Everbrite ProtectaClear Fail

[Adrenalinwill]

That is going to be hard to remove... (just looking at your photos) I feel sorry for you, because yes, that is a mess.

Mask the plastic and try some Lacquer Thinner. Also get a proper mask and angle a portable fan to blow the fumes away.

Or hire someone to do it...

Thank you ??? one of the worse mistakes I’ve made. Thought it would be fun. But I’m done putting more time into it.

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[StainlessVoyager]

Explain? Why? I provided my experience. What would I know what others did? I invite you to order the product and use it. Pleased

I wasn't clear, of course you don't have to explain yourself. I am sorry for the mess and the work you will have to do to remove it. I am asking what do you think was different between those that applied it successfully and yours.

 

[Adrenalinwill]

I wasn't clear, of course you don't have to explain yourself. I am sorry for the mess and the work you will have to do to remove it. I am asking what do you think was different between those that applied it successfully and yours.

I wish I knew. I followed every single step precisely with the exact recommended products. What really got me was seeing them telling others it was their fault like they’ve told me for the past month. I’ll stick with ceramic coating from now on. So sad…

 

[Noblelr3]

It works. Wish we could talk. I’m just an average guy not making money or benefiting. I just wanted to keep the SS look as well but did not want to spend money for it.

 

[Adrenalinwill]

I think that’s fantastic! With the time I spent on it, I could have had a factory wrap done. But I love the SS look as well. It was a failed experiment for me and I’m going to pay form DIY to ceramic coat it. Let everyone know if you experience dead bugs or bird dropping eating through the coat in a few weeks cause it started happening with my failed coating. Onward! ??

 

[guyinnh]

I absolutely love the stainless look and intend to keep stainless, but the fingerprints gave me nightmares. As much as I was excited and wanted the Everbrite product to work, it’s simply too much brain damage and way too much effort to apply. After over two months of fixing, stripping, re-applying, and trying all types of cleaning prior to application methods, I finally gave up. Here are my thoughts on each step of the process:

Prep

• The EZP cleaning included did not clean the surface well, smudges, finger prints, and discoloration still exist afterwards
• Rust remover was irrelevant as I started application right after taking delivery
• This may not be the same barkeepers friend as the one I purchased from Home Depot, it left horrible streaks and did not remove everything
• Windex and acetone prep was such a joy having to polish again and again for hours on end

Application

• Saw the Everbrite video, saw the video from Bearded Tesla Guy and it looks so easy gliding on
• In reality, it was like quick drying honey that dripped, smudged, and was impossible to keep an even coat
• The balance between "rainbowing" from not enough coating and dripping from coated areas above was impossible for me to achieve
• Coating looked perfect when coating but started to move and drip while curing - trying to fix it at that point was a huge mistake
• When I contacted Everbrite with photos, the response “Was the coating poured directly onto the truck and spread?”
• A bit disappointing after spending another $50 at Home Depot on gloves, two solution safe pans, Acetone, paint stripper, N95 mask
• Xylene is not sold in California, Everbrite is located in California. They probably should have known.
• The final product shown in the photos looks like I took a paint brush and went avant-garde on the truck
• The coating dried way too fast with 68 degree weather under a tent, there’s no way to go back and fix anything while coating, too thick, too thin was the norm
• Bugs loved it and a few decided to make the coating its final resting place while drying

The fix

• Everbrite provided a few solutions, 1. use acetone to lighten the coat and re-coat 2. spot fix as it self heals 3. use the new applicators they sent
• They sent another video on how to strip it (with no sound because it wasn’t ready yet) - same as before, looks so easy. It's not.
• The two microfiber applicators they sent was even worse at spreading the coating than the original micro suede applicators
• With application of acetone to fix, the coating turned into a sticky mess reminiscent of old bumper stickers at removal
• Acetone melts your gloves, makes me nauseous, and as I’m writing this after trying to strip one panel, I feel sick
• After a month, I just gave up

Even Worse

• I reached out to Everbrite and requested a refund. The response was if I sent the products back, I would get a 50% refund.
• After all the time and effort to try and get it to work, it sure felt like I was being gas lit.
• It wasn’t until I saw the Youtube video by Out of Spec Detailing today did I feel a little better about myself.
• COLETON WAS 100% ACCURATE IN HIS ASSESSMENT - even with Everbrite calling it a hit piece. LMFAO!
• I build $30M custom homes for a living and I definitely know when someone is gaslighting me

Conclusion

• I got a quote of $1000 to strip the product off of my brand new cybertruck
• I was offered a 50% refund if I paid for shipping and returned the remaining product. I respectfully requested a full refund. You can probably guess what the response was. I actually was not going to take the time to write a review, but the gaslighting and lack of accountability is appalling.
• One of the worse decision I could have ever made to go through the worse experience possible
• Yes, they even sent photos of “others” that have successfully coated their truck (I think they took it from someone on this forum)
• I should have just paid to have DIY put their ceramic coating on and saved me the brain damage and grey hairs in trying to make this work.

My poor Cybertruck.

This is of course my experience and I hope others have had more success with both the coating and with Everbrite

I came here to say you are not alone...

Same experience. I treated one panel of the truck and figured "hey they said it would self-level" so I continued with the entire truck which in the end became one of the most idiotic and most time-consuming mistakes of my life. I ended up having to strip the entire truck with Xylene (as they directed) which took around 5-6 hours and a countless number of microfiber towels

To anyone reading this, please understand that once this product is on and cured, it's on. Removing it is immensely more time consuming than the application.

I thought over and over I was doing something wrong. I watched Everbrite's video (the original, not the one posted 3 days ago), read the instructions multiple times and even had a second set of eyes with me to make sure I wasn’t losing my mind. In the end, this was a complete waste of time and money all while making the truck look absolutely horrible. It never self-leveled and the included applicators left lint everywhere.

I purchased my kit in March and got the exact items included as shown in the OutofSpecDetailing YouTube video. I've seen comments of a new kit that may come with different applicators? Either way, I'll take a few fingerprints on my door that I can wipe off once a week instead of trying this again. I applied my coating in the last week of April in a sealed garage. No bugs, no direct sunlight. Temp in the garage was high 60s. I don't know how much better I could have made it.

I lasted with the coating as long as I could with the hope it would "grow" on me and disappear from my view. In about 3 weeks, I had enough. Foolishly I never reached out to the company because I was certain I was doing something wrong and I'm not one to fault a company for my mistakes. Seeing the video, the numerous comments and your post here actually brings me the closure I needed to realize I wasn't the only one and can now move on from this embarrassing part of my life

 

[Adrenalinwill]

I came here to say you are not alone...

Same experience. I treated one panel of the truck and figured "hey they said it would self-level" so I continued with the entire truck which in the end became one of the most idiotic and most time-consuming mistakes of my life. I ended up having to strip the entire truck with Xylene (as they directed) which took around 5-6 hours and a countless number of microfiber towels

To anyone reading this, please understand that once this product is on and cured, it's on. Removing it is immensely more time consuming than the application.

I thought over and over I was doing something wrong. I watched Everbrite's video (the original, not the one posted 3 days ago), read the instructions multiple times and even had a second set of eyes with me to make sure I wasn’t losing my mind. In the end, this was a complete waste of time and money all while making the truck look absolutely horrible. It never self-leveled and the included applicators left lint everywhere.

I purchased my kit in March and got the exact items included as shown in the OutofSpecDetailing YouTube video. I've seen comments of a new kit that may come with different applicators? Either way, I'll take a few fingerprints on my door that I can wipe off once a week instead of trying this again. I applied my coating in the last week of April in a sealed garage. No bugs, no direct sunlight. Temp in the garage was high 60s. I don't know how much better I could have made it.

I lasted with the coating as long as I could with the hope it would "grow" on me and disappear from my view. In about 3 weeks, I had enough. Foolishly I never reached out to the company because I was certain I was doing something wrong and I'm not one to fault a company for my mistakes. Seeing the video, the numerous comments and your post here actually brings me the closure I needed to realize I wasn't the only one and can now move on from this embarrassing part of my life

With an engineering background and a high end custom home construction profession, I always blame myself for imperfections first before pointing the fingers at others. Following directions and utilizing the deductive thought process to problem solve has made me millions. What really got me was not only the validation that I was not alone from others, but the company gaslighting everyone online with photos of people who “followed” the steps. Just wrong in every way. Thank you for your validation, I’m sure we will be hearing from others that have had the same horrible experience. It definitely brings up the question of why The Bearded Tesla Guy was able to so easily apply the coating. Some mentioned Everyday Chris but I could not find a video from him endorsing the product. Inquiry minds want to know but you’re right, suck it up and move on with this harsh lesson in trusting YouTube “Influencers”

New found respect for Out of Spec Detailing and am definitely a subscriber now.

 

[Stinky10r]

Yeah, N95 are particulate filter masks. You need a chemical respirator mask, and even still, a well ventilated environment.

Uh what?

 

[Dazureus]

Uh what?

N95 masks don't have any vapor or chemical filtration and offer little to no protection against chemical vapors, gases, etc. You need a mask or respirator that will protect you against volatile organic vapor, like respirators with VOC cartridges that contain activated carbon.

 

[AO-Pete]

Hmm, super interesting. Like others, I bought the kit a couple of months ago, and started cleaning down a panel before realizing I didn't have any acetone, and I've not got back to it yet. I've ceramic coated plenty or cars and assumed it was akin to that, but clearly not.

Since then I've dabbled with PPF (works great, the Xpel Stealth looks amazing if you want to retain the steel look and feel), and this holiday weekend I'm going to try a vinyl wrap. One day, maybe, I'll go back to the Everbrite option, but if the wrap is easy enough, I'm not hating the idea of just changing that up every year or two.

 

[Adrenalinwill]

Hmm, super interesting. Like others, I bought the kit a couple of months ago, and started cleaning down a panel before realizing I didn't have any acetone, and I've not got back to it yet. I've ceramic coated plenty or cars and assumed it was akin to that, but clearly not.

Since then I've dabbled with PPF (works great, the Xpel Stealth looks amazing if you want to retain the steel look and feel), and this holiday weekend I'm going to try a vinyl wrap. One day, maybe, I'll go back to the Everbrite option, but if the wrap is easy enough, I'm not hating the idea of just changing that up every year or two.

Awesome! If you don’t mind posting the results and how you feel about each of the process, that would be helpful to many. I’ve ordered two bottles of the DIY ceramic coating along with all the appropriate prep sprays. Fingers crossed.

 

[AO-Pete]

Will do. The PPF process was much easier than I expected, so that might have given me some false hope about the wrap (applied dry, whereas the PPF is applied wet), but we'll see. I'm obviously used to using small bits of PPF, but they're all design for easy install, so doing entire panels will be a bit different, but the CT is almost certainly the easiest truck in the world to wrap, so seems like a good starting place. I'll probably timelapse it or something.

 

[Adrenalinwill]

Will do. The PPF process was much easier than I expected, so that might have given me some false hope about the wrap (applied dry, whereas the PPF is applied wet), but we'll see. I'm obviously used to using small bits of PPF, but they're all design for easy install, so doing entire panels will be a bit different, but the CT is almost certainly the easiest truck in the world to wrap, so seems like a good starting place. I'll probably timelapse it or something.

Timelapse would be so cool! When TSportsline advertises a DIY wrap kit, I guess they did not lie. The instructional videos and influencer experiences were consistent in describing the Cybertruck as one of the easiest vehicle to wrap. Looking forward to your video! ??

 

[NaptownRick]

I figured I'd chime in here. I picked up my truck on 5/1, brought it home the same day, and applied the Everbrite Protectaclear. I followed the instructions 100%. My truck was not well cleaned from the service center, but I wasn't upset, I planned on fully cleaning before putting on the Everbrite. I had small deposits of rust spots, on the flatter spots of the truck like the hood, the little ledge at the upper part of the doors near the windows, and some other small spots.

Before anything, I tried the BKF just to see if it would remove the rust spots. Even with significant scrubbing they would not come off. I then washed the truck, then used the rust remover, and I was kind of shocked that they just disappeared with no scrubbing, so I did all the areas that needed it. Then, I washed the truck again with the prep wash.

Then, to get rid of the fingerprints and other dirt, I went panel by panel and did the BKF and then windex, then the alcohol. When I applied the Protectaclear, it took some getting used to. I went thinner than I should have, but it ensured I didn't get any dripping. I did the whole truck, the process took about 4 hours, but if I had to do it again I could probably do it in half the time. It was a pain for sure, but I wanted the raw stainless without the headache.

So back to the thin coat...I got a good amount of "rainbowing" in spots. I had planned, and still do plan, to go back and apply another very thin coat where the rainbowing is, which is supposed to self-anneal, and will end up clear. This requires a wash, then just application, so I'm hoping it will only take me an hour or so. It has been raining almost every day since my first application so I'm waiting for a good day.

I'm sorry to hear about the OP's experience. From my experience (which is zero in the car detailing world, but I try to take my time and be careful), it looks like it was a thicker coat than I used, which definitely would cause a lot of drips. I had that in one small spot (it got dark outside and the garage lights were not perfect), but the rest is fairly even and thin. I get no fingerprints, and aside from some of the iridecent streaks, I'm just happy to not have fingerprints, and the bugs wipe off very easily from the hood.

For $250 I can probably coat the truck 2 more times (3 total), and I don't mind the time it took for the initial application. I'm sure removing and re-applying will be a pain, but I'm hoping I can just keep applying more as it wears off since it self-anneals...I'm sure I'll find out!

Again, just giving my personal experience here, for the price compared to a wrap, and the fact you get the raw stainless look, I would say I'm satisfied. And again, sorry to hear about the negative experience with a fellow CT owner!

-Rick

 

[Adrenalinwill]

I figured I'd chime in here. I picked up my truck on 5/1, brought it home the same day, and applied the Everbrite Protectaclear. I followed the instructions 100%. My truck was not well cleaned from the service center, but I wasn't upset, I planned on fully cleaning before putting on the Everbrite. I had small deposits of rust spots, on the flatter spots of the truck like the hood, the little ledge at the upper part of the doors near the windows, and some other small spots.

Before anything, I tried the BKF just to see if it would remove the rust spots. Even with significant scrubbing they would not come off. I then washed the truck, then used the rust remover, and I was kind of shocked that they just disappeared with no scrubbing, so I did all the areas that needed it. Then, I washed the truck again with the prep wash.

Then, to get rid of the fingerprints and other dirt, I went panel by panel and did the BKF and then windex, then the alcohol. When I applied the Protectaclear, it took some getting used to. I went thinner than I should have, but it ensured I didn't get any dripping. I did the whole truck, the process took about 4 hours, but if I had to do it again I could probably do it in half the time. It was a pain for sure, but I wanted the raw stainless without the headache.

So back to the thin coat...I got a good amount of "rainbowing" in spots. I had planned, and still do plan, to go back and apply another very thin coat where the rainbowing is, which is supposed to self-anneal, and will end up clear. This requires a wash, then just application, so I'm hoping it will only take me an hour or so. It has been raining almost every day since my first application so I'm waiting for a good day.

I'm sorry to hear about the OP's experience. From my experience (which is zero in the car detailing world, but I try to take my time and be careful), it looks like it was a thicker coat than I used, which definitely would cause a lot of drips. I had that in one small spot (it got dark outside and the garage lights were not perfect), but the rest is fairly even and thin. I get no fingerprints, and aside from some of the iridecent streaks, I'm just happy to not have fingerprints, and the bugs wipe off very easily from the hood.

For $250 I can probably coat the truck 2 more times (3 total), and I don't mind the time it took for the initial application. I'm sure removing and re-applying will be a pain, but I'm hoping I can just keep applying more as it wears off since it self-anneals...I'm sure I'll find out!

Again, just giving my personal experience here, for the price compared to a wrap, and the fact you get the raw stainless look, I would say I'm satisfied. And again, sorry to hear about the negative experience with a fellow CT owner!

-Rick

Thank you for sharing Rick! So glad to hear others that did not have to go through the pain and anguish with this product. I had o planned on a single coat as I’m used to ceramic coatings. From the instruction which I followed religiously, rainbow’ing was a big no no. Trying to fix the thin areas that had rainbow’d resulted in the thick look and it did not self level even after months. After a trip to Vegas and leaving the bugs on for a week after resulted in holes in the coating on the trunk. At that point, I was done.
Glad to hear of your positive experience. Thank you.

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