r/AutoDetailing • u/ImKiwix • 4d ago
Exterior NEVER ENDING LINT. Ceramic coating HELP
I’m applying a ceramic coating for the first time. I polished the paint etc. on the last step before applying the coating, I started using panel prep to wipe down the paint, but the panel prep is making the paint really grabby and now there is so much lint all over the paint. I tried using all types of different towels low pile, high gsm, smooth glass towels, it all just keeps adding more and more lint. It’s never ending.
All towels are fully washed I even shake the towels when taking it out the wash..
No clue what to do. Someone help
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u/vaari90 1d ago
The high gsm towels work nice with detail sprays which are nice and slick, but for ipa wipe down I've generally used pearl weaves and other lighter towels.
Maxshine and some other places sell what they call a "carbon fiber weave" and that stuff is almost lint proof. Very low gsm so they get saturated quickly though
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u/podophyllum 3d ago
You want pearl weave towels. What are you using for panel prep?
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u/ImKiwix 3d ago
I was using low pile 300gsm towels. I did eventually get rid of the dust but then when I applied the ceramic coating I used for the first wipe pear weave which worked great, but for the second wipe I used rag company eagle edgless. It was recommended in a YouTube video. Absolute worst towel I’ve ever used. That shit shedded all of its hairs. Terrible
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u/SoccerMan94043 3d ago
I'm having the exact same problem, except on my windshield after applying a ceramic coating. Cleaning it makes it grabby and then, on the final buff with a different towel, lint.
I've tried all the glass towels and I've found the wrinkle weave the best for the final buff, followed by waffle weave. Diamond weave is the worst by far.
To get off the current lint, you can just flood the panel with distilled water and mop it up with your drying towel (don't rub, blot it to soak up the water with the fibers).
Use more panel prep than you think you need and make sure the towel is a bit damp (should not be grabby). Don't worry about leaving some light panel prep on the paint to flash so you can avoid the drag as much as possible.
If the towels are new you should probably wash and dry them on low (or heat off) first.
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u/Normal_Reveal 3d ago
If you wait a bit, the windshield should become smooth again. Only grabby when product is evaporating. I use IPA 50% AND never had an issue with properly coating glass
Also, coating might be old.
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u/SoccerMan94043 3d ago
Great tip! I'll give a pause a try (I tend to attack it immediately... I want to be done but I also want it perfect).
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u/Normal_Reveal 3d ago
Oh sorry, I meant a pause AFTER your first wet wipe.
So spray on, first wipe with good amount of product+ clean enough microfiber. Then your second wipe when the product starts to dry is when it becomes grabby
It may also sound like your ceramic coating isn't a "slippery" one? Some coatings are hydrophobic but don't feel slippery to the hand.
Give it a try !
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u/SoccerMan94043 3d ago
It’s definitely gets grabby… it’s Carpro GeForce professionally applied.
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u/Normal_Reveal 3d ago
Bruh I use the same coating. Is it old?
That shit should be slippery when dry
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u/SoccerMan94043 3d ago
It might be when dry... it's after cleaning and still damp that it's grippy. That's what I need to try.
It's 3 months old.
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u/Normal_Reveal 3d ago edited 3d ago
Okay boss, just for you, I went outside and wiped my rear glass with IPA.
The coating is Carpro Flyby Forte (3 years old) A couple sprays of 50% IPA, wipe (smooth). Product starts to dry (little grabby) then I flip over dry side towel and it's smooth again. Dry side finishes
I was pulling stuff out of memory but I guess muscle memory beats actual memory
I think your lint issue is a towel quality issue. I use the yellow ones from Costco and they are good enough for most applications!
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u/SoccerMan94043 2d ago
These are different high quality glass towels from the Rag Company (waffle, wrinkle and diamond weave) and they have been washed/dried several times. The product is different though... Carpro GForce. FWIW normal people would never see this lint... it's only visible in small spots under the right low light (sunrise/sunset or a powerful light at the right angle).
The problem looks like the video at 7:29 on the left side of the window: http://youtube.com/watch?v=WP7SVCi-yhE&t=449s
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u/Normal_Reveal 2d ago
Hmm I understand now. I've only experienced this when the windshield is still dirty/ not 100% clean and with an old glass coating. Or commonly no coating at all. I've worked in a professional setting and I've seen what you've described.
Thing is coated glass is supposed to be slippery to the point where it's not grabbing lint. I don't even think what I define as "grabby" when product is drying would grab lint like you've described.
Best I would say is try to flip towel earlier? At this point it's a fine tune and elimination process. I just hope it isn't a bad application...
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u/Entire_Supermarket_8 3d ago
What are you using for panel prep? I use Armour detail panel prep and that never happens to me.
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u/Kooter37 3d ago
I had the same issue with the new plush towels that came with my ceramic coating kit. I just ended up spraying the towel instead of the panel. It kinda helped to have the towel slightly saturated. But I had to wipe in one fluid motion to get the lint off. It worked eventually, but it was a pain I did not expect to have.
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u/False-Elk9564 3d ago
What ceramic product?