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Aye! Ain’t that right!
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I would echo your point on preventing pin stripes. I go out wheeling a lot also, and just noticed my first stripe Last month. I definitely earned that one though.I’ve had Cermaic coating for 2 years now on my bronco. It definitely needs reapplying. I paid $700 or so to have the truck preppred and the coating applied. I will say it adds a little extra hardness to the paint so in theory it should add some minor protection in addition to the hydrophobic qualities. In practice my truck is still covered in chips from the garbage SAS tires and road debris.
No pin stripes though so there’s that’s. And I do wheel it quite a bit.
I purchased R1 coatings and would recommend. They seem to have a sale about every other week, so just wait for a good sale. It took about 5 hours to apply, but I took my time. Very satisfied with the coating. Also makes clean up a breeze as I need to hand wipe given my top is off most of the year.
Ceramic coatings are overated and expensive. Just apply your own easier to apply ceramic spray and just apply it every month if you need to. I've found the easiest and best is Griot's 3 in 1. I did my whole bronco 2 door in like 10 minutes.
Also, contrary to popular belief, these coatings will never ever protect from scratches or rock chips. For that you need PPF.
The only goal for ceramic sprays or waxes is to make the paint hydrophobic so the paint keeps cleaner just from being slicker. Water and dirt will stick to it less. Some will even protect from UV rays (Griots 3 in 1 states that it does).
Also, contrary to popular belief, these coatings will never ever protect from scratches or rock chips. For that you need PPF.
The only goal for ceramic sprays or waxes is to make the paint hydrophobic so the paint keeps cleaner just from being slicker. Water and dirt will stick to it less. Some will even protect from UV rays (Griots 3 in 1 states that it does).
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This could be an endless thread.
Clear Coat:
A 1.5-2 millimeter single layer of plastic (acrylic or acrylic blend) over the pigment layer on the car. Because it is atomized-sprayed and then baked, it ends up with pores (micron size potholes). Those pores collect and/or catch environmental gunk and lead to scratching of the plastic coating. And goodbye shiny new finish. BTW: coating half life = 5 years
Ceramic Coating:
Silicon dioxide (SiO2) is a thousandth of a micron (0.001 micron). It fills paint pores nicely and forms a nice transparent crystal with other SiO2 molecules. Its bivalent bond is a very strong chemical bond. Essentially you are putting a micron sized crystal sheet over your plastic layer.
Usually takes 32-48 hours to bond out of suspension, and 3-4 weeks for full crystallization.
NOTE: It does not bond with the plastic! It just covers it.
Ceramic coatings do well at:
(1) staying bonded together way longer than waxes (essentially a hard oil).
(2) resisting organic, alkaline, and mildly acidic gunk.
(3) repelling water.
(4) it's tough, but not impenetrable.
Ceramic coatings are not great at:
(1) resisting acidic gunk (water spots, battery acid, etc.).
(2) dispersing UV light.
(3) accepting automotive paint (gotta take it off).
Color conditioning:
Cleaning off what is trapped on the clear coat and smoothing out the existing large and micro scratches. It ain't just washing the car. It's the conditioning of the clear coat so the coating adheres to it. This is why shops charge the bucks. Even if you just rolled out of the factory lot, there is still gunk on the clear coat. Without conditioning, the coating integrity can be compromised.
The quality of the materials used by the manufacturer matter. Poor purity, crappy suspension, unnecessary additives all lead to bad crystallization. Use a reputable brand.
Ceramic coatings do wear. How much depends on what your Bronco experiences. Do wash your vehicle regularly. Take a picture the 3rd day after its coated. Use that to let you know when it needs touching up.
You can DIY it if you have the time to do it right. Enclosed space, right supplies, your favorite beverage and tunes. If that's not you, ask around and go get at least 3 quotes. If you see a super shiny car, ask them where they got it done. Ask the shop if they will show you a car being done. Don't be shy, it's your money, until it's not. Warranties are usually worthless. If the shop offers annual reconditioning and touch up as part of the cost, or for a reasonable per visit fee, that is worth considering.
Clear Coat:
A 1.5-2 millimeter single layer of plastic (acrylic or acrylic blend) over the pigment layer on the car. Because it is atomized-sprayed and then baked, it ends up with pores (micron size potholes). Those pores collect and/or catch environmental gunk and lead to scratching of the plastic coating. And goodbye shiny new finish. BTW: coating half life = 5 years
Ceramic Coating:
Silicon dioxide (SiO2) is a thousandth of a micron (0.001 micron). It fills paint pores nicely and forms a nice transparent crystal with other SiO2 molecules. Its bivalent bond is a very strong chemical bond. Essentially you are putting a micron sized crystal sheet over your plastic layer.
Usually takes 32-48 hours to bond out of suspension, and 3-4 weeks for full crystallization.
NOTE: It does not bond with the plastic! It just covers it.
Ceramic coatings do well at:
(1) staying bonded together way longer than waxes (essentially a hard oil).
(2) resisting organic, alkaline, and mildly acidic gunk.
(3) repelling water.
(4) it's tough, but not impenetrable.
Ceramic coatings are not great at:
(1) resisting acidic gunk (water spots, battery acid, etc.).
(2) dispersing UV light.
(3) accepting automotive paint (gotta take it off).
Color conditioning:
Cleaning off what is trapped on the clear coat and smoothing out the existing large and micro scratches. It ain't just washing the car. It's the conditioning of the clear coat so the coating adheres to it. This is why shops charge the bucks. Even if you just rolled out of the factory lot, there is still gunk on the clear coat. Without conditioning, the coating integrity can be compromised.
The quality of the materials used by the manufacturer matter. Poor purity, crappy suspension, unnecessary additives all lead to bad crystallization. Use a reputable brand.
Ceramic coatings do wear. How much depends on what your Bronco experiences. Do wash your vehicle regularly. Take a picture the 3rd day after its coated. Use that to let you know when it needs touching up.
You can DIY it if you have the time to do it right. Enclosed space, right supplies, your favorite beverage and tunes. If that's not you, ask around and go get at least 3 quotes. If you see a super shiny car, ask them where they got it done. Ask the shop if they will show you a car being done. Don't be shy, it's your money, until it's not. Warranties are usually worthless. If the shop offers annual reconditioning and touch up as part of the cost, or for a reasonable per visit fee, that is worth considering.
I have a place down the street from me that sells high end cars and there is a shop connected that does ceramic coatings, Ppf etc. I asked the guy about ceramic coating the bronco and he said he wouldn’t recommend it. I didn’t get into specifics of why with him though. I may try a diy kit but I normally use a ceramic spray after I wash it.
my untrained observation on the paint job is it sucks on the bronco. You look at it wrong and it scratches. There is not much of a clear coat on these things.
my untrained observation on the paint job is it sucks on the bronco. You look at it wrong and it scratches. There is not much of a clear coat on these things.
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- First Name
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Did mine, definitely helps with washing and seems to help with brush scratching etc. Our Belgian Malinois slobbers a ton down the side on rides with the top off and makes that clean up easier... I only paid about 650 with a paint correction.
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Which spray wax are you using?
- First Name
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I really like the graphics on the side of your truck. Did you have them installed at a detail shop? Cost?Did mine, definitely helps with washing and seems to help with brush scratching etc. Our Belgian Malinois slobbers a ton down the side on rides with the top off and makes that clean up easier... I only paid about 650 with a paint correction.
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WE call it topographical grey... it was done at a shop. Cost less than $500
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First vehicle that I've ever had a ceramic coating on...and I love it.
So easy to keep clean...I've never had a brush on my paint and I've owned it for a year and a half now.
So easy to keep clean...I've never had a brush on my paint and I've owned it for a year and a half now.
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100% worth it. Look around for pricing. I was going to pay 2000 and found a place that does it for $600. They did a great job and I remember the rep was there training the team. He told me that anything more than two coats is a waste and unnecessary. I had them do the windshield and the windows as well and the rain just beads off. I’ve had my bronco for 14 months and it still looks brand new.
worth it. Look around. I paid $600 and got the whole vehicle including windshield and windows.
i did my 4dr $1000
i mud and off road often nothing sticks or scratchs within reason
i also did my sas wheels
if its in the budget yes
Ceramic king coating did mine. It has a 9 year warranty on it they had a special going on and got it done for $700 it does transfer if I would sell it also I live on a dirt road and the dust and mud just washes off with ease now
