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Planning to redo the ceramic on my cab, have done a bunch of research re best DIY ceramic coating but there doesn't seem to be a clear consensus. Any recommendations? Thanks.
There are several good ones. DIY Detail, Carpro, Gtecniq, and others. These are all good choices. If you choose DIY Detail use the 3-year as a topper over the 5 or 8-year ceramic. If you choose Carpro use Gliss as the topper over CK UK 3.0 or Gtecniq Exov5 over Crystal Serum Light.
The DIY Detail or Gtcniq are the newest. All are easy to work with too, just make sure you know when to install the topper. Numerous YouTube videos cover how to use these products here are a few of the channels: DIY Detail has a channel, Pan the Organizer or Obsessed Garage.
I just installed the Gtecniq Crystal Serum Light and Exov5 as the topper a few weeks ago. The Carpro is still good but is now an older formulation.
It works amazing on PPF, just apply it like normal. I even put the EXO in the frunk and inside the gas cap on the plastic bits and bobs and it works amazingly well.
Great recommendations, thanks to you both. Any idea how this would work on PPF section of car?
Originally Posted by PHX
CSL and 2 coats of EXO.
It works amazing on PPF, just apply it like normal. I even put the EXO in the frunk and inside the gas cap on the plastic bits and bobs and it works amazingly well.
Yes, go over the PPF it helps with additional UV resistance, and you can do black plastic, painted plastic, tail lights, ext. mirror glass, side glass rear glass, etc. I would NOT recommend the front windshield as it may make the wipers judder/skip.
I bought Carpro DLUX and Carpro Gliss for the wheels/brakes too.
Again, great insights, thanks very much. Final (?) question: overall the paint on my cab is in very good shape. But there are a few little issues here and there where someone leaned on the car etc. and in one case opened a car door just grazing mine and leaving a tiny bit of paint transfer. Ive never done paint correction and frankly the idea of using a buffer on my baby terrifies me. Is it stupid to try to polish these little issues out by hand? If so, which DA buffer do you recommend? If not, are there any products in particular that you’ve used that you recommend? Again I’ve done a ton of research but personal recs from Rennlisters are more valuable. Thanks again.
The recently released Exo V5 is a one coat application so it goes on quicker.
Originally Posted by edofloat
I bought Carpro DLUX and Carpro Gliss for the wheels/brakes too.
I did this on my wheels this spring and they still basically hose clean. I have a little leftover Gliss to apply when I swap to my winter wheels, which will be soon.
Originally Posted by readydiverone
Again, great insights, thanks very much. Final (?) question: overall the paint on my cab is in very good shape. But there are a few little issues here and there where someone leaned on the car etc. and in one case opened a car door just grazing mine and leaving a tiny bit of paint transfer. Ive never done paint correction and frankly the idea of using a buffer on my baby terrifies me. Is it stupid to try to polish these little issues out by hand? If so, which DA buffer do you recommend? If not, are there any products in particular that you’ve used that you recommend? Again I’ve done a ton of research but personal recs from Rennlisters are more valuable. Thanks again.
I wouldn’t recommend doing it by hand. Many of the current polishes are “diminishing “, as in the abrasive breaks down as you polish. You need a dual action random orbital to get that to happen. After my windshield replacement scratching incident the sales manager took a microfiber pad and polish and proceeded to make it worse.
I threw out my ancient Porter Cable and replaced it with a Milwaukee 15mm DA. I already have enough Milwaukee tools and batteries so it was a natural. The Griot’s Garage polishers are decent and not too expensive. Even a small random orbital sander for $75 from HD with an appropriate pad and something like Sonax Perfect Finish would work if you don’t anticipate doing much polishing.
Watch some YouTube- Pan the Organizer, DIY Detail, Chicago Auto Pros or Obsessed Garage for some tutorials. And practice on someone else’s car first
Last edited by 911newguy; Oct 9, 2023 at 06:56 PM.
Very pleased with Adam’s Graphene Advanced. Look for gold label. The small liquid bottle or the spray. Prep work before is recommended. I have X-Pel in front clip, from front bumper to door.
Like you, I did all kinds of research prior to a decision. Ended up going with CarPro CQuartz UK 3.0 for my first diy ceramic coating (was a toss up between this and GTechniq CSL). Several washes in now, couldn't be happier with the results. To add, with proper prep, it was a VERY user friendly application.
To maintain the coating, I just use CarPro Reset in a foam cannon for washes and will use Reload every other wash as a topper. Gloss and Hydrophobic behavior has been amazing. As soon as I have more time, will apply the same to the rest of our cars.
how do you prep PPF if it's been on track already? ie, not virgin PPF that's ready for ceramic
It is possible to carefully polish PPF depending on what you have, however, your PPF should be self-healing. Try parking in the sun on a warm day and see if some of the marks disappear.
Look into how to polish PPF and you would need to check to see if that is even possible on your PPF. If you can carefully/lightly polish your PPF I'm not sure what product to use but would guess some sort of jewel polish with no abrasives.
Again, great insights, thanks very much. Final (?) question: overall the paint on my cab is in very good shape. But there are a few little issues here and there where someone leaned on the car etc. and in one case opened a car door just grazing mine and leaving a tiny bit of paint transfer. Ive never done paint correction and frankly the idea of using a buffer on my baby terrifies me. Is it stupid to try to polish these little issues out by hand? If so, which DA buffer do you recommend? If not, are there any products in particular that you’ve used that you recommend? Again I’ve done a ton of research but personal recs from Rennlisters are more valuable. Thanks again.
If you have a 5" random orbit sander lying around you could just buy a pad for that and do some light paint correction with that tool. There are many to choose from too.
Again, great insights, thanks very much. Final (?) question: overall the paint on my cab is in very good shape. But there are a few little issues here and there where someone leaned on the car etc. and in one case opened a car door just grazing mine and leaving a tiny bit of paint transfer. Ive never done paint correction and frankly the idea of using a buffer on my baby terrifies me. Is it stupid to try to polish these little issues out by hand? If so, which DA buffer do you recommend? If not, are there any products in particular that you’ve used that you recommend? Again I’ve done a ton of research but personal recs from Rennlisters are more valuable. Thanks again.
Hand? Not if you want the best possible result.
Maybe find someone close to you and borrow a polisher if you aren't ready yet to take the dive. (pun?)
