Any way to remove these imperfections?

[CyberGus]

Thanks OG! Guy at the Tesla dealership on delivery day said to use 100% alcohol for spot cleaning. Would that strip the passivation layer?

Regarding the passivation, does that mean those fingerprints are likely from the factory before the self-passivation fully "cured" ?

IPA will dissolve surface contaminants, but you must wipe it down well or it just smears around.

IDK if factory stainless needs to "cure", but it stays shiny due to the oxidized surface chromium. It actually needs to "corrode" to look shiny. Stainless relies upon exposure to oxygen.

The term "passivization" means treating the steel with acid, which dissolves some of the iron and this increases the proportion of chromium. (We're taking atoms of thickness here, you won't burn though the surface with ordinary cleaning chemicals lol.)

But yeah, if you treat the whole truck with a mild acid like BKF or Citrisurf it will be really really shiny initially, but slowly temper as it oxidizes. That's why it can be problematic to spot-clean with such stuff, since it will make a shiny spot, hahaha, but it will eventually blend in.

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[HaulingAss]

Thanks OG! Guy at the Tesla dealership on delivery day said to use 100% alcohol for spot cleaning. Would that strip the passivation layer?

Regarding the passivation, does that mean those fingerprints are likely from the factory before the self-passivation fully "cured" ?

Alcohol doesn't affect the self-passivation layer at all. It actually helps keep it strong because it can help remove oils and waxes, just like soap and water.

The trucks come delivered with some manufacturing oil still on the panels. I'm speaking from experience with my VIN #4400 so I don't know if they have changed that or not. I imagine water conservation drove the decision to not clean off the oil they use during manufacture.

The oil prevents self-passivation and makes it susceptible to fingerprints that don't wipe right off with Sprayway or alcohol. I recommend a thorough scrubbing with soap and warm water and water rinse to remove the oils and any waxes so the passivation process can happen. Don't use auto soaps designed to leave a coating that makes water bead off the finish, simple Joy or Dawn will work. I like using a truck washing brush at home but I bet those car wash bays with pressure sprayers and soapy water would work too.

After a thorough cleaning, try to wipe off any fingerprints as they happen with some Sprayway or alcohol, because the passivation layer takes 24-48 hours to offer some protection, and it will more slowly become stronger over time until the next time you strip it off with something like the foamy Barkeepers Friend, followed by a good soap and water washing to let the passivation layer build up again.

I've found regular soap and water washes with a little touching up with Sprayway will keep it looking great with minimal labor.

 

[Cyb3rB3ast]

Alcohol doesn't affect the self-passivation layer at all. It actually helps keep it strong because it can help remove oils and waxes, just like soap and water.

The trucks come delivered with some manufacturing oil still on the panels. I'm speaking from experience with my VIN #4400 so I don't know if they have changed that or not. I imagine water conservation drove the decision to not clean off the oil they use during manufacture.

The oil prevents self-passivation and makes it susceptible to fingerprints that don't wipe right off with Sprayway or alcohol. I recommend a thorough scrubbing with soap and warm water and water rinse to remove the oils and any waxes so the passivation process can happen. Don't use auto soaps designed to leave a coating that makes water bead off the finish, simple Joy or Dawn will work. I like using a truck washing brush at home but I bet those car wash bays with pressure sprayers and soapy water would work too.

After a thorough cleaning, try to wipe off any fingerprints as they happen with some Sprayway or alcohol, because the passivation layer takes 24-48 hours to offer some protection, and it will more slowly become stronger over time until the next time you strip it off with something like the foamy Barkeepers Friend, followed by a good soap and water washing to let the passivation layer build up again.

I've found regular soap and water washes with a little touching up with Sprayway will keep it looking great with minimal labor.

Considering how different this finish is from ordinary cars that have paint and clear coat, would you say it's harder or easier or about the same to maintain?

Would you say that it's sensitive and it's better to just get it wrapped?

Reason I ask is because I really like the raw metal look. And even if I do wrap it, i'd most likely get a matte clear PPF, to try and retain as much of the original look as possible.

Rugged bullet proof zombie apocalypse truck is a bit of a princess, huh

 

[CyberGus]

Considering how different this finish is from ordinary cars that have paint and clear coat, would you say it's harder or easier or about the same to maintain?

This is what your Cybertruck will look like in 40 years, only bigger and without the funny doors

 

[HaulingAss]

Considering how different this finish is from ordinary cars that have paint and clear coat, would you say it's harder or easier or about the same to maintain?

Would you say that it's sensitive and it's better to just get it wrapped?

Reason I ask is because I really like the raw metal look. And even if I do wrap it, i'd most likely get a matte clear PPF, to try and retain as much of the original look as possible.

Rugged bullet proof zombie apocalypse truck is a bit of a princess, huh

I'd rate the Cybertruck's uncoated stainless finish as about twice as easy to maintain as a traditional painted finish.

One reason for that is that it's not fragile like the clearcoat on a painted car. Bird shit, or other acidic contaminates, can eat right through a traditional clearcoat in a couple of days, leaving a dull spot that can't be repaired without re-painting. Any damage to the finish on the Cybertruck can simply be sanded back to a new finish.

Another reason is because the way the metal reflects light it hides dirt better. It looks good even when it's not pristine, because of the reflectivity of the finish. The "glow" shines right through typical road grime.

Finally, there is no need to wax the metal, or get a ceramic coat. Those coatings will actually hinder the self-passivation of the metal.

Over 90% of the maintenance I do to keep my Cybertruck looking good is simply washing it periodically with a bucket of soapy water and giving it a rinse with clear water. In the summer I was doing this every couple of weeks, but now that the weather has turned cold and wet, I just ignore it. I don't think I've washed it in over a month but it still looks pretty good. And the last wash wasn't even a real wash, I just did a quick visit to one of those pressure washer car washes because I had been out four-wheeling on wet, muddy trails and I wanted to spray out the wheel wells.

People who say the bare metal is hard to maintain are doing it wrong.

 

[Cyb3rB3ast]

I'd rate the Cybertruck's uncoated stainless finish as about twice as easy to maintain as a traditional painted finish.

One reason for that is that it's not fragile like the clearcoat on a painted car. Bird shit, or other acidic contaminates, can eat right through a traditional clearcoat in a couple of days, leaving a dull spot that can't be repaired without re-painting. Any damage to the finish on the Cybertruck can simply be sanded back to a new finish.

Another reason is because the way the metal reflects light it hides dirt better. It looks good even when it's not pristine, because of the reflectivity of the finish. The "glow" shines right through typical road grime.

Finally, there is no need to wax the metal, or get a ceramic coat. Those coatings will actually hinder the self-passivation of the metal.

Over 90% of the maintenance I do to keep my Cybertruck looking good is simply washing it periodically with a bucket of soapy water and giving it a rinse with clear water. In the summer I was doing this every couple of weeks, but now that the weather has turned cold and wet, I just ignore it. I don't think I've washed it in over a month but it still looks pretty good. And the last wash wasn't even a real wash, I just did a quick visit to one of those pressure washer car washes because I had been out four-wheeling on wet, muddy trails and I wanted to spray out the wheel wells.

People who say the bare metal is hard to maintain are doing it wrong.

I guess the impression I've been given is that the metal is sensitive and can easily be damaged, tainted, tarnished. But if I'm understanding correctly, you're saying the metal can be refinished over and over and continuously be restored to essentially brand new, with not much effort. Traditional cars can too, but with much more effort and not indefinitely, as you will run out of clear coat.

Do you personally feel that whole body PPFing the CT is unnecessary?

 

[CyberGus]

Do you personally feel that whole body PPFing the CT is unnecessary?

There are some highly-OCD types (I'm only mildly OCD lol) that obsess over every imperfection and demand it look factory-new at all times. If this is you, wrap it.

There's plenty of stainless steel in your house (fridge, sink, flatware, pots/pans, etc.) and how does that look after years of use? Did you ever think "oh no, there's a stain on this fork, I better get some BKF and the orbital sander"...?

 

[HaulingAss]

I guess the impression I've been given is that the metal is sensitive and can easily be damaged, tainted, tarnished. But if I'm understanding correctly, you're saying the metal can be refinished over and over and continuously be restored to essentially brand new, with not much effort. Traditional cars can too, but with much more effort and not indefinitely, as you will run out of clear coat.

Do you personally feel that whole body PPFing the CT is unnecessary?

Of course plastic wrap is unnecessary!

Personally, I wish everyone else would wrap theirs so I could have the only one in gleaming stainless steel. Honestly, I don't understand why so many cover this piece of metallic beauty in fragile, damage prone, plastic wrap that needs replacement periodically. I wouldn't do it even if an entire wrap job was only $100 and could be done in an hour.

 

[Cyb3rB3ast]

Of course plastic wrap is unnecessary!

Personally, I wish everyone else would wrap theirs so I could have the only one in gleaming stainless steel. Honestly, I don't understand why so many cover this piece of metallic beauty in fragile, damage prone, plastic wrap that needs replacement periodically. I wouldn't do it even if an entire wrap job was only $100 and could be done in an hour.

Lol love it. We are on the same page. I think the raw metal completes the look. I dislike all wraps on this truck. Which is why if I wrapped it, I would do a matte clear PPF, or anything that keeps the original look.

I think I'll save myself 5k and skip the wrap for now. Thank you sir.

 

[CYBERBRITE1]

I have used SprayAway, 100% alcohol, soap, nothing gets out these marks. The weirdest one is these specific fingerprints. Other fingerprints come out, not sure whats different with these.

Also, is it common for the body to have random marring like these? Theres a few I have since delivery day.


https://tinypic.host/image/IMG-6433.2ZB5Pd
https://tinypic.host/image/IMG-6432.2ZB3Bw

HI Im a new vendor on this forum CYBERBRITE. You are correct, it is normal for Cybertrucks' stainless steel to vary in appearance. It is not the stainless steel itself, it is the environmental contamination of the surface layer of stainless steel that is actually the culprit. CYBERBRITE solves that problem. Check out the website for more info. cyberbrite1.com

 

[CYBERBRITE1]

Lol love it. We are on the same page. I think the raw metal completes the look. I dislike all wraps on this truck. Which is why if I wrapped it, I would do a matte clear PPF, or anything that keeps the original look.

I think I'll save myself 5k and skip the wrap for now. Thank you sir.

HI Im a new vendor on this forum CYBERBRITE. You are correct, it is normal for Cybertrucks' stainless steel to vary in appearance. It is not the stainless steel itself, it is the environmental contamination of the surface layer of stainless steel that is actually the culprit. CYBERBRITE solves that problem. Check out the website for more info. cyberbrite1.com

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