Best DIY Ceramic Coating

Hopefully I didn't miss it in the search

If you've applied a ceramic coating, what brand did you use and what did you think regarding level of difficulty/outcome.

Trey

 

McKee's 37 is super easy. Looks great. Lasts about a year. Cheap.

 

Let me preface by saying my vehicles live outside 24/7.

Optimum Gloss Coat- easy application- probably got a good 18 months out of it. I believe new version is good for 3 years

Cquartz UK- easier to apply than the Optimum. Have about 6 months on application.

GTechniq Crystal Serum Light topped with Exo V2. 6 months on application. Doesn’t release dirt all that well but after a wash vehicle looks phenomenal.

 

Subb'd for info.

 

I've used original CQuartz, CQuartz UK 3.0 and Gliss.

For any of them, no sunlight as they will flash too fast and cause a haze.

Last year I tried 2 coats of CQuartz original, after light off roading, salt and sand blasting over the Canadian winter, outside 24/7... it held up excellent, still beaded water and easy to clean as the day I first applied it.

For all 3 I found that after 25C (77F) you must work really fast or they will become very hard to buff properly.
Gliss topcoat flashes really fast even at 15C (60F) so don't crosshatch it when using the applicator and wipe off immediately then buff with a fine MF cloth.
If you work fast and on small 18x18 (77F) or 2x2 (60F) sections Gliss is very easy. If you go slow, it will be a No-Go.
CQuartz original was quite easy, but you had to adjust your wait time from application to wipe off based on outside temp, then once it started to flash you had to buff fairly quickly.
CQuartz 3.0 was the easiest/ most forgiving of the 3, after you cross hatch it on with the applicator I waited until it started to flash then wiped it down with a short MF towel, then waited another minute and buffed it with the supplied MF buffing towel. This product gave you the most "working time" so would probably be the easiest for beginners from what I've read. Apply it thinly and you can easily get 2 coats out of a 30ml bottle on your Tacoma, it applies pretty thick so you don't need to over saturate the applicator. First ime on the applicator one full length line, then 3/4 length line after that. It goes further than you would think.

This year, because I love a mirror finish, and the truck is 202 Black that shows everything, I polished the truck down with Carpro Essence, applied 3 coats of CQuartz 3.0 then a coat of Carpro Gliss.

Reason why I thought I'd try Gliss this year is to help with water spots. We have hard water here so no way even with Ceramic coatings could you not even think about leaving tap water on a Black vehicle. I had them on my truck (wiped off, fortunately) but since it sits outside 24/7 I wanted an extra layer of protection.



Good lighting and lots of hand buffing for all of them, is the real key to a good application (so long as you prepped the vehicle properly).

 

I started using Nu Finish years ago, when Consumer Reports rated it the best of their car wax test. I've never had a reason to switch to another brand. I guess I'm going to stay with Nu Finish.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fznghWNhPzA

 

Sounds like you have a solid product according to the video, but comparing a wax/sealant to a ceramic is apples to oranges. It is highly unlikely a wax/sealant will ever live as long as a ceramic.

 

I used Nu Finish many years ago and a teenager. I've tried a ton of others over the years and then one day a couple of years ago I tried it again. I don't think I'll be trying any others anymore. Can't beat the durability, ease or price. I do use Lucas speed wax and collinite on top of it sometimes

 

I used Shine Armor last night. All of the hype on Facebook and Insta got the best of me so I bought a bottle. Has a very nice grape smell to it. Wiped off easily w/out any streaks.

 

$20 for 6.4 ounces....no thank you.

 

I have G Techniq on my three vehicles and feel very good about it. Has been on the Taco and TSX for 1.7 years and holding up great. Has been on my S2000 for a month and expect longer duration as it sleeps in the garage 95% of the time. I do add a coat of CarPro Reload every 4-6 months to maintain, but it is a simply wipe down after washing.

 

I did quite a lot of research and used CarPro Cquartz UK 3.0. Easy to apply but obviously there is quite a bit of prep prior to application.

 

I know, not my proudest moment LOL. After 2 coats i still have 2/3 of the bottle left though.

 

I have 2 vehicles with CSL topped with EXO and the gloss is amazing. My truck has a base of Cquartz 2.0 topped with EXO. Products seem to be playing well together.

 

@Unchained 5150

 

I use all Blackfire Products, and love their Ceramic Coating. This paint is 5 years old and looks as new as the day I drive it off the lot.

 

Finished cutting and buffing. It will get DPC shield ceramic (figured I would start easy and cheap for my first try but now wishing I got cquartz). them carpro hydro2 and reload followed by beadmaker. These pics are after finishing up with carpro clear cut and then essence. Good stuff.

 

did carpro cq.uk 3.0
6 months ago after
bead maker
Yesterday

 

I used the same 3.0 , great stuff