Sealant application: Machine or by hand? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

intensifi · 02-11-2015, 11:00 PM

Opinions please!

CamaroDreams07 · 02-12-2015, 04:42 AM

Machine

trashmanssd · 02-12-2015, 05:06 AM

I am newer to using machine (DA) but wow its so much easier to put on and you can get a nice even thin coat that wipes off way easier also.

scandata · 02-12-2015, 11:16 AM

BUT... read the label first and make sure it's not meant to be applied by hand only. Admittedly, I have yet to apply a coat of sealant on my car and have only been researching, but from what I've read, sealants are quite diverse.
Experienced members, please correct me if I'm wrong here.
Some sealants go on and come off like wax, but others are tricky. Some of them you have to follow the instructions to a T or you'll end up re-polishing the whole panel and starting over.

black79ta · 02-12-2015, 10:25 PM

Use a porter cable. So easy and fast. Plenty of videos out there.

Adam's Polishes · 02-13-2015, 12:16 PM

Unless the product specifies it there is no real performance advantage one way vs. the other. Hand or machine applied you should see the same durability, look, etc.

In terms of saving your shoulder some work, if you already have the machine out for polishing, easy enough to swap a pad on and apply sealant with it. No matter what you'll be doing SOME hand application in certain areas. Also, a sealant thats applied by machine tends to be a thinner, more evenly distributed coat so its easier to knock down the residues.

intensifi · 02-14-2015, 09:32 PM

Thanks.

Which pad (for porter cable) does everyone recommend for the sealant?

JTruck · 02-15-2015, 03:12 PM

Black or blue

02-11-2015, 11:00 PM	#1
intensifi Drives: '12 2LT Convertible Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Belmont, California Posts: 1,701	Sealant application: Machine or by hand? Opinions please! __________________ Mods: GM Locking Gas Cap, RS License Plate Frame, SS Brembos, ZL1 FrontEnd, 14/15 Convertible Top

02-12-2015, 04:42 AM	#2
CamaroDreams07 Drives: Slow V6 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: East Lansing, MI Posts: 9,361 View My Garage	Machine __________________ [B]

02-12-2015, 11:16 AM	#4
scandata Drives: 2015 2SS/RS vert, Spring Green Edtn Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 1,284	BUT... read the label first and make sure it's not meant to be applied by hand only. Admittedly, I have yet to apply a coat of sealant on my car and have only been researching, but from what I've read, sealants are quite diverse. Experienced members, please correct me if I'm wrong here. Some sealants go on and come off like wax, but others are tricky. Some of them you have to follow the instructions to a T or you'll end up re-polishing the whole panel and starting over. __________________ 2015 2SS/RS vert, Spring Edition Green Flash (2015 - present) 2014 1LT vert, Blue Ray Metallic (2014 - 2015)

02-12-2015, 10:25 PM	#5
black79ta Drives: 79 transam with 582cid dart motor Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: missouri Posts: 529 View My Garage	Use a porter cable. So easy and fast. Plenty of videos out there. __________________ 2010 Camaro (inferno orange, 2SS, RS and such) cat backs, catch can, CAI on the way 79 Transam, 582 cid dart motor 779hp 315's out back 40spline gdaxles tko tranny

02-14-2015, 09:32 PM	#7
intensifi Drives: '12 2LT Convertible Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Belmont, California Posts: 1,701	Thanks. Which pad (for porter cable) does everyone recommend for the sealant? __________________ Mods: GM Locking Gas Cap, RS License Plate Frame, SS Brembos, ZL1 FrontEnd, 14/15 Convertible Top

02-12-2015, 05:06 AM	#3
trashmanssd Drives: Black 14 2SS/1LE/RS 14 Tundra Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Plymouth, Ma Posts: 2,414	I am newer to using machine (DA) but wow its so much easier to put on and you can get a nice even thin coat that wipes off way easier also.

02-13-2015, 12:16 PM	#6
Adam's Polishes Drives: The shiny ones. Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: In the detail shop! Posts: 5,979	Unless the product specifies it there is no real performance advantage one way vs. the other. Hand or machine applied you should see the same durability, look, etc. In terms of saving your shoulder some work, if you already have the machine out for polishing, easy enough to swap a pad on and apply sealant with it. No matter what you'll be doing SOME hand application in certain areas. Also, a sealant thats applied by machine tends to be a thinner, more evenly distributed coat so its easier to knock down the residues.

02-15-2015, 03:12 PM	#8
JTruck Drives: 2014 Camaro 1LT/RS Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,693	Black or blue __________________ Detailing is an involuntary obsession.