For the price of paint correction and Opti-Coat...
 

I was going to Opti-Coat my FR-S but after learning that I would likely still get swirls over time I thought that kind of sucks to spend $500 or more to do a one time deal that isn't fool proof. I happened to be in Seattle for a Mariners game and decided to stop in to Griot's Garages flagship store and well, my wallet is a bit lighter. I could probably go into business with a little practice with what I picked up today at Griot's Garage and Home Depot.

For less than $800 I picked up the following that will let me maintain my paint and correct swirls at will.

http://i1144.photobucket.com/albums/...5/IMG_0254.jpg

From Griot's Garage

(1) 6" Orbital
(2) Orange Foam Polishing Pads
(1) 16oz. Car Wash
(1) 16oz. Wash & Wax
(1) 16oz. Machine Polish #2
(1) 16oz. One Step Sealant
(1) 35oz. Spray-On Wax
(1) 35oz. Speed Shine
(1) 8oz. Glass Sealant
(1) Paint Cleaning Clay Bar
(1) 2 Pack of Micro-Fiber Wash Mits
(1) Micro Fibre Dry Towel (It's huge and has pockets for your hands)
(1) 3 Pack of Micro Fibre Wax Removal Cloths
(1) 3 Pack of Micro Fibre Polish Removal Cloths
(1) 3 Pack of Micro Fibre Speed Shine Cloths
(1) Wash Bucket
(1) Tote thingy. It holds everything and very well built.
(1) Foam Spray Gun (for garden hose)

From Home Depot

Clean Force Power Washer
Foam Blaster for Power Washer (I'll be taking back the Foam Spray Gun)
Homelite Leaf Blower 220 MPH for Drying
100' Kink Free Hose
30' Extra Hose for the Power Wash Wand to make things easy
225' Hose Reel
(2) Home Depot Buckets (Need grit guards and I'll take back the Griot's Wash Bucket)
Various quick disconnects to make things super easy

So with this set up I may have to apply sealants and wax a couple times a year but I enjoy doing it. I have done enough research to find out that with Opti-Coat you will still get swirls and will need to polish to get rid of them which will cause a reapplication of Opti-Coat on the panel that was polished. I am picky enough that I wouldn't just live with the swirls so I chose this route.

I'm sure Opti-Coat is an excellent option for some but with all the people running out and getting it done I thought it would be useful to show people another way of spending about the same amount of money on something that can be used over and over again and will consistently achieve better visual results with practice. From what I've read you will get better shine and depth with other products than Opti-Coat. And you can help out your friends too!

http://i1144.photobucket.com/albums/.../FlameSuit.jpg

I like this better than Opti-Coat too.

Waxing the car a couple times a year is good for you. Griots is good stuff.

I bought the stuff to prep opticoat myself. so i can remove the swirls from my car and have extra clear coat.

Do they let anyone buy Opti Coat or detailers only? I thought I read somewhere that only Professional Detailers could buy it and had to sign some kind of waiver so Opti was clear if they screwed up the install since it is (semi) permanent. Either way I did read posts on Autogeek that you will get better shine with traditional wax which is why I went this way. I don't mind spending a day with my car a few times a year.

65 bucks or so for my opti coat. Plus I have pretty much all that stuff from previous vehicle care. Best of both worlds. I also just polished my opti coated hood as I had a few fine marks. Took the marks off but the opti is still there. Obviously I wasn't too aggresive.

Anyone can buy opti-coat and apply it themselves. opti guard is the one made for professionals, because they cure faster and harder making it harder to apply. you can find plenty of videos/post on the internet of people applying it. im not sure if wax has a better shine, but i know someone had complain about not having the feeling of wax with opticoat because he likes to feel his paint :iono: i wouldnt mind spending a day with my car every few months, but i just prefer the little extra protection with the harder clear since subaru is known for having terrible paint jobs from the factory. it all comes down to what you want. no wrong way to go i suppose.

Ohh boy, that's a nice collection. Great job on taking the initiative. A great website learning to correct paint is detailingbliss.com. Very nice people with a very nice owner (He also supplies detailing supplies). Griots Garage sealant is alright, I would suggested something like BlackFire WetDiamond or something else with a better reputation (I've heard GG is hard to apply).

Just be careful, even though your running a DA t's still possible to damage paint.

Also let me know how the Griot Garage polishes are, the more you work will polishes the more you'll learn the characteristics of each one/brand.

I would post a write up and show you the difference of a traditional $200 paste wax and opti coat job but it's almost impossible to tell via pictures, even if their high res. The difference even when your standing there is minimal difference., but if someone can still tell then I congratulate them because then they really have to have acute sight.

When I first heard about Opti-Guard a year ago, I tried some on half my hood and Wolfgang Fuzion on my other half. The WolfGang had a slightly better reflection. Was trying to compare wax to OG. If they weren't side by side you really wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Preparation before LSP is more important than anything else.

It also faded after a month of being outside all day and being washed twice a week. The Opti-Coat is still on half my hood. It's kind of funny because half my hood beads like crazy. I've sold the car though. So the new owner can enjoy half his hood beading forever.

LOL.. I'm definitely contemplating about writing something obscene on my hood so every time it rains people can see it.

@Hamza7 - I have always enjoyed detailing vehicles but have always just done things by hand and thanks to watching videos like you and Gary and the like are posting it gave me the push to just buy the equipment and start doing things right.
@brianc - Wow! The finish on the Beamer in your Avatar is amazing!

I may give Opti-Coat a try after I see it on someones vehicle in person. Now that I have the equipment I can just buy the coating myself and give it a go later on.