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How to ceramic coat Matte Flat Graphics with PBL Ceramic Matte Coating
How to ceramic coat Matte Flat Graphics with PBL Ceramic Matte Coating
Pinnacle Black Label Ceramic Matte Coating
Are you a tick scared to work on matte graphics?
You're not alone.
Anyone that knows anything about matte surfaces, be they vinyl graphics, paint or plastic, knows that you normally don't get a second chance if something goes wrong. So it's only normal to be a tick hesitant to do anything. Instead, most people play it safe and do nothing, hoping the matte surfaces on their car will simply look good a long time and last a long time. Reality is - it doesn't work that way, at least not if the car in question is a daily driver. Left unprotected matte surfaces will go bad.
Here's the good news!
As long as you're careful, use clean microfiber tools like applicators, wash mitts and towels, plus be pro-active in maintaining a protective coating on the matte surfaces, it's completely safe to work on matte graphics, matte paint and matte plastic components.
Here's an example. While this is a Garage Queen, never really driven in inclement weather, the matte graphics and matte paint on the rear deck spoiler were not aging well and looking neglected. After washing the car when I was cleaning and protecting the vinyl top,
Afterwards I addressed the matte surfaces using products from Pinnacle Black Label.
Process
Step 1: After washing and drying the car, I gently wiped all the matte surfaces using the Pinnacle Black Label Surface Prep Spray. The PBL Surface Prep Spray gently removes any unwanted contaminants to leave a clean surface behind perfectly preparing the surface for the next step, applying the ceramic coating.
Step 2: Using a blue microfiber coating applicator I applied the PBL Matte Ceramic Coating using the normal overlapping crosshatch pattern.
Step 3: Within minutes of application I used a flat weave, edgeless microfiber towel to level the coating and remove any excess coating.
WORK CLEAN
The key thing about working on any matte surfaces is to ensure everything that TOUCHES the matte surfaces are clean, soft and uncontaminated. If you haven't seen my video or read my article on this topic, click this link.
Here's some pictures showing how easy and safe it was to install the PBL Matte Ceramic Coating and I did this in about 20 minutes or less.
I started with the vinyl graphics at the front of the car. This is the most looked at area of the entire car, the front of the hood. It's important to be careful so you don't LIFT the TIPS of the lettering.
When wiping, be sure to fold your microfiber towel 4-ways and keep the towel flat to the surface and use a gentle touch.
Go slow when wiping the lettering...
Next is the louvers for the hood scoop fresh air intake...
In order to do the entire area at one time, which means working on both sides of the car, I worked fast but was also very careful.
After application, I gently wipe using a clean, inspected microfiber towel to both level the coating and remove the excess for a UNIFORM appearance.
That looks right...
Next I move to the back of the car to work on the read-deck spoiler...
The application step will make the matte finish look splotchy with patterns from where you wiped. Have no fear...
Softly wiping the spoiler levels the coating and creates a beautiful uniform matte finish that is now protected.
It's so much better to do something versus do nothing. The key is using quality products specifically formulated for matte surfaces and just as important, make sure all your microfiber tools are clean, soft and un-contaminated.
On Autogeek.com
Pinnacle Black Label Ceramic Matte Coating - $100.00
Pinnacle Black Label Diamond Surface Prep Spray 8 oz. - $20.00
Blue Microfiber Coating Applicator - $3.00
Cobra Storm Gray Edgeless Microfiber Polishing Cloth - 12 Pack - $20.00
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Re: How to ceramic coat Matte Flat Graphics with PBL Ceramic Matte Coating
Here's a short video that shows the process....
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Post Thanks / Like - 2 Thanks, 1 Likes, 0 Dislikes
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Super Member
Re: How to ceramic coat Matte Flat Graphics with PBL Ceramic Matte Coating
Awesome right up mike! I may have a new challenger on to coat in the future and honestly never thought about the matte surfaces on the car. So this right up immediately sparked my interest.
Never knew they made coatings for matte surfaces. Is it honestly needed?
Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk
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Re: How to ceramic coat Matte Flat Graphics with PBL Ceramic Matte Coating
Thanks, Mike. Outstanding review,(as always).
I’ll probably get some for my matte wheels.
The Mopar guys with the black hoods and roofs, will be VERY happy.
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Re: How to ceramic coat Matte Flat Graphics with PBL Ceramic Matte Coating
opie,
From what I’ve seen first hand, the matte - finish hoods on Mopars are easily damaged with conventional waxes. Once you get a shine on them, there’s no going back to matte. I’ve seen more than a few blotchy ones.
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Super Member
Re: How to ceramic coat Matte Flat Graphics with PBL Ceramic Matte Coating
Originally Posted by Prange
opie,
From what I’ve seen first hand, the matte - finish hoods on Mopars are easily damaged with conventional waxes. Once you get a shine on them, there’s no going back to matte. I’ve seen more than a few blotchy ones.
Really they should have a warning sticker somewhere for that . Thanks for the tip!
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Super Member
Re: How to ceramic coat Matte Flat Graphics with PBL Ceramic Matte Coating
Nice write up Mike. Looks like a nice product for matte finishes. Does this coating harden up on the applicator or does it stay flexible?
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Re: How to ceramic coat Matte Flat Graphics with PBL Ceramic Matte Coating
Originally Posted by opie
Never knew they made coatings for matte surfaces. Is it honestly needed?
Generally speaking, nothing gets better with time except fine wine, quality spirits. So yeah, doing something is better than doing nothing.
In the first paragraph in the first post of this article I wrote this - note the portions I've turned the text RED. I don't know about other people but when I write, I choose EACH and EVERY word SPECIFICALLY and with PURPOSE. I have never written anything willy-nilly. I honed my writing skills during the NXT vs Zaino Wax Wars, of which I am a veteran.
Begin copy and paste
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anyone that knows anything about matte surfaces, be they vinyl graphics, paint or plastic, knows that you normally don't get a second chance if something goes wrong. So it's only normal to be a tick hesitant to do anything.
Instead, most people play it safe and do nothing, hoping the matte surfaces on their car will simply look good a long time and last a long time. Reality is - it doesn't work that way, at least not if the car in question is a daily driver.
Left unprotected matte surfaces will go bad.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
End copy and paste
See what I wrote and how I phrased it? I stated that if the car is a DAILY DRIVER - left unprotected or UN-anything - it will go bad.
Then in you notice, the word bad is a >clickable< blue hyperlink. And it goes to a recent how-to article where I show pictures of a car that is a DAILY DRIVER and because the owner did nothing - the matte surfaces went bad. REAL BAD. Click the link and take a look for yourself.
So yeah, if the car you're talking about is a daily driver and exposed to the polluted world we live in, then doing something will be better than doing nothing - just be sure to use quality products formulated for the task at hand.
If the car is a Garage Queen, then you can get by with doing nothing or at least a lot less. For example, wipe the car down once in a while with a quality spray detailer. In a garage, there's no exposure to the SUN or WATER.
Originally Posted by Prange
Thanks, Mike. Outstanding review,(as always).
Thank you. I actually did this the time I did these articles,
Review Wolfgang Convertible Top Cleaner and Vinyl Convertible Top Protectant
Hand Scrubbing versus Machine Scrubbing Tires - 1971 Charger R/T 440 Magnum
Speed Master Work Inspection Light
So including this article on ceramic matte coatings I was able to get 5 articles out of ONE car. Not bad. I've done better and I've done less.
Originally Posted by Prange
I’ll probably get some for my matte wheels.
The Mopar guys with the black hoods and roofs, will be VERY happy.
Being a Chevy guy, (that's ordered a new Ford Bronco ), I know MOPAR guys need all the help they can get.
Originally Posted by Prange
opie,
From what I’ve seen first hand, the matte - finish hoods on Mopars are easily damaged with conventional waxes.
Seen it first hand. A car girl in Orlando applied a cleaner/wax to the matte finished hood on her 1970 AAR Cuda and stained the HELL out of it. I offered to help her undo the damage and she snubbed me. I was working at a car show event at the time and had the products and tools I needed to fix it and she let me know there was nothing wrong with it.
Originally Posted by Prange
Once you get a shine on them, there’s no going back to matte.
That's my experience too. This is why you don't rub or buff on matte surfaces UNLESS you understand and accept that you're going to alter the look. This is what I did here WITH the owner's BLESSING.
I shared this on a Charger forum and a handful of guys disapproved of the results and dissed me for it. I guess they only looked at the pictures and can't read. They missed the part about the owner preferring shiny matte versus SPENDING MONEY to replace crappy looking matte. Plus moving forward he knows how to machine buff his car and the matte surfaces to MAINTAIN the results I created. Pretty good trade-off if you don't want to pay for new graphics and then either remove and install the old graphics or PAY AGAIN to have someone else remove the old graphics and install the new graphics.
So many experts on the Internet. I notice most of them can't read, they can only look at pictures.
Originally Posted by The Guz
Nice write up Mike. Looks like a nice product for matte finishes.
Thank you sir.
Originally Posted by The Guz
Does this coating harden up on the applicator or does it stay flexible?
Normally I pay attention to these types of details but at this time I do not remember how the foam applicator block felt the next day.
Just for you, and for my own knowledge, I have recreated using this product and should have the answer tomorrow.
I poured some product onto a micro-suede cloth this morning, just like most of us would do when installing any coating. Now it's drying. Here's pictures.
Here I've removed the lid to inspect for crystallization around the cap and threads.
Yup. There appears to be product crystallization or some form of solids residue.
Here I'm applying some to the micro-suede cloth
Sold amount - enough to know what's what by tomorrow morning.
The most important feature besides protection would be for the product to REMAIN TRANSPARENT initially and over time.
I'm not sure of the value if the product hardens or remains pliable. Instead I would trust the chemist to know how to do their job just like my boss trusts that I know how to do my job.
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Super Member
Re: How to ceramic coat Matte Flat Graphics with PBL Ceramic Matte Coating
Thanks Mike. The reason I asked is Gtechniq and CarPro have offerings for matte specific coatings and they promote that they be more flexible rather than hardening. The two coatings I speak of were originally intended for matte vinyl and PPF and then they were stated to be used on matte painted surfaces.
You are right in the end it does not matter. Just curious more than anything.
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Re: How to ceramic coat Matte Flat Graphics with PBL Ceramic Matte Coating
Originally Posted by The Guz
Thanks Mike. The reason I asked is Gtechniq and CarPro have offerings for matte specific coatings and they promote that they be more flexible rather than hardening.
Makes sense. Both PPF and Vinyl graphics are flexible, stretchable, malleable, etc. Paint on the other hand after it dries is more brittle than flexible. Dried paint will offer some level of flexibility however in that it will expand and contract with the panels as it expands and contracts to heat and cold. Meaning anything applied to it must also be somewhat flexible.
Originally Posted by The Guz
You are right in the end it does not matter. Just curious more than anything.
It's good to be curious.
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