[glen e]

I see a lot of the professional detailers here talking about their prices on opti coat or C quartz or the other semi perm coatings. The cost comes in getting the surface perfect before you put it on, as you will seal in imperfections. But if you look at your paint and you are happy with it, or can use a polish to get it acceptable to you, putting on these mysterious coatings is easy. I know this will probably lead to numerous posts, but I think it is necessary to post ss some of the novices don't think it's complicated...it's not. And Opti coat is only $60.

Here's a vid on opti-coat application. Here's a great detailer named Rasky from Autopia putting it on...

and here's one place to get it:

Optimum Opti-Coat 2.0 Permanent Paint Coating



ok flame away...

 

[Mirror Mike]

Actually, CQuartz Finest and Opti-Coat Pro ( which is very different from the commercial brand OC2.0, also not as good as Finest in my opinion) is not available to the public. Also, the Opti-Coat Pro that we would use is $198 a syringe. Finest is also just as costly. Also, Rasky video is showing application. Its not as easy as you think. If you do not have a lot of experience in applying coatings, you can actually waste a ton of product and cause yourself more work. From its fast curing time and leaving yourself high spots that have to be buffed off afterwards then reapplying the product. If you wipe it at the incorrect time you will cause the panel to haze up, which again, means you have to buff the whole panel and retry the application. Plus the finish your paint gets and the product products/procedures used to get your paint to the condition it should be prior to applying the products is the reason we professional detailers exist.

Glen you seem to have a major problem with the few of us that have joined this new forum. We are not here to ostracize anyone. We simply give our professional opinion when we see others giving incorrect information or regurgitating information they read off of Autogeek.

So to answer your question, no you cannot CQuartz Finest or Opti-Coat Pro your vehicle yourself.

 

[glen e]

well my opinion differs...I and many at autogeek and autopia have got great coverage and done several cars myself with opti coat 2.0 - 9 months to a year later it looks very nice...and I think you do an injustice in how you explain it...

 

[Mirror Mike]

well my opinion differs...I and many at autogeek and autopia have got great coverage and done several cars myself with opti coat 2.0 - 9 months to a year later it looks very nice...and I think you do an injustice in how you explain it...

Really, you contradict yourself in saying opinions at Autogeek and Autopia. One is a weekend warrior board (autogeek) the other is a board with the largest amount of known professional detailers (autopia). So their opinions differ completely. On top of a lot of people will tell you at Autogeek that you can apply it. That is because they want you to buy their products. They only recommend you the flavor of the month. Autopia will give you a give indepth answer on the process and the outcome that brings your paint to the next level and will require anywhere from 10-30 hours doing it. OC2.0 works. But not many people want to spend a whole weekend figuring the product out and hoping they apply it right. Many do not have the skill set to get their paint to a perfect condition to make it worth applying OC2.0. Most would rather pay someone else who knows what they are doing to get their paint to the showroom condition. Someone who can use the better products that are only sold to licensed businesses who are approved in using the product. Glen, I think you do this section injustice giving the regurgitated Autogeek information that you seem to do.

 

[glen e]

autopia is my home and Todd Helme is a personal friend..Actually my first trip is a trip to his place so we can detail the Vette together....I rarely go to autogeek although Phillips is also a personal friend...your facts are wrong - go to autopia and search for opti coat - lots of people use it there...

I hardly think Rasky at autopia is "regurgiating autogeek"

http://www.autopiaforums.com/forums...o-detailing-2012-tacoma-polish-opti-coat.html

and my autopia stats:

Age
62
Join Date
12-17-2011
Total Posts
714
Likes Received Likes Received
190
Likes Given Likes Given
49

 

[Mirror Mike]

autopia is my home and Todd Helme is a personal friend..Actually my first trip is a trip to his place so we can detail the Vette together....I rarely go to autogeek although Phillips is also a personal friend...your facts are wrong - go to autopia and search for opti coat - lots of people use it there...

I hardly think Rasky at autopia is "regurgiating autogeek"

Rasky’s Auto Detailing: 2012 Tacoma, Polish & Opti-Coat - Autopia Forums - Auto Detailing & Car Care Discussion Forum

I am trying to be nice to you. There is a HUGE difference between OC2.0 and Finest/OCP. OC2.0 is made to be a simple product that anyone can apply. Does not mean they can apply it correctly, just that they can. You are trying to show how a PROFESSIONAL makes something look easy. That is because they have years of experience in it. That is why they are a professional. If a professional posted a correct video of using a rotary buffer, that doesnt mean anyone could pick one up and use a rotary buffer without severely messing their paint up. My facts are correct, that is why they are fact. That is why I do this for a living and have been doing it full time for a living for 6 years. I do it so well that I have had people drive from upwards of 300 miles for me to work on a car. I know very well what I am doing. I know very well when I read forums with members like you who do not have any idea outside of Autogeek. I also now know what Autopia you are referring too. Your referring to the Autogeek Autopia Clone. Not the .org website.

There really is no point in having a discussion with you. You seem to think everyone is out to get you. I am simply adding to your regurgitated information. Your making it seem like detailing is simple and that for $50 and 5 hours can make their vehicle look the same as someone like me who would charge $500+ and spend upwards of 20+ hours on it.

 

[[email protected]]

Hi guys. It is certainly true that anyone car purchase and apply Opti-Coat 2.0 and the origins Cquartz. In the other thread were we referring to Cquartz Finest which can only be purchased and installed by authorized professional detailers. This is the product that offers the most protection and the only one that comes with the warranty. As you stated the most important part of any wax, sealant, or coating is the prep work. This is where most of the labor takes place meaning that is what costs the most money. Anyone can try to buff a car, butany many people would rather pay a professional who has the experience, tools, and products to do a perfect job. There are far fewer people who want to purchase all the products, buy buffing pads, buffers, and polishes and then try to get the technique down.

I don't think there is any reason for any member on this board to feel like the pros are being deceitful or less than honest. Just like any other service, it is the customers choice if they want the job done by a professional or if they want to give it a shot themselves. Personally, I could do every bit of maintain car on my car, but I take it to a mechanics because I don't care to spend the time doing it. Nothing different here.

So, in closing, sure anyone can purchase the non-professions coatings and give it a try themselves, and I bet most would do a pretty good job, but there are tons of people who would prefer to pay a professional for the pro coating and have the piece of mind that it was done properly.

 

[glen e]

Dave - I don't disagree at all.

 

[Immaculate Reflections]

well my opinion differs...I and many at autogeek and autopia have got great coverage and done several cars myself with opti coat 2.0 - 9 months to a year later it looks very nice...and I think you do an injustice in how you explain it...

What Mike stated is fact. There is a HUGE cost and performance difference. Not sure where your opinion can differ. OC 2.0 is a good product and was designed for the average guy to use, but its NOT the same as OC Pro or CQFinest. So not only can the average guy not get these and enjoy the benefits of them, but they miss out on the superior performance and flawless install.

 

[jb_bgg]

IMO Gtechniq is a better product. Have it on my 09 CTS-V and it's held up beautifully...

 

[Mirror Mike]

IMO Gtechniq is a better product. Have it on my 09 CTS-V and it's held up beautifully...

Gtechniq is on par with 22PLE. Its not even in the league of the rest. Finest > OCP > Hardbody > 22PLE > Qtechniq.

If you liked that product though, you should really on the next go around look into a Finest dealer near you. You will be much more happy.

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

IMO Gtechniq is a better product. Have it on my 09 CTS-V and it's held up beautifully...

Unless you've had experience with the others (CQ Finest, OCP, et al.) I don't think it's fair to say Gtechniq is 'better,' but Gtechniq certainly isn't a bad product to use either.

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

autopia is my home and Todd Helme is a personal friend..Actually my first trip is a trip to his place so we can detail the Vette together....I rarely go to autogeek although Phillips is also a personal friend...your facts are wrong - go to autopia and search for opti coat - lots of people use it there...

I hardly think Rasky at autopia is "regurgiating autogeek"

Rasky’s Auto Detailing: 2012 Tacoma, Polish & Opti-Coat - Autopia Forums - Auto Detailing & Car Care Discussion Forum

and my autopia stats:

Age
62
Join Date
12-17-2011
Total Posts
714
Likes Received Likes Received
190
Likes Given Likes Given
49

With all due respect Glen, I don't see what purpose posting your AutopiaForums post count here is intended to serve?

Keep in mind that Chad Raskovich is actually a professional and an installer of both Opti-Coat Professional and CQuartz Finest (find his site at http://raskysautodetailing.com/); I'm quite sure if you asked him that he would tell you exactly what the rest of us are saying -- that while yes, there's certainly nothing wrong with purchasing and using the consumer-grade versions of Opti-Coat 2.0 and CQuartz/CQuartz UK, there are significant differences between them and Opti-Coat Pro/CQuartz Finest. In the case of Opti-Coat, the professional version cures harder, thicker, and faster than the consumer version, resulting in a more substantial protective layer over the factory clear. In the case of CQuartz Finest, a higher concentration of SiO2 results in higher gloss and durability than their consumer-available counterparts.

At the end of the day it's the choice of the individual vehicle owner whether a professional-grade coating applied over a properly prepared finish is worth the cost; bearing in mind that in order to get the same results from compounding/polishing can take a significant investment of both time (research/learning/practice), and money (purchasing equipment and consumables), and at the end of the day a do-it-yourselfer will not have access to the professional-grade coatings. I don't think it is the intent of anyone posting here to discourage enthusiasts who have the time and money to spend from getting out in the garage and working on their cars themselves, but there is equally no reason for you to discourage people from seeking/heeding the advice and assistance of professionals who specialize in beautifying and maintaining of automotive paint finishes. Are professional detailers going to recommend professional detailing as the first and best option for people? Absolutely, we are; but we are also here to offer advice and assistance for people who are looking to maintain their investments (professional paint correction and coatings are an investment as well).

 

[glen e]

read again what he wrote...I am an autopia person not "auto geek regurgitating"..charlie I know you from autopia and you don't find his comments slamming that site disturbing?

.... the pros have come in to sell their expensive wares instead of helping some newbies...others feel like I do, based on the PM's I've gotten.....if you guys wanna try to move everyone to a expensive coatings and diss one you all used for years...it's ok with me...

I'm staying out of this section from now on....

 

[[email protected]]

Glen. I was diplomatic at first, but I will not put up with you trying to make us look bad for trying to make our service available to potential clients. I SPONSOR this forum for the right to advertise my business. If you notice the ONLY thread or post I made here was a thread telling people to ask me questions and that I would be happy to help. Do not make it look like we are here to sell ourselves and not give back to the community. I don't know why you feel so strongly against us, but there is really no reason. We have businesses that pay our bills and support our family. All you have done is basically tell people that we are snake oil salesmen and to stay away from us. I take personal offense to that. Just remember you aren't the guru, none of us are, we all have knowledge, but no one knows it all.

 

[Immaculate Reflections]

read again what he wrote...I am an autopia person not "auto geek regurgitating"..charlie I know you from autopia and you don't find his comments slamming that site disturbing?

.... the pros have come in to sell their expensive wares instead of helping some newbies...others feel like I do, based on the PM's I've gotten.....if you guys wanna try to move everyone to a expensive coatings and diss one you all used for years...it's ok with me...

I'm staying out of this section from now on....

LOL this is ludicrous. I especially like the line "based on the PMs I've gotten".....right. Lets see these so-called PMs of people who feel like you that we are here trying to take advantage. I think you got upset when real pros came in here and have prevented you from becoming the 'all-knowing' member that everyone in this section looks to.

We all have knowledge and we are here to share it. Not only am I a professional detailer, but I'm also a corvette owner and considering getting a C7 next year. If you want to stay out of this section, we won't miss you. But to be fair you do have some knowledge that can be put to good use, however you are choosing to intentionally make the pros look bad, whatever your agenda is, it doesn't belong here.

 

[elegant]

Gentlemen, we have lots of strong opinions here. Polite and respectful discourse and disagreement is welcomed, for example saying, "I respectfully disagree because of these reasons....". Using language that puts down another person by using negative descriptors, for example using the word "regurgitating, " is not welcomed this forum.

We all have a lot to offer this forum, to help each other learn about our great cars, and information on how to take care of them is valued. Thank you for sharing constructively!

 

[Immaculate Reflections]

Glen. I was diplomatic at first, but I will not put up with you trying to make us look bad for trying to make our service available to potential clients. I SPONSOR this forum for the right to advertise my business. If you notice the ONLY thread or post I made here was a thread telling people to ask me questions and that I would be happy to help. Do not make it look like we are here to sell ourselves and not give back to the community. I don't know why you feel so strongly against us, but there is really no reason. We have businesses that pay our bills and support our family. All you have done is basically tell people that we are snake oil salesmen and to stay away from us. I take personal offense to that. Just remember you aren't the guru, none of us are, we all have knowledge, but no one knows it all.

^ well said!