Opti-Coat vs Wax

[kevinmcc]

Alright all, I am getting my car detailed and corrected this weekend and need some opinions! I am getting a compound and polish done, but need to decide if I want OPTI COAT or wax.

The car is a 2009 Civic with black paint, it is somewhat daily driven ( driven on my days off of work ) I try to give it a wash every saturday.

Would I be wish to go with the opti coat, or just throw some wax on the car every few months? I do NOT plan on driving the car much or at all this winter.

[The Guz]

Re: Opti-Coat vs Wax

If you want a permanent coating then go opti-coat. You would no longer need to wax if you go this route. Unless you are doing it just to do it. Another option is to just go with a sealant. With regular maintenance it can last a few months. I guess it would come down to cost and if you think it's worth it to opti-coat.

[Detailing by M]

Re: Opti-Coat vs Wax

Well they are two different products.
It's up to you what you want.
I love coatings.
I get paid to polish paint.
I don't get paid to do my own cars so the less I have to do the better,
and a coating helps me do this.
I can literally "spray" the dirt off my cars.

[Christopher.Brown]

Re: Opti-Coat vs Wax

As those two astutely said it all comes down to two things 1] maintenance and 2] prep

Maintenance because its adding another layer of hydrophobic clearcoat that will protect your car and over time allow you to spend LESS time waxing and such.

Prep because OPtiCoat is permananet, until warn off. So whatever imperfections are under on the surface of the paint are LOCKED in my the coating. SO any scratches, TOGW [the other guys wax], polish, contaminants are permanent so it takes much mroe effort to prep.. Whereas with a wax or coating you can redo it sooner down the line.

[kevinmcc]

Re: Opti-Coat vs Wax

So basically it will prevent swirls as well? My paint is extremely soft and swirls very easily. This will create a hard layer that resists them?

[Garage Troll]

Re: Opti-Coat vs Wax

Kevin, like Mario, I also install Opti Coat. I can highly recommend it. It isn't going to be "scratch proof" but it will be very scratch resistant. It will also make caring for your vehicle much easier and if you so wish, you can always wax over it. Just use a wax or sealant that does not contain abrasives. It will not wear off. The only way it can be removed is by abrading it or using a paint solvent, both of which I doubt you will. Perhaps the biggest plus is that if a strong enough chemical does come into contact with the coating it will take the brunt and not your paint. Just food for thought.

[benbjam]

Re: Opti-Coat vs Wax

Another question that seems logical...
Would bird droppings leave less of an imprint with opti-coat if the dropping wasn't cleaned off the car as soon as possible? Would optcoat provide that type of protection?

[Garage Troll]

Re: Opti-Coat vs Wax

After it has fully cured, yes. It will provide a much higher resistance if not completely resistant. And, if for some reason it does etch, it is not in your paint but the coating itself which can be reapplied. It is quite an amazing product.

[Christopher.Brown]

Re: Opti-Coat vs Wax

So basically it will prevent swirls as well? My paint is extremely soft and swirls very easily. This will create a hard layer that resists them?

it wont prevent swirls..... think of it as a secondary clear coat with hydrophobic properties. [repels water] Its essentially a secondary layer of resin on top of clear coat. I would say its mildly more resistance to scratching that standard clear coats. A bigger benefit it the slickness factor which allows it to attract much less dust and it releases whatever does land EASILY upon washing.

Another question that seems logical...
Would bird droppings leave less of an imprint with opti-coat if the dropping wasn't cleaned off the car as soon as possible? Would optcoat provide that type of protection?

Bird droppings contain uric acid.. and since opti coat is much like clear coat it will still etch... I would still advise wiping off ASAP

[Poki]

Re: Opti-Coat vs Wax

And 1 more question on Opti-Coat.....I frequently get hit with extremely hard water from the resort's sprinkler system. I try to wipe it off within 24 hours. Will Opti-Coat aid at all in less spotting or easier removal?

[Detailing by M]

Re: Opti-Coat vs Wax

And 1 more question on Opti-Coat.....I frequently get hit with extremely hard water from the resort's sprinkler system. I try to wipe it off within 24 hours. Will Opti-Coat aid at all in less spotting or easier removal?

yes and no.
Hard water contains a lot of minerals and crud.
OC will resist this for only so long.
When this happens ever 24 hours, plus the heat, not much can with stand that prevents everything from sticking to it but spray hard water on it ever 24 hrs and it will degrade.
So in your case you'd need vigilant in removing any W.S. that do stick.
You can lightly clay the water spots off weekly with very effort effert.

[Top Gear]

Re: Opti-Coat vs Wax

I have another question about coatings and sealants and vinyl applications. My biggest problem are paint chips and small gouges building up all over the front clip, mirrors, even the windshield and roof, from normal driving on the interstates. Other than having these areas regularly repaired by a paint blender (a few hundred dollars at a time), what are your opinions on preventing these pockmarks from happening? Would a sealant do this, or does one need a coating, or is a clear vinyl covering needed?

[tguil]

Re: Opti-Coat vs Wax

You need the clear vinyl covering (bra) or this http://3mauto.com/paint-defender-spray-film.html

[Top Gear]

Re: Opti-Coat vs Wax

Thanks, tgull, I did some looking around and that spray is definitely worth a try, once I get the existing chips and marks fixed again. This forum has some good shots, and it looks like the masking line is the biggest "tell", at least in those shots.

[kevinmcc]

Re: Opti-Coat vs Wax

I was doing a ill research on that spray. It see to work well. However a lot of people experienced it peeling off after pressure washing.