SiO2 ceramic coat + rain = water beading extraordinaire!

[pixlpush]

I spent about 5 hours meticulously washing, drying, clay baring, polishing and applying Griots 3-1 ceramic wax on Sunday. The prep is time consuming but the application of the 3-1 wax was about as easy as it gets. Just don’t over apply it and do it inside or in the shade. A unexpected benefit was it doesn’t dry white on black plastic trim like a lot of wax and polish products.

Then because I live in Oregon, it rained the whole next day . Water beading to die for though . Will see how it holds up but so far so good. I’m not expecting pro ceramic coating longevity but as long as I get a few months I’ll be happy.

 

[disciple83]

I've only had Hallie a week, and it's been raining cats and dogs the whole time, so I haven't had a chance to put anything on her. Plus I got her gently used so I have to do a little correction first. But I wanted to put this out there. Hope it helps. Since you didn't get a 24-48hr cure window to help create the crosslink bonds it normally would while air drying, I'd expect a reapplication somewhere closer to 4-5 months instead of the whole year. But it is definitely a budget and elbow grease-friendly solution.

Fun fact, you can stack it on top of Carnauba. Get the deep gloss shine with harder environmental protection and persistence.

 

[RC Turner]

I have used ceramic coatings on my vehicles for years. I usually redo mine couple of times a year. However some have gone over a year and the surface coating still seems to be intact.

 

[North_of_49]

When I bought my ‘25 OBX last fall I wanted to get something quick on the paint and wheels for the winter because of the large amount of salt that gets put on the roads in my city. I had access to the garage at my work for half a day and put a paint sealant on first then the Griot’s ceramic 3-in-1 as well as their glass sealant. Only one application of each due to limited time but figured it would be better than nothing. Got crazy water beading right after doing that.

Half a year later I’m ready to start from scratch and do both again but this time more than one application each. I have a Griot’s product that my local high end detail shop and store uses to get waxes and sealants off and back to virgin clear coat and have clay bar + lube and fallout remover ready to go too.

But what I wanted to mention is that although I’d lost most of the water beading over the winter, lately I’ve been using Griot’s ceramic quick detailer (ceramic Speed Shine) between washes when the car isn’t actually dirty enough to need a proper wash and I’ve been getting really good beading again (it’s rainy season here) even 2 weeks after application and that’s just with their quick detailer (the ceramic one, not the older Speed Shine)…

Really impressed with Griot’s products.

 

[airems]

I thought water "sheeting" off the paint was the new water "beading" of today's world?

 

[disciple83]

It's the volume of water hitting the hydrophobic surface that creates the sheeting effect. Take the nozzle off the hose and have it spray the surface for sheeting.

 

[wireman]

When I bought my ‘25 OBX last fall I wanted to get something quick on the paint and wheels for the winter because of the large amount of salt that gets put on the roads in my city. I had access to the garage at my work for half a day and put a paint sealant on first then the Griot’s ceramic 3-in-1 as well as their glass sealant. Only one application of each due to limited time but figured it would be better than nothing. Got crazy water beading right after doing that.

Half a year later I’m ready to start from scratch and do both again but this time more than one application each. I have a Griot’s product that my local high end detail shop and store uses to get waxes and sealants off and back to virgin clear coat and have clay bar + lube and fallout remover ready to go too.

But what I wanted to mention is that although I’d lost most of the water beading over the winter, lately I’ve been using Griot’s ceramic quick detailer (ceramic Speed Shine) between washes when the car isn’t actually dirty enough to need a proper wash and I’ve been getting really good beading again (it’s rainy season here) even 2 weeks after application and that’s just with their quick detailer (the ceramic one, not the older Speed Shine)…

Really impressed with Griot’s products.

I use the speed shine detailer also. When the BL is clean and before using it I use a California Duster to get most of the accumulated dust off. Griot’s have quality products.

 

[wireman]

Many other places to buy.
https://www.amazon.com/Original-California-Car-Duster-Plastic/dp/B001GP790W/ref=sr_1_9?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.rFR8ZZWbsxBkhkN4lT28NrtkSRUsKxeVexm3ZqTfsrUNvezruwdUb80PQ5OYt5ZnqO3KfG_sagUu323hd5brT1rJbh6O-rQhSpdWKCXRMiooRXWxismpmhiJaY0MoZL1X9dC2le9sba6BvSKNqLfVxipvgOoi5yfBRy4zUDJix1z_3VdbfQwFD_LhsiUPtr1U6oQlDn69feLNcR9XWBIQXhNy-07TYzA5KNxcNys82gLzpw23LVefbJJWsOf9IrRp1LnEfSXYwz12MyEzPqwDWOI-Tyk3svfmJGmE_zRIP0.jCG9U1Uel___MyEjiCGmIIJR1eAs6uaPL7Lr9BpiEbU&dib_tag=se&keywords=california+duster&qid=1781181449&sr=8-9

 

[TNFurb]

I also use the Griot’s 3-1 ceramic and it’s great. It lasts me quite a long time. At least 6 months if not a year. But I don’t live in a rainy climate like you.

 

[VinnyLongPour]

Many other places to buy.
https://www.amazon.com/Original-California-Car-Duster-Plastic/dp/B001GP790W/ref=sr_1_9?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.rFR8ZZWbsxBkhkN4lT28NrtkSRUsKxeVexm3ZqTfsrUNvezruwdUb80PQ5OYt5ZnqO3KfG_sagUu323hd5brT1rJbh6O-rQhSpdWKCXRMiooRXWxismpmhiJaY0MoZL1X9dC2le9sba6BvSKNqLfVxipvgOoi5yfBRy4zUDJix1z_3VdbfQwFD_LhsiUPtr1U6oQlDn69feLNcR9XWBIQXhNy-07TYzA5KNxcNys82gLzpw23LVefbJJWsOf9IrRp1LnEfSXYwz12MyEzPqwDWOI-Tyk3svfmJGmE_zRIP0.jCG9U1Uel___MyEjiCGmIIJR1eAs6uaPL7Lr9BpiEbU&dib_tag=se&keywords=california+duster&qid=1781181449&sr=8-9

i just broke out my California car duster last week after it's been sitting in its sleeve for years. turns out it works great for exactly the situation you described - getting some dust and pollen off of an otherwise clean car...

 

[disciple83]

Larry Kosilla is waking up in a cold sweat with all this California Duster talk.

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