[DETAIL] Alfa Romeo 156 OptiCoat and Hardbody - BGD

[orgigeorgie]

Hi Guys,
Due to increasing demand of polymer resin based products and hard wearing nano sealants I decided to trial them on my car. The 2 products in question are:

Optimum Opti-Coat 2.0 (OC)
Wolfs Chemicals HardBody (HB)

I will discuss them a little later on

Just a quick background
- last time car was detailed: Feb 2011.
-Washed on average every 2-3 weeks, (sometimes weekly other times it went 4-6 weeks without washing).
-It only ever received top ups of FK1000 (FK) every 6 or so months, other times it was merely a little bit of Quick Detailer (QD).

After a rinse down - we snow foam. Possibly the highlight hahaha


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0953_zps1d7b249a.jpg


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0955_zpsb9b16260.jpg

Using 3 buckets (Courtesy of CCP - Great buckets!).
(Wash/Rinse/Wheels)


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0956_zpsf97b478f.jpg

While Snowfoam is working away, agitate the dirt in the wheels.


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0957_zps6544d0f1.jpg

This is why you should never use the same mitt, cloth, bucket or water for your wheels as your paint. Look at that after 2 wheels!


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0958_zps3f3260a9.jpg

Rinse your mitt often or you're wiping this on:


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0959_zps362c0042.jpg

My car is 'relatively' clean. Check out the rinse water after I was done.


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0960_zps2c154163.jpg

Keep an eye out and if it gets filthy, just change the water.

Proof the 2 bucket method works. Check out my wash bucket. Slight gray but far less dirt that I would have otherwise been putting back on my car.


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0961_zps9b5eb7cb.jpg


I was amazed at how smooth the car was after a wash. This is pretty much the dirtiest the clay bar was through out the entire process. These are new clay bars, fine grade, made in japan.


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0962_zpse1e2c457.jpg

I can't even remember when I last applied Nanolex to my windows (1+ year), check this out:


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0963_zpsd021630d.jpg

Still beading.

I want to make a point, one where anyone who is serious about retaining a detailed finish should consider. The following picture is of my current paint condition. I tried really really hard to capture the swirls - but there just wasn't any on the bonnet, doors or boot. There were some very fine ones on the roof. Now thats not to say the paint was perfect, far from it - there were Random Deep scratches (RDS) some love marks and general imperfections. 



http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0965_zps9be4a121.jpg


What is important is that maintenance on a weekly/fortnightly basis is crucial, especially for a daily driver. As you can see from the clay bar for 2.5 years of sitting outside, driven to adelaide, sydney and god knows where else its really quite impressive. This is because a consistent regime does not allow for the contamination to really bond to the paint.

Onwards.

My base coat thickness:


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0966_zps07bdf98e.jpg

Some meat to play with..not much.


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0967_zpsc11933a8.jpg

Respray for the WIN!


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0968_zpsde040f2d.jpg


Don't be a cowboy. Tape up.


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0969_zpsbaab9aae.jpg


I really really did try and take pictures of before - but my phone could not capture it! The silver is such a interesting  colour and it did not really lend itself to showing imperfections. I could only just catch them with my eye let alone with a phone.


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0970_zps54096684.jpg

Just a cool shot:


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0971_zpsf477cd15.jpg

I used Lake Country (LC) cutting pads and LC polishing pads with Meguires 105 and 205 compounds (cut and polish respectively). I've been happy with that combo for some time but will try something else next time.

1 pass.

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0974_zps9df771b7.jpg

By this stage, its mid night. No more buffing. Onto some other stuff.

Door Jams.


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0975_zpsbda2da02.jpg

Boot.

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0976_zps93ba8c3d.jpg


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0977_zps0384c10e.jpg

Fuel cap.
Before:

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0979_zps94bd60db.jpg

After:

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0980_zps5a4399ed.jpg

7am the next day we continue. The reflection in some poor light.

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0981_zps3848b98a.jpg

Polishing the bits you cant see like the pillars, door jams etc.

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0983_zpse07f32f4.jpg

The car was done and there was a nice difference in gloss. Silver is just one of the colours - anti-climatic.

Wheels.

Before:

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0989_zps8cf5428f.jpg

After:

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0994_zps87e34960.jpg


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0995_zps7ba002bc.jpg

Opti-Coat:


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG1017_zpse134e5b6.jpg

Now to the business end.

Surface was prepped with some Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) and dusted down. Ready for Opticoat.

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0988_zps689e91af.jpg

This was pretty tricky to apply but once you get the hang of it, it is like most products. You just have to know what you're doing and looking for. The fluid self levels and practically disappears. Leaving only some high spots. I was little worried that I wasn't applying anything. So for the first panel I turned off all the lights except the flood lights and pointed them away from the panel. The low level of indirect light made it a little easier for me.

To give HB a fighting chance I polished the required panels with their recommended shine and seal 'nano sealing polish'.


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0996_zps86256171.jpg

HB was much easier to apply. Few dabs on foam and it spread evenly. Allow 15 min then lightly buff off. Very cool. Wait 3 hours, reapply. Wait 12 hours. drive.

Some details:

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG1011_zps3bd52479.jpg


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG1012_zps2bd83375.jpg


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG1016_zps69ce74eb.jpg


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG1019_zpsdc451f38.jpg


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG1020_zps8994c783.jpg


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG1024_zps6e6161b6.jpg


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG1022_zps23c2a33f.jpg


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG1032_zpse890b786.jpg

The door jams and the pillars were polished and coated with either OC or HB depending on which side of the car.

Beading:

Before:

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0939_zpsda936803.jpg

After:

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG1035_zpsbf9c21e7.jpg




Now what about whats better Opti-Coat or HardBody? I did A LOT of research on these 2 products, consulted a number of people - read about 30 threads, looked through the MSDS sheets, hours of video and in the end...

Opti-Coat is clearly the superior product - designed with durability in mind. It has a cult following online and people swear by it.

Hardbody is designed to last up to two years and is a league below OC. Both have reported failings after 6 months, so no one is immune.

HB makes a claim that it has a hardness of 9H, initially i thought Mohs scale which would put in the same league as tungsten carbide and titanium carbide....i don't think so. I dug deeper and discovered 9H is the hardness for a pencil. 

"in which the resistance of a coating is determined as the grade of hardest pencil that does not mark the coating when pressed firmly against it at a 45 degree angle."

"The pencil surface hardness is a measurement of a material's ability to resist abrasion (or scratching), NOT its ability to withstand external force."

So look it probably does meet that. Who cares. The conclusion I came to is no matter what you have on your car its about the maintenance. I managed fine with FK. Wolfs and Optimum will not make a killing on OC and HB but they will make a nice profit on all the products that are designed to 'work with' each of their sealants respectively. The people that actually care and are weekend detailers will splash out on these products (which are very good btw) and MAINTAIN the finish. So its not what you have its how you persist on having it.

Which one is for you? On this I cannot comment. Both are designed for a daily driver, that live outside, owners that are time poor, have limited space and resources to maintain the finish of the car.

If you choose to hire BillyGoatDetailing:
HB will be a free option until December 31. From Jan 1st it will be a $50 option.
OC is an extra  flat rate of $150.
FK remains free.
(these prices are for NON AROCA - AROCA guys - you obviously get some love).

OC claims nothing sticks to OC, not even OC - so applying wax on top is a waste as it will just run off next time it rains. HB claims that the surface is ready to accept their waxes. I've applied some FK to some test panels of each to see how long it lasts.

The choice is yours, if you'd like to discuss it with me (as a service for your car or a 2nd opinion) feel free to call me or shoot me an email. My number is on facebook and on my website.

If anyone (in Melbourne) would like to SEE the actual final product we'll grab a coffee and you can see my car, feel the difference and decide for yourself (not much in it).

Remember if something stuffs up, smile, put the buffer down and ask for help. Loads of people will assist you.


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/orgigeorgie/IMAG0972_zps6c8918bd.jpg

-George
Billy Goat Detailing

Next: Nero Alfa GT

[TFJ100]

Looks magnificent George...

I am very impressed at your attention to detail!

Torben

[orgigeorgie]

Looks magnificent George...

I am very impressed at your attention to detail!

Torben

Thanks Torben! By the way the detailing clinic has been pushed back to midday. You can make it now

[Davidm1600]

So George when are you coming down to Tassie.  I give my 156 plenty of love, but your knowledge and attention to detail is most impressive.  Its in a totally different league from my experience. 

[orgigeorgie]

So George when are you coming down to Tassie.  I give my 156 plenty of love, but your knowledge and attention to detail is most impressive.  Its in a totally different league from my experience.

Hahaha david thank you very much for your kind words. I plan on going one day! Would love to see place.

are there a few alfisti's down there?

In the mean time - if you have any questions, feel free to ask here or email me

G