Best Graphene / Ceramic Coating

Question for you guys, not a TRX question, but a PPF/Ceramic question since this is on topic.

How do you prep PPF for ceramic? I bought a 2019 car (picking it up this weekend) and its been coated in PPF since the day the guy bought the car, never coated with ceramic. When I get it I want to ceramic coat it but not sure how to prep PPF for ceramic. Obviously I can't paint correct it (not that it needs it) but what is the proper PREP for "old" PPF?
 
Ceramic coating will not prevent water spots. The only way to prevent water spots with no drying involved is with deionized/soft water. The layer a ceramic coating creates allows water to shed very easily because it's smooth/sealed at the molecular level.

I have PPF/ceramic on my Redeye and Full Vinyl/Ceramic on the TRX. I dry both with ONE towel and a hand held blower (the workbench blower from Harbor Freight is great for this). I had professional 9H ceramic done on the Redeye but I did the work on the TRX. Due to various wrap designs I've done the ceramic on my truck three times. I used Adam's Graphene twice and Armor Shield from Avalon King the last time. The next application will be Cquartz after a while. I really like the applicators from the Adam's but the coating from Avalon King is much better in my opinion. Even though I was extremely thorough on the prep work (hardest part), all my black plastic turned milky after rain from the Adam's product. I corrected that and used the Armor Shield and it's been great. That was after driving through hurricane force rain in TN.

As most videos and pro applicators will tell you, the most critical part is prep. My truck was delivered pretty quick after leaving the factory and it got the first coat within hours of me having it but it still needed a lot of paint correction. If you have PPF, this will be a little easier but not much. You could use a more mild cutter/polish if you have PPF installed.
 
Ceramic coating will not prevent water spots. The only way to prevent water spots with no drying involved is with deionized/soft water. The layer a ceramic coating creates allows water to shed very easily because it's smooth/sealed at the molecular level.

I have PPF/ceramic on my Redeye and Full Vinyl/Ceramic on the TRX. I dry both with ONE towel and a hand held blower (the workbench blower from Harbor Freight is great for this). I had professional 9H ceramic done on the Redeye but I did the work on the TRX. Due to various wrap designs I've done the ceramic on my truck three times. I used Adam's Graphene twice and Armor Shield from Avalon King the last time. The next application will be Cquartz after a while. I really like the applicators from the Adam's but the coating from Avalon King is much better in my opinion. Even though I was extremely thorough on the prep work (hardest part), all my black plastic turned milky after rain from the Adam's product. I corrected that and used the Armor Shield and it's been great. That was after driving through hurricane force rain in TN.

As most videos and pro applicators will tell you, the most critical part is prep. My truck was delivered pretty quick after leaving the factory and it got the first coat within hours of me having it but it still needed a lot of paint correction. If you have PPF, this will be a little easier but not much. You could use a more mild cutter/polish if you have PPF installed.
I think he’s getting at the Graphene preventing water spots more so from standard ceramic coatings. That’s one of their “claims” since regular ceramic is prone to water spots.
 
Question for you guys, not a TRX question, but a PPF/Ceramic question since this is on topic.

How do you prep PPF for ceramic? I bought a 2019 car (picking it up this weekend) and its been coated in PPF since the day the guy bought the car, never coated with ceramic. When I get it I want to ceramic coat it but not sure how to prep PPF for ceramic. Obviously I can't paint correct it (not that it needs it) but what is the proper PREP for "old" PPF?
From what I have read, good cleansing wash (there are some special car washes for cleaning contaminant), clay bar and then 99% isopropyl alcohol wipe.
 
I think he’s getting at the Graphene preventing water spots more so from standard ceramic coatings. That’s one of their “claims” since regular ceramic is prone to water spots.
Correct sir.
 
Correct sir.
As you saw my truck is black and obviously would be very prone to water spots. The coating does a good job of minimizing that. Deionized rinse water is the way to go though for sure.
 
Ceramic coating will not prevent water spots. The only way to prevent water spots with no drying involved is with deionized/soft water. The layer a ceramic coating creates allows water to shed very easily because it's smooth/sealed at the molecular level.

I have PPF/ceramic on my Redeye and Full Vinyl/Ceramic on the TRX. I dry both with ONE towel and a hand held blower (the workbench blower from Harbor Freight is great for this). I had professional 9H ceramic done on the Redeye but I did the work on the TRX. Due to various wrap designs I've done the ceramic on my truck three times. I used Adam's Graphene twice and Armor Shield from Avalon King the last time. The next application will be Cquartz after a while. I really like the applicators from the Adam's but the coating from Avalon King is much better in my opinion. Even though I was extremely thorough on the prep work (hardest part), all my black plastic turned milky after rain from the Adam's product. I corrected that and used the Armor Shield and it's been great. That was after driving through hurricane force rain in TN.

As most videos and pro applicators will tell you, the most critical part is prep. My truck was delivered pretty quick after leaving the factory and it got the first coat within hours of me having it but it still needed a lot of paint correction. If you have PPF, this will be a little easier but not much. You could use a more mild cutter/polish if you have PPF installed.
I’m familiar with the process on paint and have done full corrections for a long time. But from the research I have done on PPF and graphene / ceramic there are quite a few coatings that do not bond well to PPF regardless of prep. Also you should not be mechanically prepping PPF aside from clay bar.

Little before and after on the old beater car… 15 yr old FX35.
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And handled some clear coat failure on that car… was a great beater for 5 years. Bought and sold for same price. Just needed a little love.
838A53EC-94AB-4578-9FEE-B068F5BED652.webp

F1B8870E-6889-4E2B-A2C0-650522AC26B1.webp
 
As you saw my truck is black and obviously would be very prone to water spots. The coating does a good job of minimizing that. Deionized rinse water is the way to go though for sure.
Agreed 100%. Just trying to find something to help keep a decent look between washes and avoid water spot etching if possible. Hard rain water followed by 110 deg and sunshine is the worst. And I feel your pain with a black car. 75% of my cars have been black…I curse the color and then still buy it. Not on the TRX though.
 
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Agreed 100%. Just trying to find something to help keep a decent look between washes and avoid water spot etching if possible. Hard rain water followed by 110 deg and sunshine is the worst.
I know I sound like an Adam’s fanboy in most of my posts but I think they make a pretty decent coating. I’d reach out and see what they say about applying it over ppf
 

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I know I sound like an Adam’s fanboy in most of my posts but I think they make a pretty decent coating. I’d reach out and see what they say about applying it over ppf
I will and thanks for the info.
 
I’m familiar with the process on paint and have done full corrections for a long time. But from the research I have done on PPF and graphene / ceramic there are quite a few coatings that do not bond well to PPF regardless of prep. Also you should not be mechanically prepping PPF aside from clay bar.

Little before and after on the old beater car… 15 yr old FX35.
View attachment 45039

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I feel your pain growing up in Tucson. I had a black vehicle once....once. lol. I punished myself by getting a majority black wrap and the East coast pollen season drove me crazy. I'm back in San Diego where it's just dusty from lack of rain.

I would say covering PPF is similar to covering the vinyl. My first coating on the wrap was the Adam's Graphene and while it was good, it did not prevent spots. The ass end of my truck would stick out in the bay I had to work with (apartment life) and it would spot if I didn't dry it first. Where I live in East San Diego we see tripple digits for a few days every summer. Even now with the Armor shield coating I get water spots but they are pretty easy to remove even after sitting for a few days.
 
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