Alternative to Meguiars 83

[BlackCoupe]

Hi - I have a very soft clear. Stupid soft, like where applying and removing Souveran with a plush Cobra microfiber will instill scratches.

My formula has been:

1. Meguiar's 83 for deeper scratches;
2. Menzerna Intensive Polish for everything else (white or yellow pad as necessary), followed by
3. Menzerna Micro - I do this with a green pad and, after it starts to dry, I keep it lubricated with Qwik Detailer Spray for a few passes at slow speed.

I don't think the 83 or the IP are critical (the Micro Polish is) so I am asking what I could use as alternatives to these -- I haven't followed polish technology for a few years. I want low dusting and non-gummy.

[Old Tiger]

Or you can replace your soft clear with Opti Coat or Cquartz. These coatings become the functional surface of your vehicle and both are very hard!

[C. Charles Hahn]

M205 or Ultimate Polish would probably be good to pick up....

And once you've got it cleaned up, do what Jim suggests and install OC or CQuartz (preferably OC)

[BlackCoupe]

Thank you guys. I will look into Opti-Coat. Does it do a little filling to hide minor swirling or holograms? I looked at this a little last night and there was discussion about "high spots" is that a problem - if I screw up the application, what is the "get it off" process? No one wants to screw up their cars finish, but this is my baby Lexus SC430, and I would kick myself if I messed it up.

[Mike Phillips]

Thank you guys. I will look into Opti-Coat. Does it do a little filling to hide minor swirling or holograms?


Yes.

Actually, any wax, paint sealant or coating that "works" and by the word works I mean if the product is leaving protection ingredients behind on the surface, then by default it's filling because by default it's coating over the surface as it deposits itself onto the paint.

Make sense?






I looked at this a little last night and there was discussion about "high spots" is that a problem -


High spots = excess residue


I'm not sure who coined the term high spots? It works but it doesn't instantly paint a picture in my mind of too much product sitting on the surface like the word excess residue does but once the genie is out of the bottle it's hard to put it back in.

You don't want to leave any high spots or excess Opti-Coat II residue on the paint, it will dry there and be noticeable. So simply wipe the product around until you see it dissipate and go away. It helps to not overuse the product which is the norm for everyone including myself.

Practice makes perfect.


You'll also need to view the panel you're working on at different angles in order to see any high spots or excess product residue sitting on top of the paint.



if I screw up the application, what is the "get it off" process?


For the most part you'll have to abrade it off, as in run a medium cut polish or compound over the area to abrade it off and then you can do that area over again.



No one wants to screw up their cars finish, but this is my baby Lexus SC430, and I would kick myself if I messed it up.


Just practice a little and you'll get the technique down, it's not as hard as it can sound, (or read in the case of a forum).


Check out the results from Opti-Coat II on this classic and wild 1977 Can Am Corvette...

1977 Can Am Corvette - Modeled by Amy and Janna - Pictures and Video! (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/pictures-autogeek-s-car-week/41292-1977-can-am-corvette-modeled-amy-janna-pictures-video.html)


BEFORE - Note there are so many swirls in the paint you can barely see the multi-color metallic flake under the clear layer of paint.


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1256/GoldCoastCorvetteClub020.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1256/GoldCoastCorvetteClub021.jpg



Right here in the thread is a whole LOT of pictures showing what we did to remove the swirls... then we get to...


Here's my good friend and great detailer Adam applying Opti-Coat II

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1261/CanAmCorvette057.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1261/CanAmCorvette058.jpg



How's it look now?

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1261/CanAmCorvette008.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1261/CanAmCorvette009.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1261/CanAmCorvette010.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1261/CanAmCorvette011.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1261/CanAmCorvette012.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1261/CanAmCorvette013.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1261/CanAmCorvette014.jpg


See how glossy the paint is...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1261/CanAmCorvette099.jpg


Also, Menzerna SIP is at least as aggressive as M83 and definitely finishes out with less micro-marring on any type of paint when used with a DA Polisher. I know... I've used and demonstrated the 80's series of Meguiar's as much if not more than anyone else on earth...

It's a great cleaner/polish but the abrasive technology leaves micro-marring in most paint systems when used with a DA, not so with SIP. A lot of people finish with SIP and go right to their LSP


:D

[TLMitchell]

Thank you guys. I will look into Opti-Coat. Does it do a little filling to hide minor swirling or holograms? I looked at this a little last night and there was discussion about "high spots" is that a problem - if I screw up the application, what is the "get it off" process? No one wants to screw up their cars finish, but this is my baby Lexus SC430, and I would kick myself if I messed it up.

Opti Coat doesn't polish or fill per se, but as Mike points out anything you put on the paint fills imperfections to a degree. You really want your finish as perfect as you can live with before application. After it's fully cured it's harder than the clearcoat it protects, sheds dirt and is permanent. It doesn't give you that satisfying slick feeling that a fresh sealant or wax job does but if that's important a bit of DGAW, spray wax or QD used when drying is an asset.

Opti Coat needs to be polished or compounded off. A pain in the neck previously as it was recommended to redo an entire panel if necessary because OC wouldn't adhere to itself. The newer formulas will actually layer. I don't consider layer ability to be an asset in itself, it does make it convenient for spot touchup though.

High spots are no big deal. Many make application sound more intensive than it is, quite anticlimactic after the first time you use it. Rasky has a video with his application method... although you don't need to buff anything off like a wax or sealant a light wipe with a MF after application prevents high spots.




Opti-Coat 2.0 application.wmv - YouTube



Anthony Orosco has a few interesting application methods, one is using an airbrush and spraying which tends to use a lot of product. The other is putting a foam pad in a nitrile glove and wrapping the works with one of those blue, paper shop towels. Sounds counterintuitive but those towels are really soft and don't mar.




Opti-Coat Application Methods - YouTube



I first bought OC to hopefully impart some hardness to my super-soft black bike that swirled just wiping off polish or wax residue. No marring using the blue towel method of application and OC was exactly what I needed to prevent rampant swirling. The challenge was getting the finsh close to flawless prior to applying the OC.

TL

[Old Tiger]

TL covered everything extremely well. I add Permanon Platinum to get a smooth as glass finish. ReLoad will also work. Neither of these attract or hold dust.

[BlackCoupe]

Oops - of course it fills. I guess I meant would it hide some of what my poor technique has left less than perfect. BTW - I use a rotary - never could get a DA to work for me.

I met Mike Phillips at a Tampa show in 2006. Super nice and cool guy, and for all the posts he has had to repeat in all these years, I have never seen him lose patience. Seems like he would be a great brother, father, son, son-in-law.

I will watch these Opti-Coat videos TL, and thanks for making it easy to find them.

I will also look at Permanon Platinum, Tiger.

[BlackCoupe]

TL - I watched those videos - much more reassuring than something I saw last night where a guy was applying it with a cotton ball.

[C. Charles Hahn]

TL - I watched those videos - much more reassuring than something I saw last night where a guy was applying it with a cotton ball.

Hmm.... got a link to that by chance?

[TLMitchell]

TL - I watched those videos - much more reassuring than something I saw last night where a guy was applying it with a cotton ball.

Possibly an adequate applicator if you were applying to your head. (ooops, don't want to give Adam any ideas!)

TL

[BlackCoupe]

OK, not cotton ball, cosmetic pad, but about the same size.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/product-reviews/34883-review-extreme-testing-opti-coat-2-0-cquartz.html

[C. Charles Hahn]

OK, not cotton ball, cosmetic pad, but about the same size.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/product-reviews/34883-review-extreme-testing-opti-coat-2-0-cquartz.html

That's actually a viable application method. Not my personal preference, but it does work. CarPro includes a few of those applicators with the CQuartz product.

[BlackCoupe]

Just ordered Opti-Coat, Optimum Compound II and Optimum Polish II. Thanks for the advice you guys.

[TLMitchell]

Just ordered Opti-Coat, Optimum Compound II and Optimum Polish II. Thanks for the advice you guys.

We want pictures! :buffing:

TL