BudgetPlan1
Active member
Got a chance to try the recently released SPS Graphene Coating.
Can’t really speak to the science behind it (well, aside from it contains graphene) but you can contact SPS (Surface Protective Solutions) directly at SPS - Surface Protective Solutions - SPS Home if you desire more information. While I’ve never spoke directly to them, I have exchanged messages/discussions and they are a great bunch of folks, appear to be very passionate about their products, far more so than in just a marketing/sales sense. It’s not a widely available product and is currently restricted to Authorized/Approved installers only with exceptions….Thanks to DaveT435 for the ‘exception’ so I could give it a go.
I have no vested interest in SPS as a company, their products or company organization and policies but the prospect of trying something new was appealing to me. Additionally, this was not a complimentary/free product to me, I paid for the product with my own $$ to satisfy my curiosity and they/Dave were kind enough to oblige.
Most likely want to know exactly how/what graphene is claimed to offer as a coating choice. Below is the insert from the product packaging which provides the technical info, longevity and benefits and such:
Product itself is a dark liquid in a clear bottle so that’s a bit different:
Application: Kinda decided to use it on my daily driver, a Crystal Black Pearl 2017 Honda Accord V6 Coupe. I had coated this in Kamikaze Miyabi + ISM back in July 2017 but after 40k miles, it was starting to fade. Was gonna re-do with Miyabi + Zipang but when this opportunity came up, figr’d my heavily used daily driver would be a pretty extreme rolling test panel. This car now sits outside 24/7 for 8 months outta the year and travels 80 miles daily on my commute to work. This commute is on 4 of the busiest freeways in the NE Ohio area, 2 of which are constantly under construction with a 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] scheduled for construction this year. Car sees extensive amounts of road salt, brine and chemical de-icer during the winter, ‘clean water falling from bridge’ in the summer (whatever the heck that means but I can assure you, it’s not very clean after all), construction dirt and gravel and all sorts of other stuff that really takes its toll on paintwork.
The application is a bit different (per instructions anyway) than a standard cross-hatch coating application. It is suggested to work the product into the surface so It’s actually more like applying wax with circular motions of the applicator pad. Nanolex Si3D is the closest in application style that I have used previously. So that’s what I did, using a 3x5 Autofiber ‘Coating Saver’ microfiber pad.
The application environment was somewhat less than ideal as Summer decided to make a rare appearance in NE Ohio that day, with temperatures in the low 80’s F. Add to that strong winds carrying loads of pollen and I hadda keep the garage door mostly closed to keep from covering the in-process vehicle in dust, pollen and other nonsense that trees shed in the Spring. Probably was around 85 F in the garage for most of the application process.
Application for the first layer went fine, could do a fender at a time, split the somewhat long doors into 2 sections and half the roof and half the hood was stretching the area covered; would much likely be a little less restricted if temps in lower 60’s or so but in the end, no problems. Removed/leveled product pretty much without wait time after working into the area for a minute or two. Used the 300gsm Eagle Edgeless for initial removal, followed by the low pile side of an Eagle Creature Edgeless for the second clean up wiping and then one final go with an Eagle Edgeless 350gsm for good measure. Installation recommendations indicate a final wipe with a damp towel to remove any blotchiness but didn’t find that necessary. The first layer left the surface nicely slick and very reflective on the black paint:
The second layer was done as the first, slightly less product usage and surface was smoother and slicker from first application on bare paint so it was gliding better. I did pick up some very, very light hazing residue after 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] layer application removal/leveling here and there (experienced this a bit when using 22ple Finitura) but was easily removed by very, very, VERY light buffing with a CLEAN low-pile towel, almost barely touching the surface. When done, no ‘starburst’ evident in Scangrip penlight when shined closely on surface.
Not sure what all is in this coating or how it affects towels so I just tossed the towels I used during application/removal…I have WAY too many towels anyway. I didn’t notice the applicators crisp up a couple hours after application, unknown if they woulda hardened overnite ‘cuz I tossed them in the garbage when finished. For 2 layers on Accord went through about 25ml of product so probably get 2 average vehicles (whatever average is anymore) with 2 coats each.
End result is a very slick surface, has kinda a substantial feel to it almost like a thick, heavy piece of glass. Slickness is very, very nice…a bit slicker than CarPro Gliss but not as crazy slick as Gyeon Syncro after application. I gave it a quick look this morning in the garage and it appears as if slickness increased a touch, kinda along the lines of Polish Angel Rapidwaxx (or probably any decent spray wax).
Anyway, will watch going forward but pretty impressive at application time. The Guz also has this on a test panel I believe so perhaps he can mention his thoughts. Easy, enjoyable application, great reflections and for a straight-outta-the-bottle single component product, the slickness is excellent.
Interesting to say the least…can’t wait for it to rain now.
Will maintain going forward with Foam, Bucket Wash w Bathe, Reset or Kami Shampoo and no toppers or boosters.
Can’t really speak to the science behind it (well, aside from it contains graphene) but you can contact SPS (Surface Protective Solutions) directly at SPS - Surface Protective Solutions - SPS Home if you desire more information. While I’ve never spoke directly to them, I have exchanged messages/discussions and they are a great bunch of folks, appear to be very passionate about their products, far more so than in just a marketing/sales sense. It’s not a widely available product and is currently restricted to Authorized/Approved installers only with exceptions….Thanks to DaveT435 for the ‘exception’ so I could give it a go.
I have no vested interest in SPS as a company, their products or company organization and policies but the prospect of trying something new was appealing to me. Additionally, this was not a complimentary/free product to me, I paid for the product with my own $$ to satisfy my curiosity and they/Dave were kind enough to oblige.
Most likely want to know exactly how/what graphene is claimed to offer as a coating choice. Below is the insert from the product packaging which provides the technical info, longevity and benefits and such:
Product itself is a dark liquid in a clear bottle so that’s a bit different:
Application: Kinda decided to use it on my daily driver, a Crystal Black Pearl 2017 Honda Accord V6 Coupe. I had coated this in Kamikaze Miyabi + ISM back in July 2017 but after 40k miles, it was starting to fade. Was gonna re-do with Miyabi + Zipang but when this opportunity came up, figr’d my heavily used daily driver would be a pretty extreme rolling test panel. This car now sits outside 24/7 for 8 months outta the year and travels 80 miles daily on my commute to work. This commute is on 4 of the busiest freeways in the NE Ohio area, 2 of which are constantly under construction with a 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] scheduled for construction this year. Car sees extensive amounts of road salt, brine and chemical de-icer during the winter, ‘clean water falling from bridge’ in the summer (whatever the heck that means but I can assure you, it’s not very clean after all), construction dirt and gravel and all sorts of other stuff that really takes its toll on paintwork.
The application is a bit different (per instructions anyway) than a standard cross-hatch coating application. It is suggested to work the product into the surface so It’s actually more like applying wax with circular motions of the applicator pad. Nanolex Si3D is the closest in application style that I have used previously. So that’s what I did, using a 3x5 Autofiber ‘Coating Saver’ microfiber pad.
The application environment was somewhat less than ideal as Summer decided to make a rare appearance in NE Ohio that day, with temperatures in the low 80’s F. Add to that strong winds carrying loads of pollen and I hadda keep the garage door mostly closed to keep from covering the in-process vehicle in dust, pollen and other nonsense that trees shed in the Spring. Probably was around 85 F in the garage for most of the application process.
Application for the first layer went fine, could do a fender at a time, split the somewhat long doors into 2 sections and half the roof and half the hood was stretching the area covered; would much likely be a little less restricted if temps in lower 60’s or so but in the end, no problems. Removed/leveled product pretty much without wait time after working into the area for a minute or two. Used the 300gsm Eagle Edgeless for initial removal, followed by the low pile side of an Eagle Creature Edgeless for the second clean up wiping and then one final go with an Eagle Edgeless 350gsm for good measure. Installation recommendations indicate a final wipe with a damp towel to remove any blotchiness but didn’t find that necessary. The first layer left the surface nicely slick and very reflective on the black paint:
The second layer was done as the first, slightly less product usage and surface was smoother and slicker from first application on bare paint so it was gliding better. I did pick up some very, very light hazing residue after 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] layer application removal/leveling here and there (experienced this a bit when using 22ple Finitura) but was easily removed by very, very, VERY light buffing with a CLEAN low-pile towel, almost barely touching the surface. When done, no ‘starburst’ evident in Scangrip penlight when shined closely on surface.
Not sure what all is in this coating or how it affects towels so I just tossed the towels I used during application/removal…I have WAY too many towels anyway. I didn’t notice the applicators crisp up a couple hours after application, unknown if they woulda hardened overnite ‘cuz I tossed them in the garbage when finished. For 2 layers on Accord went through about 25ml of product so probably get 2 average vehicles (whatever average is anymore) with 2 coats each.
End result is a very slick surface, has kinda a substantial feel to it almost like a thick, heavy piece of glass. Slickness is very, very nice…a bit slicker than CarPro Gliss but not as crazy slick as Gyeon Syncro after application. I gave it a quick look this morning in the garage and it appears as if slickness increased a touch, kinda along the lines of Polish Angel Rapidwaxx (or probably any decent spray wax).
Anyway, will watch going forward but pretty impressive at application time. The Guz also has this on a test panel I believe so perhaps he can mention his thoughts. Easy, enjoyable application, great reflections and for a straight-outta-the-bottle single component product, the slickness is excellent.
Interesting to say the least…can’t wait for it to rain now.
Will maintain going forward with Foam, Bucket Wash w Bathe, Reset or Kami Shampoo and no toppers or boosters.
I know the other ingredient PDMS is silicone..
