New Taco - Wax?

Firn, I disagree. Brand new, paint does have some impurities and contaminates. Just claying new paint for example, will leave paint much much smoother. Here's the test: take a sandwich bag, put your hand in it and rub your paint. Guarantee it will not feel smooth. If it was out in the elements at all, it should be polished before any coating. Otherwise you're trapping stuff under coating or wrap. A fine polish will do no damage to your paint and prepare the surface well for any coating.

Plus if I'm either doing the work (I do) or paying someone lots of money, I'm going to make damn sure the paint is absolutely pristine before a coating goes on. It'll pay off in the end. 8 months in and my coating is damn near perfect.

 

Idk, about any polishing if it was done on my truck, or not when they did the ceramic glass coat. The surface has a hard finish, still looks deep, and feels so smooth compared to my brother rave4 thats not much older...he had no paint protection of sorts done...didn't feel it was worth it.

 

Oh, I agree that you CAN do those things and that new paint is not perfect, but it is still very very good.

Ceramic coating is very expensive to have done and a lot of that cost comes from the typical multiple steps of prep the detailer does before hand. Since there are no scuffs in new paint and most vehicles come wrapped the paint itself isn't in bad shape.

I'm 11 months in and my unprepared ceramic coated paint IS perfect.

 

+1 for this stuff. It kicks ass. Beads the water right ofd and the snow is much easier to slide off when you're uncovering your truck.

 

Farkles? WTbloodyF is a farkle?

 

Heck you can't lay anything on my truck if a breeze without it sliding off. Only place snow really piles up is on the tonneau cover.

 

2nd Gen trucks or at least mine allows snow to collect on the hood and roof.

 

With all do respect, I disagree. As a professional detailer, it is absolutely necessary to polish prior to ceramic, even though I am not a huge fan of ceramics. Regardless if it is new or older. Newer may be more important. Most dealerships to not detail. They simply wash and make the vehicle shiny. I have honestly seen dealerships use some really shady techniques just to make the vehicle look clean for the customer.

I would honestly say, to deep clean any car you need a premium car wash and clay bar. Especially prior to a ceramic. It will provide the cleanest/least contaminated clear coat.

 

I know you got alot of replies, probably quite alot to decipher. As a professional detailer, I would recommend as soon as you getting it a good wash and wax at a minimum.

 

It tends to do the same on mine ...its keeps sliding off the roof of the cab, and getting stuck all over my windshield snagged by the wipers. Snow that hits the hood and sides will mostly slid off on the bumpers

 

Then I ask, what is the point of the polish before coating?

On older paint it is to ensure that you don't seal in visible scratches.
Contaminants don't come out with a polish, not really anyways. Not are they typically visible.

Which leads me back to the point, if the paint doesn't have scratches and contaminants you may have are not visible, then why polish (for scratches) or decontaminate (if you can't see it).
In the end the labor on the clay and polish cost more than the ceramic coat does. If the paint is in great condition why double the price for no gain?

 

Try do the plastic bag test on your paint. I guarantee you, it won’t be smooth.

 

After what I did to the paint of my brand new truck, it looked substantially better. There was clearly gain. Way smoother, way shinier, and super super clean for the ceramic coating.

 

Interesting. I'm certainly not saying it can't be done, or shouldn't be done. However I did my truck and the paint when brand new was very good, no obvious contaminants, no scuffs, and a very high gloss. Now, nearly a year later, when I wash it the truck comes out looking like I put a layer of glaze on it.
I will have to admit that my super white isn't as demanding as other colors though. And that having had lived with a dark colored car that I put nearly 60 hours into a 100% correction on (former business car) I am not going to worry about "perfect" paint anymore. That was really the reason for ceramic for me, a more durable coating. I still don't understand why guys with garage queens go and have it done

 

All you need.

 

I always wax my trucks and cars. The 303 protectant is great use thet as a topper between waxes. I like adams products americana wax goes on and off very easy but there are so many good ones now. I like ceramic coats but i am old school and don't mind hand waxing 4-5 times a year

 

A full polish/paint correction may not be necessary. This is true. But the easiest way to tell is wear a rubber glove or use a plastic bag and rub your and over it. If you can hear it or feel the roughness, claying is needed. Remember, older or newer car, paint is not the issue. It is all about the clear coat. The reason that someone pays me so much ($1000+) for a full ceramic is all the prep work. Clay bar and paint correction/polishing. If they want to skip all that because it is a newer car, I make them sign a waiver in case the ceramic isn't as smooth and deep as they want. But, you only need to clay/polish/paint correct what is needed. Maybe not the entire vehicle.

 

I'm retired and don't mind cleaning, claybar, and waxing the truck. I have the time, but not quite as much energy as earlier in life. Though now, I do it over the course of a couple of days. I like the Zymol products but use a variety of things between waxing. I usually do it twice yearly. Late Fall before winter, to protect from the nasty salting's they use here and early Spring to get the winter crap off. The truck looks amazing after. Haven't tried ceramic yet but might at some point. I also saw something about graphene a while back. Cool stuff!!

 

Good options. Adams makes some good products. If you use a good wax with heavy natural carnuba wax, it should last 3-4 months. Goes super fast with a machine too

 

you don’t use this on the paint right lol