[Mich]

I recently bought my Camaro (2021) and I am looking at doing a polish and ceramic coat to protect the paint and keep it looking good. It is black so things like dust and paint swirls show up much more compared to other colors.

I have decided that I want to do the entire process myself to save some money, and also because I enjoy working on my car. I have found that I will need to wash and clay bar, polish, and then ceramic coat to make it last. (I will also take suggestions for this process, if there is something I should add or something that isn't necessary)

I have done some research about products and processes since I haven't done anything like this before and I have found mostly that it is very confusing to narrow down the type of product to use since there seems to be an endless amount on the market.

The paint on my car is in good shape since it is new and only has minor paint swirls, so my question is: what is the best polish to use to get rid of these paint swirls and make the black paint look good?

I am also looking for suggestions on the overall process of polishing and using ceramic coat, and what the best ceramic coat would be. I want this car to look good however it is not a $100,000+ car so I am not looking to spend a fortune on products.

One last point, I do have decals on my car, am I able to polish and ceramic coat overtop them as I would the regular paint or should I avoid them?

Thanks!

EDIT: I should point out that since I am new to the process, easy to use products will be best. As well, since this is my daily driver (even in the winter) I am not looking for a product that will last for years and years. I am thinking a product I can apply once or twice a year might be better since it seems that the longer lasting products will need more of an experienced hand to apply

[CamaroDreams76]

I use Adams Polishes. I like their stuff. There is better stuff out there but their customer service and user friendliness is top notch which in my book justifies the price and keeps me coming back.

The thing about polishing, there is no tell tale. You have to try sections and figure out the least aggressive with the best results. Every brand has their polish. A good tried and true is Meguires M105 and M205. The Rag Company also has a few good pads and good towels. Again, I've had good luck with Adams.

Clay imo is clay.

Ceramic coating..... PREP IS EVERYTHING. Then you have to figure out if you want just a ceramic coating or graphine ceramic coating. I used Adams advanced ceramic graphine coating on my wife's 22 1le and on my previously issued 21 Explorer. Cant say enough good things about it. CQuartz, GTechniq are also top notch coatings as well.

Yes you can coat over graphics. Satin or matte graphics will get more glossy. I've went over decals with polishers, I've just made sure the polish has flashed already.

[W-Scott]

I just got my LT1 this fall and did do a the ceramic coating myself. That being said I didn’t have to worry about polishing out paint swirls since the car was new and essentially driven home from the dealer and one nice fall afternoon before living in the garage for the winter. I should note my dealer didn’t do any waxing/coatings/etc before I picked up the car.

I’m sure your research will tell you the best results are got when you do the most cleaning and prep work. For me I carefully washed the car twice with a neutral Ph car shampoo and dried with a blower and microfibre towels. Next I did a full wash with a pre ceramic car shampoo and once again dried with a blower and microfibre towels. Each time I cleaned the car I used hot water raised it repeatedly and did the washing on an overcast day (trying to keep water spots from forming). That process took a couple hours each time and the car was never driven any where once I started this process (trying to be clean, clean, clean).

Next I did an IPA solution cleaning which is an isotopic alcohol and distilled water solution. I mixed up this solution myself. The solution was ~15% alcohol and ~85% distilled water. I would spray it on the car using a spray bottle a section at a time and wipe it off with more micro fibre towels. I did this in the garage (my garage is clean, well lit and heated). I did this process twice. It took a while each time. Each time I did it I looked carefully over the whole car too see if I had missed any areas. I was getting fairly tired of cleaning by this point.

Then I let the car sit in the garage and kept in at room temperature for a couple of days to get ready to do two coats of ceramic wax. First coat on a Saturday afternoon the next coat on Sunday morning. I coated the paint, the rims, the black plastic grills and trim bits, the rally strip decals, the head lights, the wiper arms. I should note all the coated item all got the full cleaning process. For the ceramic wax I followed the instructions of the suppler for applying the ceramic wax, they had some good videos. My cleaning process was basically following what they recommended (less the polishing and clay bar)

I used AvalonKing Amour Shield IX ceramic coating and their shampoos (ph balanced and prep shampoo too). I picked their product as it seemed to be reviewed well and was supposed to be a good balance between forgiving application and good quality.

The car looks amazing under the garage florescent lights so I expect it will look good outdoors. Hopefully it lasts.

Ordered it from their web site:
https://ca.avalonking.com

[pondo]

I used cquartz 3.0. It’s still rolling water off 2.5 years later. My process was as follows:
Wash
Iron Decon
Quick wash
Clay bar
Quick wash
Single step polish (new car)
Wash
IPA wipe down
Ceramic coat

I’m going to try Adams next as many people report great results.

[dpevans]

Originally Posted by pondo

I used cquartz 3.0. It’s still rolling water off 2.5 years later. My process was as follows:
Wash
Iron Decon
Quick wash
Clay bar
Quick wash
Single step polish (new car)
Wash
IPA wipe down
Ceramic coat

I’m going to try Adams next as many people report great results.

This is the way to go, I don't wash after single step and go straight into IPA. On my older cars I three step with microfiber cutting pad with Meguires D3000, if that doesn't clean it up I hit it with an orange cutting pad and M105, then final pass with white light cutting pad and M205. Words of caution, being black take your time and really check your work cause black is the hardest color to polish and it can turn real bad really quick if you're not checking your work.

[dpevans]

One point on ceramic coatings. after polishing this year I am going to try the spray ceramics, they are supposed to last 6 months and you can't beat how easy they apply. Paying someone a grand for a 5 year is a waste of money on a DD cause after a year or two it will need a full correction again.

[2SS LT1]

I used GTechniq Crystal Serum Light with a second coat of their EXO product. Like others have said prep is key and follow the directions to the letter. Also used GTechniq Panel Wipe. Spend an evening watching YouTube, you will pickup some tips. Results were great. We did 4 cars, all turned out great. We did the wife's new Blazer first (for practice) Then my son's new Equinox RS, Then the Camaro. We found that having 2 people really helps. 1st person applies and watches / coaches for full coverage of an area. 2nd person buffs out. We also did all wheels inside and out. I applied the Ceramic over my Rally Stripes, no problem.
Check your PM.

[Gen6cyl]

Armor all ceramic car wash works good for me. Works on everything, glass, rubber , plastic. I blow dry with a Stihl electric leaf blower.

[Chevelle vs Camaro]

I’ve used CQUK3, Gyeon Pure, Adam’s Graphene spray coat, Gyeon CanCoat Tacs Systems moonlight.

First of you mentioned polishing. I would get a machine to do this. Griots g9 is a good value. Rupes LHR15 M3 if your a baller.

A good polish with some medium cut pads should suffice.

I would even say a ceramic primer polish with a medium cut pad should finish well. I like CarProEssence and Gyeon Primer gets good reviews.

Yes for pre wash I would iron decon and clay. If you have existing LSP I would decon wash with An Acidic soap followed by an Alkaline folllowed by a PH neutral soap.

These soaps can also be used for decontamination washes when your coating gets clogged up.

If no LSP I would Iron remover, wash, clay then polish.

With black I would plan on polishing once every year or two and up your game on washing your car. If you are going to run it through a car wash…. We’ll don’t.

Ones with brushes will marr your paint. Touchless washes use high chemical soaps and can degrade protection.

For coating I am Using NV Nova Evo next. Any good coating will do and I liked CQUK3 for my first time. Gyeon Pure Evo is a good choice.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DamonZ28]

Originally Posted by Gen6cyl

I blow dry with a Stihl electric leaf blower.

Ooo, I never thought of that. I received a gas Stihl leaf blower last summer, or would that be too much wind? I don't think my Black & Decker 20v battery powered leaf blower would be enough.

[Memphis SS]

Originally Posted by CamaroDreams76

I use Adams Polishes. I like their stuff. There is better stuff out there but their customer service and user friendliness is top notch which in my book justifies the price and keeps me coming back.

The thing about polishing, there is no tell tale. You have to try sections and figure out the least aggressive with the best results. Every brand has their polish. A good tried and true is Meguires M105 and M205. The Rag Company also has a few good pads and good towels. Again, I've had good luck with Adams.

Clay imo is clay.

Ceramic coating..... PREP IS EVERYTHING. Then you have to figure out if you want just a ceramic coating or graphine ceramic coating. I used Adams advanced ceramic graphine coating on my wife's 22 1le and on my previously issued 21 Explorer. Cant say enough good things about it. CQuartz, GTechniq are also top notch coatings as well.

Yes you can coat over graphics. Satin or matte graphics will get more glossy. I've went over decals with polishers, I've just made sure the polish has flashed already.

+1 on the Adams.
I started using it several years ago, results are awesome and I’ve won several car shows including one National event I took Best of Show.

[FRANK121]

Getting ready to try and ceramic coat mine this spring but all I have is a carport so I don't know how I'm gonna keep the wind blowing dust off the car while the coat sits?

[DamonZ28]

Originally Posted by FRANK121

Getting ready to try and ceramic coat mine this spring but all I have is a carport so I don't know how I'm gonna keep the wind blowing dust off the car while the coat sits?

This might be stretching it, but can you get some cheap tarps and duct-tape them to the car port for some make-shift walls while you're doing it? Staple some 2x4's to the bottom so they don't blow around too much, or something creative like that. It should last for a few days while you work, if you don't have a lot of wind in your area.

[arpad_m]

^^^ this is very good advice, you don't want dust, dirt or leaves mess up your fresh ceramic coating. Application should be done indoors and away from the elements (even temperature can be important), and if that is not a possibility, you need to "simulate" ideal conditions as much as possible.