Ceramic coatings/sprays vs the next thing...graphene

[Husky]

They might be a bit biased, haha, but the stuff does sound good.
I too have been very happy with the Meguiars Ultimate, but may try some newer stuff.

 

[Bhavie]

Yea I've heard really good things about the ULX. I current have on Meguiars M21 synthetic sealant with similar results. Applied it in March and after 8000km it's just starting to show signs of wear (around the wheels).

When I got the car, I told myself that I didn't want to use ceramic or a long lasting coating because I enjoyed the work of detailing my car. How naive I was.

Ethos seems to be backed by many reviews and YouTube videos. Artdeshine is on it's second version of graphene which is tempting but I really can't see any benefits over ethos. It's also ridiculously expensive here.

I plan to order the Ethos pending @Michael_V's update.

 

[CVODON]

Why did you need such an apparently abrasive cleaner on such a new car?

Did your finish make a shine as the as a carnauba wax, one?
I was told these new high-tech sealants make a very superficial shiny finish.

I called Autogeek and they recommended
Pinnacle Paintwork
Cleansing Lotion
Which they claim is engineered for new finishes

Autogeek OWNS Pinnacle & Blackfire. House brands that they have another company blend & bottle. I have used these products but since trying other brands like CarPro I no longer do. They cost as much as the Name brands without the testing that companies that base there business on the name & performance.

 

[TinsleyC]

When I got the car, I told myself that I didn't want to use ceramic or a long lasting coating because I enjoyed the work of detailing my car. How naive I was.

I tell myself the same, doing a good wash & dry, clay bar, then wax - twice a year, spring and fall when the weather is nice. Ends up being once a year... maybe.

 

[Michael_V]

Saturday 15 Aug: There has been no rain, but 425 miles later, there's no need to wash the car. I'm impressed. A few friends have commented positively about the "new" look of the cah. A few raindrops today and I've never seen the water bead like it did. This stuff lasts for five years??? Awesome. Still have to get around to doing the rims.

 

[Philip2]

Still don't have a good answer here:

Is the shine from these as deep and nice as from Carnuba wax? If not, I don't mind waxing every 5-6 months with a Carnuba-synthetic mixture- Just blew $195 on this but it has a free refill and was told this $195 would pay for about 8 years of waxing

Wolfgang Fuzion Carnauba Polymer Estate Wax

Wolfgang Fuzion Estate Wax combines carnauba wax and German Super Polymers to deliver intense gloss, slickness, and long-lasting protection. I

www.wolfgangcarcare.com

 

[Bhavie]

Still don't have a good answer here:

Is the shine from these as deep and nice as from Carnuba wax? If not, I don't mind waxing every 5-6 months with a Carnuba-synthetic mixture- Just blew $195 on this but it has a free refill and was told this $195 would pay for about 8 years of waxing

Wolfgang Fuzion Carnauba Polymer Estate Wax

Wolfgang Fuzion Estate Wax combines carnauba wax and German Super Polymers to deliver intense gloss, slickness, and long-lasting protection. I

www.wolfgangcarcare.com

Carnauba produces a deep and warm shine.

Afaik, there is no synthetic product (sealant, ceramic, graphene) that can produce the same deep and warm shine of carnauba based wax. Even synthetic products that have carnauba infused in them will not give the same results as a pure carnauba wax, though some come close, like chemical guys butter wet wax.

So no, you will not get the same deep and warm shine you do from carnauba infused products. You will get a glossier and more glass like finish though, essentially a cooler and more reflective shine.

 

[Silverhare]

Anyone use/hear of SPS Graphene. Surface Protective Solutions? The only installer that I can find in my area uses this product.

 

[Bhavie]

Anyone use/hear of SPS Graphene. Surface Protective Solutions? The only installer that I can find in my area uses this product.

From what I know, there are 3 true graphene coatings on the market right now.

SPS
ArtDeShine
Ethos

SPS graphene is only provided for shop use and can't be bought publically.

ArtDeShine is out of Singapore and owns SPS (afaik), you can buy ArtDeShine's graphene coating publicly. They're on their second version for what it's worth.

Ethos just released their graphene coating in June, and though being fairly new it already has alot of positive reviews and customer satisfaction. Their products in general seem to be pretty impressive so it's weird that they're not as well known - atleast in my circle.

I think all three coatings are nearly identical in their performance. They only differ in application. If you're getting it done from a shop it probably doesn't matter, but id rate ethos as the easiest to apply. SPS is probably the hardest, since it's not consumer grade, but that's just a guess.

 

[joschneider]

Just a cool video that’s kind of relevant:

Not exactly real world testing but fun to watch

______________________________

Help support this site so it can continue supporting you!

 

[Bill in Alexandria]

I've used 5 star shine on previous cars (5 Star Shine | Car Wax Alternative | Incredible Auto Paint Protection). They say you don't have to wax it for 5 years. They aren't joking. And the surface is impressive and beads water for years. They sell a product called PPS cleaner to maintain it every 2 years. I don't have stock in the company, but the stuff works. I'm looking forward to trying graphene.

Before applying, I do the typical clay bar, etc. to have a nice surface to adhere to. Sometimes I'll put some ceramic spray on top.

 

[Toddasaurus]

Don't know if you guys have already read this or something like it; but, I found a nice article explaining exactly what graphene coatings are, and how they compare to SiO2 coatings.

Graphene Paint Coatings And How They Are Superior To Ceramic Coatings

Seems to make sense to me. I'm still really interested in it...

 

[Bhavie]

Good read. I got my bottle of Ethos graphene matrix last week. Just waiting for the temperature to cool down a bit before I apply. Most likely the labour day long weekend, I'm excited.

 

[[NOBODY]]

I hate to be the guy, but that stuff is terrible for the environment. It's horrific. Just an FYI. Nanomaterials get into everything, including you. It's really hazardous to you (cell inflammation and cancer), and everything else. If you do feel you need to use it, please read the ingredients and make sure the manufacturer produced chemically-altered graphene that is biodegradable and easily cleared from human systems. The SiO2 stuff is also really bad.

Graphene’s negative environmental impacts « the Kurzweil Library

www.kurzweilai.net

https://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/graphenes_health_effects_summarised_in_new_guide_48si8_en.pdf

 

[robscar]

I just watched this video from Pan the Organizer on Glassparency Graphene coating.

 

[CannonballRun]

My 2019 G70 just finished getting detailed yesterday, coated with Ethos Graphene. Wash, clay, polish, etc and then the coating. Smooth as a baby's butt.

Obviously need a long-term report but for now it's gorgeous and has a "wet" look. I let it set for 24 hours. Don't know if graphene is hype or not. I guess we'll see.

 

[[NOBODY]]

No offense, but I am not seeing what other people are seeing with the Graphene and the Ceramic coatings. Looks the same to me, doesn't stay that wet looking (to me) , etc., etc., - I mean, once dirt starts laying in on top of the coat, it's dirty like any other polish or treatment. It's not magic, and I think it's the latest 'emperor's new clothes' auto-detailing situation which of course, auto-detailing is rife with. I have a couple of these done, and there is just not really a difference. Much better off just carnuba waxing and getting some high quality PPE. Now that's worth it. IMO.

 

[Bhavie]

My 2019 G70 just finished getting detailed yesterday, coated with Ethos Graphene. Wash, clay, polish, etc and then the coating. Smooth as a baby's butt.

Obviously need a long-term report but for now it's gorgeous and has a "wet" look. I let it set for 24 hours. Don't know if graphene is hype or not. I guess we'll see.

Wait till you splash some water on it, I've never seen such strong water beading before. I applied mine back in October, its gone through a good winter with lots of salt, excited to see how its held up once the weather warms up a bit. I was genuinely surprised by the shine as well.

No offense, but I am not seeing what other people are seeing with the Graphene and the Ceramic coatings. Looks the same to me, doesn't stay that wet looking (to me) , etc., etc., - I mean, once dirt starts laying in on top of the coat, it's dirty like any other polish or treatment. It's not magic, and I think it's the latest 'emperor's new clothes' auto-detailing situation which of course, auto-detailing is rife with. I have a couple of these done, and there is just not really a difference. Much better off just carnuba waxing and getting some high quality PPE. Now that's worth it. IMO.

You're right, it doesn't matter how slick or hydrophobic a coating is, because once it gets dirty, the coating effects are pointless. I think that's something that a lot of people don't realize.

However, the superiority of the coatings over carnauba can't just be tossed aside. It lasts longer, protects better, and has better self-cleaning abilities that any carnauba based product is capable of.

I know these coatings are not 100% maintenance free, but knowing that I have protection for several years is a nice feeling. That, combined with the really good hydrophobics which makes it easier to clean, and the slickness and shine that is present when she IS clean, justifies the coatings....imo.

If you're the type of always maintain your car and apply a wax every few washes, then for sure these coatings aren't worth it. However, for most people life tends to get in the way, and that's where products like these come in.

 

[[NOBODY]]

Wait till you splash some water on it, I've never seen such strong water beading before. I applied mine back in October, its gone through a good winter with lots of salt, excited to see how its held up once the weather warms up a bit. I was genuinely surprised by the shine as well.

You're right, it doesn't matter how slick or hydrophobic a coating is, because once it gets dirty, the coating effects are pointless. I think that's something that a lot of people don't realize.

However, the superiority of the coatings over carnauba can't just be tossed aside. It lasts longer, protects better, and has better self-cleaning abilities that any carnauba based product is capable of.

I know these coatings are not 100% maintenance free, but knowing that I have protection for several years is a nice feeling. That, combined with the really good hydrophobics which makes it easier to clean, and the slickness and shine that is present when she IS clean, justifies the coatings....imo.

If you're the type of always maintain your car and apply a wax every few washes, then for sure these coatings aren't worth it. However, for most people life tends to get in the way, and that's where products like these come in.

Understood. And I generally agree. And yes, that's me - hand wash once a week, wax every four, I think the point I was trying to make is that the marketing and hype machine are working overtime on these coatings, every YT influencer with more than 1k following seems to have generated more than a few videos on the topic, and it's everywhere in auto detail adverting, it's in the prime locations in the counter or store displays, you see in-store cards on the endcaps of Autozone, it's everywhere and they promise everything with it, it seems to me. Just rubs me the wrong way, I guess.

 

[Bhavie]

Understood. And I generally agree. And yes, that's me - hand wash once a week, wax every four, I think the point I was trying to make is that the marketing and hype machine are working overtime on these coatings, every YT influencer with more than 1k following seems to have generated more than a few videos on the topic, and it's everywhere in auto detail adverting, it's in the prime locations in the counter or store displays, you see in-store cards on the endcaps of Autozone, it's everywhere and they promise everything with it, it seems to me. Just rubs me the wrong way, I guess.

Ceramic and graphene are definitely buzzwords in the industry. And half the terms used in the advertising are clearly misleading (10H hardness, scratch resistant, harder than diamond) so we can definitely agree on that.

I guess as long as you do your research and know what your aim is, each product has its advantages and disadvantages (I definitely miss the warm glow of carnauba).