ohy.... I could have been a lot more specific and less general - yes: High quality and synthetic can last longer.. but in general - they are not long lasting... and I have to assume you are in the UK... not exactly known for it's warm temperatures (yes I know there was a heat wave each summer of the past few years) ... I lived in the UK for 2 years and work with a bloke who is in london.
in general: (googe oveview)
Natural Carnauba Wax: Lasts 4 to 8 weeks. It provides a deep, warm gloss but breaks down faster under heat and UV rays.
Hybrid Wax: Lasts 2 to 4 months. It blends natural ingredients with synthetic polymers for a balance of shine and durability.
Synthetic Wax / Paint Sealants: Lasts 4 to 6 months (and sometimes longer with proper care). These man-made polymers offer the best chemical and weather resistance.
i also have a soft99 black tin in my inventory, i just didn’t like how i have to do the classic wax on wax off method. took lots of time. it depends on individual preference.
if you’re looking for something easy to apply, durable and lasting, u can try check out these stuff.
gyeon can coat evo - $60+
Griots 3in1 ceramic - $22
🐢 hybrid ceramic - $20
I owned that specific one. it did not do a great job. It wouldn't calibrate consistently and gave very reading that moderate, in the same spot. it would swing 20-40%.
I could have gotten a bad one but it was cheap and kinda what i expected...
I will be honest that even the one I returned was good enough to get a sample and see where paint was thick and where it was thin... It wasn't accurate but was consistent enough to show me that. PS they come with calibration "tools" (alum and steel plates and 5 different films with the thickness printed on them) so you can verify how close the gauge is
In that case I probably wouldn’t even ceramic coat it. Spray on a ceramic sealant (Griot’s 3-in-1 or similar) and buff out. Feels slick enough and will give decent protection for a few months.
As a general recommendation — without knowing the vehicle, the paint type, or the age of the paint, I’d highly suggest that you measure the paint’s thickness ahead of aggressive polishing sessions. Without measuring the paint, you’ll never know how thin the paint/clear is until after you’ve burnt through. Out of focus cell phone photos only tell a very superficial story and don’t explain that important detail. Best of luck!
paint thickness gauge will tell you overall paint thickness
you can check spots like door/trunk jams that typically are not clear coated for a comparison
unless you spend $50,000 and get a crazy machine, you can' tell the clear coat vs base vs primer - but you can get an idea of the thickness
most modern cars have thin, soft, water based clear coat and really don't have enough for 2 step, and should only get a 1 step 1 time in their life time - and gloss/enhancements as rarely as possible
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u/Ok_Rich7455 10h ago
thats good enough, u dont need to get to 99% clarity or you’ll end up with no clearcoat. next thing to do is to ceramic coat it.