Simple Coating Applicator - KISS = Keep it simple Simon

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Simple Coating Applicator - KISS = Keep it simple Simon

Last week while coating a Corvette I cut the edge off the perimeter of a simple yellow foam wax applicator pads and then used this to apply a coating. I found it worked well, at least as good as anything else I've ever used. The foam is thin so you won't waste a lot of your expensive coating soaking into the foam just to go to waste. They are fairly cheap to purchase. And the foam won't mar the paint.


Technique Tip
If you look next to the bottle of Pinnacle Black Label Diamond Paint Coating you'll see a simple, yellow foam wax applicator pad. This is what I used to apply the coating. I took some scissors and trimmed the outer edges off the applicator pad as they are not as soft as the face of the foam pad and I didn't want to risk rubbing them against the highly polished paint.

Trimming the edge off a simple foam wax applicator pad

Million ways to skin a cat.... thought I would share this so if you find yourself without an actual coating applicator pads this can get you by in a pinch. Just make sure the foam applicator pads is clean and has not been previously used to apply a wax or sealant.


Plus you can get them in 6 and 12 packs. Might as well get some next time you place an order as you can use these simple applicators for so many other uses.


On Autogeek.com

6-Pack Pinnacle Foam Wax Applicators

12-Pack Pinnacle Foam Wax Applicators

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

More....


Here's the car I used these on to apply the coating....


Review: Pinnacle Black Label Diamond Paint Coating - 2011 Inferno Orange Metallic Corvette Grand Sport


Pinnacle Black Label Diamond Paint Coating

 

[Dr Oldz]

I really don’t use coatings but I cut the edges off those applicators myself for wax application. I think they are heated to make that edge. The melting of the foam creates a harsh plastic like material that I certainly wouldn’t call “paint safe”

Good tip!!!!!

 

[hoyt66]

I cut that off too. I think they "stamp" those out with heated die leaving a hard edge behind

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I really don’t use coatings but I cut the edges off those applicators myself for wax application.

I think they are heated to make that edge. The melting of the foam creates a harsh plastic like material that I certainly wouldn’t call “paint safe”

Good tip!!!!!

I cut that off too. I think they "stamp" those out with heated die leaving a hard edge behind

Interesting....

Just to go one step further, there used to be a thin foam yellow wax applicator, looked like the one in the picture above but it was even thinner and actually was a two-piece design that was sandwiched togheter. If you cut the outer perimeter off like I show with the solid foam core applicator pads, the two sides would be separate. I think these would work just as well to spread out a coating.

For me, it's about not wasting coating inside of foam. Recently I've seen people using these very thick microfiber wrapped foam blocks to "install" a coating. What I see is a whole lot of coating soaking into the foam block, not being spread over car paint.

Again.... thin is in...

 

[SWETM]

Interesting....

Just to go one step further, there used to be a thin foam yellow wax applicator, looked like the one in the picture above but it was even thinner and actually was a two-piece design that was sandwiched togheter. If you cut the outer perimeter off like I show with the solid foam core applicator pads, the two sides would be separate. I think these would work just as well to spread out a coating.

For me, it's about not wasting coating inside of foam. Recently I've seen people using these very thick microfiber wrapped foam blocks to "install" a coating. What I see is a whole lot of coating soaking into the foam block, not being spread over car paint.

Again.... thin is in...

There is a mf foam block that has a layer between the mf and foam that is a barrier so the coating don't get soaked in to the foam. Otherwise the standard mf foam block applicators would soak up the coating too much.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

There is a mf foam block that has a layer between the mf and foam that is a barrier so the coating don't get soaked in to the foam.

Otherwise the standard mf foam block applicators would soak up the coating too much.

Now that sounds like a genius idea.


Can it be washed and re-used?

Or

Can it be recycled or disposed of and replaced at an inexpensive price?


Just thinking outloud. Thanks for sharing Tony.


:dblthumb2:

 

[SWETM]

Now that sounds like a genius idea.


Can it be washed and re-used?

Or

Can it be recycled or disposed of and replaced at an inexpensive price?


Just thinking outloud. Thanks for sharing Tony.


:dblthumb2:

The Guz and budgetplan has real world experience with them. There are one short mf nap and one longer terry nap. Don't know if they can be washed. But would think as long as the product you use on them it would be okay. Otherwise they are 1 use and throw. Have not looked up the price of them since they are not sold in Sweden yet. But think we will see more to come out with these applicators type. If they can hold down the prices of them vs the small suede applicator towels.

Hope Guz or budgetplan is chaiming in LOL. Cause I just know of them and thought as you a genius idea.

Edit: around $2/applicator is the price of them and they come in 6 and 12 packs. Think they are made to throw away after used.

 

[Kamakaz1961]

As ALWAYS The Oracle has spoken! KEEP ON ROCKING!

From

NEO

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

The Guz and budgetplan has real world experience with them. There are one short mf nap and one longer terry nap. Don't know if they can be washed. But would think as long as the product you use on them it would be okay. Otherwise they are 1 use and throw. Have not looked up the price of them since they are not sold in Sweden yet. But think we will see more to come out with these applicators type. If they can hold down the prices of them vs the small suede applicator towels.

Hope Guz or budgetplan is chaiming in LOL. Cause I just know of them and thought as you a genius idea.

Edit: around $2/applicator is the price of them and they come in 6 and 12 packs. Think they are made to throw away after used.

How thick are they?


Thanks for the follow-up Tony.

 

[SWETM]

This is the mini suede applicator size 3"×1.5"×1.5"

There is mini size and thin size 5"×3"×0.75" and thick size 5"×3"×1.75" and in mf suede applicator and mf terry applicator.

It claims that the barrier layer is stopping the foam inner layer to soak up product. This is a look through it.

Very interesting applicator it is. With products that little goes a long way it would be interesting to test these applicators with.

 

[oneheadlite]

Or if you use the applicator blocks that you wrap with a small suede or microfiber towel (car pro, gyeon, britemax, etc), you can put the block in a glove or sandwich bag to keep the block from absorbing your product.

I’ve seen it referenced on the forums here, sorry can’t recall who it was.

 

[The Guz]

There is a mf foam block that has a layer between the mf and foam that is a barrier so the coating don't get soaked in to the foam. Otherwise the standard mf foam block applicators would soak up the coating too much.

They are great applicators for sure. Probably my favorite coating applicator. Even the regular microfiber applicators work better than the suede block even if they do absorb a little more product.

Now that sounds like a genius idea.


Can it be washed and re-used?

Or

Can it be recycled or disposed of and replaced at an inexpensive price?


Just thinking outloud. Thanks for sharing Tony.


:dblthumb2:

Mike i just did an experiment for you. I used one of the smaller versions of the microfiber coating saver applicators with the new Cquartz Lite. I tossed the applicator into the wash and at first it felt soft and clean. Overnight it was a different story. The next day the applicator was on the crunchy side. They are on the cheap side as they are sold in bulk.

This is the mini suede applicator size 3"×1.5"×1.5"

There is mini size and thin size 5"×3"×0.75" and thick size 5"×3"×1.75" and in mf suede applicator and mf terry applicator.

It claims that the barrier layer is stopping the foam inner layer to soak up product. This is a look through it.

Very interesting applicator it is. With products that little goes a long way it would be interesting to test these applicators with.

The microfiber version are better than the suede versions in my experience.

CarPro just came out with their version.

Get more surface coverage out of your coatings - or wax and sealant - with our all new Microfiber Applicator pads!

Engineered with a unique core that transfers the highest amount of coating onto the surface, CarPro’s Microfiber Applicator pads are the ultimate installation tool to maximize protection and profitability.

Made with 100% lint-free fabric, our Microfiber Applicator doesn’t leave streaks and its unique finger pockets offer greater control for a precise application and easy removal.

Stop wasting your coating! Grab our new Microfiber Applicator pads:

Or if you use the applicator blocks that you wrap with a small suede or microfiber towel (car pro, gyeon, britemax, etc), you can put the block in a glove or sandwich bag to keep the block from absorbing your product.

I’ve seen it referenced on the forums here, sorry can’t recall who it was.

I tried this and it works but it is a bit cumbersome. Since I went to the autofiber coating saver applicators, I have rarely used the suede and block. The ergonomics are better with the saver applicators.

 

[Coatingsarecrack]

Just coated my car with cquk3. Tried the CP suede applicator with block and the Saver. Threw the block away. Way easier to handle and maneuver. The micro fibers do soak up more product at 1st but once primed the were great to work with...


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