OptiCoat is a revolutionary automotive paint protection product that provides consumers with pro level glossiness and shine. Previously, OptiCoat was only available to professional car detailers that had been trained by OptiCoat. But over the last few years, OptiCoat has released a consumer product that you can apply yourself.
If you want to provide better protection for the paintwork on your car so that it keeps its showroom shine, then applying OptiCoat to your car might be one of the best investments you ever do!
The following is a guide for applying OptiCoat to your car. Make sure you read the entire guide before you commence the project to ensure you have all of the equipment.
This guide is for the application of OptiCoat 2.0 which has a one-step application process. OptiCoat Pro Plus is a two-step ceramic paint protection that can only be purchased and applied by professional car detailers.
NOTE: Opticoat comes with a five-year warranty, but it needs to be applied by an authorised Optimum Polymer Technologies agent. If you follow this DIY guide and apply OptiCoat yourself you will not be covered by the warranty. The OptiCoat Australia website has a list of all of the certified OptiCoat agents in Australia.
Paint Preparation
Something that a lot of consumers do not realise is the importance of proper preparation of the paintwork before the OptiCoat is applied in order to ensure a pristine finish. Any swirls or scratches will be locked in and the OptiCoat would have to be removed to fix the swirls.
OptiCoat recommends using Optimum Power Clean at 3:1 dilution. Other car detailers also use a 15% or stronger solution of Isopropyl Alcohol or similar stripping agent. The reason Isopropyl Alcohol is so effective is that it removes any oils from fingerprints and polishes that will interfere with the bonding process of OptiCoat. It can not be emphasised enough that any contaminants or defects need to be addressed and removed in the preparation phase.
Detailer’s clay needs to be used to remove any bonded contaminants. If you have not used detailers clay before, make sure that you test it on a small section of your paintwork first.
Inspection lights should be used so that you can observe the paintwork from all angles.
At this stage, your paintwork should be finely polished and stripped clean ready for the application of OptiCoat.
Opticoat Application
Unscrew the black cap from the bottle and replace it with the included blue syringe tip.
Warning: Don’t throw out the black cap as you will need to put the black screw on later.
Some people will just use the black tip and slowly squeeze the solution out of the syringe, but using the blue tip will ensure that none of the OptiCoat is wasted.
Using the syringe, squeeze a small amount of the OptiCoat onto the applicator in an X shape. The goal is to ensure even coverage as you slide the foam applicator across the panels. After the initial application of the X shape, you will only need to add a few drops of the OptiCoat onto the applicator.
Focusing on just one panel, apply the OptiCoat using the foam applicator in an up and down gliding motion, followed by a side to side application to provide a thorough and even coverage over the panel. It will leave what will look like a slightly oily residue, this is normal. As the OptiCoat sets, the oily streaks will disappear.
Rectifying High Spots
As OptiCoat acts as a clear ceramic coating, it is essential that it has a smooth finish to ensure maximum glossiness and polish. The self-levelling properties of OptiCoat are actually quite amazing. As long as you slowly apply the OptiCoat and do not rush the steps, it is actually rare that you will get any high spots.
After 10 minutes, inspect the panels using inspection lights from all angles. If you see any areas of the paintwork where the oily streaks have not disappeared, this is what is known in the industry as “high spots”. These need to be rectified before the product properly sets.
It depends on the climate, but generally you have up to 20 minutes to remove the high spots.
Using a microfibre towel, or even the foam applicator, rub lightly over the area. Do not use any force! A lightly smoothing over will level the high spots. One car detailer from Opticoat Sydney says that the goal is to “lightly swipe as opposed to wiping off. The goal is to remove just enough product to allow it to flash off on its own”.
Now you just have to stand back and enjoy the results. It will be a good time to take some photographs of your car as you will really notice the glossiness and shine.
What Is OptiCoat Pro Plus?
Opticoat Pro Plus is a two-step ceramic clear coating that provides unrivalled glossiness and the industry’s leading standard of scratch and etch protection. Acting like a single component isocyanate, OptiCoat Pro Plus creates a hydrophobic barrier that prevents contaminants and environmental pollutants from binding to the surface and oxidising. If you want to ensure that the paintwork on your prestige car maintains its showroom shine and glossiness, OptiCoat is the ideal paint protection for you.
The latest release of OptiCoat has the same chemical structure as its predecessor, yet offers more glossiness and slickness. But is this a genuine claim or is it just marketing spin?
According to some professional car detailers, OptiCoat Pro Plus does provide more shine but the greatest benefit is that it provides greater etching and scratch resistance. As OptiCoat Pro Plus is a two-step application process (the original formula was a single step process), it provides a thicker ceramic coating that provides greater protection for the paintwork. But this does mean that the two-step application process is more complicated than original OptiCoat formula.
Who is OptiCoat?
OptiCoat is an American paint protection manufacturer that is widely regarded as the premier automotive paint protection specialist. Since 2001, Opticoat has been researching and developing advanced polymer paint protection in association with North American automotive manufacturers including Buick, Hummer, Chevrolet, Cadillac and Pontiac. This allows the research and design team to test their latest formulations with prototype paints. One of the reasons why Opticoat has developed as an industry leader is the unique cross-polymer ceramic coatings that Dr David Ghodoussi and his team have designed. Using nanotechnology that actually binds to the paintwork, Opticoat creates a glossy barrier that not only ensures maximum shine and silky smoothness but provides the industry’s best protection. Car detailers the world over rely on OptiCoat products. Actually, if you ask around you will find that the majority of professional car detailers have applied Opticoat to their own cars. Some of the other revolutionary products that the brands retail are OptiCoat Fabric, OptiCoat Leather, OptiGlass Pro, OptiTrim and Optimum Paint Guard.
Definitive Prestige Car Detailing Sydney
Address: 12/85 Mars Rd, Lane Cove West NSW 2066
Phone: 1300 954 200
