Retail Coatings: A 3-way test... Applied 9/10/14

[Dellinger]

Hey gang,

After the recent blow up (meltdown?) regarding a manufacturer's professional coating... I read the handwriting on the wall- the future of professional coatings will be regionally based throughout the U.S. via approved and authorized installers of coating product manufacturers. Regionally, there will be only one or only a few authorized installers based on metrics of said region that I don't know or care to know.

So after using retail coatings and installing them (legitimately... not claiming they were the professional version(s) or any crap like that) to ensure I was confident enough to prep/ apply/ test/ explain/ sale the product over the past 12 months... I was about to apply for an authorized installer authorization this past Aug. But that didn't happen for obvious reasons and at the same time my retail product went away. x

No big deal; I'm not mad and I can see both sides of that argument that doesn't need to be rehashed. Change is part of business and sometimes it hurts. Sometimes it is inconvenient. And everytime it happens there is a transaction cost associated with it. However, every time change happens there is also opportunity.

I know my regional market and I know there are some fantastic detailers who have the authorized installer titles locked down from the two big players in aftermarket, professional coatings. That's fine by me and I am happy for them... they earned that... I was too late to the game and that's my fault.

However, I'm not about to sit on my laurels and sing 'Whoa is me'... that increased MAP just put a good margin between a 'professional' coating and a professionally applied retail coating. And this is where my test comes in... this test is for the sole purpose and finding a coating that manages to do three things well- 1.) Performs 2.) Applies Easily 3.) Reasonable Price.

My test, right now, includes DP Paint Coating, Duragloss Enviroshield, & CQuartz UK. x(I will be including Optimum's Gloss Coat, CQuartz Classic and possibly C.A.R Bulletproof in the next few months)

My 2003 Dodge Ram 1500, 86K, Titanium Pearl Metallic. And No, there are No sun shots... I haven't corrected the passengers side yet, those panels will be relegated for the other coatings as I acquire/ install them.

There will be NO toppers... my truck will be exposed 24hrs a day... and maintenance washes will be sporadic (sometimes every week, sometimes bi-weekly, etc). I will alternate using CarPro Reset and Megs Hyper Wash for soaps.

I will record the following data and report to this thread, every 30 days:

Miles driven-

Temperatures encountered-

Rainfall encountered via inches/ inclement weather (if any)-

Subjective evaluation of the coatings performance-

If anyone wants a metric added to the above... state it now.

Subject vehicle 16 days after coating installations... first rain experienced.

Prep was done as follows...

Rupes 21

HD Adapt, Orange B&S pad

HD Polish, Blue B&S pad

wiped panels down with 25% IPA solution immediately after each step/ panel was completed.

For CQuartz UK... A final wipe/ soak with CarPro Eraser was utilized.

For DP Paint Coating... the DP Coating Prep was used on a Red B&S pad

For Duragloss Enviroshield... DG Squeaky Clean was used on a Red B&S pad.

Truck sat in 80 degree sunny weather for 5 days straight, so curing was optimal.

Here are two shots of DP Paint Coating on the driver's side, front fender...

With this shot, I am trying to show you how DP Paint coating 'looks' butted up against the Envrioshield coating that is applied on the driver's door...beading looks similar.

Another shot... DP (left) Enviroshield (right)... beading looks similar.

Here is a shot showing DG Enviroshield on the driver's door

Showing Enviroshield (left) adjacent to CQuartz UK that was installed on driver's rear quarter/ bed side (right). Beading is somewhat similar...CQuartz has smaller/finer droplets... and they are ever-so-slightly more 'spherical.'

Not really a 'fair' picture but this shows Enviroshield on top of driver's door adjacent to CQuartz UK on the roof. The 'unfair' part is due to the CQuartz UK application date of last April... so while beading is healthy... it's not the same A-B test as is true of the UK on the bed side.

More Enviroshield (left) & CQuartz UK (right)

CQuartz UK on the driver's bed side

CQuartz UK (Zero Reload applied)


So far...

Looks: xcan't tell the difference between DP & DG. CQuartz is a slightly more glossy... nothing crazy but it is noticeable.

Feel: I was surprised because I read at another locale that DP was 'slick'. Feels just like Enviroshield which feels 'dry', 'tacky'... CQuartz is a little more tackier than the other two.

Application: All coatings were applied via CarPro block and MF/suede cloth.

Enviroshield wins ease of application, hands down. For one, Squeaky Clean is a really nice paint cleaner... very similar to primer from Optimum (without the slight cut). Enviroshield has a reasonable flash time (unlike DP & UK). Any high spots are easily leveled with a MF and a quick detailer even the next day.

I didn't like DP Coating Prep Polish... you had to work a 2'x2' section... and you could barely get in a few passes without it drying up (and when it dries up... it sucks to wipe off so you just apply more, get it wet and then wipe off). xDP Paint Coating flashes rapidly and I do mean rapidly BUT NOT INSTANTLY, which as you will soon read... is actually a kinda-good thing. You can knock down any high spots immediately, after a few hours, or the next day also.

CQuartz UK... This one is last on my list for application appreciation. For one, you gotta spend some extra dough on MF/sueded towels that go in the trash afterwards. Two, you gotta flip that applicator towel EVERY half panel and toss it. xThe 16x16 MF/sueded towel you are wiping residue off with... throw it away after every panel. So, in theory, for me at least, that's.... 8-11, 16x16 towels tossed after every car. And I know, I know... that's not what Corey said. I've talked to Corey... many times, in fact he probably hates seeing my number pop up and I don't blame him. I'm not saying he is wrong... I'm not saying I am right. I am just stating that for peace of mind... I toss those towels every panel. And finally UK just flashes for me INSTANTLY. xI can't work that stuff quick enough. I bet I have over 40+ hours of installing UK under my belt and I still haven't figured that stuff out. Doesn't mean I don't love the way the product performs... and in fact, I'm going to add some traditional CQuartz to my test here soon to see how that stuff applies because at this point, I think UK & I just aren't "Pals".

Stay tuned if you are interested.

Regards,
-Gabe

 

[EVOlved]

Thanks for doing this test I look forward to the follow ups, great work!

 

[silverfox]

DG coating is crazy easy to apply and much more forgiving almost as forgiving as a sealant. I really didn't like CQUK as it was finicky to apply unless conditions were perfect and it darkened my paint which I didn't appreciate and polished it off. Can't speak to DP .

 

[tom p.]

(Subscribed!)

Gabe, nice lookin' rig.x Thanks for doing this long-term comparo.

There will be NO toppers...

A-men !

(Have you applied CQuartz without doing the RELOAD?x I didn't apply my RELOAD 'til about 1 year later.x It completely alters the beading.)

 

[House of Wax]

Sub'd. Interesting to see your comments on cquartz. For me, it doesn't matter how well a product performs...if the application is a pain in the butt, I'm not interested

 

[Zelfiris]

Subscribed. I look forward to each month's review!

 

[Driven Auto Detail]

Subscribed!

Sub'd. Interesting to see your comments on cquartz. For me, it doesn't matter how well a product performs...if the application is a pain in the butt, I'm not interested

Same here!

 

[Dellinger]

Thanks for doing this test I look forward to the follow ups, great work!

Yes sir! You are welcome.

DG coating is crazy easy to apply and much more forgiving almost as forgiving as a sealant. I really didn't like CQUK as it was finicky to apply unless conditions were perfect and it darkened my paint which I didn't appreciate and polished it off. Can't speak to DP .

Agreed. Funny thing is I couldn't tell a difference in Enviroshield and UK side-by-side concerning the 'darkening' effect on my truck. (And I fully agree... UK does darken paint.)

(Subscribed!)

Gabe, nice lookin' rig. Thanks for doing this long-term comparo.

A-men !

(Have you applied CQuartz without doing the RELOAD?x I didn't apply my RELOAD 'til about 1 year later.x It completely alters the beading.)

Tom-

Thank you. No, I didn't apply Reload at all to the UK on the driver's bedside. (I did on the roof but that was back in April... so I would think the properties of Reload would have expired by now & I'm not necessarily going to reference that panel in my test any further since of the older application date.)

Sub'd. Interesting to see your comments on cquartz. For me, it doesn't matter how well a product performs...if the application is a pain in the butt, I'm not interested

House- If you haven't tried UK... you should. There are a legion of detailers out there who it works perfectly for in application... I'm just not one of them. xIf iapplication goes well for you... then the product is fantastic in every other aspect.

Subscribed. I look forward to each month's review!

Yes sir. Will do my best.

Subscribed!

Same here!

Thanks for stopping by.

-Gabe

 

[David Fermani]

Great test! Can you maybe do a video of in process water beading & flooding?

 

[Dellinger]

Great test! Can you maybe do a video of in process water beading & flooding?x

David... I will make one and post it up. xJust give me a few days... I'm trying to catch up all my 'online' stuff, lol.

 

[jmsc]

Sub'd.

I would like to know what state you are in for this comparison test?

 

[Dellinger]

JMSC- I am in WA state

 

[52split]

CQUARTZ UK is awesome once you get the application down. The gloss and darkening look killer on my black MB paint

 

[Scottwax]

Looking forward to the results!

 

[Driven Auto Detail]

I just posted this in another thread...

I just used Gloss-Coat for the first time on Friday. As critical as I've been about the whole Opti-Coat Pro decision, I have to say I love Gloss-Coat already. xThis stuff is RIDICULOUSLY EASY to apply. While I've not used other coatings out there, this has to be one, if not the easiest coating to apply. xOn top of that, it was like wiping on slickness. Unlike Opti-Coat Pro/2.0, this stuff is super slick during & after application.

Overall, I'm completely sold on the application on Gloss-Coat. Durability is yet to be seen, but I trust that Dr. G has created another top-notch product. If only their marketing & business decisions were as good as their products.

 

[Dellinger]

Mike, I just read your other post (and this one). Glad you added your comments... we had feedback from Scott... now you have added yours.

I'm trying to get my ducks in a row here regarding adding Gloss Coat & CQuartz original to my test... along with a video.

Thanks!
-Gabe

 

[JSFM35X]

You should throw GTech into your test. The EXo v2 beaded strong for 2 years and a few months so far. It's still there but not those same super tight small beads. It is beating OC 2.0 from the same time period in the beading department.


Both cars are still well protected and clean up easily.

 

[Dellinger]

You should throw GTech into your test. The EXo v2 beaded strong for 2 years and a few months so far. It's still there but not those same super tight small beads. It is beating OC 2.0 from the same time period in the beading department.

Both cars are still well protected and clean up easily.

JSFM35X-

Thank you for your sentiments. Honestly, I haven't done a lot of research on GTechnique products. Are you saying you used EXo V2 as a stand alone or over C1? Also, it seems that Exo V2, once opened, has to be used within 2 weeks?

I would be open to including a GTechnique product based on your (or other's) answers to my questions above.

Best,
-Gabe

 

[Dellinger]

I don't know what happened to my last post in this thread but... it must have been lost in the transition. Anywho.

My apologies to the board for not being systematic in this ongoing review/test... however, I have been slogging my way through a small backlog of clients, remodeling a laundry room in my house (wife is about to kill me if it's not done before our Christmas family gathering, so this is an A-list item, lol), and church commitments.

Anyway, I have Optimum Gloss Coat & CQuartz Classic to add to the mix. Time to apply these two coating will most likely appear in early January. I will update then with pics and hopefully some video then.

As of now, I see no altered performance from DP Paint Coating, DG EnviroShield, or CQuartz UK.

Again, my apologies for the delays.

Sincerely,
Gabe

 

[sealthedeal]

I don't know what happened to my last post in this thread but... it must have been lost in the transition. Anywho.

My apologies to the board for not being systematic in this ongoing review/test... however, I have been slogging my way through a small backlog of clients, remodeling a laundry room in my house (wife is about to kill me if it's not done before our Christmas family gathering, so this is an A-list item, lol), and church commitments.

Anyway, I have Optimum Gloss Coat & CQuartz Classic to add to the mix. Time to apply these two coating will most likely appear in early January. I will update then with pics and hopefully some video then.

As of now, I see no altered performance from DP Paint Coating, DG EnviroShield, or CQuartz UK.

Again, my apologies for the delays.

Sincerely,
Gabe

Although you weren't able to provide regular updates, but since its been more than a year, could you comment on the durability (specifically the enviroshield) ?