Newbie coating questions...

[RippyD]

Still working on learning paint prep. Getting good results and looking at how to best finish. My daily driver has wet road grime on it 8 months out of the year. Looks like a coating will be best for protection.

First Q: what happens when it a coating starts to fail? It likely won't fail evenly, and it seems like coatings can't be layered. So by using a coating am I committed to physical (vs. chemical) removal from the entire car in 2-3 years?

Second Q: How Ho they fail? Does the protection just get thinner? Does it peel? Does it vary based on product?

Looking at everything, currently leaning toward Wolfgang uber.

 

[Mantilgh]

I believe that paint coatings are similar to waxes and sealants in they way that they "fail". Meaning you should not be able to tell when it is gone just by looking at it.

Lack of beading may be an indicator but they say that it is not definitive.

Polishing will remove the coating, most paint safe chemicals will not.

 

[Ebg18t]

By the time the good coatings fail most people have introduced enough marks/swirls that they will want to polish the car out and start fresh.

 

[CarolinasFinestDetailing]

First Q: what happens when it a coating starts to fail? It likely won't fail evenly, and it seems like coatings can't be layered. So by using a coating am I committed to physical (vs. chemical) removal from the entire car in 2-3 years?

Coatings can in fact be layered. You can put multiple coats of CarPro CQuartz Classic or UK. But anything over 2 becomes redundant. There are also toppers for coatings. Reload for CQuartz & UK. Opti Seal for Optimum Gloss Coat.

You are not committed to removing a coating physically every 2-3 years, it's just the length most OTC coatings last. Truthfully, you'll want to polish your car again in 3 years anyways.


Second Q: How Ho they fail? Does the protection just get thinner? Does it peel? Does it vary based on product?

They fail by losing their hydrophobic properties. They basically wear off like a wax does. Just takes longer. It does not peel.

See bold.

 

[RippyD]

Thanks to all 3 of you. This is very helpful. I recall reading that some could not be layered - one of the Opt guy wrote that their coating resisted any liquids once cured, including another layer of itself.

Makes perfect sense that I'd want to remove a coating in 2+ years after it gets scratched. Sounds like not much different than removing scratches from clear coat.

Appreciate the help and guidance.

 

[hdez]

I have questions regarding the coating process too.

Do you throw the applicators? Or do you wash them after X time of using them.

Also, the MF towels used for remove high spots, does the coat hardens and make them unusable?

I'm planning on buy Pinnacle Black Diamond Paint Coating v2 or Wolfgang Uber Coating and use the LC Coating Applicators.

 

[Huot25]

I have questions regarding the coating process too.

Do you throw the applicators? Or do you wash them after X time of using them.

Also, the MF towels used for remove high spots, does the coat hardens and make them unusable?

I'm planning on buy Pinnacle Black Diamond Paint Coating v2 or Wolfgang Uber Coating and use the LC Coating Applicators.

I've been curious about the above questions as well. I bought black label v2 earlier this year and I'm looking forward to applying it. I just need to know if my microfiber towels will be junk afterwards or not. I have read that you can soak them in and apc bath as soon as your towel has been completely covered, but I'd like to get some feedback from someone who has done this. Do you use normal ratios( I'll be using mega d101, but I also have 108 available if that would be better). Do you up the ratios to make sure it breaks down the coating on the towel. Any suggestions would be helpful too. Thanks!

 

[Ebg18t]

I have questions regarding the coating process too.

Do you throw the applicators? Or do you wash them after X time of using them.

Also, the MF towels used for remove high spots, does the coat hardens and make them unusable?

I'm planning on buy Pinnacle Black Diamond Paint Coating v2 or Wolfgang Uber Coating and use the LC Coating Applicators.

Throw the applicators away after using.

Immediately wash the MF's. I usually soak the MF's in an APC after using them to level a coating. Then I wash them.

If you are applying the coating properly, you won't have much coating on the MF.