SouthernSteve

This write up will provide the products and steps taken to convert my 2017 Chevy Colorado Daily Driver from Ceramic Paste Wax to Ceramic Spray Coating.   The truck's last major detail was June 9, 2019 which means that the CPW has been on the vehicle for 111 days.  The CPW was in near perfect condition and there is not a single negative statement I could make toward CPW.  If you want a high end paste wax, I would absolutely recommend CPW.  It is on and for the foreseeable will remain on several of my vehicles.
 
Total time spent:  9 hours 30 minutes
 
Prior to starting the conversion, I planned the steps and made sure I had the necessary products.  After the first cup of coffee, I start getting everything ready (5:30 AM).   The items that were readied for action and put on the Detail Cart:
3 Buckets:  3.5 gallon wheel bucket, 5 gallon rinse bucket and 5 gallon soap bucket. Step Stool Platform
Foam Gun, Tire Brush, Wheel Woolie, Wheel Well Brush, Microfiber Wash Mitt, 4 microfiber applicators, revive applicator
Towels: 8 borderless gray, 6 single soft, 6 double soft, ultra drying towel, Green Glass Towel
Tire & Rubber Cleaner, Eco APC, Eco Wheel Cleaner, Strip Wash, Glass Cleaner, Revive Hand Polish, Clay
Surface Prep and Ceramic Spray Coating were left in the climate controlled room
Swirl Killer, 4 White Pads - more on this below.   Finishing polish
1 Gallon Meyers Lemonade - gotta keep hydrated and Music, classic Rock to be precise
 
The tires, wheels and wheel wells are always first.  Tire & Rubber cleaner is the first product along with a good tire brush.  After the tires, I do the wheels and on the Colorado the wheels clean very well with Eco Wheel Cleaner.  The wheels had been maintained with Ceramic Boost which really helped keep them clean.  The wheel wells were next and the Colorado has fabric and Eco APC along with the wheel well brush cleans them up nicely.  Then they are just rinsed off with a hose and I've found the Eco APC does not foam as much as the regular APC.
 
Next up was the strip wash, 4 ounces in the foam gun and a healthy squirt into the soap bucket.  I covered the truck and let it sit for a few minutes and then covered the truck again.  At this point the weather was perfect, it was about 10 minutes before sun up and 70 degrees.   My routine for washing is starting with the passenger side top, hood, drivers side top, drivers side front fender and then go around the vehicle one panel at a time.  I do not do the underside of wheel wells, door jams, fuel cover or front lower valance until everything else is done to prevent grit, sand or other grime from getting on the wash pad. 
 
The strip wash was very effective in removing the CPW  on the body and CB from the wheels, but it did not affect the CSC that I had previously put on the black parts of the truck and tonneau cover.  The first picture shows the water being pushed away with a gray towel.   Once the truck was dry, it was into the garage to start the real work.  The baggie test was performed along with a visual inspection for any issues. The body was smooth, given that it had just been done and was well protected.  I was fully expecting to be able go with Finishing Polish and nothing else.  Unfortunately, someone (to remain nameless) did a rather poor job on the roof and it needed a bit more attention, so back to the cool room, grab the correcting polish and an Orange pad.  
 
I worked the roof with the correcting polish and was rather happy, so I switched to the white pad and finishing polish and WOW.  It is probably important to know that this is the first time the Swirl Killer ever touched the truck, the previous corrections were with an extremely old polisher.  On to the hood with with finishing polish and I realized the roof looked better than the hood, so I decided to step back and work the entire truck with correcting polish.  I grabbed three more Orange pads and went at it, followed by the white pads and finishing polish.   My process for changing pads and/towels is always in pairs.  If the pad needs to be changed, then change the towel, if the towel needs to be changed, then change the pad.    While the recommended method is to do a 2x2 area at a time, I like following body lines when possible.  The doors on the Colorado have a big center section , maybe 2x3 and two small sections maybe 1x3 and I do each of them as separate panels, no tape required. 
 
I used Revive on the Tail Lights since I really like how it brings out the clarity of the lenses.
 
After the correcting and finishing polish, it was lunch time followed by another inspection of the truck and then it was ready for Surface Prep, followed by another inspection and then out came the CSC.  I grabbed a MicroFiber applicator since I prefer to spray the applicator instead of the body and it was at this point that I did use some colorful adjectives when the tiny sprayer broke.   This is the third small sprayer that has broken, two were on Glass Boost and now one on Ceramic Spray Coating - Yes, I will be contacting the sales office.  I'm not large and I don't abuse the bottles or tools and the only problem I've had with anything from Adam's is these tiny or toy sprayers.   I grabbed another sprayer, put it in the bottle and it worked - thankfully.  Update: I have been informed that they have been replaced with a better sprayer.
 
Starting with the roof, I applied the CSC.  While it is clearly understood that Red vehicles are superior to anything else, it is hard to see the rainbow effect on them.  I found that I needed to look at an angle to see the color changes to know when to wipe it down.  Everything went very easy for laying the CSC and wiping it off and in most areas I was able to do two panels just as the video references.  I consider the hood to be two panels itself.  Once all the panes were completed, I went back in the same manner that I do with the wash and hit the areas that I skipped, picture #3 is a door jam and yes, I know I need to vacuum again.  The final step was to do the wheels with CSC.
 
The last two pictures were taken after I completed the truck and parked it outside this evening.
 
It was a long day, but I am happy with the results and so is the wife. 
 
Thank you @Rich for the information you provided on doing the Equinox
Thank you @zw470 for showing the wheels, otherwise mine would not have been done.
 
 

Good afternoon everyone,
Use to post here a long time ago, as fdresq4.   Anyway, I recently tried the Si02 W.W. on a friend’s recommendation.  My truck was coated 4 years ago with a different company coating but here are some pics after two applications of the Si02 W.W.  
 
Thanks for looking!

Nice.....Welcome back!

Good afternoon everyone,
Use to post here a long time ago, as fdresq4.   Anyway, I recently tried the Si02 W.W. on a friend’s recommendation.  My truck was coated 4 years ago with a different company coating but here are some pics after two applications of the Si02 W.W.  
 
Thanks for looking!

Good afternoon everyone,
Use to post here a long time ago, as fdresq4.   Anyway, I recently tried the Si02 W.W. on a friend’s recommendation.  My truck was coated 4 years ago with a different company coating but here are some pics after two applications of the Si02 W.W.  
 
Thanks for looking!

Friends, thank you.  Thank you for caring enough to post your thoughts, and taking time from your life to do so.  Thank you for making your feelings known,  and I can appreciate that you feel we have drifted from our core.  Thank you for continuing to care about our company and brand, even though it's not the company and brand that you supported initially. 
 
The reality:  I understand your point.  We have become a much larger enterprise. At the same time, our customer base has changed as well. Over 60% of our customers are under 30 today!  We have a fantastic marketing department that turns out limited edition promotional products and Adam's branded apparel. While I certainly appreciate the sales, it's not something I had in mind when we started. Nor would I ever have thought old or limited edition products would sell for hundreds of dollars on eBay. Never in a million years, and our marketing team has created tremendous brand equity, and demand.
 
I started this business to offer great detailing chemicals, matched with premium application and removal tools, and easy to understand instructions.  (Eventually, videos, to help the DIY enthusiast achieve incredible results at home, with ease.)  Above all, I want our customers to be impressed with the quality, ease of use, and results achieved with everything that comes from Adam's.  
 
The reality:  The promotional stuff sells, and the new majority of our customers are young.   I now have partners, a bank expecting us to meet goals, etc.  It's not just me and my small team, boot strapping to make payroll, and kick out a few new products each year.  Adam's Polishes has grown exponentially, and as a result, it has changed.  While the changes at Adam's are good for some, they are not appreciated by all. Especially the original customers, those who remember us small, with nearly all American made products.  Those who have supported our brand for a decade or even two. 
 
As some of you are aware, our ownership group acquired our chemical manufacturer last year, and now have access to truly amazing chemistry.  We have invested heavily in the business, updated the lab, and are now making products that are more advanced than the big players in our industry.  Crazy enough, we now have 150 employees, plus another 25 part time show champions.  While I'm humbled that we have established a much larger company, and are roughly 10X the size we were just a few years ago, I also miss the old days.  I miss the days of taking our entire staff out to lunch daily.  Miss indoor parking and a cross-fit gym at the HQ.  I even miss the days of whacking payroll on a credit card, and living in my first warehouse.  While those days were tough, doing whatever it took to survive was invigorating, exciting!  It's hard to do things like that as a large company.
 
You asked about DVK?  Dylan VonKleist is incredible at identifying and developing new products.  He knows detailing as well or possibly better than I do, and has his thumb on the pulse of the detailing community.  He was instrumental in starting this very forum!   I also miss Ashley Wilson.  She worked with us since high school, with her fantastic dad, Mike, one of our original team members.   Ashley was amazing with our resellers, and everyone she came in contact with.  When we moved the business to Colorado, she was unable to move with us, understood.  We had an outstanding controller, Patti.  She started with us in 2009, and helped us get through many, many hurdles.  Her positivity and influence on both me, and the staff was awesome!  She eventually moved on to work with a non-profit, which helps children.  Understood, and she is missed by all of our employees that knew her, and was replaced by a super capable CFO and eventually, an accounting team of five that are much needed to keep this enterprise afloat.  Great people, certainly needed, but a big company team is different feel than a small few person team.  Realize, those people who are gone have moved up, and as our business grew, we had to make changes.  We are friendly with each person that moved on, no bridges were burned in the making of Adam's Polishes!
 
I introduced Dylan to Cody, then the owner of Cyclo Tools, and he was hired there.  Then, Cyclo was acquired by Rupes, which is how Dylan landed there.  It was a good fit for him, the right move at the time.  Truth:  Dylan is one of the smartest, most OCD, focused detailers I've ever known.  His focus on detailing products made our line better, and makes Rupes a better company today.  We never replaced Dylan, and are still looking today. (If you know someone, please shoot me an email with a resume: Adam@AdamsPolishes.com.)  

Today:  Our customer service team is awesome.  Our marketing team, led by Matt Butcher, is amazing.  Our chemicals are outstanding, and our ceramic program is world class.  Our towels and accessories are very good as well.   As I always say, "VOTE WITH YOUR DOLLARS!"   We are one of the only companies on earth that honors a 110% Satisfaction guarantee.  Pleas, return any product you are dissatisfied with.  Whining about products online doesn't solve a problem.  Remember, you get 110% refund on products you are unimpressed with. Please, no whining, just contact us so we can make it right!
 
I gave 200% to Adam's Polishes for decades. (Gave 200% to detailing for the previous two decades as well. Been detailing for nearly 40 years now!)  Today, I've shifted priorities, to a family man, and business man.  In that order.  I used to come home after work and get on AdamsForums, and on other social media platforms.  Today, when I'm home, I'm a Dad, and husband. Today, I don't always get to the HQ, rather, I travel all over for business.  I'm on a plane at least 4X a week, and while my United Airlines status is rocking, my absence is noted at home.
 
God has been incredibly good to me, and our business.  I'm so blessed to have had the opportunity to start and grow this business from zero. Blessed with an incredible and dedicated team.  Blessed to have met my wife, and blessed with our three healthy children.  Blessed to live and work in Colorado.  Blessed to have incredible customers who care enough to report your feelings on our direction!  
 
Finally, I encourage everyone to VOTE WITH YOUR DOLLARS!  Focus on the high quality products that keep your car shining, and your shine therapy soothing.  I'm still detailing something every week, sometimes daily.  It's my therapy.  It's always been my therapy.  Detailing is how I unwind and find clarity in this complicated world.  
 
I'm here as the Chief Detailer, and Founder of Adam's Polishes.  I'm not the CEO, not the marketing director, just the Chief Detailer.  If you don't like a product, please, contact our customer service team, and we will make it right.  (orders@adamspolishes.com, or 866-965-0400.)  When I tune in to listen to people complain about our business, it certainly hits a nerve.  If you have a product that has not impressed you, please contact us!  Vote with your dollars, and you will see more products that you love from Adam's Polishes.
 
Thank you very, very much for your loyalty, and for your business.
 
Humbly,
Adam