Just had the CT coated w/ ProtectaClear SoCal

[Fleetwood75]

plus it may last up to 5 years with 3 coats

@ProtectaClear, can you attest to this? At $2,500 in labor this is not something that I want to be doing more than twice in the next 10 years.

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[Noblelr3]

I ordered and will be getting my kit tomorrow. I’m going to try and tackle this project myself. I was able to do the BKF/Windex when I first got the truck so hoping I can handle this and save a couple grand. Anyone here try to do this themselves

 

[ProtectaClear]

@ProtectaClear, can you attest to this? At $2,500 in labor this is not something that I want to be doing more than twice in the next 10 years.

On various other stainless surfaces ProtectaClear protects for 5-10 years, depending on the environmental conditions, but those are not on vehicles that are driving around. The front sections I would expect would need touch up more often (every 1-2 years or so) but the rest should be good for a long time.

The best part is that ProtectaClear is self-annealing, so it blends to itself even years later making touch ups easy. Simply wash, dry and reapply. So whether you have rock chips or other damage, the coating is easy to maintain.

 

[Fleetwood75]

Just ordered the kit and contacted North County Metal Restoration Services, got an appointment scheduled for May 28th.

What is the best car wash cleaner to use after the Protectaclear is applied? Traditionally I have just used Dawn dish soap and a sponge or soft bristle brush but that was on painted cars. I don't want to accidentally remove the Protectaclear coat or cause it to get cloudy or anything.

Also, does it make sense to use stainless steel cleaner on Protectaclear or is that pointless because now I'm actually just cleaning the Protectaclear coat, not the steel which is sealed underneath?

 

[GMONEYPEPE]

Just ordered the kit and contacted North County Metal Restoration Services, got an appointment scheduled for May 28th.

What is the best car wash cleaner to use after the Protectaclear is applied? Traditionally I have just used Dawn dish soap and a sponge or soft bristle brush but that was on painted cars. I don't want to accidentally remove the Protectaclear coat or cause it to get cloudy or anything.

Also, does it make sense to use stainless steel cleaner on Protectaclear or is that pointless because now I'm actually just cleaning the Protectaclear coat, not the steel which is sealed underneath?

After the coat is put on they said only use dawn dish soap to wash with. The solvents will remove the coating.

 

[Fleetwood75]

How about sponge versus brush? Will a brush remove the Protectaclear? I guess maybe it depends on the bristles

 

[ProtectaClear]

Just ordered the kit and contacted North County Metal Restoration Services, got an appointment scheduled for May 28th.

What is the best car wash cleaner to use after the Protectaclear is applied? Traditionally I have just used Dawn dish soap and a sponge or soft bristle brush but that was on painted cars. I don't want to accidentally remove the Protectaclear coat or cause it to get cloudy or anything.

Also, does it make sense to use stainless steel cleaner on Protectaclear or is that pointless because now I'm actually just cleaning the Protectaclear coat, not the steel which is sealed underneath?

Be sure to wait a week to wash the truck to ensure the coating has cured. Any mild soap that does not contain solvents (like alcohol, citrus, or straight up solvent) will be fine. Dawn is an acceptable soap to use. A soft bristle brush or sponge work great, just nothing with a rough bristle, not that anyone should use harsh bristles on cars of any kind. Also do not use anything that has abrasives like the BKF cream, anything abrasive will damage the coating.

No need to use the SS cleaner after it is coated, mild soap and water will keep it looking great.

 

[GMONEYPEPE]

I'm open to the idea of doing the coating instead of a clear PPF wrap, my big issue is that I am not very good with detail oriented handiwork like that. I'm just not a craftsman. So I know that I would screw up the application, but if I could pay somebody to do it then it might be worthwhile. I want to maintain the stainless look. My concern with the clear PPF wrap is that it's either glossy or matte, and both of those kind of alter the appearance.

How have your results been with respect to fingerprints, water spots, etc?

ya same thats why I paid the 2,500 so far so good no marks really whatsoever this stuff is pretty amazing

 

[Fleetwood75]

ya same thats why I paid the 2,500 so far so good no marks really whatsoever this stuff is pretty amazing

Am figuring maybe once a year just get a touch up. Hopefully North County Metal Restoration Services can do touch ups for less than $2,500 or else I might attempt it myself, but I'm really not good at that sort of thing.

 

[ProtectaClear]

Am figuring maybe once a year just get a touch up. Hopefully North County Metal Restoration Services can do touch ups for less than $2,500 or else I might attempt it myself, but I'm really not good at that sort of thing.

They absolutely will do touch ups for less, 90% of the work is in the prep, not application.

 

[Cyberjam]

I hear ya, and if I tried to do it myself I'm sure it would come out even worse, that's why I'm just going to get a professional to apply it. Once it's on I don't need to carry around a spray bottle of vinegar, I can just wash it every other week with water and dish soap and it should come out looking like new every time.

Yup. The rest of that post, I just wanted people who are still deciding to have the info. Final verdict is that it's all in what you would prefer.

 

[GatorCyber]

watched a video and the BKF it came with didn't get off the rust and applying the clear made a lot of drips and runs and it turned the truck from shiny and clear to orange and cloudy

 

[Adrenalinwill]

2,500 they put on like 3 coats

WTF?!?!? well, probably worth it since it took me over two months and countless hours to try and fix it before giving up. I'll have DIY ceramic coat it for me after I figure out how to strip Protectclear off. FYI, careful with bugs and bird droppings, it's eating through the coating after a few weeks and a trip from L.A. to Vegas. Wipe it off asap if you can.

 

[Adrenalinwill]

With all due respect, I don't think you read the directions. None of you CHECKs are in the directions anywhere. You used the incorrect products and missed steps. I am not surprised you didn't achieve the intended outcome.

I respect the conclusion you came to, but please before you do any type of project on a $100K truck, at least read and follow the instructions that come with the product.

Gaslight much? You guys did it to me when I brought up issues and how the product was not intended for the Cybertruck. Here you are doing it to other people. I'm sure everyone followed your absolutely confusing directions to achieve crap results. What clowns.

 

[kpg81]

$2500 to apply this stuff when you could get a color change vinyl wrap for pretty much the same price?

$2700 at Tsportline for a wrap

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