Ceramic Coatings/Wax

I'd like to get this done. Anyone know the longevity or how well it'll protect against things like pinstriping? I have seen a few comments addressing that, but just curious to everyone's experience.

 

Here's my system in order. Can't say enough good things about the Turtle Wax Ceramic Spray, but the Mothers California Gold and the Iron Remover definitely add to the shine and protection.

1. Pressure washer
2. Pressure Washer 3000 PSI Power Washer Electric Powered for Car Cleaning Machine with Quick Connect Nozzles Foam Bottle for Home Driveway Patio - Blue RE1…
   Undercarriage attachment
3. $20 Twinkle Star Foam Cannon 1 L Bottle Snow Foam Lance with 1/4" Quick Connector, 5 Nozzle Tips for Pressure Washer
   Foam Cannon
4. $30 Chemical Guys CWS 110 64 Honeydew Snow Foam Car Wash Soap (Works with Cannons, Foam Guns or Bucket Washes) Safe for Trucks, Motorcycles, RVs & More, 64 fl oz (Half Gallon), Honeydew Scent
   Foam Car Wash
5. $6 Relentless Drive Car Wash Mitt - Works as Car Wash Sponge - Microfiber Mitt Scratch Free, Ultra Absorbent Microfiber Sponge for Trucks, SUVs, Boats & Motorcycles (Extra Large)
   Mitt
6. $20 Detailer's Preference Premium Cleaning Edgeless Microfiber Towels 350gsm 16 x 16"es 12 Pack
   Micro Towels
7. $23 Mothers 07240 California Gold Clay Bar System
   Clay System
8. $16 Adam's Iron Remover (16oz) - Iron Out Fallout & Stop Rust Remover Spray for Car Detailing Removes Iron Particles in Auto Paint, Wheels, Motorcycle, RV & Boat - Use Before Clay Bar, Wax or Car Wash
   Iron Remover
9. $19 Meguiar's Quik Scratch Eraser Kit, Car Scratch Remover for Repairing Surface Blemishes, Car Care Kit with ScratchX, Drill-Mounted Pad, and Microfiber Towel, 3 Count
   Scratch-X
10. Toyota touch up paint
11. $16 Turtle Wax 53409 Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Spray Coating, Incredible Shine and Protection for Car Paint, Extreme Water Beading, Safe for Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, RV's and More, 16 oz. (Pack of 1)
    Ceramic Spray
12. $13 Lucas Oil 10513 Slick Mist Tire and Trim Shine - 24 Ounce
    Trim Shine

 

Longevity will depend on whether it sits outside, climate, how often you maintainence wash. But most 9H type coatings will yield at least 2-3 years when maintained properly, contrary to what some over marketed brands will tell you, layering upon layers doesnt really work and doesnt yield longer protection nor would you want to let your paint go unaddressed for that long. It will help with some light pinstripping, etc.

 

Seems we think alike!

 

Nice! For the Sun Joe pressure washer, I ended up purchasing a couple of

$10 Tool Daily Pressure Washer Adapter Set, Quick Connect Kit, Metric M22 15mm Female to M22 Male Fitting, 5000 PSI

these to make disconnecting the hoses easier. They also act as a swivel between hoses. And, I'm using

$16 Hourleey Garden Hose Quick Connector, 3/4" Male and Female Garden Hose Fitting Quick Connector, 6 Set

these for the hose connection.

 

opti coat pro plus for the win

 

I actually tried some of those to try and speed the hook up, up. Couldn't get them to seal properly. So I gave up on quick disconnects.

 

Ya, one common problem is that the typical adaptors are 14 mm, but the Sun Joe takes a 15 mm. (the ones I linked above are 15mm)

 

I purchased my MIDNIGHT BLACK taco in July and decided to give the Meguiars hybrid ceramic wax a try, the results were beyond my expectations.
My reason for trying a ceramic product was to get through the Michigan winters (Which last a long time) before I can wax again. Only time will tell but so far so good.
For a comparison test I just did my wife’s 3-1/2 year old Subaru Forster with the highly rated “The Last Coat”. This stuff is like $35, so I wanted to do a test to see if it was worth it.
I washed her car with a Ph neutral car wash with no wax in it, clay bar, washed again, and rubbed it down with 70% alcohol (rubbing alcohol). Then I applied the last coat, easiest product I have ever applied. Took no time, her Perl White car will blind you it shines so much, and the surface is actually slippery.
So is the $35 +/- product way better than the hybrid ceramic wax? Yes - yes it is, but only time will tell if it lasts. I will let you know in the spring.

 

I plan on getting this done as soon as I get back from a work trip. I really need to give my wife’s car a little love as well.

 

At least one thing great about this ceramic glass coating job is i never see any white wax residue areas after a good rain storm like i use to have on past vehicles when using a good carnauba wax.

 

Also my black truck stays much cleaner using ceramic. A black truck was not my first choice in colors due to the up keep, but that's the only sport I could find on a lot - now I wouldn't have any other color

 

For those of you who have used a ceramic coating, did you apply it over the black vinyl between the front/rear door windows? I have a Pro. For those with Pro's did you coat the vinyl decals on the hood?

 

Truck looks good, but you have way too many tramp stamps on that door, and one is facing the wrong direction

 

Yes, at least for the Last Coat product, just make sure the truck is cool to the touch. I purchased a 13x13 awning that I set over the areas of my black truck that I am working on

 

This thread makes me feel bad...I can't remember the last time I properly washed or detailed my truck.

 

I don’t know if pictures help, but I used carnauba wax this weekend and I was happy with it.

Something I didn’t know though, you can wax the windows?

 

Its looks great now but wait till it rains, you'll see all the white wax residue on the rubber or plastic trim you never fully wiped off. With the ceramic treatment that was done i never get that. The surface always looks like glass.

 

You can wax pretty much everything you want. Ive been waxing headlights and taillights on my ranger since i bought it and people thought my headlights were glass.

Now, i do the ceramic coating on pretty much everything. Lasts for years, no need to re apply every few months. Just get a ceramic coat booster and apply it once in 6 months maybe.

Wax is ok but it doesnt last long at all.

 

I still use carnauba wax on my 12 cylinder XJS Jaguar - but then it NEVER sees rain, snow, hell rarely even clouds, but it won’t last all winter hear in Michigan. That is the reason I am giving ceramic a try, on my everyday vehicles.