Anyway, one look at Avalon Kings website, and I can already tell that I like them. This past weekend (July 2021), I was washing my Buick and couldnt help but notice how well Armor Shield IX held up from a durability perspective. Definitive results, but not dramatic. Fortunately, the consequences of not adequately completing the required prep work (or skipping it entirely) before applying a DIY coating is never detrimental to the well-being of the vehicle. This, in turn, creates a scratch-resistant (keyword) coating thats also extremely hydrophobic. Avalonking coat after 1 or 2 years, On the bright side, there probably arent a lot of people jumping at the opportunity of coating a car in 100F weather, so this shouldnt be much of an issue. Listed as a 6 month to 1 year costing. I was new to ceramic coatings when I began this exercise, but Ive slung an orbital buffer around before, and I have something resembling a concept of whats good for paint. Hello Grant! As I write this, Avalon King sells the Armor Shield IX DIY Kit for a penny under $70 for one bottle. These costly mistakes can be avoided if people just follow the advice in this article, and keep an eye out for any of the quality control issues listed below. Avalon King is serious about this being a true DIY kit, and it shows. No matter the source, we maintain our editorial independence and will always give you our honest assessment of any product we test. Speed Master Wheel Brush: https://bit.ly/3myn20w Make of that what you will. The Drive has answers! We Tested Chemical Guys Clay Bar To See If It Was up to Our Grime. Clay bar painted surfaces to remove microscopic junk embedded in your paint. In other words, if I can make a 28-year-old car with imperfect paint sparkle and look this good, imperfections aside, I can only imagine what you can do with a new car or a car thats been professionally paint corrected. If you watched my video review (above), you saw my genuine reaction to pulling the car out into the sun for the first time. Thanks dave, additionally after 30 drying hours under the sunlight at ~70% humidity there was a popup shower, after it passed I took the leaf blower and dried the car. A car show. Gives your car an intense shine and gloss Its really all or nothing with this stuff folks, so if youre not all-in you should probably go back to using that weak-ass wax. Unless you wave $1 billion in our faces. For older wheels, make sure to clean off all of the brake dust on the outside surfaces and inner barrel, which will help you clean off future brake dust more easily. The BEST glass protection! Go listen to some Madonna or whatever normal people do to reward themselves. TWO BUCKETS vs ONE BUCKET: Whats the best car wash method? Then wipe your coated pad across the painted surface in a side-to-side motion. How many coatings should come out of a normal sized sedan? Yet, in my case, and for detailing enthusiasts, when its easy to spend $30-40 annually per vehicle in waxing products, the numbers favor Avalon King after the second year. Quick Tip: Armor Shield IX plays well with paint protection film (PPF), clear bras, and vinyl wraps just as long as they receive the same level of prep work as the cars clear coat. For a job that is as easy to screw up like this, thats not insignificant. Those who want the best possible results adhere to the rules, while those who diverge from the path run the risk of having a finished product that looks like crap. Applying ceramic coating in direct sunlight will also wreck all of that elbow grease. Youve got questions. Read more. What Wed Change. HI Dragan! My merchandise store (T-Shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, and more! Its hard to figure an exact dollar on these savings, but as the saying goes, time is money. Theres even a branded card to press the applicator cloth into the folds of the block to secure it in place. Im excited to announce that Armor Shield IX, by comparison, is still going strong as you can see in the YouTube clip above, retaining all of the hydrophobic properties I witnessed upon installation. MEGUIARS HYBRID PAINT COATING, NEW Turtle Wax GRAPHENE Flex Wax !! FOAM CANNON BATTLE !! Promotions, new products and sales. Place a fresh applicator cloth on the applicator pad and then add 10-12 drops of ceramic coating. It's free! I actually gasped when I opened it because its borderline ridiculous how elevated it is. Overall, its hard to call Armor Shield IX a bargain at $47 to $70 per bottle, but its also not budget-killing expensive for the type of enthusiast who regularly details their vehicle(s). The company absolutely does not shy away from its claims about Armor Shield IX being the #1 DIY ceramic coating, but its cheekiness throughout really lends the product an approachability that is missing from other brands. (EXCLUSIVE VIDEO! I think the average brake temperature is around 400 degrees during normal operation. I have some product left in the bottle, should I consider another coating whenever I will have access to indoor storage or should I be fine (given the 30 hours). Since I was testing multiple products, I chose to apply Armor Shield IX to the hood of my 1999 Honda Accord, which I consider to be prime real estate. Can I put Avalon King over this? This varies based on ambient temperature, so read the instructions. Take your time because you dont want any high spots on the finish of your obviously pristine 272,000-mile shitbox. It wasnt supposed to rain but it did over night. However, incorrectly applying a ceramic coating can lead to issues like high spots, streaking, an oily-looking finish, gritty textures, and poor coverage. Armor Shield would act as the sacrificial layer for the existing coating. full prep. Do I need to do any special steps to reapply or will cleaning the windshield be enough? FIAC WallAir: A compact wall mounted air compressor with integrated hose reel! | RIDGID 4.5 GAL 200 PSI. STRESS RELIEF WASH STAY AT HOME AND WASH YOUR CAR !! Thats it! It should last 2-5 years when applied correctly. Based on that would you say it is still okay to ceramic cote the outside of my car? Were here to be expert guides in everything how-to and product related. Rust-Oleum Factor 4 Car Wax System REVIEW! Just applied my coating and just after 48 hours it started raining and freezing on my car, it still looks like the water is just beading off, but just wanted to know if the coating will still be alright. In summary, the car looks better than ever, repels (some) dirt and water, and is easier to clean. We cannot be bought. I actually recommend it to keep them nice and clean under all that load and brake dust build up. But Avalon King hopes to change this by taking aim at the DIY marketplace. Wait for it to cure. All Rights Reserved. Heres what you do. Were not just talking about removing bug guts, tar, bird turds, grit, grime, and anything else thats embedded in your cars clear coat. TOP 20 Questions About Ceramic Coatings ANSWERED ! Definitely read the instructions. What We Love. Avalon King claims 2-5 years depending on how well you prep, install, and care for your coating. I would love to give this product a shot but I have some concerns. Repeat steps 1-5 until every surface is coated. Although it will take up to two weeks for Armor Shield IX to fully cure, only 48 hours are required prior to taking the vehicle for a spin. P&S Brake Buster wheel & tire cleaner: https://amzn.to/3iIiZMP Well, that could be caused by several possibilities. So what are the mandatory prep work steps that must be completed prior to applying a layer of DIY ceramic coating? Apply too much product roughly or sloppily, and youll be forced to redo that area. Today Only, The Killer ThisWorx Car Vacuum is On Sale Up To 50% Off Whats the Benefit of Wrapping a Motorcycle Exhaust. By comparison, the waxed roof held water in a large puddle. It was also noticeably easier to remove dirt and bug droppings from ceramic coated surfaces. With decades of combined experience covering the latest news, reviewing the greatest gear, and advising you on your next car purchase, The Drive is the leading authority on all things automotive. Dealer says Chevy plans 10,000 units for 2022. AvalonKing didnt cut any corners when it engineered Armor Shield IX. You lock the door and glance back at your ride to marvel at the shimmering, glossy beauty of it all. Ideally, you would apply the 2nd coating after waiting 1 hour up to 24 hours. I had my vehicle wrapped in XPEL Matte PPF and they put a sport ceramic coating on it. Keep water off for 48 hours, and try not to wash with soap for 5-7 days. What is considered a properly blended isopropyl alcohol? More surprising were my experiments. And, one of our two review bottles flaked some dried ceramic coating that could have caused marring. Ok, Ive been waiting to make the joke Avalon King made my Accord look like a Queen since I got Avalon Kings Armor Shield IX in my hands. And finally a pressure washer. Cheers and thanks for reading! 1-YEAR UPDATE: Scroll to the bottom to see a quick Armor Shield IX one-year durability update (with video evidence)!. (All prices include shipping). https://soundcloud.com/hurleymower, #avalonking #armorshield #ceramiccoating #9H #carcleaning #cardetailing #detailing #pantheorganizer #detailingtutorials #autodetailing. And hey, I dont have COVID! Hello Dave! The gloss factor is extraordinary. That came later. quipement et Outils pour le Detailing de Voitures !! Thanks, I applied some of the ceramic on my windshield last night. (EXCLUSIVE REVIEW! As we explained earlier, anytime the temp drops below 40 Fahrenheit, or about 4.4 Celsius, its probably best to put the brakes on and wait for warmer weather or a heated garage option to materialize. Hello, I dont have the option of a carport or garage. Yes, there were a few hiccups and we could probably debate the pricing, Still, Armor Shield IX won me over completely. So stay informed, and keep on coating yall. Armor Shield works great on matte surfaces! This stuff does not smell great. Affordable detailing products and tools on AMAZON! In all seriousness though, leaving too much Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) on a surface after a wipe-down or not using the right mixture ratio will cause some pretty intense streaking. In my video review, I spoke about wax products being a little easier and cheaper. And while its certainly easier to spray-on a wax than this install and I think thats still true for those who only protect their vehicles once or twice a or for those who buy discount products. The approachability aspect that I mentioned earlier really does help build confidence in the work youre doing. 3) Use a pH neutral and wax-free car shampoo for your regular washes. It will enhance the texture or pattern rather than adding shine. Aside from that the open container will only be usable for 4 to 6 weeks. I have one bottle that I have open and the other two bottles are unused. As you can see, the only thing you need is time to wait for curing. It also makes treated surfaces easier to clean and repels water more actively than waxed surfaces, especially when the vehicle is dirty. Its really that simple. At work. Wash. Wax. Here is the link to the AvalonKing Armor Shield IX: https://avl.kg/pan25 Read more. Can the entire process be done outside? The more controlled and sterile the environment the better, so consider bribing a friend or family member with beer and pizza in exchange for commandeering their garage for a day or two. Wherever. Interior detailing of my Porsche FPV style with my GoPro! The outside temperatures have been ranging anywhere from 105 for the high, down to 62 as the low, with 7 to 20 percent humidity. Since the cost of ceramic coatings has reduced significantly in recent years, this isnt as big of an issue as it might seem, especially when affordable products like Armor Shield IX pack industry leading 9H ceramic coating hardness ratings for under $70. I have 99.5% ipa. For more information, visit the official AvalonKing website: https://avl.kg/pan25. Any guess as to what caused that measly 1% to materialize? Then a hose. One thing I really appreciate about the included instructions is their explanation of the flash time of the product, and how it can vary with temperature. Use the promo code PAN25 during checkout and receive $25 USD off each purchase! Full context: my wagon sits outside sometimes with a car cover, sometimes not under the blistering Southern California sun. I was able to save a little time by leap-frogging sections as I applied the coating, but make sure not to do too large a surface at once. If youre familiar with ceramic coatings, its all standard fare. After the wagon sat outside under the California sun for a week. Yet somehow, eager individuals still attempt to apply this product prematurely, often right after driving the vehicle or when it has been sitting in the hot sun. Improperly applying a high quality ceramic coating is like having a Ferrari and only driving it in reverse. Every two to five years. Another cause could be from poor prep work and wax or other products trapped under the coating and manifesting as a spot. This is basic car maintenance advice at its very core, so clean thoroughly, and dont assume that shortcuts will yield positive results. To date, AvalonKings Armor Shield IX DIY ceramic coating kit has a failure rate that hovers in the 1 in every 100 applications. Is more cure time needed? Dont let me down, girls. The coating wont properly cure (or cure at all) under high humidity either. The key benefits of this ceramic coating are: 2022Recurrent Ventures. 2) Wait at least 7 days before washing the vehicle or applying any chemicals. Create new posts and participate in discussions. First, Avalon King sponsors this site. Ceramic coating is one of those things that isnt exactly difficult but requires time, effort, and attention. But we only have two minor suggestions. The ceramic coating chemically bonds with the vehicles factory paint, creating a semi-permanent bond and layer of protection. Despite having fresh wax on the roof, the ceramic-coated hood shed water slightly quicker. Now the easy part. The cost, around $70 per bottle, is certainly debatable. If prolonged for too long, the ceramic coating will be rendered useless. . try to avoid wiping at this stage. But as a writer who places a priority on ethical product reviews, it has been my goal to remain objective throughout the entire review process. The one that was opened wont be of any use. (Were also hoping to do a full LS swap build on it, so stay tuned if you care about such things.). In order for the nano-technology encapsulated within each bottle of Armor Shield IX to work well, it must come into close proximity to the clear coat/paintwork. Thats certainly a possibility. In addition to the ease of use, Im very happy with the results I achieved on what is arguably the most important surface of the car, at least in terms of visibility to myself and others. (NOTE: after first publishing our review, Avalon King announced plans to include MORE applicators with each purchase. Scellant a Peinture Meguiars Ultimate Fast Finish !! You may drive the vehicle, but its a good idea to avoid washing for a full week. I would suggest bringing in a dehumidifier and trying to get the humidity below 70%, How long should a coating take to dry in humidity above 70% (86% to be exact) in a senario as said how long before it can get wet? You can also reach us at guidesandgear@thedrive.com. 1) Let the product cure on the surface for 48 hours. Simply follow the super-easy, brilliantly illustrated directions found within each box of AvalonKing Armor Shield IX, and remember that if you ever get stumped all youve got to do is contact us via our helpline. Tuf Shine tire brush: https://bit.ly/3hGzBmS Maybe its your garage. Once you apply the 2nd coating the 48-hour clock resets and begins anew. They spell it all out for you, and I think that makes it a great choice for anyone, especially beginners. Is this safe for matte paint and carbon fiber? Keep it away from dust, but feel free to bake it in the sun. You can apply this Armor Shield IX ceramic coating yourself on your vehicles paint, wheels, exterior plastics, chrome, and even glass, and get 2+ years of protection! Trying to coat a car when the air temperature is below 40 Fahrenheit, or about 4.4 Celsius will be problematic because it will cause the curing process to slow to a crawl. Wheel Woolies boars hair wheel brush: https://amzn.to/3mARCXs Wouldnt recommend applying the second coating after 48 hours up to the date of first wash at around 7 days. Or $105 for two. This product goes on really slick, and while I wish I could attribute that to my exquisite polishing and prep work, the other products I tested on this car did not go on as smoothly. You can tumble deeper down the ceramic coating rabbit hole by reading our definitive guide on applying ceramic coating. Preparation is the key to yielding excellent results with any ceramic coating. SUBSCRIBE and LIKE todays video & Turn On Notifications for New Videos http://bit.ly/PanTheOrganizer. So to make sure that coated vehicle gets the loving it deserves, take the action indoors, and seek shelter within the confines of a garage. For 70-plus degrees, I waited 1-2 minutes. Throwing a coat of ceramic coating on a hot surface is also a big no-no. From the look of many SoCal daily drivers, the sun not only destroys paint and plastics, but devours protective coatings like waxes and sealants. The initial quality of the coating appears glossy and smoother than prior to application. Hop on the buffing stage too soon, and youll smear the partially liquefied ceramic coating and be back to square one yet again. Remove waxes and other contaminants using a dedicated strip wash or gentle dish shampoo. Applied 2 coats in a semi-humid garage over the weekend. Hi Andrew! I would recommend diluting that down a bit by mixing it with distilled water. By logging into your account, you agree to our, for vehicles that dont have garage protection, In loving memory of lost CorvetteForum Brothers and Sisters, C7 Grand Sport Surprised at Drag Strip by BMW SUV, Hertz Corvette ZHZ the Rental Car We All Want to Keep. repeat the initial prep work a)wash and dry b) clay c)IPA wipedown The good news is that applying Avalon Kings Armor Shield IX is easier than being a 28-year-old man in a nail salon. The actual install is a breeze and I found this product very forgiving for a ceramic coating novice. You may be getting somewhere, but its pretty obvious that youre doing it wrong, and everyone around you knows it. AvalonKing Armor Shield IX 3 months update!! Naturally, the paint correction helps, but Armor Shield IXs gloss factor is extraordinary. Important tips: So watch out all you IPA lovers, because last time we checked streaking was a punishable crime in certain states. Can you use Armor Shield IX on brake calipers? Hi humidity is the big killer when it comes to an application failure so 7 to 20% is just perfect. Directly to your inbox. Ideally, the 2nd coating would be applied within 24 hours of the first one. MTM PF22 foam cannon: https://bit.ly/2FJMyz0. A few other possibilities could be: failing clear coat, bird droppings, sap, or even a top coat that was applied in direct sunlight or while the ceramic coating was still curing. Premature exposure to moisture will wreck a ceramic coating faster than you can say smells like rain. Precipitation, dew, mist, or testing the hydrophobic properties of the coating before it has fully cured can all compromise the quality of a vehicles ceramic coating. So dont hesitate to coat over these protective layers for additional durability. Ceramic coatings have a reputation of being both expensive and difficult to install. Once covered, go back across the same surface in a side-to-side motion thats perpendicular to your original path. Maybe it really does work? Use us, compliment us, yell at us. And now my cars even easier to keep clean. 4) No special maintenance products are required, but if you want to boost the performance you can use their maintenance shampoo and/or ceramic booster to assist. The hotter the air temps the faster youll need to work and you may need to apply in smaller sections in order to buff at the proper time but I think your exterior conditions are just fine. That said, even if when Armor Shield IX is more expensive overall and upfront, we should also factor in time savings (of not having to reapply wax), ease of cleaning, superior gloss factor, and extended durability. In this video, I give you an update on the performance of the AvalonKing DIY ceramic coating and see if it lives up to my expectations. 1 kit is designed to coat a mid-sized sedan and smaller sized vehicle. But after a few hours and a polisher (or a metric ton of elbow grease), you can remove as many defects as possible and enhance your vehicles gloss factor considerably. Pretty slick no pun intended. Hi Tom! Hopefully, that somehow means it will last a long time, Avalon King claims two years when properly applied. There are no shortcuts in the world of ceramic coating, especially when protecting something as important as a cars paint. Pick out a small section to coat. ). After a few weeks with Avalon King Armor Shield IX ceramic coating, Im completely sold on this product and plan to install it on all of my vehicles. 2 methods for a recoat This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. You can also shout at us on Twitter or Instagram! ): https://teespring.com/stores/pantheorganizer, List of equipment I use to produce my Youtube videos: https://youtu.be/5Ws-1BXhrFk, Follow Pan TheOrganizer: Want to learn more and nerd-out over a ton of tips on applying ceramic coating? When it comes time to apply a layer of ceramic coating on a car, the first thing you should be aware of is the environment in which it will be applied and the weather. Maybe then we'll consider it. ), NEW Limited Edition Turtle Wax 75th Anniversary Ceramic + Graphene Paste Wax! I use a toolbox for testing open kits and that works fine for me to verify that quality of the opened bottle I would suggest a similar test on your end with a kit older than 2 years. Is that sufficient for preparation of the surface for applying the ceramic coating? Always allow that initial 4-5 hours of hardening time to take place under the cover of shade or indoors before moving the vehicle out into the sun. Just note that higher temperatures require you to coat smaller sections at a time in order to prevent the ceramic coating from drying too quickly in between application and buffing. The moment we hope to preserve with detailing and paint correction and sealants of all kinds. Once youre ready to remove the product, the oh-so-fluffy included microfiber cloth is ready and waiting. And what i need to do before apply new coating? Excessive coating is also fairly commonplace, which also results in a greasy looking coating that refuses to cure properly. First, a water bottle. Dont forget to SUBSCRIBE to my channel and activate the notifications (the bell icon) if you want to be notified every time I upload a new video. A. Merica! I have purchased 3 bottles of armor shield 2 years ago. Has anyone seen anything like this before? NEW MaxShine / ShineMaster M8S : The BEST entry level dual action polisher under $90 !! Ceramic coatings caused crazy beading which the customers love but if left to dry like that in a hot sun could leave behind water spots. Regarding the issue of streaking, direct sunlight and too much alcohol tend to be the two most common causes, so go easy on the day drinking, alright guys? Quick and easy: But if you look around online and YouTube, youll find folks like VinWikis Ed Bolian who had Armor Shield IX on a Porsche for over a year while retaining positive results. What would cause spots on paint after you ceramic car? Hi Carlos! Thanks. If you havent, I sputtered out variations of wow and holy smokes a good dozen times because my wagon looked better than ever. Truly, it reminds me of a nail salon and I spent the entire application process thinking about what color to get my nails done next. So definitely try to lay down some microfiber towels and absorb the water on the windshield. The Drive and its partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. Properly applying ceramic coating to a car surface will protect it for years, so you might as well take the time and do it right the first go-around. How long will this product last, precisely? LINKS TO PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO , For buyers in USA: This allows all of the microscopic molecules suspended within the liquid to embed in the invisible ridges and pours sprawled across the surface of the vehicle, which once cured creates an extremely slick, glass-like paint surface. It can even be applied ton top of PPF (paint protection film) and vinyl wraps. To avoid sounding like were dropping every chapter in the auto detailing history book on your desk, well close with this final bit of advice. Being that this is arguably one of the greatest perks of using ceramic coating products, proper prep work remains crucial to achieving a successful application. Yall, this is some nice packaging. 7) AvalonKing ships their products all around the world. a) wash and dry b) de-iron c) clay d) compound polish e) IPA wipe down. Criss-cross applesauce, you know the drill. Well see about that as Im pretty confident that this Accord will outlast the Earth. https://teespring.com/stores/pantheorganizer, https://www.instagram.com/pantheorganizer/, TORNADOR Car Cleaning Gun (for Interior and Exterior), Best Air Compressor for Car Detailing? EZ Detail Wheel Brush: https://amzn.to/35JU5bW Quick Final Tip: If an indoor space is unavailable, and you must apply an automotive ceramic coating outdoors, seek the shelter of a carport and keep a close eye on the weather forecast. 2 years is quite a long time so I would recommend testing on a painted surface that isnt your car prior to use. The first 24 hours is about to pass, however the service is not slippery, its glass like, but a microfiber towel doesnt slid off. Rupes BigFoot Polishers: LHR15 MK II, LHR75E Mini, and Nano iBrid (REVIEW) !!! You want to get the IPA down to between 15 and 30% 4 parts water to 1 part high should work. But being that you tend to have far less control over the types of foreign influence that can come into contact with a cars exterior, the risk of having to redo a paint surface thats rocking a layer of ceramic car coating is far greater outside. Were going to publish an in-depth, dedicated post about how to prep your car and install ceramic coating in the near future, but here are the basics. In contrast, there is no high temp limit when it comes to the ceramic coating application process. Look closely for any surface effects such as orange peel or pits from the rainfall. Cut that cure time and go for a cruise while your ceramic coating is still settling, and youll be one unhappy customer upon your return home. $174,000 for Z07 w/ CF Wheels vs Porsche Pricing, Rumor: Z06 testing this week at Nurburgring, GM cracking down on warranty for flippers. With this in mind, today were looking at Avalon King Armor Shield IX ceramic coating. Ceramic Coating Your Car At Home: PART 3 COATING MAINTENANCE, BOSE QuietComfort 35 headphones (QC35) REVIEW & UNBOXING, The Best Wax and Sealant Combo! Weather aside, applying small amounts of ceramic coating in smooth, even strokes, and then allowing it to set before buffing the surface with a microfiber towel is crucial for the prevention of smearing and streaking.
Sitemap 5