Opti-Coat Beading... In the Ice! And DLux and PERL!

[Radarryan]

As many of you have seen on the news, or those in the Mid-West that are going through it now, a severe winter storm from our Canadian friends up North has invaded the United States. Here in Dallas, Texas, it has caused power outages, icy roads, and overall dangerous conditions.

As I went outside to turn over my Range Rover since it's in the 20s, I noticed that the ice had beaded a bit. I attribute this to the Opti-Coat 2.0 that she is wearing, and I thought it would be fun to take some pictures to share with everyone.

So, as I approached my car, here is what I found...

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2845/11242248543_ab59046dd4_b.jpg

Upon closer inspection, here are the beads on the paint.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2840/11242182104_73c81f4200_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/98719562@N02/11242182104/)

Here is the hood, wearing a thick layer of ice and sleet, despite the fact it looks like snow. Trust me, it is THICK!
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3797/11242253583_1e28332358_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/98719562@N02/11242253583/)

Here is some faded vinyl on the rear exterior, which was restored with DLux. As you can see, there were some beads that formed before it froze all the way over.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2848/11242187984_603837a1b9_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/98719562@N02/11242187984/)

Another picture of the beads, this time on the rear.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7413/11242194876_f7b70e87a4_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/98719562@N02/11242194876/)

Here is the passenger side, in all its icy glory :)
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5471/11242152825_d5ac94de09_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/98719562@N02/11242152825/)

The tires are wearing PERL, which was applied thin but undiluted.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3684/11242196684_df226e5c14_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/98719562@N02/11242196684/)

Inches of ice sitting on the windshield and hood.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7455/11242178656_1dfd4fed9b_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/98719562@N02/11242178656/)

To all of you in getting hit by winter storms, I wish you the best of luck. For professionals that rely on detailing to put food on the table and provide for you and your family, I sincerely hope and pray that the weather breaks and you all can do some work done.

If you all have any questions or comments, I look forward to them! Happy detailing (hopefully inside a heated garage :xyxthumbs:)!!

[HateSwirls]

Looks pretty cool , more so being it's in Texas.
Here in Lousiana it's cold also, to a point I had to reschedule a car I had for the weekend.
I could deal with the cold but not cold and rain.

Your putting the coating to a great test:)
Thanks for posting.

[kochdalton87]

Sweet pictures, thanks for sharing! The pictures out in the west/mid-west look nasty. Hopefully everyone stays safe. Looks like it's coming for us on a much more mellow level this weekend.

[ZeroSP]

It sure looks ouch, but yet... Great photos and great sharing, those products live up to their claim

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Very cool Ryan! Thanks for sharing.

[ckosiek]

Great pics, but I'm glad I have a garage!

[b0b]

I live in Midwest and on days like today (or yesterday actually) I like to go to my "older" customer homes (only two of them) and clear off their car for them.

I snapped a pic of one of them (MaxWax about two weeks old)

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/07/uzevera7.jpg

All I can say is... Thank God for garages

[Radarryan]

Sorry for not responding sooner, but unfortunately the power went out :mad:

:thankyousign: all for the kind responses. I'm glad that something like this can provide a little bit of reassurance for some of the more expensive products on the market today.

It's crazy - everything here is still iced over and it's cold! :nomore:

I was in the garage and on the garage door opener it has a thermometer. It said it was in the 30s - in the garage! Last winter I can't remember the garage thermometer getting colder than the low 50s, upper 40s. This Arctic air is rough! Hope everyone stays warm! Happy detailing!

[Radarryan]

Hope everyone is staying warm!

I just broke a piece of ice off of my hood and whipped out the ruler: 2 3/4 inches! It's hard to believe! Sorry, no pics since it's so dark but I thought I would share. It needs to warm up and melt already!

Happy detailing!

[swanicyouth]

I got it too:

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/09/jede4uda.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/09/eha4uvup.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/09/da6yneqa.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/09/ysa5a3yr.jpg


The solution for the glass:

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/09/etugatyb.jpg

[Radarryan]

The solution for the glass:

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/09/etugatyb.jpg

In your experience, how does the product work? I've been looking at this, along with the OTC options, since it looks like it may be a cold winter and the Rover is outside 24/7.

Did you still have to scrape or did the ice just melt away? I also read that it leaves a residue on the windshield (at least for one person). Did you experience anything like that?

Thanks and stay warm!

[ClayR]

Put some pants on! It's too cold for shorts.

(reflection in the rims)

[weekendwarrior]

Instead of buying expensive window ice melt, there is another alternative. You can use the orange or blue (depending on your temps) windshield washer fluid in an empty squirt bottle (windex style) and use that. Has same effect, costs a buck or so per empty bottle, and you know it won't leave anything on your windshield outside of the same washer fluid you already use.

[Radarryan]

Put some pants on! It's too cold for shorts.

(reflection in the rims)

You, sir, are a detailer! Great eye!



Instead of buying expensive window ice melt, there is another alternative. You can use the orange or blue (depending on your temps) windshield washer fluid in an empty squirt bottle (windex style) and use that. Has same effect, costs a buck or so per empty bottle, and you know it won't leave anything on your windshield outside of the same washer fluid you already use.

Thank you! I have a gallon sitting in the garage that I'll put to good use. Appreciate it!

Happy detailing!

[ousooner2]

The one night it had to sit outside due to a new roof being put on the next morning/day. It was ice, but became liquid pretty quickly as that day it was about 28 in the morning and rose up to about 35ish by the time I got to work. Pretty cool shots though!

http://i42.tinypic.com/72fzx1.jpg

http://i39.tinypic.com/2s1liti.jpg