Waxing VS Ceramic

[Tremhunter]

Hand waxing at home vs. and ceramic coating from vender. I want to save money and hand wax my truck instead of the costly ceramic coating. Am I missing substantial protection?

 

[Blueknight]

I have always waxed my vehicles several times a year but we satrted using McGuires hybrid ceramic on my wife's bronco sport. It does a really good job and it's definitely better than just waxing. Although im thinking about doing an actual ceramic on my Tremor like Armor Shield. A lot of videos online and it suppose to be easy to do. Plus it can be used on glass and plastic trim.

 

[FaKtor34]

Ceramic while not a PPF does provide more protection, my wife was rubbed against by a white car in her new black explorer timberline, because of the ceramic I was able to buff off the paint transfer in about 3 mins. It was much easier than if it hadn't been coated. And certainly much easier than wax.

 

[Blueknight]

Ceramic while not a PPF does provide more protection, my wife was rubbed against by a white car in her new black explorer timberline, because of the ceramic I was able to buff off the paint transfer in about 3 mins. It was much easier than if it hadn't been coated. And certainly much easier than wax.

Glad you were able to fix that.

 

[Tremhunter]

It’s the paint correction that scares me for the DIY ceramic application.

 

[Blueknight]

I get it. Its a lot to pay for a truck so it maybe best to pay someone if you're not comfortable doing it. No shame in that at all.

 

[FaKtor34]

If you pay someone else to do it make sure they do the paint correction, not everyone does, some just use a clay bar to wipe it down good and get anything the wash didn't and then do the ceramic coating, which is what I personally did, although both my wife's and mine were done at the dealer with ceramic coating before we picked them up.

 

[FaKtor34]

Everytime I wash I wipe it down with a ceramic detailer, just helps keep the protection it offers.

 

[Pierless]

Ceramic application is easier than waxing IMO. Like others have said, plenty of videos out there to show you.

It also comes down to how much you value your own time!

Ceramic100%.. Adams advanced ceramics is the way (imo)

 

[Blueknight]

Everytime I wash I wipe it down with a ceramic detailer, just helps keep the protection it offers.

Everytime I wash I wipe it down with a ceramic detailer, just helps keep the protection it offers.

Which detail are you using?

 

[FaKtor34]

Which detail are you using?

It varies sometimes I use chemical brothers, which I have found works very well other times I'll use meguairs ceramic detailer. Adams consistently gets top ratings but I try to buy local when I can and nobody carries it here.

 

[Blueknight]

Thank you!

 

[df4801]

Armor shield looks easy to do.

Anyone have thoughts on it?

 

[Fozzy]

If you go into the Youtube black hole of detailing you will find that Turtle Wax Ice Seal and Shine is the shizle for DYI wipe on wipe off. I have used it for some time and it is great for the money. Ceramic or maybe now Graphene is the holy grail of paint protection. Without a physical product like PPF. If your truck is black and you plan on keeping it a long time the ceramic is worth it. If you're lazy and don't clean your truck once a week ceramic is worth it. You have the money and want the best ceramic is worth it. live by a place with a bunch of fall out ceramic is worth it. I enjoy detailing my truck and keep the paint nice and protected by weekly hand washing with clay bar and seal and shine two or three times a year. For the price of a professional installed ceramic coating I have bought and made an entire detail station at my house.

 

[Pierless]

If you go into the Youtube black hole of detailing you will find that Turtle Wax Ice Seal and Shine is the shizle for DYI wipe on wipe off. I have used it for some time and it is great for the money. Ceramic or maybe now Graphene is the holy grail of paint protection. Without a physical product like PPF. If your truck is black and you plan on keeping it a long time the ceramic is worth it. If you're lazy and don't clean your truck once a week ceramic is worth it. You have the money and want the best ceramic is worth it. live by a place with a bunch of fall out ceramic is worth it. I enjoy detailing my truck and keep the paint nice and protected by weekly hand washing with clay bar and seal and shine two or three times a year. For the price of a professional installed ceramic coating I have bought and made an entire detail station at my house.

Agree 100% with this.

Had my black explorer detailed two years ago... Turned out 'ok'...
Built out my own detail kit for the same price and arguably did a better job

Was terrified I'd fk it up, it's actually hard to if you follow the steps (posted everywhere online)..

Time and patience was my friend.. also having my first kid in daycare while the newborn was sleeping and eating all day, gave me a little more time while on 'bonding leave'...

 

[Escape Hatch]

I use to detail personally many years ago and take care of my own vehicles. I have a vast array of products however nothing beats the ease of ceramic maintenance and the shine I get with those products.Bellow is a photo of the wife's loaded 22 Aviator after a wash and no polish, bought it eight months ago after a five month build order wait.

 

[Tremhunter]

A professional ceramic job and you maintain it afterward or you did the whole job yourself. I’m mostly concerned about the vital paint correction step, clay bar…whatever that is and I’m not using anything electric polisher on my paint…..

 

[Escape Hatch]

A professional ceramic job and you maintain it afterward or you did the whole job yourself. I’m mostly concerned about the vital paint correction step, clay bar…whatever that is and I’m not using anything electric polisher on my paint…..

So to be fair I had the dealer apply the initial ceramic coating but I have managed it since with Geyon Quartz which is great stuff. Also, you do not need to be afraid of using an electric polisher as long as it is Dual Action as it will not burn the paint/clearcoat. My wife took her car through a touch carwash (after me asking repeatedly to not wash her car) and swirled the paint a bit. I buffed it out with my DA polisher and applied Geyon quartz and she looks just as good, if not better than the day I brought it home.

 

[Fozzy]

So to be fair I had the dealer apply the initial ceramic coating but I have managed it since with Geyon Quartz which is great stuff. Also, you do not need to be afraid of using an electric polisher as long as it is Dual Action as it will not burn the paint/clearcoat. My wife took her car through a touch carwash (after me asking repeatedly to not wash her car) and swirled the paint a bit. I buffed it out with my DA polisher and applied Geyon quartz and she looks just as good, if not better than the day I brought it home.

Right there is one of by problems with the high price of ceramic. You still got swirls with the care wash and still had to fix it and maintain it. I totally agree it makes day to day care 10 times easier.
My wife has an Aviator and it's been a great car, probably her favorite to date. She runs into too much stuff to treat her paint or have black. Yours looks killer.

 

[ChsTremor]

Ceramic application is easier than waxing IMO. Like others have said, plenty of videos out there to show you.

It also comes down to how much you value your own time!

Ceramic100%.. Adams advanced ceramics is the way (imo)

I just bought the adams ceramic kit with some other accoutrements. Watch a few of their you tube videos and it gets you confident enough to do it yourself. Should not be a lot of paint correction with a new vehicle.
I didn’t even let the dealership do the prep wash on our new bronco.