KoryMiller340

5th time I've applied a ceramic coating to a vehicle (4 times on my own stuff and once for a friend). This is the second time this car (my 2015 Challenger) has been done, I originally did it in 2018 with the 9H Adams kit. I feel like it came out even better this time around. I applied the coating last Saturday (4/09/2022) and let it "cure" in my garage for almost 6 full days before applying the ceramic boost. This stuff continues to impress me, especially in the Florida heat! Close to 30 hours start to finish with strip wash, clay bar, trim, engine compartment, interior, polisher, coating, boost, and cleanup.

Hello, In May of 2018, I applied the original Ceramic Coating (7H) to my car. Approximately 1 year later the car was involved in an accident, and after getting it back from the body shop, and giving the paint some time to cure, I applied the coating (9H now because I ran out of the 7H) to only the part of the vehicle that had been involved in the accident. I have been logging my washes / applications of ceramic boost since 2018, and I've had approximately 40 washes, and applied the boost just about every 3-4 washes. With all of that being said, I recently purchased the Graphene coating and would like to apply it to this vehicle. My question is, do I need to polish the whole car again prior to applying the new coating, or can I simply just clay it, use the coating prep and apply the coating? The only reason I ask is because I know you can apply the coating in layers, like you can wax if you choose, and anywhere that would still have the old coating would essentially be getting a new "layer" of coating, and anywhere that the coating has already worn off would be getting a fresh application of coating. I'm not trying to cut corners, but unless it is absolutely necessary to polish this whole thing to ensure that all of the old coating is gone, the car really does not need to be polished again because it is in great shape. Also, Anyone that has used the newer ceramic coatings, back when I initially did this, you had to be careful not to get the coating on the trim, plastic, etc. What has your experience been with the new stuff? Does it work well? Are there any prep tips in order to make this look great on non-painted surfaces? Or should I just do what I did the last time, and be careful not to get it anywhere that isn't painted? Just looking for opinions / advice on this. I can send pics or anything else that would help if necessary. Thank you!

Glad we are all on the same page. I'll post some pics tomorrow prior to them picking it up. Thanks for the reassurance guys!

As luck would have it, I was able to hand polish them with a combination of rubbing compound and one-step polish. I didn't have to actually use the polisher (was hoping not to have to, as I have it pretty much done, and didn't want to get dust all over everything if I didn't have to).

Just a quick question. I'm detailing a car for a co-worker, and he's picking it up tomorrow. If all goes well, I'll be done later today and might have some extra time in the morning to touch up a few areas. I've washed, clayed, polished, and waxed, so I was going to top it with something for that extra "POP". If you were given the choice, would you hit it with brilliant glaze, or would you put a little ceramic boost on it? The car has never been ceramic coated before, so I'm leaning towards the brilliant glaze, but wanted some opinions. Thanks!

Sorry, I'm sure there are 1000 topics on this, but just wondering if anyone has any suggestions for removing water spots on windows. Long story short, I'm detailing a co-workers car (I've had it all week, and I'm almost done), but didn't notice until after claying the windshield that it has some bad water spots at the bottom. Not sure if it is from hard water, rain water baking on in the sun, etc. etc. Either way, I'm just looking for something that might work. I've tried a mixture of 1/2 water and 1/2 distilled vinegar, spraying it on, letting it sit a few minutes, and then wiping off with a microfiber towel. What do you suggest that is readily available (I'm giving him the car back tomorrow, so if I can't get it at a local store, then I won't be able to try it). THANK YOU!

Thinking about purchasing a pressure washer, I know there are tons out there, can anyone share their experience? This would be dual use, driveway, sidewalks, back porch (screened in lanai) and washing cars. I was leaning towards an electric, just so that when I'm washing cars, I'm not feeling like I am playing "beat the clock" because of using fuel while it is running. I'd say I'll probably use it quarterly to clean stuff around the house, otherwise, weekly to wash cars if that changes the recommendations. Just worried about not having enough PSI if I go electric. Can anyone weigh in on both? Thanks!

@tlbullet great job! Crazy how similar I feel about the ceramic coating. I've done three cars now, both of mine are blue, and my wife's is a dark red / almost maroon. I felt like it was easier to see the coating as I was applying it on her car, much like you did on the black car vs. the white. Her's was the third car I applied it to, so I thought I would / should be getting better, but hers is the only one I saw any high spots on (on about 1/2 the hood). I also thought that using the ceramic boost on her car was more difficult, maybe it was all the same, and the darker paint just shows the imperfections / excess product more easily than the blue. I live in Florida, it was much more humid this time around as opposed to the other two times I worked on the cars, so I'm thinking this may have been a factor as well. Glad to see I'm not totally crazy........

The first car I did with the 7H ceramic coating, definitely "tacky" after applying the coating / during the curing process. After applying ceramic boost, it was very slick. I just did 1 car and a small section of another with the 9H coating, it's slick, but I almost feel like the 7H was more slick after applying the ceramic boost. Maybe it's the humidity in Florida that has me thrown off though....

I've applied the old formula (7h) twice now, most recently this past weekend on my challenger. I actually got about 90% done (I have 1/2 the hood and the entire front bumper remaining) and I ran out of coating Anyways, with the old formula, I did notice that waiting a little longer, it was tackier and more difficult to remove, the paint after buffing with the towel wasn't exactly smooth, if you remember the video Adam had when the coating was first released, where his fingers didn't really glide over the finish, that is exactly how mine felt. I waited 24 hours (it was more like 26) and I put the Ceramic Boost on everything that I'd already done the previous day, things seem pretty great so far. I'm waiting to get another kit (it'll be here Saturday) so that I can finish up the challenger. As for the applicator pad, the side that I used, it wasn't exactly "hard" but it felt a little stiff, after waiting for a few hours. I didn't toss it or the towels, as directed, what I ended up doing was rinsing them on their own and they have been designated for doing things inside the house, such as using detail spray on the counters, or glass cleaner on the mirrors etc. I couldn't bring myself to toss them after one use, not yet at least Much like VetteDream, I applied mine in a garage that was very warm, and low lighting, I'm in Central Florida, and it was in the 90's this past weekend, humidity was up there too, no "high spots" that I've seen so far, I did have the car out in the sun after I applied the ceramic boost. I did have fantastic results on my dart a little over a month ago and posted it on this forum, it literally blows me away when I wash it, the water drops look like they are literally racing each other to the ground as they fall off of the car. I'm drinking the ceramic coating koolaid for sure.

LMAO HAHA!

And my wife thinks I'm nuts for trying to clean the cars while we are "on vacation" haha. I would echo what some others on here have said, seal the glass, it's a definite must! I'd bring along detail spray and a few drying towels, glass cleaner / brilliant glaze, and either total interior cleaner or leather conditioner, just in case someone spills something in the interior along the way. Coin-Op car washes unfortunately can be your best friend for long trips like this one, just to keep things from getting too gross. I'm from Pennsylvania originally, not sure which route you are traveling, but if you happen to get near / around Pittsburgh check out one of the original Primanti Brothers locations (downtown), they have their chains in other states now, but from my experience, nothing beats one of the true original downtown locations. If you have the time, swing by Gettysburg, PA (less than 90 minutes from Baltimore) if you want to check out any of the civil war / battlefield stuff, July is when the re-enactments of the battles take place, so if you go before that it won't be as crowded, definitely worth taking the time to check out.

Not exactly the same for me, but similar, don't drop or lightly drop the hose, it will land on the nozzle and it will spray all over your recently rinsed / dried car..... Done this too many times haha

Good to know, my wife often tells me that she "wonders if some of the products taste as good as they smell" lol.

+2 on this. I had a similar thing happen probably 10 or so years ago, stayed in Manhattan for a weekend, and when I came out had stuff all over my hood and roof, I remember washing and claying, car was do for a full detail anyways... Glad to hear you got it off!