Ceramic Coating Prep

[RP1]

hey All - I am contemplating putting a ceramic coating on my Jeep. I did this once before on the wife's Audi and am familiar with the drill but am wondering about how to handle getting the iron remover, claying and machine polishing near the Rubicon decals on the hood. FWIW I will need to buy new products since I used what I had on the wifes car so if there are particular brands that damage decals let me know.

Will iron removers do anything to the decals?

Will clay towels or machine polishing lift the corners/edges of the decals?

Anybody done a ceramic coating? How did you prep around the decals on the hood?

RP

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[MrSchwifty]

You should be fine around the decals, they seem to be pretty resilient.

I did a complete wash, decon (tar/tree sap, Iron remover, then clay towel) and 2 stage machine polish prior to having a full PPF install and ceramic coating on my 2 Door

I used Autosmart Tardis for the tar and tree sap removal, CarPro IronX for the iron remover and I then used a CarPro medium synthetic clay towel for the claying process. I use Absolute Rinseless with the towel as a clay lube in 64:1 dilution in a spray bottle and then rinse the towel in a bucket with Absolute diluted at 256:1 The 64:1 is a little overkill but I have found that I get little to no marring on the paint with this method.

When working with the chemicals around the decal, I was careful not to get too much chemical directly on them. I used the tar remover on a microfiber cloth so I could put it on the paint around the decal and avoid spraying the decal directly.

With the iron remover I did half the hood at a time, I used a grouting sponge to carefully apply Iron X to the paint around the decal. Some chemical will inevitably get on the decal, but I tried to minimise it and also avoid letting it dry.

Machine polishing around the decal should not be a problem, if you have access to a small machine polisher then you can use that to minimise the contact you make on the decal, but I wouldn’t expect normal machine polishing to lift a decal like that, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry!

Let me know if you have any questions, I hope this helps!

 

[RP1]

You should be fine around the decals, they seem to be pretty resilient.

I did a complete wash, decon (tar/tree sap, Iron remover, then clay towel) and 2 stage machine polish prior to having a full PPF install and ceramic coating on my 2 Door

I used Autosmart Tardis for the tar and tree sap removal, CarPro IronX for the iron remover and I then used a CarPro medium synthetic clay towel for the claying process. I use Absolute Rinseless with the towel as a clay lube in 64:1 dilution in a spray bottle and then rinse the towel in a bucket with Absolute diluted at 256:1 The 64:1 is a little overkill but I have found that I get little to no marring on the paint with this method.

When working with the chemicals around the decal, I was careful not to get too much chemical directly on them. I used the tar remover on a microfiber cloth so I could put it on the paint around the decal and avoid spraying the decal directly.

With the iron remover I did half the hood at a time, I used a grouting sponge to carefully apply Iron X to the paint around the decal. Some chemical will inevitably get on the decal, but I tried to minimise it and also avoid letting it dry.

Machine polishing around the decal should not be a problem, if you have access to a small machine polisher then you can use that to minimise the contact you make on the decal, but I wouldn’t expect normal machine polishing to lift a decal like that, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry!

Let me know if you have any questions, I hope this helps!

Hey thanks a ton for that detailed reply - that is exactly the kind of confirmation I was hoping for.

I have an old bottle of Carpro Iron X I used on the wife's Audi that I need to test to see if it is still good. I am thinking if it is not good I will use one of the new iron removers that can do double duty as the clay rag lube.

I am also really glad they now have spray polishes that are safe to use on plastics without getting white haze all over them that never comes off.

Clean by Pan and DIY Detail are 2 brands I am looking at trying out.

Thanks again and this fall when I put the hard top back on and have time to do the project I'll let you know how it goes.

RP

 

[MrSchwifty]

Hey thanks a ton for that detailed reply - that is exactly the kind of confirmation I was hoping for.

I have an old bottle of Carpro Iron X I used on the wife's Audi that I need to test to see if it is still good. I am thinking if it is not good I will use one of the new iron removers that can do double duty as the clay rag lube.

I am also really glad they now have spray polishes that are safe to use on plastics without getting white haze all over them that never comes off.

Clean by Pan and DIY Detail are 2 brands I am looking at trying out.

Thanks again and this fall when I put the hard top back on and have time to do the project I'll let you know how it goes.

RP

You’re welcome, I’m glad I could help.

I have used the DIY detail Gold Standard waffle pad, Gold Standard polish and the Rotary Jewelling pads. They are a really great combination, super easy to use and the finish was extremely crisp and glossy.

I also used the GS polish with a medium cut pad on a rotary polisher to remove oxidisation on the plastic fenders and cowl, prior to ceramic coating them.

 

[There’sOnlyOne]

I've used Adams iron remover and no issues with decals on my 21 JLUR.

Maybe I read you wrong but you mention iron remover / clay lube combo product. I've never seen that. If they do I wouldn't use it. Sounds like a way to introduce scratches. Since iron remover is removing metal off the surface and then u would rub it in with clay bar/towel/sponge.

The only combo I would do with clay is drying aid spray that leaves a hydrophobic coating like Bead Maker or OG Drying Aid.

Clay sponges are the way to go. And use a fine grade if your paint is already in good shape.

Decon wash, iron remover, clay, polish, eraser or similar, coat.

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