity, but it was very challenging to buff out. We started with a wash, clay (nano skin), polish, BF Coating Prep, and then the Crystal Coating. The prep and coating were applied in the shade. The bottle was a challenge to use as others have commented on and it was not easy to spread. Buffing the high spots might have been the biggest challenge. We had to use a lot of pressure to remove them. The guy helping me had applied several other coatings and said this was by far the hardest.

On a positive note it appears to be working. It rained the day after and the rain beads right off. The coating also feels thick. The coating by itself is not very slick however.

I hope this review helps others out.
 
Clemsonfan15 said:
I applied this coating to my 2015 Sierra over the past weekend. Overall we had a pretty difficult time. I'm not sure if it was the heat or the humidity, but it was very challenging to buff out. We started with a wash, clay (nano skin), polish, BF Coating Prep, and then the Crystal Coating. The prep and coating were applied in the shade. The bottle was a challenge to use as others have commented on and it was not easy to spread. Buffing the high spots might have been the biggest challenge. We had to use a lot of pressure to remove them. The guy helping me had applied several other coatings and said this was by far the hardest.

On a positive note it appears to be working. It rained the day after and the rain beads right off. The coating also feels thick. The coating by itself is not very slick however.

I hope this review helps others out.
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I'm very glad to hear this. I'm sorry you went through it, but I now feel better about my experience. I encountered the exact same problems.

For me the product went on easily, but it turned sticky and gooey almost immediately and would grab the MF towel as I tried to level it out. I waited a little bit longer and it turned hard quickly and was EXTREMELY hard to buff out.

I have the same post-application observations as well. It isn't as slick or smooth as products like 845 or Klasse SG. However, it does seem "thick" and on a metallic grey paint it looks amazing.

I applied the product to my daughter's car which sits out in an apartment parking lot or university parking garage. Both areas are construction zones. Despite all the dust and dirt in the air, the car always looks clean. All it takes is a good rain shower to completely rinse off the car. I also noticed when washing the car last week it sheets/repels water like nothing I've ever used before.
 
Clemsonfan15 said:
I applied this coating to my 2015 Sierra over the past weekend. Overall we had a pretty difficult time. I'm not sure if it was the heat or the humidity, but it was very challenging to buff out. We started with a wash, clay (nano skin), polish, BF Coating Prep, and then the Crystal Coating. The prep and coating were applied in the shade. The bottle was a challenge to use as others have commented on and it was not easy to spread. Buffing the high spots might have been the biggest challenge. We had to use a lot of pressure to remove them. The guy helping me had applied several other coatings and said this was by far the hardest.

On a positive note it appears to be working. It rained the day after and the rain beads right off. The coating also feels thick. The coating by itself is not very slick however.

I hope this review helps others out.
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Eekk..I'm about to do this on my car soon.

You got any tips to make the job easier?

I'm planning to use the CarPro Suede Microfiber Cloth to apply the coat. It sounds like it could be very difficult to apply with that if it sticks so much.

Another question, would a 1:10 diluted IPA wipe remove this coating after it has been cured? Looking to "top" it up after a week or so.
 
Blackfire is so eas to apply and remove with very little effort,and gives you outstanding results,and protection good stuff,
 
Temjin said:
Eekk..I'm about to do this on my car soon.

You got any tips to make the job easier?

I'm planning to use the CarPro Suede Microfiber Cloth to apply the coat. It sounds like it could be very difficult to apply with that if it sticks so much.

Another question, would a 1:10 diluted IPA wipe remove this coating after it has been cured? Looking to "top" it up after a week or so.
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I have no clue on the IPA wipe down. Maybe another more experienced member can chime in.

What will the temperature and humidity be when you are applying it? Are you going to use the prep spray?

I would start off by working a small section at a time. Test it to see how long it is taking to flash. I found that if I waited too long (even as little as two minutes) it took a lot more work to buff out.

I applied mine with Lake Country pads. I am not familiar with those particular microfiber cloths, but I would think something smooth with small pores would be best. Any sort of nap will probably cause a lot of drag. I would also be concerned with the coating curing on the microfiber.

Also make sure you have plenty of microfiber cloths available.
 
Temjin said:
Eekk..I'm about to do this on my car soon.



You got any tips to make the job easier?



I'm planning to use the CarPro Suede Microfiber Cloth to apply the coat. It sounds like it could be very difficult to apply with that if it sticks so much.



Another question, would a 1:10 diluted IPA wipe remove this coating after it has been cured? Looking to "top" it up after a week or so.
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I was told by Ray (Autopia) not to layer it as it may have issues. Manufacturer also doesn't make a mention of layering (which is a common slogan for most LSPs so if it's missing, it must not be recommended). I personally tried a second layer after 24 hours (with car unused) and give it a very light IPA wipe. The second layer was showing a lot of high spots so I was doing it more like a wipe on wipe off. I did not run into any issues.

I am personally of the opinion that if you have to layer, it should be done in an hour of first layer (ensuring no streaks high spots from prior layer ). Once the first layer cures and hardens it may/will repel it's own second layer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Clemsonfan15 said:
I have no clue on the IPA wipe down. Maybe another more experienced member can chime in.

What will the temperature and humidity be when you are applying it? Are you going to use the prep spray?

I would start off by working a small section at a time. Test it to see how long it is taking to flash. I found that if I waited too long (even as little as two minutes) it took a lot more work to buff out.

I applied mine with Lake Country pads. I am not familiar with those particular microfiber cloths, but I would think something smooth with small pores would be best. Any sort of nap will probably cause a lot of drag. I would also be concerned with the coating curing on the microfiber.

Also make sure you have plenty of microfiber cloths available.
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I am using the Blackfire Prep Spray. Temperature should be in the low 20s C (68 - 74 F) and humidity is likely around 30-50%. (in the afternoon)

My research here tells me the suede clothes soak up less product than the foam pads. So I guess I would follow the "a little goes a long way" advice. I do plan to chuck away the clothes after the coating is done.

sealthedeal said:
I was told by Ray (Autopia) not to layer it as it may have issues. Manufacturer also doesn't make a mention of layering (which is a common slogan for most LSPs so if it's missing, it must not be recommended). I personally tried a second layer after 24 hours (with car unused) and give it a very light IPA wipe. The second layer was showing a lot of high spots so I was doing it more like a wipe on wipe off. I did not run into any issues.

I am personally of the opinion that if you have to layer, it should be done in an hour of first layer (ensuring no streaks high spots from prior layer ). Once the first layer cures and hardens it may/will repel it's own second layer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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I'm not actually planning to add a second layer of the same coat. I will be using the Gtechniq c2v3 liquid crystal as a topping on a cured BF coat. I expect the liquid crystal will work on almost all surfaces.

Would be great if anyone know if the 10% IPA solution would remove the BF coat.
 
I'll comment on the applicators if anyone is interested. I used the Lake Country coating applicator on my first car, though I don't like that applicator - it absorbs too much product and is hard to control later in the process. As a result, I used two on a very small car (Fiat 500). It worked OK, but I decided not to use it again. I thought the Car Pro suede would be better or my old standby: an MF applicator. Second car was with a new MF applicator. Worked great! I think the Car Pro suede would be just as good (or perhaps better).

BF Crystal Coat does have a funny characteristic in that it is a bit grabby when you first start applying, then smooths out later. I think the key is to use product sparingly and apply with many overlapping strokes. FWIW, I wipe down each small work area with an MF towel before going on the next 18" square. Never had any problems.

<TED>
 
I thought I would check back in. I was washing my truck today and noticed that I missed a spot on the center of my roof. I used the prep spray and then applied the Crystal Coating. It went on MUCH easier today. The temperature was probably ~20 degrees cooler and there was probably less humidity. This leads me to believe that weather conditions are an important factor when deciding when to apply this coating. I would recommend that people in hotter climates wait until it cools off to do so.

Removing it today was also a little easier, but still mildly difficult.
 
Nick@Autogeek said:
Ian - I might have to put you on pay roll! :laughing:



Completely different formula.

I'll try and make it simple...

BLACKFIRE Crystal Coat is a quartz-based glass coating, where Black Label Diamond Paint Coating is a nano-glass formula. BLACKFIRE's formula contains more "solids" and thus forms a thicker film on the surface. It requires a little more time to apply because more of the ingredients are left on the surface when you apply it (not a spray, and the carrying agent is completely different). I would say the application compares to Gtechniq C1 Crystal Lacquer.

Black Label will leave the surface slicker, and the film of protection that it provides is thinner and more flexible (thicker films become brittle as they begin to wear off). Of course thicker is a relative term, and don't take it literally when I use the word "brittle," because it's not like chunks of coating are going to begin to flake off over time.

Another difference, BLACKFIRE's formula does not work well when topped with a wax or sealant. If you're a wax lover, stick with Black Label. If you want to set it and forget it, then BLACKFIRE is the way to go.

We take customer feedback very seriously, which is why we decided to introduce a prep product in the form of a spray - BLACKFIRE Crystal Coat Paint Prep.

After you've clayed and polished the vehicle to remove above and below surface contaminants, simply spray Crystal Coat Paint Prep directly onto the surface and wipe clean with a soft, clean microfiber towel. This step is arguably the most important because it removes polishing oils, fillers, old waxes, finger prints, smudges, and other contaminants that would prevent the coating from bonding.

You guys are going to love these new offerings from BLACKFIRE. Im the MAN
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Hi Nick, I have a question for the pre-application of BF Crystal Paint Coat.

I have DupliColor PrepSpray and an IPA mix, is it safe to use one of these two products to prep de paint, DC PrepSpray has mineral spirits as ingredients.

Thank you

Alex
 
I know the Crystal Seal is suitable for glass and plastics, but what about the coating? Should I mask off headlights, trim, etc? I have both products, and will be detailing my new car soon.
 
I just ordered this stuff because I saw it was on sale, but after reading some of the things about it being hard to apply and sticky, I'm having second thoughts about using it on my black 2014 Stingray. I've never used a coating before, and am afraid to mess up my car... I was planning to just use a standard foam applicator to apply it but it seems I need something else? Also, if I want to get a clear bra installed later on, will this coating need to be removed from the areas where the Xpel fil will be applied, or can it be applied directly over coated surfaces?
 
I think some of the "sticky" applications were from the second use of the product. I just bought it too, and I'm thinking about splitting it up and storing it in something like 1oz paint bottles to hopefully keep it from going bad from exposure to air.

I'm not sure about the PPF. I seen posts of where they do a coating then PPF on top.

It is not recommended for on top of PPF.
 
Mantilgh said:
I think some of the "sticky" applications were from the second use of the product. I just bought it too, and I'm thinking about splitting it up and storing it in something like 1oz paint bottles to hopefully keep it from going bad from exposure to air.

I'm not sure about the PPF. I seen posts of where they do a coating then PPF on top.

It is not recommended for on top of PPF.
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Yes I know its not to go over the PPF, but was wondering what the prep is for putting PPF on and if I can apply this to areas that will see Xpel film application later on? Do they strip all the wax and sealants off the finish first? i'd assume they do... but would it hurt to put PPF over blackfire coating? Just curious if it would prevent the film from sticking properly, etc.

I've also just finished reading a thread where several (more than a couple!) people claimed to have a terrible time with it right from the get-go, saying it was instantly sticky and their towels grabbed onto it and that it was very hard to work with. Not something I wanted to read a day after placing my order! To say I'm a bit skeptical if this stuff is something I want to apply to my new vette is an understatement. I am hoping I get lucky and it glides on smoothly and isn't a sticky mess.

I have read great stuff about coatings, and was eager to use one, but now I'm wondering if I should just stick to the traditional waxes and sealants I've used in the past.
 
Mantilgh said:
I think some of the "sticky" applications were from the second use of the product. I just bought it too, and I'm thinking about splitting it up and storing it in something like 1oz paint bottles to hopefully keep it from going bad from exposure to air.
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I was one of those who encountered a "sticky" situation. For me it was the first application applied within minutes of opening the seal on the bottle.
 
Desertnate said:
I was one of those who encountered a "sticky" situation. For me it was the first application applied within minutes of opening the seal on the bottle.
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So what did you do? Just rub through the stickiness? I just got confirmation mine was shipped... Wondering if I should just return it when it gets here. I think it's pretty crappy how you have to do an in depth search to find out it has virtually no shelf life after it's first use too. This stuff should all be mentioned on the product page when you are ordering. All I read was how great it is and how it's easy to use. I seem to find more posts about problems with it than success.
 
joeybsyc said:
So what did you do? Just rub through the stickiness? I just got confirmation mine was shipped... Wondering if I should just return it when it gets here. I think it's pretty crappy how you have to do an in depth search to find out it has virtually no shelf life after it's first use too. This stuff should all be mentioned on the product page when you are ordering. All I read was how great it is and how it's easy to use. I seem to find more posts about problems with it than success.
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I'm pretty ticked too that there is no shelf life for the product. I only maintain a personal fleet of cars and the plan was to do one car last fall, and two more this Spring as time presents itself. Now it looks like I've got a $50 3/4 full bottle of unusable product I'll most likely have to toss after only one use...not happy at all.

I did not rub through the stickiness. I couldn't. Towels simply wouldn't slide and the product wouldn't level. It was like I'd spread adhesive on the surface. My only option was to wait until it was almost dry and then I muscled through buffing it out like a really bad sealant. It took a very high level of effort.

Here is the kicker. Despite the absolutely horrible application experience, the product really works. The car looks great, sheds dirt easily, and the protection is still going strong. I'm just not convinced the application issues and zero shelf life is worth the trouble.

I don't think I'm ready to drop the money for PBL or the higher-end coatings. Coatings are exactly what I want/need, but the cost for a good coating is still prohibitive for me at this point. It looks like I'm going back to sealants.
 
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