Nano-coatings, ceramic coatings, CQuartz...

Wyborowa

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So my question is short and simple..

If one would apply one of the 3 types of car paint coatings, will this theoretically make the clear coat thicker..? Can you claybar and Polish your car with a D/A orbiter AFTER one of these 3 coatings is applied?

I'm looking to be able to Polish my car maybe 1-2 times a year lightly (no compounding/heavy cutting stuff) without worrying of removing the clear coat after 5 years owning the car..

Will a coating system act in a way like a clear coat..?

SOrry for the confusing questions... Ask me anything if you need clarification!
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360glitch

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Coatings are great to protect you clear coat but I wouldn't say they add thickness to them. Polishing will remove the coating. Claying will also likely remove the coating.

All that being said, I'd absolutely recommend a coating. I've personally used Gtechniq Exo V2 with excellent results.
 
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Wyborowa

Wyborowa

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so... would a coating have a "fill in" effect on any marks that are into the clear coat?
And would different waxes, sealants, still show off their each individual qualities? (ie: When I used Megs Ultimate Paste wax, I notice it darkened my blue civic immensely! Collonite 845 liquid insulator, same but not as much. FK1000P Paste wax (its actually a sealant protecting up to 250degrees F. gives my car a candy color blue glow :-D that I love!!)
Or would applying differnt waxes/sealants give the same affect over the coating?

SO.... apply a coating before winter, after claybar, and polishing car with DA...
THEN, maintain during Buffalo winters best I can with washes and maybe a cleaner wax or collonite on a rare janurary thaw..
AND THEN, come spring, claybar, polish with DA (which will REMOVE the coating applied before winter, and NOT the clearcoat..?)
AND THEN, decide to reapply coating for summer or maintain car by using sealants and waxes after washes..
AND THEN, start all over again in the Fall to winterize car... but would another Polish just remove the layers of wax built up over the spring/summer? (I do wax often...wash n wax 3x's a month during warm months. yes, i have a problem:yes::ninja:)Or would it go further into the clearcoat...?

FYI: Wash n wax is ALWAYS DONE BY HAND. I use the DA only to Polish for now. which has been once by Honda, once by myself.

I'm trying to be able to work on my car, giving it a good finish, without slowly eating away at my clear coat.. I typically own my cars for 8 years on avg....

THnaks for all your input so far guys!
 

DetailSector

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There is no reason to apply a coating and polish again.

Put the coating on and leave it alone for 2 years. No cleaner waxes either. A cleaner wax is abrasive and will damage the coating.

Adding waxes or sealants on top of a coating is a waste of time. The coating will have many more benefits.
 


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Wyborowa

Wyborowa

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There is no reason to apply a coating and polish again.

Put the coating on and leave it alone for 2 years. No cleaner waxes either. A cleaner wax is abrasive and will damage the coating.

Adding waxes or sealants on top of a coating is a waste of time. The coating will have many more benefits.
Won't the coating eventually show marks and small scratches? Just like the clearcoat will eventually show marks and small scratches without a coating?

Thanks for your input! much appreciated! My car is a DD, and I just began to get into detailing.. :spaz:
 

DetailSector

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Won't the coating eventually show marks and small scratches? Just like the clearcoat will eventually show marks and small scratches without a coating?

Thanks for your input! much appreciated! My car is a DD, and I just began to get into detailing.. :spaz:
The point of the coating is to be a sacrificial layer. It's not meant to be scratch proof. Get a self healing clear bra.

But on that note, it's definitely scratch resistant. But you can't use a sponge and a single bucket and expect no scratches. You have to use 2 buckets, a high quality wool wash mitt, grit guards, and dry with a spray detailer or an electric leaf blower.

The majority of scratches come from improper washing and drying. If you're getting a lot (excessive) of scratches, it's something you are doing.
 

teebee288

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I paid 500$ at the dealer for Nanocrystal paint protection, warranty 10 yrs. i got my car since november and i notice a LOT of little scatches on the paint when i look with a neon light, the finish of the nanocrystal is really easy to scratch, i will never pay again for this type of paint protection. I good polishing every years is enough. The finish of the nanocrystal coating is scrathing really easy, not impressed at all.
 

DetailSector

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I paid 500$ at the dealer for Nanocrystal paint protection, warranty 10 yrs. i got my car since november and i notice a LOT of little scatches on the paint when i look with a neon light, the finish of the nanocrystal is really easy to scratch, i will never pay again for this type of paint protection. I good polishing every years is enough. The finish of the nanocrystal coating is scrathing really easy, not impressed at all.
How are you washing your car?
 
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Wyborowa

Wyborowa

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The point of the coating is to be a sacrificial layer. It's not meant to be scratch proof. Get a self healing clear bra.

But on that note, it's definitely scratch resistant. But you can't use a sponge and a single bucket and expect no scratches. You have to use 2 buckets, a high quality wool wash mitt, grit guards, and dry with a spray detailer or an electric leaf blower.

The majority of scratches come from improper washing and drying. If you're getting a lot (excessive) of scratches, it's something you are doing.
When I bought the car, i noticed tiny swirl marks ALL OVER. as if someone took a dry cloth to the dusty vehicle and swirled. Complained to Honda and they let a local delaer do a "Honda paint protection" which took 24 hours...they gave me a rental.
My neighbor did it once more on the hood, roof and trunk..

I use 2 buckets with grit guard. I use a good wool mitt, dry with lambskin and a leaf blower.

I've always had silver cars, and this is my first blue one... shows scratches MUCH more than silver.
 


teebee288

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It's cold here so i can't wash the car myself, i go to shell no contact carwash, but these scratches seem to come from my snowbrush, but my wife got a cx-3 2017 with the same snowbrush and the mazda have no scratches at all. Last years i own a civic 2015 with the same snowbrush and nerver had a trace of it on the paint. It seem it's the nanocrystal finish itself who made these little thin scratches when the snowbrush passed over.
 

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It's cold here so i can't wash the car myself, i go to shell no contact carwash, but these scratches seem to come from my snowbrush, but my wife got a cx-3 2017 with the same snowbrush and the mazda have no scratches at all. Last years i own a civic 2015 with the same snowbrush and nerver had a trace of it on the paint. It seem it's the nanocrystal finish itself who made these little thin scratches when the snowbrush passed over.
I would expect any snow brush to leave scratches. Some are worse than others I'm sure and it will also depend on the hardness of the paint that is being brushed. I'm not sure that there is a "good way" to handle that. Fortunately for me it's not something I've ever had to deal with.
 

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Lot of misconceptions going on here.

Paint coatings are *not* meant to protect against physical scratching, rock chips, etc. You need PPF/clear-bra for that. Putting a coating on your car is also not going to make it scratch easier than before - these things are atomic-level thin, there's no way they're going to affect the surface scratchability positively or negatively. Anything saying they will is marketing BS and most of the reputable coatings (CQuartz, G-Techniq, Opticoat, etc.) aren't going to make those silly claims about physical damage and 9H hardness and crap like that.

A ceramic paint coating serves as a replacement for your normal wax or sealant, except it lasts a lot longer, is far more hydrophobic and has better UV protection. That's it. If your car is getting scratched after putting a coating on, it's 100% down to your wash and dry method and technique, just like it is for uncoated clearcoat. I prepped and installed CQuartz UK on my car 6 months ago now and there's not a scratch on it because I do proper washes. (either the full 2 bucket or a rinseless with multiple microfibers, never using the same face of the towel more than once) If you're putting on a coating and thinking that makes it safe to take the car through an automatic wash, use the coin-op foam brush on it, etc, you're going to have a bad time on the scratch/swirl front.
 

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X2 Coatings are like a long lasting wax most higher end ones come with at least a 2 year warranty That doesn't mean you dont have to properly maintain your car I had my hatchback fully corrected and then coated with Evo Quartz Pro 9H and couldn't be happier with the way it turned out. I don't believe the coating gives it much more scratch resistance but it sheets water like crazy and came with a 4 year warranty


Lot of misconceptions going on here.

Paint coatings are *not* meant to protect against physical scratching, rock chips, etc. You need PPF/clear-bra for that. Putting a coating on your car is also not going to make it scratch easier than before - these things are atomic-level thin, there's no way they're going to affect the surface scratchability positively or negatively. Anything saying they will is marketing BS and most of the reputable coatings (CQuartz, G-Techniq, Opticoat, etc.) aren't going to make those silly claims about physical damage and 9H hardness and crap like that.

A ceramic paint coating serves as a replacement for your normal wax or sealant, except it lasts a lot longer, is far more hydrophobic and has better UV protection. That's it. If your car is getting scratched after putting a coating on, it's 100% down to your wash and dry method and technique, just like it is for uncoated clearcoat. I prepped and installed CQuartz UK on my car 6 months ago now and there's not a scratch on it because I do proper washes. (either the full 2 bucket or a rinseless with multiple microfibers, never using the same face of the towel more than once) If you're putting on a coating and thinking that makes it safe to take the car through an automatic wash, use the coin-op foam brush on it, etc, you're going to have a bad time on the scratch/swirl front.
 

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It's cold here so i can't wash the car myself, i go to shell no contact carwash, but these scratches seem to come from my snowbrush, but my wife got a cx-3 2017 with the same snowbrush and the mazda have no scratches at all. Last years i own a civic 2015 with the same snowbrush and nerver had a trace of it on the paint. It seem it's the nanocrystal finish itself who made these little thin scratches when the snowbrush passed over.

All car companies paint and clearcoat will be different in hardness some are much softer than others. I believe Honda is usually on the softer side
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