Ceramic coat and swirls.

[anonymous-user]

On the weekend I decided to polish my car. I used CG VSS. It too me 6 hours. My arms ached. My lower back ached as I forgot to use the chair with tiny wheels on it.

The paint looked perfect. I used my scan grip lights. Viewed the paint from all angles and it looked pretty good. A few minor scratches but flawless for the most part.

I decided to try a ceramic coat by Shelby (the advertising worked on me). Followed it to the letter. Inspected it and all I can see is hundreds of holograms and more scratches!

I thought these things provide a light filling effect to minor swirls. At a loss as to where I went wrong.

This is what I did.

1. Snow foam
2. Pressure rinse
3. Two bucket method
4. Pressure rinse
5. Pet dryer
6. Clay and detailing spray
7. DA Polish. Looked really good.
8. Applied the ceramic (apply above 8c. Wait 20 minutes then buff off. Timed it well. Didn’t apply to the whole car at once.
9. Buffed it off with an edgeless towel
10. Inspected it all and hand buffed anything missed

Is this normal for a ceramic coat? To amplify the tiniest of scratches and make it look like someone rubbed it with a wash mot that had been dunked in gravel?!

[anonymous-user]

I’ve answered my own question. Apparently even with lots of polishing you cannot get rid of every scratch and the ceramic will just highlight it all: https://avalonking.com/blog/does-ceramic-coating-f...

[QuickQuack]

Oh dear, that sounds painful! That was the reason I got mine done professionally - a full detail first then the ceramic coating. Wasn't cheap but it was done perfectly and I knew I would've messed it up.

[Summit_Detailing]

No mention of a panel prep stage after polishing OP?.

If you went straight to coating application after polishing, sometimes the solvents/carriers of the coating can act like a panel wipe and remove any fillers off the surface left by the polish.

A panel wipe product is essential after polishing to ensure the surface you are inspecting is 'naked' and is the true finish.

Have you done the whole car? or just a couple of panels?

Cheers,

Chris

[anonymous-user]

Usually I’d go IPA or use my Carbon Collective Panel Wipe. As per the product instructions it says to forgo this stage. The panel prep part is using the supplier ceramic shampoo as this acts as the foundation to help the ceramic to bond better. In hindsight I should have ignored this. In daylight you cannot tell. With an inspection light all is revealed. I guess it will probably bother me most at petrol stations. Thanks

[_Hoppers]

This thread leads to a ‘problem’ I’m having. I’ve got a really bright bike light which is good for picking out minor scratches but doesn’t highlight swirls very well at all. I’ve just got a DA polisher so I’m expecting I may introduce holograms into the paintwork. What sort of light source do I need to pick these defects out when polishing in the garage/overcast conditions?

[Fishlegs]

I just bought a used Porsche. They kindly gave me a free ceramic coating, over the top of terrible paintwork. Short of wet sanding, I don't think anything will remove the ceramic coating to allow the paint to be corrected.

Any idea how long a gtechiq coating really lasts? Months? Years?

[mickyh7]

I wouldn't try to fill my own teeth.
I wouldn't try to Plaster my own ceilings.
I would never attempt to Ceramic Coat my own Car.
This is why we have professionals!
Guy at work done it to a newish Black Audi TT
Its a right mess.
I hope you sort it out but it is like Dog S**t to remove.
I'm guessing sanding back to the paint and starting over.

[anonymous-user]

_Hoppers said:

This thread leads to a ‘problem’ I’m having. I’ve got a really bright bike light which is good for picking out minor scratches but doesn’t highlight swirls very well at all. I’ve just got a DA polisher so I’m expecting I may introduce holograms into the paintwork. What sort of light source do I need to pick these defects out when polishing in the garage/overcast conditions?

I used various scan grip lights. Bright white light works best for darker colours/hues and warm/yellow light for the opposite i.e. lighter colours. Good lighting is key too so if you have an LED flood light that can help too. Move the light around and look at the paint from different angles etc.

[anonymous-user]

Fishlegs said:

I just bought a used Porsche. They kindly gave me a free ceramic coating, over the top of terrible paintwork. Short of wet sanding, I don't think anything will remove the ceramic coating to allow the paint to be corrected.

Any idea how long a gtechiq coating really lasts? Months? Years?

Depends what they used. CS or CSL. Layered with Exo? CSL nets a few years. CS can be 5-7 years. Ceramics require top up and maintenance so if you don’t follow up with the Gtech ceramic infused shampoo then it won’t prolong it. Abrasive methods will wear it out too such as poor washing technique. CSL lasted under a year on mine when I lived in London. Probably all the pollution, acid rain, bird lime...

CSL usually goes away with a few hand polishes too.

Edited by Super_G on Wednesday 17th March 21:41

[anonymous-user]

mickyh7 said:

I wouldn't try to fill my own teeth.
I wouldn't try to Plaster my own ceilings.
I would never attempt to Ceramic Coat my own Car.
This is why we have professionals!
Guy at work done it to a newish Black Audi TT
Its a right mess.
I hope you sort it out but it is like Dog S**t to remove.
I'm guessing sanding back to the paint and starting over.

I made a start. It’s mainly the boot lid that looks horrendous. Wet sanding not required as it hasn’t fully cured by the looks of it. Coming off with a MF DA pad and some Wolfgangs polish. Thank the Lord!!

[Summit_Detailing]

Fishlegs said:

I just bought a used Porsche. They kindly gave me a free ceramic coating, over the top of terrible paintwork. Short of wet sanding, I don't think anything will remove the ceramic coating to allow the paint to be corrected.

Any idea how long a gtechiq coating really lasts? Months? Years?

The first step would be to wash the car and confirm that the coating has actually been applied - this will be evident in water behaviour on the paint. If the water sits flat and doesn't bead then it's not present.

Porsche dealers apply Gtechniq Platinum which is Gtechniq's dealer coating. It sits somewhere between Crystal Serum Light and CS Ultra.

Relatively straightforward to remove with a couple of machine polishing steps;)

Cheers,

Chris

[_Hoppers]

Super_G said:

_Hoppers said:

This thread leads to a ‘problem’ I’m having. I’ve got a really bright bike light which is good for picking out minor scratches but doesn’t highlight swirls very well at all. I’ve just got a DA polisher so I’m expecting I may introduce holograms into the paintwork. What sort of light source do I need to pick these defects out when polishing in the garage/overcast conditions?

I used various scan grip lights. Bright white light works best for darker colours/hues and warm/yellow light for the opposite i.e. lighter colours. Good lighting is key too so if you have an LED flood light that can help too. Move the light around and look at the paint from different angles etc.

Thank you, I’ll check those out

[zsdom]

Could it be that you’ve not worked the polish correctly & have left buffer trails?
If you’re only seeing them in direct sunlight/under forecourt lights, that’d be my bet

[Fishlegs]

Summit_Detailing said:

Fishlegs said:

I just bought a used Porsche. They kindly gave me a free ceramic coating, over the top of terrible paintwork. Short of wet sanding, I don't think anything will remove the ceramic coating to allow the paint to be corrected.

Any idea how long a gtechiq coating really lasts? Months? Years?

The first step would be to wash the car and confirm that the coating has actually been applied - this will be evident in water behaviour on the paint. If the water sits flat and doesn't bead then it's not present.

Porsche dealers apply Gtechniq Platinum which is Gtechniq's dealer coating. It sits somewhere between Crystal Serum Light and CS Ultra.

Relatively straightforward to remove with a couple of machine polishing steps;)

Cheers,

Chris

Thanks for the info!