Ceramic coating or not?

[4x4man514]

Hey guys what do yall think about all these new ceramic coatings for your paint now? Is it a good move or bad. Anybody know anything about the long term effects? I got a pile of work and money in my bronco at this point in time and its almost done. I just dont want to make a mis step here.

Thanks!

 

[bronco italiano]

To protectr teh paint from rock strikes the 3m ceramic is supposed to be nice, but you need a good professional to do it. If you have a pile of money in your bronco get all the glass done in Huper optik. Nothing is better than that, but it ain't cheap

 

[Broncobowsher]

I did an Adam's on a new paint job. Slick, yes. Wash it and the bugs just fall off.
Absolute pain in the ass to use. I have a couple spots where I didn't get it just right and it is a major ordeal to remove the finish and try it again. As much as I love the bugs falling off when I wash, I would not do it again. This is the Graphene stuff. Bloody expensive. I only got it when it was deeply discounted on prime days. Just looked and the regular price is up even more, 50% more than I paid. No way would I ever pay this and deal with the hazy spots I got ever again. But man I do love the bugs falling off it. Not that it matters on a Bronco, but it didn't bother any plastics, in fact I coated all of them as it said you could and they looked better after.
https://a.co/d/04aCy9wx

I have another bottle of SiO2 ceramic 'wax' that is pretty good. Goes on easy, comes off easy. Miss a spot, you can clean off the haze days or weeks later without issues. It is so much more forgiving. I much prefer to use this stuff. Also way less money. I know there is better stuff out there (the Adam's above), but for the price and how easy this is to work with, it is my choice. Very forgiving for those non-experts out there.
https://a.co/d/0aT3bNXy

 

[Bruners4]

I've been using the Meguire's line of products for quite a while now, including the Ceramic line. The Hybrid Ceramic Wash and Wax is a nice little boost to keep things slick. Needed to retreat the '21 FE and tried the CERAKOTE® Platinum Rapid Ceramic Paint Sealant and really like it. Very easy on and just wipe it off. Walmart carries all of these products and most of the stores stock it.
My paint techs have told me not to treat new paint for almost a year to allow it to fully cure.

 

[Shimmy]

i've tried several of these ceramic coating over the years. i used them on both daily drivers but not the bronco. my bronco only sees action during the spring and summer months. Because of that. i prefer the shine and ease of application using Menzerna powerloc, followed up with a turtle wax spray and shine after a couple washes. very easy to use and keeps her shines and slick.

any sealant or coating will repel bugs and bird crap (to an extent). ceramics just do a much better job of protecting from road chemicals, bird crap, etc. what they don't do is prevent scratches... even the minor swirl marks.

up to you and your usage? single or 2 stage paint?

 

[ntsqd]

MISF put me onto what he calls "the Magic Juice", a graphene coating of some sort. I am the last guy that you should listen to about anything paint related, so I'll just mention my experience with this stuff.
MISF has the right name for it! Spray it on, immediately buff it off. Good for several months on a DD that sees both Ag areas and city driving as well as passing within 1/4 of two different cement plants during the commute, and is never garaged. Water beads off of it. Dust wipes off with a fuzzy microfiber. It's a black truck, and MISF polished it before the first such application. No evidence that the microfiber is scratching it.

 

[Broncobowsher]

There are two very different 'ceramic' coating materials.

The high end one is Graphene. It is a Carbon based and often has a diamond hardness rating on it.
The economy easy to work with stuff is Silicone Dioxide.

Both fall under the generic name of "ceramic", but they are completely different materials. If someone doesn't specify what they are working with, figure it is the Silicone Dioxide.

 

[ntsqd]

What I linked claims to be graphene. I've no idea if true or not. I can only go by the results, which has been exceptional by my admittedly low standards and I don't particularly care what it's made from as long as it is made ethically.

"Ceramic" is advertising's newer buzzword. Anything that is any good, according to the seller, is a "ceramic." Most of the products that claim to be "ceramic" fail the common definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ceramic, but fit within Madison Avenue's own definition (because it helps them sell more of whatever).
No, I'm not jaded, why do you ask? LOL.....

 

[4x4man514]

Thanks for all the good info guys!

I tried to use some meguires wax. I cant remember which kind but i only did the hood. It looked good afterwards but def was not smooth to the touch. Prolly something i did i dont know. My lack of skill with this is what is leading me to use one of these professional businesses.

Around here i think they charge anywhere from 1k to 2k but they adverise 8 to 10 years of protection. I just wonder what happens at the end of that 8 to 10 years.

 

[ep67bro]

I have used the Meguires Ceramic coating, easy to use, great shine afterward and decent protection from the elements. Not going to help with scratches or rock chips for sure. I have done it to three 6G broncos. My wifes stays in the garage and that one held up the best. The other two it only lasted about 6-8 months. But its cheap, it can be applied to the entire truck no need to worry about getting it on the plastic flares like old school wax. My badlands is over due for it again and I will do it again. As far as it feeling smooth, it is only as smoth as the surface you apply it to. My 24 badlands hood was a mess, I had to use a clay bar on it to get it smooth before I applied the coating.

I have heard good and bad about the pro applied stuff. I know a guy that had it done to his Porsche and it didnt hold up well at all he spent over 2k on it and wasnt impressed, I know of another guy that just had the wheels done on his Mustang with real high end stuff and its amazing how easy it is to keep the wheels clean because of it.

 

[Bitch'nBronco]

I've tried a few of these, Ammo Reflex is nice, but my favorite is Adams since they have black light traceability. It makes it a lot easier to see spots you've missed, and ensures complete coverage. If you're looking to protect your Bronco from rock chips, Paint Protective Film (PPF) is really the only way to go. The ceramic coatings are good for protecting the paint from swirls and making it easier to wash. I just did Adams Graphine coating on my Superduty and Wifes SUV, it's saved me a bunch of time when I wash the cars and the water beads better than any wax or other coating I've used. Project Farm has a pretty good video on the coatings.