Is the Out of Spec's detailing solution semi permanent (fingerprint and stain proof)?

[Gigahorse]

No. I did it exactly the same way and after a harsh winter, I have to do all over again. Doesn’t last

Did you notice the hydrophobic capabilities fading, fingerprints sticking, etc?
One winter is certainly not "8 year coating"

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[James Cole]

Why would ppf not be something that works for you? You could even get diy precut one for decent price now.

I had protectaclear for 6 months and it worked fine, then I got a wrap.

I like the SS look.

 

[BeFamousVideo]

Hello Guys,

Looking into purchasing a CT but want to be ready to make it finger and stain proof.

Out of spec detail recommend:
-Bar keepers friend
-Windex
-Panel Prep spray
-8 Year Clean Ceramic coating

Will this keep my CT easy to wash and fingerprint free for at least a couple of years? I am looking for a set and forget thing...

Let me know and thanks!
JC

The best way to completely avoid fingerprints is to not touch the SS. Opening the doors it's easy to avoid the SS. Closing the doors I use the window or the back side of my upper arm.
It's easy and it works. I don't train guests so that's when sometimes the SS gets fingerprints. Using ammonia free glass cleaner removes them easily. This truck is very easy to maintain. It's been a year and I will detail the SS and use a ceramic coating afterwards. Although I don't have high expectations that the ceramic will bond with the SS.

 

[GatorCyber]

which coating did you use and how has it held up?

I used the 8-yr coating that he used in the video. I did it about 2 weeks ago. It definitely helps with fingerprints and doesn't get as dirty as it sits outside. But after I finished and got it out in the sun I noticed I either didn't do the panel prep well enough and left some residue. I'm getting around to doing it again and will use new microfibers only, and change out my ceramic applicator often. It really makes all the factory sanding trails stand out now and is super bright in the sun now. It also shows a spot I tried to fix with a blue scotch pad (you can see it's brighter where I tried to remove a spot). I also didn't get all of the tarnish off on the door edges that all CT seem to have.
Just use new microfibers and make sure you get the panels perfectly clean. Next time I'll get the black plastic bits too that always seem dirty

 

[GatorCyber]

The best way to completely avoid fingerprints is to not touch the SS. Opening the doors it's easy to avoid the SS. Closing the doors I use the window or the back side of my upper arm.
It's easy and it works. I don't train guests so that's when sometimes the SS gets fingerprints. Using ammonia free glass cleaner removes them easily. This truck is very easy to maintain. It's been a year and I will detail the SS and use a ceramic coating afterwards. Although I don't have high expectations that the ceramic will bond with the SS.

The 8-yr coating definitely bonds. I tried to use 303 Graphene months ago, and that definitely didn't work.

 

[devdrone6]

I like the SS look.

Clear PPF or Protectaclear gives you that.

 

[HaulingAss]

Fuck that, I like Clean SS Look!

I think it looks great dirty too! I'm keeping all coatings off my truck because coatings fail and need to be re-applied if you need to work a few fine scratches out of the metal. With the uncoated Cybertruck you have no real worries.

I don't even mind the visible fingerprints in the dirt where I touch it to close the driver's door (visible in the photo above). I can't understand why people get so persnickity over fingerprints on their truck. It's a truck, not a religious icon!

 

[SpykeDaddy]

I've had my CT for a year now and here is what I know on this topic:

1. I clean fingerprints and bugs off once every day usually at night in my garage and takes 30 seconds using window cleaner

2. I can hand wash/clean the entire truck (SS parts) in about 5 minutes with same window cleaner

3. You can also do a wrap or PPF for no fingerprints

This weekend I am planning to perform Coleton's method of Bar Keeper's Friend and Windex, followed by panel prep then ceramic coating. I went with DIY Detail's SS ceramic coating. I will be videoing the entire process and plan to post a video first of next week.

DIY Detail's process and ceramic coating worked great for me. You still get fingerprints, but much less noticeable and bugs don't stick as well. It doesn't cut out all the work, but it does make a big difference in keeping it clean. Make sure your panel is perfect before sealing, because it will trap exactly how it looks for however long the coat lasts. I hit a deer and had two panels replaced and I"m waiting for the patina to darken before adding clear coat. You can tell the difference on the panels in terms of ease of cleaning!

 

[Shadowmite]

take 15 mins to Sprayway a few times a year. that’s it.

This is the way. You bought a vehicle with no paint; it's time to stop treating it as something to be pristine and perfect. Let the dirt shine!

 

[brandonhd]

Hello Guys,

Looking into purchasing a CT but want to be ready to make it finger and stain proof.

Out of spec detail recommend:
-Bar keepers friend
-Windex
-Panel Prep spray
-8 Year Clean Ceramic coating

Will this keep my CT easy to wash and fingerprint free for at least a couple of years? I am looking for a set and forget thing...

Let me know and thanks!
JC

Go for it. You won’t regret it. I followed those steps and coated mine in December. It’s holding up great. It’s so easy to keep clean now. Don’t listen to the just use Sprayaway comments. Yes that kinda works but a coating is way easier to maintain. It looks clean even if it’s dirty.

 

[James Cole]

Go for it. You won’t regret it. I followed those steps and coated mine in December. It’s holding up great. It’s so easy to keep clean now. Don’t listen to the just use Sprayaway comments. Yes that kinda works but a coating is way easier to maintain. It looks clean even if it’s dirty.

That looks impressive! Clean SS look is the way to go IMO.

how long did it take you, how is it holding up?

All cars get fingerprints, my kids hands are almost radioactive, they stain everything with their hands so I don't mind fingerprints as long as they can be cleaned easily like any other car.

 

[brandonhd]

That looks impressive! Clean SS look is the way to go IMO.

how long did it take you, how is it holding up?

All cars get fingerprints, my kids hands are almost radioactive, they stain everything with their hands so I don't mind fingerprints as longs as they can be cleaned easily like any other car.

Thanks man. I spent around 3 hours doing the Bar Keepers and the around 3 more hours prepping and installing the ceramic coating. It did it over a couple days period then let it set a couple more days to cure.

It’s holding up great. It seems just as hydrophobic as the day that I installed it. It’s the best ceramic coating I’ve ever used.

It will show finger prints but they wipe off with just a microfiber or with some waterless wash.

 

[James Cole]

Thanks man. I spent around 3 hours doing the Bar Keepers and the around 3 more hours prepping and installing the ceramic coating. It did it over a couple days period then let it set a couple more days to cure.

It’s holding up great. It seems just as hydrophobic as the day that I installed it. It’s the best ceramic coating I’ve ever used.

It will show finger prints but they wipe off with just a microfiber or with some waterless wash.

Great to hear! this helps a lot, did you use the ceramic coating that Colton recommends?

 

[Hohenzollern]

Hello Guys,

Looking into purchasing a CT but want to be ready to make it finger and stain proof.

Out of spec detail recommend:
-Bar keepers friend

That is going to be a emphatic "no" on Barkeeper's Friend. It will clean the steel certainly but over time will leech the chrome out.

Tesla recommends a citrus based passivization cleaner.

I use CitriSurf 77Plus Passivation Cleaner https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076CTWRVS?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

It works quite well. It leaves compound after cleaning but a separate water damp paper towel gets it right off leaving a clean surface. You have be circumspect HOW MUCH surface you clean unless you are, at that time, going to commit to cleaning the whole panel or whole sides or whole truck. There is usually a difference in appearance of just cleaned versus regular surface that has been driven around. You will want to do some cleaning of the bigger spots, then the whole truck.

If it is just water spots on the outside I pass a wet cloth so the surface dries spot free. The steel skin is really great in that regard. Very easy upkeep. I spray water if the metal is really warm then pass the cloth.

I tried usual car wax on the front of the truck between the DRL strip and the headlamps and it was ok but that doesn't seem the way to go, that stuff being made for paint and cleaners for steel would remove it so it was an interesting experiment but would be a waste of time going forward.

CitriSurf removes anything that gets on the steel and wet cloth or wet paper towel or water spray bottle then cloth to remove the residue and good as new.

Barkeeper's Friend is a bit harsher than you want and over time will leech out too much of the chromium.


On the interior / exterior glass I use this:

KOCHCHEMIE Glass Cleaner https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08J1MY5SM?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

Thus far it is amazing on interior and outside glass. It seems to work well on the DRL light strip and headlamp strip, as well as the tail lamp strip on the tail gate. I use seperate wipes or cloths for each item, to include interior and exterior glass having different cloths. Exterior glass usually wash and squeegee first.

I am thinking about having ceramic coat done on the exterior glass, windows and roof, at Red Box for the exterior glass and roof panel.

I got a lot of bugs on the face of the frunk this past weekend, and they came off easily. Ivory soap and water, wipe, remove any stubborn guts still on there with a mesh car sponge, hit it with CitriSurf, wipe that off and looks great. The rain this week did not even leave spots.

Sunday after weekend long trip I did a mix of a bit of the glass cleaner with the soap and water on the windshield with a long scrubber / squeegee and used the blade to dry it. Hit spots on the side with just spray water and paper towel wipe, looked great. Until got rained upon Tuesday but windows still spotless and as I'm still bare stainless, you have to look at it from the side to see the dirt.

I prob wash it again when I detail my ICE car later.

Edit: Perhaps Colton used the Barkeepers Friend as a one time use as it is stellar making the stainless really bright and ONLY prior to the ceramic coat application? I 'd use it with any frequency, but once the Ceramic Coat is on....

 

[brandonhd]

Great to hear! this helps a lot, did you use the ceramic coating that Colton recommends?

I did. I used Clean. 8 year coating. It goes a long way too. There is enough to do all the stainless, glass and trim.

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