Coatings vs. Standard LSP'S discussion

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mbpress01 said:
So I just did my first two cars with two different coatings and prior I was all in with Zaino. I really loved the look of Zaino and was easily layered. Eventually, I was applying a layer ever week with z2 and then clear seal and all in all the car looked incredible, was slick and beaded and sheeting amazing. After reading about all the coatings, I went with Blackfire Crystal Coat and 22PLE signature. Conclusions as follows:

a) Sealants are much easier to put on. I did learn that either needs eraser or another IPA (I didn't do an IPA before a Zaino application and it streaked like crazy). After doing the coating it was obvious that the IPA removes polishing oils and if you don't use an IPA, it probably will botch a sealant and definitely coating application.

b) Both 22PLE and Blackfire have to be watched like a hawk when they are flashing. If you miss a spot, be prepared to repolish and reapply. In my applications, I went very slowly and found I needed at least 2 hours to apply and buff off. Was pretty painful.

c) Sheeting and beading - coatings are the winner. I saw like a 1.25 inch bead on the 22PLE car and the sheeting was amazing; that is not to say sealants don't bead and sheet, it was just clear to me coatings are better.

d) Durability - undetermined - they will go through a northeast winter in a few month so next march I will examine the beading sheeting. I can say last winter, I had 10 coats of zaino and it was still getting good beads and sheeting (although the car is garaged) after the winter.

f) Finally, and most importantly, looks - somewhat a disappointment in the coatings. After reading about the amazing gloss of 22PLE and Blackfire coatings, I thought the car was going to look more reflective than Zaino. To be sure I could really see this, I spent 10 hours re-polishing the cars with pf4500 which brought out the deep black on my lexus and the deep blue on a ford tarus. I assumed the coatings would then add "reflectivity" to the car and it didn't really pop. To some extent, the Zaino actually looked better (i got the shimmering look with zaino). I was disappointed for sure but I have to assume it needs a topping (vs1 sealant for 22ple and Blackfire instant detailer) which I am hoping will help. It may be that coatings are really a durability play and as long as I can get through the winter I don't care about durability. I haven't decided yet but looks are the most important criteria for me so it may be back to sealants.
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I want to clear up that 22ple doesn't need to be polished off, simply going over the area again will knock a high spot down, though IMO 22ple is by far the easiest coating to apply that I've used and as long as you stick to the directions, you'll have no problems.
 
boxingfan30 said:
I want to clear up that 22ple doesn't need to be polished off, simply going over the area again will knock a high spot down, though IMO 22ple is by far the easiest coating to apply that I've used and as long as you stick to the directions, you'll have no problems.
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I have tried so many waxes, sealants, and coatings over the years.

Favorite Waxes: Blackfire Diamond wax
Pinnacle Souveran (favorite)

Favorite Sealants: Zaino, Duragloss

Coatings I have tried: CQuartz UK, Optimum Gloss Coat, 22ple, Kamikaze ISM

Out of all of these I would go with....

Toss up...Gloss Coat and Kamikaze.
 
RitcheyRch said:
That's what we were lead to believe. Now making me second guess getting a coating if there is just as much work involved in maintenance.
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Personally, I would never ever use a sealant or wax on my personal cars. From my experience, Coating's are so superior, in every way - mar resistants, easy of maintenance, the freshly detailed look after each wash, not having to worry about sap/tar/bird etching etc... and lastly - no need to reapply Opti Coat.

Here is one of our cars, after 1 year - all I ever do is wash it and washing it is very easy. No contamination, no water spots. The rinse is the initial one not after a wash.





In case it doesn't work, click the link below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0I5tutr3N0
 
Thomas Dekany said:
Personally, I would never ever use a sealant or wax on my personal cars. From my experience, Coating's are so superior, in every way - mar resistants, easy of maintenance, the freshly detailed look after each wash, not having to worry about sap/tar/bird etching etc... and lastly - no need to reapply Opti Coat.

Here is one of our cars, after 1 year - all I ever do is wash it and washing it is very easy. No contamination, no water spots. The rinse is the initial one not after a wash.





In case it doesn't work, click the link below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0I5tutr3N0
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is that because you are an authorized opticoat dealer perhaps? I know plenty of people on both sides of this argument, the truth is that after a bit of time oc looks less than stellar, or perhaps just boring is the right word.
 
boxingfan30 said:
is that because you are an authorized opticoat dealer perhaps? I know plenty of people on both sides of this argument, the truth is that after a bit of time oc looks less than stellar, or perhaps just boring is the right word.
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You do realize that no one held a gun to my head to be an installer? My car after 12 months looks as glossy as the day I installed OC Pro. If OC was applied correctly, the look doesn't diminish - the difference between OC and nano sealants aka coatings. After how many months did OPTI COAT PRO started to look boring on your car?
 
Can't speak for other coatings, but Opti-Coat's glossy look never dropped off of my cars. Even my wife's black metallic van that has been coated 6 years ago. It depends on how you maintain it too. An accumulation of bad washes will certainly haze the coating, but if you properly wash it (which OC aids in reducing wash marring) it will stay looking great for a long, long time.
 
Thomas Dekany said:
You do realize that no one held a gun to my head to be an installer? My car after 12 months looks as glossy as the day I installed OC Pro. If OC was applied correctly, the look doesn't diminish - the difference between OC and nano sealants aka coatings. After how many months did OPTI COAT PRO started to look boring on your car?
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Yes, I do realize this, I also realize that if people read what I and many others have said they may opt to not use oc, which I do feel is a good coating btw. It's a business move for people like you as I would expect from anyone tbh.

I guess I started to lose the look after about 6ish months, but I was never fully happy with how it came out on my freshly polished paint.
 
Sorry to hear that the look only lasted 6 months. I wonder why that happened? Was this the Pro or Consumer version? What was the condition of your paint after this degredation started happening?
 
David Fermani said:
Sorry to hear that the look only lasted 6 months. I wonder why that happened? Was this the Pro or Consumer version? What was the condition of your paint after this degredation started happening?
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The car was new, polished perfectly IMO, but after about 6 moths washing it wasn't bringing back the look, nor was it beading anymore, and I used everything on it, ONR, dawn, APC, I really questioned if it was even still on the car. It was oc 2.0
 
boxingfan30 said:
On a side note, I feel 22ple looks much better IMO.
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If one understand the difference between an actual clear coat like Opti Coat Pro and a nano sealant like 22ple, one would know that in the past, one couldn't have both: Either permanent protection and a little less gloss or more gloss but limited durability. Of course now with Opti Coat Pro +, you can have "extreme" gloss and the durability of Opti Coat Pro.

Here is an example of OCP+

_5240016-HDR by Thomas Dekany, on Flickr


_5240008-HDR by Thomas Dekany, on Flickr


And some regular OCP finishes. Don't understand how one is NOT HAPPY with OC on prepped finishes.

_5310010-2 by Thomas Dekany, on Flickr

_5080014 by Thomas Dekany, on Flickr

P8300010-HDR by Thomas Dekany, on Flickr

P6140005-HDR by Thomas Dekany, on Flickr

Opti Coat Pro Detail by Thomas Dekany, on Flickr

Corrected and Opti Coated by Thomas Dekany, on Flickr

_C290007 by Thomas Dekany, on Flickr

PC120016.jpg by Thomas Dekany, on Flickr

PB260010.jpg by Thomas Dekany, on Flickr

PA030022.jpg by Thomas Dekany, on Flickr
 
My opticoat 2.0 looked great for the whole 2 years. I polished it off at that point because I wanted a slicker finish and better beading. It was still ok but I wanted to try something else. Gloss coat also looks amazing, is slicker and beads very well.


boxingfan30 said:
is that because you are an authorized opticoat dealer perhaps? I know plenty of people on both sides of this argument, the truth is that after a bit of time oc looks less than stellar, or perhaps just boring is the right word.
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boxingfan30 said:
If you want, feel free. It's not proving anything other than it's worked for you. That's great, it doesn't work we'll for others as well. If it did, why discontinue oc for gloss coat?
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I have been saying this for a while now, and most people do not like it - If a product works as advertised for most users, do you not think that the issue maybe in the prep and not so much the fault of the product if it failed? Because we both used identical products how can it work only sometimes?

While applying a coating isn't rocket science, durability will suffer if it isn't applied correctly, like leaving it on the surface long enough, making sure to not wipe off too much when leveling etc...

I yet to see a car not lasting if the coating was applied the right way.

As far as OC 2.0 vs Gloss Coat, I see that David has replied to you, so you can see that you assumed wrong, it had nothing to do with OC failing. But Gloss Coat is a semi permanent coating, unlike Opti Coat Pro.

If my car is still as glossy as day one after a year, it most definitely proves that if applied correctly, it will last a long long time, and maintaining that freshly detailed look and not loose its luster after 6 months as you claim. The longest lasting Opti Coated car I have heard of is going 8 years strong.

PS: Opti Coat 2.0 after more that 3 years, owned by an elderly lady in her 80s - takes it to a swirl o matic 2x a months, always sits in that spot, never covered - don't know how, but still looks great - in this picture it is pretty dirty, when it comes home from a wash, it looks beautiful. (she just lives down the street from me)


P8310004 by Thomas Dekany, on Flickr
 
Thomas Dekany said:
I have been saying this for a while now, and most people do not like it - If a product works as advertised for most users, do you not think that the issue maybe in the prep and not so much the fault of the product if it failed? Because we both used identical products how can it work only sometimes?

While applying a coating isn't rocket science, durability will suffer if it isn't applied correctly, like leaving it on the surface long enough, making sure to not wipe off too much when leveling etc...

I yet to see a car not lasting if the coating was applied the right way.

As far as OC 2.0 vs Gloss Coat, I see that David has replied to you, so you can see that you assumed wrong, it had nothing to do with OC failing. But Gloss Coat is a semi permanent coating, unlike Opti Coat Pro.

If my car is still as glossy as day one after a year, it most definitely proves that if applied correctly, it will last a long long time, and maintaining that freshly detailed look and not loose its luster after 6 months as you claim. The longest lasting Opti Coated car I have heard of is going 8 years strong.

PS: Opti Coat 2.0 after more that 3 years, owned by an elderly lady in her 80s - takes it to a swirl o matic 2x a months, always sits in that spot, never covered - don't know how, but still looks great - in this picture it is pretty dirty, when it comes home from a wash, it looks beautiful. (she just lives down the street from me)


P8310004 by Thomas Dekany, on Flickr
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Lol, yes I know the whole "you didn't do it right" thing Thomas, thanks but I know I applied it correctly. I also have a host of pictures of cars I've done too btw, all with various coatings
 
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