wax-on-wax-off-pro--python-dark

The Origins of Detailing

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:14:53 GMT

Detailing in the old days!

I'm confident that the origins of detailing came from those who had horse-drawn carriages, as opposed to those who had open or covered wagons. These carriages (by the way, that's where we get the term, "undercarriage" wash comes from. What were they cleaning off? Well, what does a horse do when on the go? In my professional of 25 years opinion is that the underside of your vehicle does not need to be cleaned.) be varnished or painted or covered with some sort of chemical that would preserve the wood. I'm not sure, I didn't google it, but you know it had some sort of shmootz on it to protect the wood. Carriages were fancy and for the rich, so they wanted to keep them looking nice. Anyway, some stable boy probably got out some ointment or balm or a vaseline-type product. Whatever they had on hand until something was made specifically for carriages.

Fast forward to the 90s. Detailing was a hobby-like venture. Very few, if any professional shops. It was being done at dealerships, driveways, and designated outdoor places. We spent 8 hours soap washing, buffing, and applying hand-wax. Why we say hand wax is because in those days, applying it by machine was a short-cut. A hack would do that. An amateur would do so. Only a "fake" detailer would use a machine to apply it. If you don't apply wax by hand you aren't doing it right. Which is absolute nonsense. A machine polisher applied protectant is better and faster, but anyways. We would wipe down the interior, vacuum and apply loads of goopy, greasy, slimy "protectant" to all of the plastic and leather (if it had any leather). We called it interior dressing. I guess we thought the interior was a salad, I don't know. The reason we used a greasy, slimy dressing was because those 90s and older interiors were dull, dingy, and faded. Making the interior drip with grease looked good, I guess. Anyways, after 8 hours we were done. We charged $100 smackers. Some charged more and some charged less, but that's what we all did.

Fast forward to 2026. Detailing is a legitimate career and profession. Some still hold onto that driveway detailing culture and spend 8 hours on a vehicle and charge $100. Seriously, I see prices even today for $100 to detail a vehicle for 8 hours. Insane! Some detailing businesses in the bigger cities are generating revenues well into the seven figures. They achieve this because of tint, PPF, vinyl wraps, and ceramic coatings.

From its humble beginnings of smearing vaseline onto shelacked (maybe they used a wood stain) wood to prevent the wood from rotting for .10 cents to wrapping a vehicle in PPF for 10 grand, detailing has come a long way. Albeit, the last 20 years of professional detailing has advanced far more than the first hundred years.

My name is Tug Bankert. I own and operate Wax On Wax Off Detailing in Hanover PA. I have been doing so since 2013. I have shelacked a lot of exteriors and interiors in my day. Gone are the days of using a soap to just wash and exterior. Gone are the days where we would spend 4 or 5 hours removing scratches from paint. Gone are the days where we would spend hours cleaning an interior and then putting a salad dressing on it to grease it up. Now are the days where we make vehicles shiny. Protect the interior and exterior with ceramic protectants. These protectants make the interior and exterior look their absolute best, stay that way, and easier to clean. Now are the days where we spend half the time we used to, charge 10 times what we used to and produce results 100 times better than we every could 20 years ago even.

Why Do Ceramic Coating Companies not make SiC Coatings?

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:53:32 GMT

Most Coatings are silicon dioxide and not silicon carbide!

Most coatings are Sio2

Most Ceramic Coatings Only Last Two to Three Years!

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:45:58 GMT

Sio2 Ceramic Coatings are Not durable!

What do I mean when I say Sio2 coatings aren't durable? An Sio2 Coating makes a strong bond to the clear coat. It is not attached directly to the clear coat, but attached by a resin. Think of bricks being attached together by mortar to make a wall. They require a "topper" or "booster" every six months once a year.

They require a "topper or "booster" because those resins keeping the coating attached weaken over time. The "booster" restores the bond by adding more Sio2 back into the coating. the "booster" contains some level of Sio2 in it, although not as much as the original coating application.

If the Sio2 coating is not "boosted" or "topped off" then the coating bond will become weaker and weaker. After about three years the coating will have been depleted.

Most ceramic coatings are Sio2 or silicon dioxide. This is an inferior formula to its counterpart which is SiC or silicon carbide. The reason most coating chemical companies use Sio2 over SiC is because Sio2 is less expensive, easier for the detailer or consumer to use, and does offer some great gloss. Sio2 gloss is more like wax. It produces a warm wax-like glow. SiC offers more depth (darker) of color and a glossy sheen.

To counter the bond weakening over time, detail shops offer a detail service and require you to come back in every six months or one year to restore the coating. You can also use these "toppers" at home to maintain the bond making the coating reach five years of life or more.

Most detailers are completely aware that an Sio2 coating bond quickly diminishes. There are videos all over YouTube regarding this Issue. Once in a while I come across one. The title says something like, Six months in and the water no longer beads when I wash my car. The people producing this content are not pro detailers. They are hobbyist detailers and are using a consumer grade Sio2 coating which has less Sio2 than the pro-grade coatings do. Oh right, by the way, consumer-grade Sio2 coatings last about year.

Here is the kicker. An Sio2 3 year, 5 year, 7 or 9 year ceramic coatings are all about the same. There may be slightly more Sio2 in one over the other, but it doesn't really matter because they are still bound to the clear coat by those resins. Maintaining the bond is more crucial rather than what Sio2 coating you gave on your paint. How the chemical company justifies the additional time on the warranty is that instead of requiring you to come in every year for 3 years they require you come in for that appointed time until the warranty clock runs out.

My name is Tug Bankert. I own and operate Wax On Wax Off Detailing in Hanover, PA. I have been doing so since 2013. I am an Opti-Coat ceramic coating installer. I first started installing Opti-Coat in 2015. Much of what I have learned about clear coat and coatings is from David Ghodoussi CEO and organic chemist of Optimum Polymer Technologies in Memphis Tennessee. (Anything I say in this blog is my expert opinion and does not reflect Opti-Coat or Dr. Ghodoussi's opinion). David Ghodoussi formulated the basecoat/clearcoat for Dupont and PPG while working for a chemical company in the 1970s. Moving the automotive industry aware from the junk single stage paint. David Ghodoussi is also the chemist who first formulated the silicon carbide ceramic coating around 2007. Opti-Coat ceramic coatings was the pioneer coating for North America. Opti-Coat is also the reason other ceramic coatings exist. Opti opened the door for the coating market to provide superior automotive appearance protection and preservation over waxes and sealants.

Worry-Free Exterior Vehicle Protection

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:27:11 GMT

No more scuffs and bumps with Opti-Shield

Some Foundation

You may not be aware of this and that's a good thing. There is a retired, long-time detail shop owner that many detailers know about. This person says that mentioning brand names or specific names of coatings is a bad idea. He says the coating should work for you not you working for the coating.

What he is saying is that, as a detail business owner you should push your brand rather than someone else's brand. I understand what he means, but I don't agree. That is a very old and outdated way of thinking. I would say that 20 years ago there was no need to mention coating brands because there was only two or three. Now there are hundreds of coating brands.

Also, many brands belong to the same company. For example, there is one company that makes three or four different coating "brands".

Not all coatings are created equal

I said all of that to lay some foundation, as nerdy as it is. The foundation is that not all coatings are created equal. Most ceramic coatings are very short-lived. In other words, most coatings last about two years. This is because they are made with silicon dioxide which makes a strong bond, but it weakens over months and then needs boosters or toppers to either maintain or reestablish the bond to the clear coat.

Going a little further on that point; ceramic coatings are designed to protect the factory clear coat from breaking down. UV rays and oxidation break down the protective layer (top layer) of the clear coat. It becomes dull, dingy and stained up. The coating is burying the clear coat in a protective layer. Now, the coating takes the hit.

Opti-Coat coatings last a decade because that's how long it takes UV rays to deplete the coating of its protective properties.

Opti-Shield is in a different category

With all of that being said, Opti-Shield is in a different category then traditional coatings. It has all of the benefits of a ceramic coating plus, protection against scuff, scrapes, and bumps that happen in the garage, parking lot, parking garage, while driving, or parked by the curb.

Now remember, rocks flying off the tires from the vehicle in front of you are one of those things we can't promise. Even traditional PPF doesn't promise that. If you drive on the highway in bumper-to-bumper traffic, then I recommend PPF on your front bumper. Rock chips do happen. If you are able to, keep a two car length, or more from the vehicle in front of you. The higher the speed the more distance you need.

Most vehicles encounter other things compared to rock chips. These are the things Opti-Shield provides worry-free protection from.

So, what does your vehicle encounter that a traditional ceramic coating can't really offer protection from? Picture your vehicle sitting in a parking lot. You chose to park between two other vehicles instead of parking at the end of the lot. You're busy, you don't have time to walk half a mile into Walmart. The person parked next to you on the passenger side of your vehicle opens their door and bumps your door. Shoot, there is a scuff. The scuff will be in the Opti-Shield not into the clear coat.

How do I know this? Well, as long as it didn't dent the metal, it didn't go through the Opti-Shield. If it dents, it damages the clear coat or metal or both. These bumps and bruises happen frequently to your vehicle, you just don't know it.

Why don't traditional coatings stop these scrapes and scuffs? Because it's not thick enough or hard enough. Opti-Coat Pro 3 offers some self healing and more of this sort of protection then Opti-Coat Pro or Pro Plus.

Our previous vehicle was hit with my wife's purse. It left a big, long, vertical scuff mark. I could see that it was a scuff. A scuff is a friction mark. Think of the marks left on paper with an eraser. it's kind of the same idea. It's usually a combination of a slight scrape mark and some of the material that came off of the object that did the bumping.

In this case, it wiped off with a damp micro fiber towel. Without a coating, it would have needed to be quickly polished in that area.

Back to Opti-Shield. If something hits your vehicle hard enough to dent it then it went through the Opti-Shield. Most things don't hit hard enough. Sure, door dings do happen, but not as common as the scrapes and scuffs. As in, things that leave those marks usually happen to the car while sitting rather than while it's moving.

Now, bugs, bird doodie, tar, road gunk, etc. hit your vehicle while it's moving. These things will not be able to penetrate the coating. They are more likely to penetrate a traditional ceramic coating. They are not likely to penetrate Opti-Shield.

My name is Tug Bankert. I am a master ceramic coating installer (self-appointed). I have been installing ceramic coating since 2015. I have been installing OS since 2025. I own and operate Wax On Wax Off Detailing in Hanover, PA. since 2013. I started detailing in 1999.

Opti-Shield Liquid paint Protection Film

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:32:56 GMT

Worry-Free Exterior Appearance Protection?

Does Opti-Shield protect from rock chips? The best defense against rock chips is keeping a two car length or more distance away from the vehicle in front of you.

The second best defense is paint protection film and a two car length or more distance. PPF is usually applied to the front bumper for those who do a lot of highway driving, mostly. It has high impact protection. There will be some rocks that are able to punch through the ppf.

PPF does have its downsides, which we will not get into here. It has a lifespan and usually isn't applied to the whole vehicle due to its high cost. Many shops don't even offer full car PPF.

By the way, PPF makes no claim of rock chip prevention in their warranty documentation. The PPF installer, YouTube, blogs, and other sites may make mention of rock chip protection. That's fine if they say that. I'm sure most mention the disclaimer that some rock strikes will breach the film.

The other type of exterior vehicle protection is a traditional ceramic coating. They offer only environmental protection. The factory clear coat is now safely below the coating hidden from the effects of UV, bug stains, bird bombs, and road gunk.

Fast forward to 2026. Opti-Shield is an advancement in exterior ceramic coating technology. It is a liquid paint protection film. We call it a film because it builds a significant thickness depending on how many layers is applied. Four layers build around 30 microns of thickness.

Now, just like PPF, there is no claims of rock chip prevention in the warranty documentation. If you had PPF and had rock damage to the film or your paint underneath that will not be covered by any warranty. The same goes for Opti-Shield.

It will reduce the effect of the rock damage. It may even prevent your paint from being damaged by them, but it will not stop them to the same extent as PPF. For example, there are little, medium size, and large rocks that fly off of the tires of the car in front of you. Depending on the speed of you and that vehicle and the size of the rock will determine the potential damage. We are not going to go into every scenario. You get the idea.

What does Opti-Shield protect from? Picture your vehicle sitting in your garage. You child walks through the garage with backpack on their back. they turn slightly as they walk past that beautiful, glossy paint and the backpack buckle hits the rear quarter panel and grinds down the length of the vehicle.

Oh no, there is a mark in the paint. Not to worry, Opti-Shield has taken the hit. Three days later the scuff/scratch disappears.

Here's another scenario. Your vehicle is parked in the same parking lot and same parking space you always park in while you are at Walmart. Some jabroni walks past your vehicle with their cart and it bumps into your front bumper. Oh no, there's a scuff. Three days later the mark is gone or is easily polished off by that handsome and wonderful detailer that installed the Opti-Shield.

Again, the Opti-Shield warranty will not cover these bumps and bruises. The warranty only covers environmental damage that happens to the factory clear coat if the OS fails to do its job.

What the warranty covers and the actual, real-world protection OS offers is different, just like traditional PPF.

By the way, OS protects from the normal environmental issues mentioned earlier just like traditional ceramic coatings. OS has the same benefits of coatings plus additional thickness and hardness. As a result, there is a significant layer of silicon carbide material that is very difficult for parking lot and garage bumps and bruises to be able to reach the factory clear coat and cause damage to it.

Not only will it protect from parking lot and garage bumps and bruises (remember, if it dents, it damages), the dirt, bugs, gunk, tree goo, etc. that can hit your vehicle while moving and/or sitting still have way more material to try and go through before the clear coat is effected.

By the way, traditional ceramic coatings are about 3 microns in thickness, Opti-Coat Pro 3 is about 10-12 microns in thickness, Opti-Shield at maximum coverage is 30 microns. Not only that, but the concentration of silicon carbide in OS is much higher than traditional coatings. Opti-Shield is more dense than traditional coatings.

Thank you for nerding out with me. I hope you continue to do so because this nerd train is running at full steam. Although, a diesel train is better than a steam locomotive, so I guess this train is running at full diesel power, rollin some coal down the track! (the black smoke, not the little charcoal thingys that fuel the steam train furnace).

My name is Tug Bankert. I am a master detailer (self-proclaimed). I own and operate Wax On Wax Off Detailing in Hanover, PA. I have been installing Opti-Shield since 2025.

Opti-Shield Liquid Paint Protection Film

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:50:41 GMT

What is a liquid paint protection film?

Traditional paint protection film (PPF) has been around for decades. It is an extruded film that sticks to your exterior painted surfaces. It is considered a high-impact resistant product. After that came ceramic coatings. They provide excellent gloss, chemical resistance, ease of clean, and preservation of exterior surfaces.

Opti-Shield is a modern advancement in exterior ceramic coating technology. Traditional PPF is extremely expensive. Most clients only put it on part of their vehicle to reduce the cost. Opti-Shield allows you to have a much more durable, protective product applied to your exterior surfaces. It is considered a light to medium-duty impact and abrasion resistant protectant. We say light to medium-duty because you can choose two layers or four layers. Four layers offers much more protection from the elements. Four layers is much thicker and more dense than two. Four layers has a higher concentration of silicon carbide as well.

Exterior ceramic coatings don't provide any impact and abrasion resistance. They help to reduce wash scratches by creating a surface that reduces friction and the dirt's ability to "hook" onto the clear coat.

Traditional PPF is spongy, thick, and soft. It can be hard to clean and can get stained up. It is able to self-heal. Some coatings self-heal as well.

Opti-Shield self-heals, can be polished, repaired, and reapplied. Four layer is about 30 microns in thickness. It forms a brand new top layer of the clear coat. Since it is pure Silicon Carbide, it integrates (becomes part of) into the clear coat just like other Opti-Coat Silicon carbide coatings.

All three of these different types of vehicle protection have their pros and cons. Weigh the options. See what works best for you. If you drive on the Belt Way every day and drive bumper-to-bumper traffic you may need PPF. If you're never on the highway or drive less than the average, a traditional coating may be best. If you are somewhere in between you may need Opti-Shield.

The cool thing about Opti-Shield is that it is best when applied to the whole vehicle just like traditional coatings. It makes sense that the highest value is protecting every square inch of the exterior rather than one third of it.

My name is Tug Bankert. I am the owner/operator of Wax On Wax Off Detailing and Ceramic Coatings in Hanover, PA. I have been detailing for over 20 years. I have been installing ceramic coatings since 2015 and I have over 500 installs. We specialize in protecting and preserving the entire vehicle both on the interior and exterior.

Price Versus Value

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:24:38 GMT

What you get is worth more than what you spent!

The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

SiC Vs SiO2

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 21:00:11 GMT

Silicon Carbide Vs. Silicon Dioxide Ceramic Coatings! which is better?

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) Ceramic Coatings

If you've never heard of silicon carbide or silicon dioxide, that's ok because not many people have. The terms that float around are usually three year coating, five year coating, etc. The number has, sort of taken center stage and the actual coating itself has been pushed to the back burner.

You are looking to get your vehicle coated and you see all of these numbers and decide based on how long the warranty runs. That number is actually quite irrelevant. I will explain why. Most ceramic coatings are made of a silicon dioxide base. Silicon dioxide is similar to high quality glass or quartz. It does create a strong bond between itself and the clear coat. The bond is held by the resins in the coating. These resins are like glue or velcro holding the coating in place.

The "glue" breaks down over time. The sun's UV rays, chemicals, and environmental film break it down. Most SiO2 coatings only last about one to three years. More than likely, you were given instructions of how to clean your exterior by the detailer after your vehicle was coated. They told you to wash it every few weeks and that you must bring it back in once a year for a "refresh." If you fail to wash it and bring it in once a year the warranty will be voided and the coating will cease to exist on the vehicle or be drastically depleted.

A coating "refresh" actually puts more "glue" back onto the surface strengthening the bond. They are putting a sealnt or a diluted version of the originall coating back on to "top it of." It's kind of like restoring the coating back to day one. The reason they tell you that you must come back in for this service or your coating will fail. They are right. If no intervention is performed your coating will last three years or less.

Most detail shops use SiO2 coatings. They are more readily available, cheaper, easier to install and offer a warm, wax-like glow. They are super popular in the non-pro consumer market. Most coating companies make SiO2 coatings because they are easier to make. Everyone in the pro detailing world knows and talks about these types of coatings.

The Truth About These SiO2 Coating Warranties

First , let me say that having warranties longer than the coating will last is ok. That's why the detail shop tells you that you must follow these instructions, or else. It is a lot of work to maintain an SiO2 coating. It's certainly less work than a wax or sealant. If you have a 5 year warranty on the vehicle you must come in every year and after year five they will not make you come back in every year. That will be up to you.

Now, if you continue to get the once a year detail after year five then the coating will remain intact and on the exterior. When you stop getting that detail performed then the coating will be advancing toward ceasing its function.

The issue for me is that the focus is more on the coating and preventing it from failing. rather than the coating protecting and preserving your vehicle and making your life easier in that regard. It, kind of seems counterintuitive to focus on the coating rather than the coating focusing on the preservation of the car.

I'm not saying you wasted your money with an SiO2 coating. You probably have no clue what brand or type of coating you have. That's ok if you don't know. A coating is a premium service and should be quite expensive. $1,000 for a five year warrantied coating is not a high price. The average cost for a five year warrantied coating in York County Pa. is $1,500.

If you have this type of coating just keep trucking along. Don't worry about anything. Just follow their instructions and take your vehicle to them at the recommended intervals and wash it frequently.

Silicon Carbide (SiC) Ceramic Coatings

Again, I do realize that the topic of what type of coatings exist is new, maybe hard to understand, etc. Most pro detailers don't even know what their coating is made of. They may know some words and terms, but they don't understand it. That's not a criticism. Some don't need to know or it's just something they've never thought of.

Most coatings are silicon dioxide. With that being said, silicon carbide is a different animal altogether. Silicon carbide is a carbon similar to the carbon in a diamond. SiC is considered industrial diamond. Also, the atoms in SiC are similar enough to the factory clear coat that they actually share electrons. This means that it has a covalent bond. This bond is the strongest in chemistry. This is the reason diamonds are so hard.

The silicon carbide make such a strong bond that when an SiC coating is applied it is integrated into the clear coat. This means that it becomes part of the clear coat. The coating is "welded" to the clear coat.

Here is a quick illustration for an SiO2 bond and an SiC bond. An SiO2 bond is like paint on a wooden fence. It's strong and lasts a while. Eventually it will flake off, peel or need to be repainted. SiC bond is like wood stain for wood. The stain penetrates the fibers, integrates into it and becomes one with the wood and forms a new top layer.

The result of this bond is a decade or more of the SiC ceramic coating being attached to the clear coat. Regular washing every two weeks and reasonable care taken of the vehicle is recommended. No yearly detail is recommended or required.

On a side note, a warranty is great, but the main point in a coating is to protect the vehicle, preserve it and make it easier to clean. The warranty is just a back-up safety net in case your vehicle encounters some weird natural environmental event when you are properly caring for it.

Final Thoughts

As you can tell, I am SiC leaning. It is a superior compound by far. It is much more durable than SiO2 coatings. SiO2 coatings tend to have a warner, wax-like glow. Whereas SiC coatings tend to produce more depth of color and gloss. SiC coatings lasts longer with less cleaning needed compared to SiO2 coatings.

SiO2 coatings tend to be more prevalent because most companies use that compound in their formulas. That's because it is easier and less expensive to produce. SiO2 coatings tend to be better for older vehicles or lease vehicles due to their shorter life span. SiC coatings are better for newer or more expensive vehicles and for those who want to dedicate less time to cleaning their vehicles. The SiC formula costs more and uses more expensive, safer solvents.

The reason that Silicon dioxide coatings need to be in a glass bottle is because of the solvents they use. It would eat through plastic. An SiC coating using safe solvents can be put in a syringe or plastic container because it won't be able to eat through it.

My goal is to educate my clients and potential clients so that you KNOW that there is better vehicle appearance preservation that endures. I want you to know that we use an SiC coating that is far different than the other coatings that other detailers use. When your vehicle is coated by us you will have a vehicle that is the easiest to maintain and will look better over time than any other coating your vehicle could have.

You don't really need to waste your time researching who uses what and how it all works. Find a detailer you trust and be loyal. If you want your vehicle to have the most durable premium defense against nature (for the interior and exterior), then choose us. If you are ok with a mediocre defense against nature than choose someone else.

My name is Tug Bankert. I own and operate Wax On Wax Off Pro Detailing and Ceramic Coatings since 2013. I have been a nerd for much longer than that. I have always loved digging into the details to understand how things work. I'm average intelligence, so I have to work really hard at learning things. When I was a little kid I used to sleep with an Encyclopedia. It was the letter "T" because of the Titanic. I am fascinated by facts. I know a lot of facts about that subject. I love learning from those who know more about a topic than I do.

On a side note, I'm going to be candid for a minute. There is a great online detailing community. Facebook groups, videos on YouTube and private chat groups, etc. My recommendation for my clients is to stay out of that world. It can send you down rabbit holes that you'll never find your way out of. There is a strong sense of community in the detailing space. Most of this space IS controlled and influenced by the consumer market and the hobbyist detailers (prosumers).

With that being said, I'm not satisfied with consumer market influencing the pro market. The result of this influence is that the information given to you as a client is from the perspective of a hobbyist detailer. This is a negative because the focus is not on you, the client. the focus is on the detailer. Also, words like "paint correction," foam cannon, Graphene, 10 year coating, yearly decon washes, etc., are used and then you are told that these thing are all good and that this is what you want.

Some of these ideas are new and some are old. I have seen a lot of new detailers pop up recently. They watch YouTube and learn everything they know from there. Well, other prosumer detailers are on YouTube making content saying all of these same terms. These new detailers just repeat what they hear and now educate you. I have no hate for those who are new, old or in between. I want to educate, not criticize. I am not trying to educate a detailer I'm trying to educate you properly. I can only influence those who walk through my doors or watch my stupid videos.

I want you to trust the detailer that you have chosen. Buy whatever he is selling and believes in and don't doubt it. When you come across a more seasoned and experienced detail shop, buy what he's selling and believe them as well.

Until we meet, keep your vehicle clean the best you know how and don't settle for mediocre! thanks for reading all of this super nerdy stuff!

Clear Coat Removal or Clear Coat Preservation-Which is Best?

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 13:33:52 GMT

removing scratches is impossible without removing clear coat! This is going to be an in-depth look at clear coat removal, so hang on tight!

Those of you who have never thought about this topic ever, that is perfectly ok. This discussion occurs in the detailing world quite a bit. As a vehicle owner you only know that your car needs to be detailed. You leave the rest to us, which is the way it should be. Let us have this discussion, you just find a detailer you trust.

Most of the discussion in the detailing world is pretty one-sided. "Scratch removal" is important to a detailer. The fact that the finish needs to be as scratch-free as possible. What is scratch removal, really? What does clear coat do? Should any or all scratches be removed? Every detailer has their own perspective on this topic, but I am not going to look at this from a detailer's perspective in this blog. We are going to look at clear coat and scratch removal from a fact-based and customer perspective as much as I possibly can.

A little background on me as a detailer and my perspective on this topic. I own and operate Wax On Wax Off Pro Detailing and Ceramic Coatings in Hanover, PA. I grew up in the dealership. I was detailing in the late 90's and I've seen a lot of clear coat in my day. I've seen old, really old, and really, really old clear coat, as well as modern clear coat, which is around 2007 and up. In the 90's paint was much thicker, harder, and every vehicle was scratched to pieces. A regular soap wash was all that was needed to clean the paint. The rest of the time was spent buffing the bageebers out of the clear coat. It was some hard clear coat. Today, the opposite is true. Paint is thin and soft. Multi chemical washed are necessary and just a little bit of polishing makes the clear coat glow like the sun.

Today, vehicles are lasting longer and longer. No one was thinking about clear coat preservation 30 years ago because we only expected the vehicle to last about 100,000 miles. That fact was fairly accurate. Today, we are seeing 200,000 plus miles and more than 12 years of life. Clear coat is expected to withstand the elements for about 10 years. By then, all of the UV blockers are gone.

We also weren't thinking about clear coat depth or removing the UV barrier either. Total paint system thickness is about 130 to 150 microns on average. That is primer, paint, and clear coat. Clear coat makes up for about 40% of the total thickness. It's about 35 to 50 microns on average. An example of paint system thickness is about the thickness of a post-it note. That's about 70 microns or a little more. Of course, that is much thinner than most paint systems. Clear coat thickness is about the same as the cellophane wrapping of a cigarette pack. Peal off that wrapping and press both sides together and you have about 35 to 50 microns.

There are two schools of thought on clear coat removal. One is that scratches are the worst enemy of the clear coat. They all must be removed or as much as possible should be removed and the other is that environmental fallout, chemicals, tar, dirt UV, and oxidation are the enemies. That scratches are just part of life, like wrinkles. The former school of thought says that a "paint correction" MUST be done. The latter thought says that the paint (clear coat) MUST be preserved-as much left intact as possible. Let's explore both of these thoughts.

When a client asks me about needing a "paint correction", I ask them every time what exactly they mean. Their answer is the same every time. They say they don't know what it means. I will define it for you and then explain why I put it in quotes. The term "paint correction" started around the early 2000's as the internet was just being formed in those early days. Most likely, this term came about in the detailing forums. No one has been given the credit for first using it because once the term came to be it was everywhere and anywhere. This term is said to separate the two different approaches to making paint look better. There is the method of making it glossy and then there is the method of making it glossy and removing scratches. So, it's a longer, more time consuming process and another way to meet the wishes of some clients while charging them more.

The reason I put that term in quotes is because the more time spent polishing the more clear coat is being removed. Scratches aren't being removed as much is clear coat is being removed. The thickness of the clear coat has been depleted, therefore, the scratches aren't visible anymore. The same principle applies in sanding wood to smooth it out. The wood thickness is being brought lower to make the knot appear less noticeable. Now, in the case of wood, it's two inches thick, so it's ok to lose a 1/16th of an inch. It makes no difference. With clear coat, losing 5 microns is a lot.

Now, from the research I have done, some reports made for body shops have been put out that suggest that it's ok if 25% of the clear coat is removed over the life of the vehicle. That's about 8 to 12.5 microns. From what I understand, The UV blockers are contained in that top 25% or 8-12.5 microns. So, if "paint correction" is done four times in 10 years, then that means about 2-3 microns is being removed each time. If it gets done one time over that 10 years and 5 to 10 are removed at one shot, then it can't be done again and almost all UV blockers have been removed. Most likely, when a "paint correction" is done it is removing at least 5 microns of clear coat. Wet sanding removes even more than that.

My contention is not that scratches should never be removed. If that's what you want then we can have that conversation. I will charge for it, of course. However, you most likely can't see most of them, which is a good thing. Scratches do hide in plain sight. I'm not talking about the scratches you can park a bus in. I'm talking about the ones that live in the upper 10 microns. The wash, or neglect scratches. These scratches, bye the way, didn't get there by accident. They came from improper, aggressive washing, the automatic car wash, or from not having your vehicle detailed. Yes, the dirtier and more miles driven a car is the more scratches will accumulate. Ultimately, I don't want you to be able to see the scratches. If you see none, then that's great. Besides, the lights I use to look at the paint are insanely intense. Even the sun doesn't reveal everything my lights reveal.

Clear coat has a lifespan. The clock starts ticking on it as soon as it's cured at the factory. Quickly, it begins to oxidize and deplete just from existing in the environment. Doing nothing to it and nature will begin to remove it without interference from a polisher. If we remove clear coat by polishing we are actually speeding up the delamination process. Now, on a bit of a sidenote, a ceramic coating is the only thing that will "save" the clear coat. However, can we still remove 5 to 10 microns if the coating is only 3 microns thick? A coating can never "replace" the loss of the clear coat. It can only preserve it from that point on. The issue is, what durability level of coating are you having put on? A lower premium coating? A mid-tier coating? So, you will need another coating in 5 years? But 5 microns has already been removed. Do you think more scratches will accumulate over 5 years? Yes! Coatings help reduce wash scratches, but they will still accumulate. Did you also know that the most dense and hardest part of the clear coat is contained in that top 25% or 8 to 12.5 microns. Your clear coat is a lot softer now than when the scratches were there! Will scratches accumulate more easily now? Yes, absolutely they will!

Who is telling you that your clear coat is scratched up? The detailer, probably. I ask my clients every time their vehicle comes in for a ceramic coating if there is anything on the exterior that they notice, needs to be removed, or what, if any issues the exterior has. Almost always, they point out a deep scratch or two that we can't do anything about. They almost never notice anything else other than it's dirty and needs to be restored to clean and shiny. YouTube sells the fact that clear coat must be scratch-free. I am so thankful that most of my clients stay off of YouTube for the most part. As long as they only watch my videos then we are good. I have had people tell me that they watched a video from some detailer in California and he said X, Y, Z. What does what he says have to do with your vehicle? I am the one looking at it. I am your best hope of giving you what your vehicle needs.

What Does it Cost to Have a Vehicle Detailed and Ceramic Coated?

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 16:21:44 GMT

There is a difference between Express or Maintenance detailing and premium detailing

New Paragraph

Interior Ceramic Coating

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 13:11:11 GMT

The reason your interior gets dirty is Because it is designed to! What is an interior coating and why does it work?

My name is Tug Bankert. Owner/Operator of Wax On Wax Off Detailing in Hanover, PA. I have been detailing since 1999. I have done every type of detailing possible. I started out washing the cars on the dealership lot. Eventually I moved inside and I did prep washes all day every day. I've cleaned auction cars, restored classic cars, detailing minivan interiors, polished paint to near perfection. I got a pretty well-rounded detailing experience before I started my detailing business. One thing I have learned is that interiors get dirty. There is nothing you can do about it. They suck up dust and dirt like a dustbuster and then hold onto that dirt like it's the interior's lifeforce. You can't prevent your interior from getting dirty. You can only have it detailed when it does. Sure, you can slow it down, but the interior's ability to attract dirt will prevail every time.

There is a solution to a dirty interior. Many years ago, an interior ceramic coating was made by Opti-Coat. It is called Opti-Guard. This coating bonds to all interior surfaces. Everything except the headliner, inside glass, nav screen and gauge cluster screen get coated. Even the fabric gets coated. Most of your interior is either leather or plastic. There is very little fabric. This is the reason so much dirt is drawn in to the interior. The leather and plastic is static charged. This static charge pulls in and hold onto dust and dirt. Dust and dirt is only half of what gets into your interior. Skin oils, dead skin, sweat, food crumbs, animal hair from your house that has stuck to you and fallen off in the car, is about 40% of what's in your interior. We can leave the other 10% to sand, dog hair, cigarette smoke, etc.

Since interiors are small anything that gets into it is extremely concentrated. In contrast, dirt in your kitchen or bedroom is extremely diluted because the area is so large. The dirt is spread out and there really aren't many crevices for it to hide. An interior is nothing but crevices. Most interiors are black as well, which shows everything. Not to mention how stunning and luxurious these modern vehicle interiors are. Keeping them clean is very important in order to prevent unnecessary wear and tear.

Circling back to Opti-Guard. Opti-Guard is a permanent interior ceramic coating. This coating cannot be used on anything but leather and interior plastic. If used on exterior plastic it would never hold up. It is not designed for the exterior. Opti-Guard bonds to the top coat of the leather and plastic. Interior leather and plastic is dyed and top coated. Similar to a base coat (color) and top coat (clear coat) of the exterior. When Opti-Guard is applied it absorbs into and onto that top coat. Opti-Guard contains anti-static properties which discharges the static. Opti-Guard also creates a silky texture to the leather and plastic. So not only is static discharged, friction is also greatly reduced. This results in less friction on whatever gets touched or sat on. Not only all those things I mentioned, but the original surface is now underneath the new Opti-Guard top coat. Essentially, the top coat has been replaced by Opti-Guard. The new surface is much more capable to preserve all of the materials and surfaces than any kind of conditioner, lotion, or even a short-term ceramic coating.

In addition, Opti-Guard has matting agents in it. Most interiors are already matte. The more matte an interior looks the new and cleaner it looks. As an interior ages it gets shinier due to friction, dirt, and skin oils. Opti-Guard holds that matte finish. Also, the color of the interior is darkened because of Opti-Guard. It is amazing to me how much better and newer looking even a brand new interior looks after installing Opti-Guard.

If your interior is not ceramic coated then, right now your interior is dirty because that is the nature of an interior. It is inherent that an interior gets dirty no matter how hard you try and prevent it from being so. Only Opti-Guard makes an interior look better and stay cleaner. Other interior coatings exist, but only Opti-Guard preserves, keeps clean, and maintains the new look of an interior.

Opti-Shield Liquid Paint Protection Film

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 19:54:32 GMT

Opti-Shield is a new technology in Liquid Protective film

What is Opti-Shield ? It is a new technology in the paint protection space. It has the easy cleaning ability of a ceramic coating combined with the impact resistance of paint protection film. PPF is a high impact protective, extruded film. It is extremely thick, but it is more spongy almost like a shock absorber. Opti-Shield is impact resistant. Instead of being extremely thick and spongy, it is thinner and hard. Its hardness is the strength of resisting rocks, etc.

Now, let's be serious for a minute. If a rock hits your bumper from the car in front of you and it is travelling at 60mph it will probably do some damage regardless of OS or PPF. PPF typically costs 8 to 10k to do a full car. Edges can be seen and dirt can get into those edges. Also, the edges may peel over time. Even if all of that happens the paint is still being protected underneath. That is a lot of money, though. If you can afford it and you drive a half a million dollar car, go for it. For the rest of us that's way too much money.

Let's get a little nerdy for a minute. 4 layers of OS makes about a 30 microns layer. We call it a film because of how thick it is. Clear coat is about 40 microns thick. Traditional ceramic coatings are about 3 to 10 microns thick. A human hair is 20-40 microns thick for comparison. A ceramic coating is thick enough to be able to ride the contours of the clear coat. Opti-Coat ceramic coatings ride those contours and make a permanent bond. This line of coatings has been known to last 10 years or more due to the Silicon Carbide formula.

Opti-Shield has as much Silicon Carbide as it possibly can. The formula also has a much more viscus texture than the other Opti-Coat coatings, which is why it can achieve 30 microns of thickness. OS bridges the gap between traditional ceramic coatings and PPF. It also has a much more practical price tag than PPF. The cost for 4 layers of OS starts at $3,999. That is much more reasonable than 10k.

Opti-Shield combines the ease of clean of coatings, plus the protection from impact of rocks and bumps in the garage, as well as scratches from washing and love marks (washing too aggressively). Now, OS may get scratches in it. So does PPF. As long as the scratch is in the OS and not all the way into the paint it will self-heal. Park it in the sun for a few hours and it will heal. OS can also be repaired. In other words, if a scratch happens, it can be polished and new OS can be applied in that area. OS also has some scratch filling capabilities. Meaning, if there are still some scratches on the paint prior to installing OS, it will fill in those scratches.

If you are considering a ceramic coating, consider Opti-Shield first. A traditional ceramic coating is great. Any Opti-Coat ceramic coating will give you preservation and ease of clean, but they won't give impact and scratch resistance like OS. They are absolutely worth the money. Opti-Shield adds a ton more gloss, deep color and a brand new 30 micron layer of insane environmental protection.

My name is Tug Bankert and I am the owner/operator of Wax On Wax Off Detailing in Hanover, Pa. I have been detailing since 1999. I have been installing ceramic coatings since 2015. I have used only the Opti -Coat line of ceramic coatings. The reason I use Opti-Coat is because I wanted a coating that would endure for more than just 2 or 3 years like most coatings last. Opti-Coat outlasts any other coating. When you call your local detailer, ask them if they use Opti-Coat. If they don't, run away. Their coating is probably decent, but you want one that is going to withstand the elements!

Optimum No-Rinse

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 19:02:23 GMT

Quickly and Easily Wash your vehicle at home with onr

New Paragraph

What is The Value of a Ceramic Coating?

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:15:42 GMT

What is the Value of a Ceramic Coating?

Every once in a while, a customer tell me that they need a "good wax job" done on their vehicle. The are not emphasizing the "wax", they are emphasizing the "good job" part. The other day, a customer came in after having the factory wing on his Sonata repainted. The body shop guy told him to go get a good wax job done on it to protect it.

Whenever I hear someone refer to wax being what they need to protect their paint, I realize that wax is what they know and trust to protect their vehicles' finish. I'm not criticizing this thinking. I'm glad he came in to have his vehicle detailed. That is the first step you can take in vehicle preservation. He also realized that we could do a better job than him and that a coating is better than wax. The next question I could see in his eyes was, do I want to spend the money for it?

The right question to ask is not, do I want to spend that much money? It is, what is the better value? I have had both of my vehicles coated since 2021. I have not had to polish or wax it, just clean it. That has saved me much time, money and preserved much better than a wax or sealant.

Let's look at a detail, polish, and wax. This service can cost $400 plus depending on where you go. Three months later, the wax has pretty much worn off. Now what? Ok, now we need to detail and wax it the next time. Now it's $200 plus. That's $600 in three months. Three months later the wax is worn off again. Another 200 bucks. That's now $800 in nine months. The cycle just keeps repeating itself. These are even very conservative costs that I am mentioning. Let's just multiply these numbers by three years just for fun. $800 times three years is $2,400. Yikes. And that's only three years. Oh, well I'm only going to keep my car for three years. So what. $2,400 is still $2,400. It's still a lot of money.

If you plan on finally bringing in your vehicle to be detailed and protected because you can't do it yourself anymore or you know it needs more than what you could do and you plan on a wax on the exterior, then you need to plan to do this every three months. Is there much of a point to bring it in once a year for a three month protectant. We are even talking about a pro-grade wax, here. This isn't the stuff at Wal-Mart.

Let's look at the cost of an exterior ceramic coating. We will talk about an industry standard 5-year coating. Let's say it cost $1,500. What is $1,500 divided by three years? It is $500 per year. Let's divide it by 5. That is $300 per year. My 5-year coating will outlast the warranty, so let's divide it by seven. It's 214 bucks per year. What was it with the detail and wax at $200 a pop? That would be $1,200 per year. I know I'm not being fair, here. It still should be washed and detailed once a year. We will go ahead and factor in those numbers.

Ok, we will go back to dividing $1,500 by five and add the other services. If a wash is $100, let's say and a yearly detail is $250. That would be $1,750 per year to keep your vehicle looking brand new, Seriously, looking brand new. A coating isn't a wax. It is much harder and can withstand the elements where a wax or sealant can't. A wax will not preserve paint with the ease that a coating can. Hey, don't forget that with that $2,400 a year detail and wax, I didn't factor in polishing every year or even a wash. So, the reality is that it's much higher than $2,400 year.

Do you see how a coating can save you money? Saving money isn't really the point in a coating, Although that is a great bonus. Keeping your vehicle looking like new is the main reason for a coating. We haven't even talked about an interior coating. How an interior coating can keep your interior cleaner for longer, therefore allowing you to have to take it to the detailer as often, therefore saving even more money. Again, the main reason for an interior coating is preservation. No dulling, cracking, fading or need to apply a protectant to the interior. More driving and less stress. Where is the downside?

One last thought. You might be asking (or not because you're not a huge nerd like me), "Why does he want me to spend less money at his shop over time with a coating?" That is the right question, Detective Spooner. Why would I want that? Because, why would I want to sell you my lowest level of detail? Wouldn't I naturally want to sell you my best? Of course I would. Who wouldn't? If you had a flower shop, you would want to sell your most expensive flower arrangement. (Where did a flower arrangement illustration come from? Weird.) I want to be able to preserve your vehicle with the best of what I have. Waxes and sealants are good, but not the best.

Tug Bankert-Owner/Operator of Wax On Wax Off Detailing Since 2013

Detailer since 1999

Opti-Coat Podcast Host since a few weeks ago

Idiot since birth

Dad since 2011

Husband since 2009

This wasn't Ai, by the way. It was all me

The Reason Why I Detail

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:15:38 GMT

My Detailing Journey

Since I can remember, I have always been around cars. I love being around cares, especially modern ones. My Dad sold cars at the local Dodge dealership for over 25 years. I was in there all the time. He was always bringing home a different new demo. I got to drive them occasionally. Then, I got a job at that dealership when I was 18. I was in the clean up bay. What is a better way to appreciate vehicles than touching every square inch of them and making them look better than new.

Back when I started detailing, the detailing culture was very different there than it is today. We detailed old-fashioned style. Pulled seats, spent days and refined the vehicle to perfection. The only reason we detailed vehicles this way is because we used what tools we had. There were very few tools and chemicals even designed for car cleaning. It was mostly something that was re engineered for detailing. We used rotary drills and put a wool pad on it, for example. It wasn't a car polisher or buffer, it was a drill.

Fast forward to today, modern detailing specific tools allow me to be much more efficient and produce phenomenally better results in a fraction of the time. Experience has taught me to become more precise, accurate and produce results that last years instead of months. What many people don't realize or have probably never thought about is that when we detailed those cars way back then, especially the exterior, it would only stay looking for a few months. Looking good for a few months was only if you were really good. If you are just OK at best, the exterior would stay looking nice for only a few weeks.

The value of what I offer now is so much higher than it was even 10 years ago. In the old days, I would see cars sitting on the lot of the dealer and I could tell it was just detailed and buffed and it looked good. About three weeks later I would drive by and see the same vehicle. The gloss was gone and what was left behind was buffer trails and tons of swirls.

What I am saying is that the value of what I offer today is worlds better than back then. I can make vehicles stay looking new for its entire life. Your vehicle won't need to be cleaned as often. No buffer trails or swirls. The paint stays new and shiny for years instead of months. I could go on and on. The interior stays clean for a really long time considering it has almost no fabric in it.

My prices are based o the experience that I have combined with the value I offer. Would you expect to pay the same for someone just starting out compared to someone who has been detailing for over 20 years? The results are very different as well. The difference between someone just starting out and me is that when I detail your vehicle it will stay looking clean and shiny inside and out for longer.

I detail, mainly because not many are wiling to, especially the interior. In the current detailing culture, even in small towns, many detailers are dropping the interior detail service for exterior coatings, vinyl wraps, tint and PPF. Even some detailers refuse to clean an interior. How can you expect to be able to clean it yourself? What is that telling you? That interiors are getting more and more difficult to clean and taking longer and longer. I believe they feel they can't charge enough to make it worth their time.

I detail because most won't continue in it long enough to get really good at it. They quit when the challenges of running a business and dealing with price shoppers builds to the point of the money not being worth it. Some customers are looking for cheap prices and deals. You can easily find deals. New detailers pop up in Hanover every summer because the college kids are home and need to make some quick cash. They offer deals and discounts because they have no value to offer other than a discount. I can offer value for money far more than they can. No criticism to these beginner detailers. I was in their place at one time and did the same thing. Since I have stayed in detailing for this long because I want to see how far I can progress in my journey and how good I can become.

I detail because, let's face it, you don't have time. Do you really enjoy cleaning your vehicle every few weeks? Is the paint staying shiny or is it losing that new-car luster? When you vacuum the interior, are you getting all of the crumbs? What about the rest of the interior? Your interior is 90% plastic and leather. Are you cleaning those areas thoroughly? How many hours are you spending every month cleaning your car? Whatever amount of time you are spending, are you going to be able to sustain that for 5 plus years? Are you able to polish your vehicle every few years to bring the gloss back? I doubt it. I can produce results that far exceed what you could do and I can do it in a fraction of the time.

I detail because you can't or don't have the time or skill set to do it yourself. I detail because I enjoy preserving vehicles. You take your vehicle to the repair shop for oil changes, tire rotations and repairs without even attempting to do those things yourself because you don't have the time. So, with detailing, you definitely don't have the time. Detailing a vehicle takes way longer than oil changes and tire rotations.

Save yourself a ton of time and frustration by bringing your vehicle to me a couple of times a year. Generally, as often as you have your oil changed, bring your vehicle to me to be detailed and keep it looking as good as it runs. So many vehicles are in top working order, but the paint is dull, scratched and looks horrible. You might say, why would I spend any amount of money on professional detailing or even ceramic coatings? I'm only going to have it for three to five years. You still change the oil, don't you? If you only keep it for three years, then there is no reason to have the oil changed. No one will ever know it wasn't changed. Just have it changed right before you trade it in and save some money. This is how many people view paying for a detail. There's no point because I'm not keeping it. It's too expensive. I take care of my vehicle. It's not that bad. I keep my car clean. These statements are all things you tell yourself because you could take that same $500 and buy something more valuable than a detail. No judgment or guilt.

Budget your money according to what's most important. I get it. If you don't value having your vehicle made to look better than new, then it's hard to spend money on it and you attempt to do it yourself. Things are expensive today. Money doesn't go as far as it used to. Save, save, save. Save your money. Stop racking up debt. Buy a used car. Don't keep buying new cars every three years. Then you will have the freedom and money to afford those little things that you don't have time for.

My name is, Tug. I have been detailing since 1999. I have owned my detail shop since 2013. I have made it a point to become more and more efficient and better and better so that it doesn't take me two days to clean your vehicle. You need your vehicle. You don't have the time to be without it for multiple days. I offer quick turnaround times depending on the service so that you can get your vehicle back and get to where you are going. My detailing journey has been to serve you better. To give you my best and give value for money. High value, premium detailing and a vehicle that stays clean for a really long time and looks better than new.

Choosing a Detail Shop with Experience

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:15:36 GMT

Should You Choose a Detail Shop with Experience Over a New Shop?

I welcome new detail shops opening up. I have reached out to some local detail shops to ask if they want to network with me and get to know them. I love the detailing industry and I like reaching out to other local detailers to find things in common. I enjoy training and giving advice to new and existing shops. Maybe we can teach each other something in business.

With that being said, there is a difference between a new detail shop opening and a 20 year old that thinks it would be cool to work for themselves and own a detailing business. They jump on Amazon, buy their tools, towels, and chemicals, load up their VW Golf and hit the road. Their prices end up being so bargain basement cheap because, to them, $100 is a lot of money. They live at home with almost zero overhead. Their business is most likely not a registered business with the local, State, and Federal government.

I'm not for preventing this from happening, I'm more for educating them and helping them get established. The more fly-by-night operations there are the less value the industry offers.

Detailing is a luxury service. This means that it is something consumers can pay for, but they don't have to. It's like going out to eat. Going out to eat is not nutrition, it's entertainment. I heard Dave Ramsey say this recently and I 100% agree. Since detailing is a luxury and running a shop is expensive. The cost is not going to be cheap. The services we offer produce amazing results. The result is what you are paying for. Someone who spends 4 hours detailing a car and charges $100 is not giving you amazing results. They are practicing on your vehicle and only putting a little money in their pocket. They are not making money. They are actually losing quite a bit.

My goal as a detailing business owner is to prop up the industry and help other detailers reach their potential. Most detailers that I reach out to don't take me up on any of my offers. That's ok. Maybe they are fine and don't need a detailing friend. No judgment.

I want all of my current and potential customers to understand that experience matters. Just as you would not trust a cardiologist on his first day to operate on your heart, a brand new detailer may not be life and death, but you are not going to get the amazing results like you would with a detailer with experience. The reason that some have told me that they don't see a difference between the two is because they were swayed by the price and are ok with lesser results. I'm ok with that as long as you realize that there us a difference.

Not only are the results between a new shop and an experienced one is that the experienced shop has a track record of satisfying customers and being open when you need them. Every single one of these shops that pop up and charge $100 for an interior/exterior detail NEVER endure. They close their doors every single time.

On a similar topic, Hanover is a small town. There are only about 10 detail shops. On the other hand, there are almost four dozen Auto Repair Shops. Which tells me that there is room for more detail shops. Also, detailers that only offer mobile never stay around. This is just not a mobile friendly community for whatever reason. Most of the owners of the 10 detail shops in Hanover work full-time jobs. They run their shops part-time at night and on weekends. They only have so many appointments available. This is not a criticism, I am just contrasting the fact that my availability is much greater than theirs.

When you book an appointment with us you are actually paying for the absolute best possible results out of any other detail shop in Hanover. This has been my full-time job since 2013. I have more hours of detailing than any two detail shops in Hanover. There is only one shop that has even close to our shop's age. They have seven years and we have 12. But, again, they work an outside full-time job. That matters because it means I HAVE to succeed. I MUST produce the best results I can. Their main jobs can fund their shop, so it's a side hustle for them.

I have been detailing since the late 90's. I have surpassed the practice and advanced stage and have entered the expert stage. The final stage is legend. One day I will be there so long as my very loyal, amazing customers continue to use us. The stages are achieved over time. Spending those hours not satisfied with the results and continuing until they are achieved is the progression.

Repetition with a focus on efficiency is the key to becoming a detailing legend. Not a legend in the detailing industry. Who cares about that. A legend in my market and area is what I am referring to.

Your Exterior Doesn't Really Need to be Detailed!

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:15:35 GMT

An Exterior Wash is Not the Same Thing as an Exterior Detail!

A wash at home or at the automatic car wash does not take the place of an exterior detail. My shop is in a small town, but we have a lot of cars. I never thought I would ever see the day where I need to convince people to get their exterior detailed. When customers call me or drop off their vehicle, they, of course, want the interior detailed. When I ask them about the exterior the response I get so often is either, I don't care about the exterior or I will just run it through the car wash.

I don't understand this thinking. The point in having your vehicle detailed is to hit the reset button on it and make it look new again. Why would you only want half of your vehicle to look new? I completely understand not wanting to spend a lot of money and If given the option, many people would choose interior only. The exterior added to the interior detail does not cost all that much more. I make strong effort to keep my entice everyone to have the entire vehicle detailed.

I understand budgets. Most shops around me have an interior/exterior packaged together and then you end up getting a big discount. These shops are new and they are young and live at home, so their prices reflect their overhead. They package it this way because it is more convenient for them and reduces objections. $100 is a lot of money to them. You as the customer choses both interior and exterior because the price point is usually quite low. What you end up with is not a detail. It is a detail you could have done yourself. They are actually using your vehicle as practice.

With that being said, there is a huge difference between what these cheap mobile shops can do and what we do. Our results are worlds better, the vehicle is preserved and it stays cleaner for longer. What we use is more durable against the elements as well. I have nothing against these new and mobile shops. We all had to start somewhere. I started where they are as well, just not mobile. I have reached out to several shops in Hanover over the years to lend them advice and training. Some have taken me up on it while most don't respond. Regrettably, most of these shops pop up and are gone in a few month because they think it's easy money. It's not easy money. It's hard work and takes skill and determination and a business mind-set to make it work.

I have seen many detailers exterior details. They have 13 different options and 13 different protectants to apply. Just to distinguish and exterior detail from a wash; an exterior wash is something that can be done at home or at the automatic car wash. You can soap it up, scrub it down, rinse and dry. This is basically what the automatic does except it does it for you. An exterior detail is using appropriate, paint safe chemicals in a specific order to pull the different kinds of gink out of the clear coat or top layer of the paint. There is dust/dirt laying on the paint and there is sticky dirt stuck in the paint. The wash in the driveway removes the former while the exterior detail removes the latter.

If you are looking at a detailing menu and you are confused then you should not book an appointment with them. No matter how many options and how confusing detailers make it, there are only two different exterior detailing options. They are an exterior detail with protection applied and an exterior detail with polishing or "buffing" as it is known in Hanover with a protectant applied. It's that simple. Detailers try and make it confusing only because they are confused and think everyone needs a whole bunch of options.

Do yourself a favor, rather than be persuaded to book by a cheap price, trust a detailer that does this for a living, is reliable, trustworthy and offers high quality. Let someone else allow their vehicle to be practiced on instead of yours. Don't let the price make the decision for you. Let the decision be made based on how many people have been thoroughly satisfied and the experience the detailer has. You are paying for results, not time. Definitely don't pay for someone's lack of experience on your vehicle that you have spent so much money on. You avoid using Jiffy Lube for your oil changes because you value quality. Keep the same thinking when choosing a detailer.

Why I Chose Opti-Coat Ceramic Coatings

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:15:32 GMT

Why I Chose Opti-Coat Ceramic Coatings

Most of my detailing career was centered around dealer car details. I worked for several different private shops, as well as dealerships. Detailing trade-ins from customers was my main focus. This is where detailing got its start. Someone owned a car and then trading it in for a newer one. The trade-in was usually pretty crusty.

In 2011, I worked for the local Honda dealership running their clean-up department. I saw the local used car corner lots had a need for their vehicles to be detailed. I reached out to them and with the permission of my service manager, we took on some more trade-ins so we could be a profitable and productive department. We reached a point where, as a department, we were only able to focus on the Honda store's vehicles. This is where my shop began. I opened my shop, hired someone and they detailed the vehicles from the local corner lots.

Once I left the dealership and started working at my own shop around 2013, I continued to detail used car trade-ins. Dealers slowly stopped sending them out over the next few years. As the shop's pace slowed, it was not as hectic because as most know, dealers don't pay much for a used car detail. I had to learn to become more efficient. I went from 4-5 hours per used car detail down to about 2 hours. I was producing better results in less time, which is something that many detailers would disagree with. As the shop's pace slowed I had more time to upgrade my services.

I have spent most of my working life prior to running my shop in the dealership. My Dad sold cars for over 40 years and I have so many memories visiting him at the Dodge dealership. I started working at that dealership from 1999 until 2004. Working at a dealership, I had plenty of experience applying Simoniz paint protectant. Every dealership had a different version of this stuff, but they were all the same, a low budget sealant that didn't do anything. The dealership offered it to make money in the finance office. They were called sealants, or teflon or other synonyms of that sort. We all new that the stuff was junk, but we didn't understand the business or profit part of the service. We only saw it as a rip off because we new a good wax could outlast this stuff.

One day I was detailing a used car at my shop and the thought popped in my head about how much time I spent detailing and "buffing" these cars and then to follow up all of that work with something like wax that only lasted a few weeks or months. There had to be something available that lasted for years. It was 2015, I mean, how can there not be a better technology than a paste wax full of solvents. I was absolutely an old-school detailer back then, I loved my soap washed and solvent-based paste wax.

I was detailing that one vehicle and Googled, "long lasting paint protection". I literally had never heard of a ceramic coating or any other terminology other than what different dealerships sold. When I made that search, Opti-Coat came up first. I was blown away that what I was just hoping for actually was a real thing and as I know now, has been around since 2007. I'm glad I didn't know that at the time because I would have been ticked I didn't hear about it sooner.

I called Opti-Coat to learn more and Maggie answered the phone. I called her several times. I was more of an, on the phone and ask questions more than I was a, click the button and order something, kind of guy. Maggie informed me that they pro program was just beginning as opposed to the consumer grade version, which was Paint Guard or Opti- Coat 2.0. I'm not sure which.

So, this was my first interaction with whatever a ceramic coating was. I didn't completely understand what it was and I was not a very good businessman back then, so the profit this product could provide wasn't my motivation. Foolish, I know, but I was more motivated by the quality than I cared about the money. I have never been a hobbyist-style detailer, but I also wasn't money motivated either.

Early on I understood that Opti-Coat was a permanent coating. Every customer I mentioned it to looked at me like I was a doofus. I learned about silicon carbide (industrial diamond). I learned all I could about an Opti-Coat ceramic coating. I was hooked. I was bit with the Opti-Coat bug and I liked it. I learned more and more over the next few years. I was shocked when I realized that no other coating was Sic. They were all Sio2 or quartz (industrial glass). Wait a minute, I thought all coatings were permanent? They aren't? That doesn't make any sense. Why aren't all coatings permanent? Its because in order to formulate something you must have the formula. You can't reverse engineer a coating. No other coating company has an Sic formula? That thought was so strange to me. Well, why don't they? I didn't understand.

Have you ever found something you really believed in or enjoyed only knowing the bare essentials? Then, over time as you learned more about it you realized that what you have is a diamond in the ruff? What the heck is a ruff? Anyway, that's exactly how I felt about Opti-Coat. It's not a money making venture, it's a, wow, look what I found and can really believe in. I have very few talents, but one thing I can relate to is something that is truly unique that I believe in.

I could go on and on about how superior Opti-Coat is to all other ceramic coatings available. I could mention the efficiency, innovation and the fact that Dr. G. is the reason all other ceramic coatings exist. I could mention the ease of application of every coating Opti-Coat makes including a 4 layer, pure Sic coating like Pro 3. That coating spreads like butter. This is all boring and nerdy information that no one wants to hear. I will say that the ones who want to hear this are the elite detailers and not those nerds who only want to focus on process and get upset at those who charge a nice price tag for coatings and detailing. Ceramic coatings are a niche part of detailing and Opti-Coat is even more niche due to the technology behind it.

Why is did I choose Opti-Coat? Oh, I'm going to say it. What I'm about to say is going to expose me as a huge nerd. I didn't choose Opti-Coat...Opti-Coat chose me! I've never used any other coating because I can recognize a superior product. I can't always afford it, but I sure can spot it.

Opti-Coat Pro 3

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:15:28 GMT

The Benefits of a Silicon Carbide, Lifetime, 4 Layer Exterior Ceramic Coating

Discovering Opti-Coat Pro Ceramic Coatings

In order to understand why Opti-Coat Pro 3 is the most exclusive, durable, and longest lasting coating on the market, we must first understand Opti-Coat Pro exterior ceramic coating. The Opti-Coat line of ceramic coatings is the most elite line of coatings. The chemistry behind the coating is the reason why The Opti-Coat line is superior. Most ceramic coatings are made of silicon dioxide which has a glass-like hardness. Silicon carbide has the strength of industrial diamond. Glass is certainly durable, but not as durable as industrial diamond.

I remember ceramic coating my first vehicle. It was 2015. The vehicle was an Explorer that was 5 years old or so. I believe I used gloss coat or it may have been paint guard, I can't quite remember. What led me to offering coatings wasn't my experience at the dealership applying Simoniz Glass Coat to vehicles. We all knew that stuff was crap. The customer was paying for the warranty. There was no actual protection involved. What led me to Opti-Coat in 2015 was a simple Google search.

I have detailed many vehicles over the years. It was frustration because I used to spend hours polishing out sone nasty paint on some older cars and all I am putting on after that hard work is a slimy paste wax that lasted only a couple of months. This idea seemed old school. I thought, "It's 2015, someone had to have created something better than a wax or sealant." I Googled, "Paint Protection", or something like that. Optimum Polymer Technologies came up. I visited the site and saw Opti-Coat Pro. The transition from Opti-Coat 2.0 to Opti-Coat Pro was in the beginning stages.

I called them up and Maggie answered the phone. Her voice was deep and gravely and she was the sweetest tone (despite the deep and gravely part). I asked about 2.0 and she told me that they were starting a Pro Detailer version of it called, Opti-Coat Pro. A ceramic coating. cool. What exactly was that? It's a permanent, transparent layer that gets put on top of the clear coat? This is amazing. I didn't quite understand it, but it still made sense, kind of.

Opti-Coat Pro is a Superior Ceramic Coating

In those early days, there really wasn't much training on installing coatings. There was no interior ceramic coating and I never gave thought to that anyway. No YouTube videos on exterior coatings, nothing on the blogs, and no resources that I could find. Who cares, that's not the way of a seasoned detailer. We just use a product until it runs out and then look at it afterwards and gasp that it looks like a six year old just detailed that car.

Once I understood the chemistry of Opti-Coat Pro it really started making sense. A two micron layer of Opti-Coat Pro contains Silicon Carbide, which is the hard layer and other components to make the clear coat shinier, self-cleaning, and preserve the paint from fading, or wearing down. The coating rides the contours of the clear coat. If you look at clear coat under a microscope, it has peaks and valleys. Think of a mountain range like the Rockies. Opti-Coat Pro rides those contours covering every part of the clear coat. The factory clear coat has been upgraded. A ceramic coating is like putting on a heavy winter coat over a lite jacket and you have found yourself in Siberia in the winter.

Why is the Opti-Coat line of coatings superior to all other coatings? One of the main reasons is because Dr. Ghodoussi is the organic chemist who created the Opti-Coat ceramic coating formula. Who is Dr. G.? He has over 40 years of experience in this field. In the 70's, Dr. G. worked for DuPont and PPG. While working for these companies, he developed the formula for the modern clear coat.

In 2001, Dr. G. started his own detailing products company and focused on preserving the exterior paint of modern vehicles. The very first product was a sprayable, carnauba wax. In 2008, he created the formula for Opti-Coat 2.0 and one of the original ceramic coatings was created.

Every Ceramic Coating is not Created Equally

The cool thing about ceramic coatings is that they are all different. Coatings cannot be reverse engineered or "copied". Unless you have the exact formula, you can recreate a coating. You have to create your own. I remember in the early days that the Opti-Coat Pro formula was somewhat difficult to use. As the formula was upgraded several times over the years, it became more durable and easier to use. Since every coating is different, they typically offer different attributes. Some are super slick and glossy, but short-lived. Others are less glossy and more durable, but harder to use. Some are glossy and durable at the same time. There are less coatings in the category of glossy and durable. Opti-Coat Pro 3 is both glossy, deepens the color, and is durable and long lasting.

Why is Opti-Coat Pro 3 an Elite and Superior Ceramic Coating?

Most exterior ceramic coatings are 1-2 microns thick. This amount is sufficiently thick enough to ride those clear coat contours. Considering Opti-Coat Pro is 2 microns thick and much harder and glossier than the factory clear coat, some other coatings are not as hard as Opti-Coat Pro. Since Opti-Coat Pro is thicker and harder than most other coatings, Opti-Coat Pro 3 is even thicker and harder than Opti-Coat Pro. Opti-Coat Pro 3 is 4 layers of pure silicon carbide. two layers of a base coat and 2 layers of the top coat. This ends up being 8 microns thick and much harder than Pro.

What this means for your customers is peace of mind of having the most exclusive exterior ceramic coating available. I have had Opti-Coat Pro 3 on both of my vehicles for over three years, and it is performing the same as the day I installed it because of regular maintenance. I never worry about the delicate finish on my vehicles caused by dirt and natures little surprises because of how durable this coating is. Regular cleaning is super easy. Tar wipes right off either with ONR or with a decon pre wash.

Stop selling an inferior, but decent coating found in little glass bottles that are full of solvents. Start offering an elite coating containing no solvents ensuring that 100% of the coating is staying in the clear coat. Give your customers confidence for whatever nature has to throw at their vehicle.

The Difference Between an Exterior Detail and an Exterior Wash

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:15:21 GMT

The Difference Between an Exterior Detail and an Exterior Wash

Washing your exterior is a necessary activity in order to keep nature from reclaiming your vehicle. Even your owners manual makes it a point to clean the interior and exterior of your vehicle. It is very old information and has not been updated in 50 years, but nevertheless, it is necessary just like changing the fluids.

Is Your Interior Clean or are You Just Not Seeing it's Dirty?

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:15:17 GMT

I just had a conversation with a good customer of mine. I mentioned the interior coating and his response was that he keeps the interior immaculate, so there is no need or much value in an interior coating. I get this re...

How Much Does It Cost to Detail Your Vehicle?

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:15:16 GMT

This is the toughest question to answer. I get many calls asking how much it would cost to have their vehicle detailed. Even though starting prices are listed all over my website, people still ask. No criticism, some peo...

Automatic Car Wash Revisited

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:15:10 GMT

I have a blog I wrote some time ago that was somewhat critical of the automatic car wash, a tunnel wash specifically. I have changed my view, somewhat, on the use of the auto wash.

JFK 60 Years Later

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:15:09 GMT

This week marks the 60th anniversary of the assassination of JFK. Many documentaries, books and declassified documents have been written and released over the years. The full truth has never been revealed to this day. Ma...

Cost vs. Value

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:14:54 GMT

Some people shop price, others shop value, and some try to do both. I am going to give no criticism to those who shop price. Some detail shops are less expensive than others and some are more. We all offer different opti...

How Much Do You Value Your Vehicle?

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:14:46 GMT

he question I get asked the most when someone calls me is, How much does it cost? I can usually spot a price shopper instantly. No judgment at all. I ask some qualifying questions like, What condition is the interior? T...

Why is Ceramic Such a Big Deal?

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:14:40 GMT

When we speak of ceramic we are speaking of a chemical engineered and designed to be added to wax, sealant, or a ceramic coating which provides more durable and longer lasting protection for our vehicles. Ceramic refers ...

Are You Looking for a Ceramic Coating Specialist?

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:14:39 GMT

This blog will be closely related to the previous blog, Are You Looking for a Paint Correction Specialist? Many detailers post on social media and their website that they are a paint correction or ceramic coating special...

Are You Looking for a Paint Correction Specialist?

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:14:36 GMT

Have you ever been on a detailing website looking for a detailer? You come across a phrase that you see throughout their website. It reads, "We are paint correction experts"! What is paint correction? This term has a few...

To Bead or Not to Bead...

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:14:34 GMT

If you watch Youtube videos and read the forums they all say the same thing about the performance of a ceramic coating. The video goes something like this...They show the post coating video spraying water on the paint to...

Do You Value Your Interior?

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:14:32 GMT

We can all agree that the interior and the exterior are completely opposite of each other. That is one of the main reasons that we don't package them together. They are separate parts of the vehicle. They get cleaned in ...

The Cost of Interior Detailing

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:14:31 GMT

I get more calls about interior detailing more than any other service. This seems to be the norm. Last year was calls on coatings and it was easy to sell them to those who weren't planning on it. This tells me that peopl...

Is Your Interior Worth Restoring?

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:13:22 GMT

I really do enjoy detailing interiors. I Enjoy restoring them eve more than that. Some detailing business install PPF, vinyl wraps, sunroofs, window tint and other accessories. They are great services to offer and yield ...

Can You Get Those Scratches Out?!

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:13:20 GMT

Let's Talk About Car Interiors!

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:13:14 GMT

We spend a lot of time inside. Time inside your house. Time inside of the place where you work. Time inside your vehicle. The cleanliness of that place will be a factor in how much you enjoy being inside that place. Ever...

Pro-Grade Ceramic Coatings VS. Consumer-Grade Ceramic Coatings

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:13:13 GMT

The ceramic coating market is booming in 2022. There are so many detailing supply websites that sell them. They are even marketed with ceramic wax on the shelf at Wal-Mart and other popular stores. Certainly, the s...

Let's Talk About Clear Coat!

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:13:11 GMT

Imagine if Gordon Ramsey was a detailer and he was training you to clean the exterior of a car. You proceed to pick up a polisher to remove some minor defects in the paint, (scuffs and scratches). You grab compound and a...

Setting a Standard!

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:13:07 GMT

I get many calls asking what we charge to detail their vehicle. That is perfectly normal. Many people make their decision based on who is the cheapest. There will always be those looking for the cheapest price just like ...

I Can't Get Out This Stupid Stain!

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:13:05 GMT

Do you remember the 3 Stooges Episode called "Pip Boys"? They were Tailors that also did dry cleaning as well. Larry had a pair of dress slacks on an ironing board. He has a bottle of cleaning solution and a bottle of wi...

Why Do You Wait So Long to Clean Your Car, You Weirdo?

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:13:01 GMT

Every town has a certain detailing mentality. In other words, the detailers in a given area educate their customers to what they offer and how often to clean their vehicle, etc. I have seen a repeated way of thinking bas...

Do's and Don'ts of a Ceramic Coating

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:12:58 GMT

The more ceramic coatings we install the more I realize that some people will get misinformation about how to maintain a coating. It is super simple to keep your car clean and when you add a coating to the mix it because...

Maintaining Your Interior Ceramic Coating

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:12:49 GMT

In our previous blog we talked about ceramic coating your interior in order to save you time and money. It saves time and money by reducing the amount of time and products needed to keep your interior clean. Now we will ...

Wait, You Can Ceramic Coat Your Interior?

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:12:45 GMT

In our previous blog we mentioned how difficult it is to keep your interior clean. Black interiors show everything and fade easily. The better quality the material the quicker it gets dirty. Frequent cleanings are far be...

Why Is My Interior So Hard To Clean?

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:12:42 GMT

I recently bought a 2013 Volvo S60. I absolutely love Volvos. I love how they handle to road. I could drive it all day. It looks good, handles great and makes me enjoy driving so much more.

Express Detailing V. Complete Detailing

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:12:39 GMT

There are 2 forms or perspectives or ways of thinking when looking at the cleanliness of your vehicle. The first perspective are those who make their car clean. Maybe they use it hard or wait for the car to become imposs...

Preparing your Vehicle for Winter: Idiotic or Important?

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:12:38 GMT

Winter weather brings many challenges to your vehicle's paintwork - salt, snow, ice and chemicals. Winter time is cold and not a whole lot of sun. Who wants to wash their car in 30 degree weather...not me, that's for sur...

Dealership Paint Warranty...Worth it or Worthless?!

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:12:36 GMT

Before we get to the main point of this blog, let's get the right perspective on a paint warranty. Most car manufacturers do not offer any type of paint warranty. As a result, the dealership is looking to make some profi...

Ceramic Coating Decontamination Wash

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:12:25 GMT

Let's first begin by answering the question of what a decontamination wash is. A decon wash is the process of using a chemical or physical product to remove environmental fallout from the coating. Everything is subj...

How to Maintain a Ceramic Coating

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:12:18 GMT

If you are unsure what a ceramic coating is, refer to my blog on "What is a ceramic coating". This blog is going to be all about how to maintain the gloss and slickness of the coating. The reality is that nature alw...

How to Wash a Car Using a No-Rinse

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:12:05 GMT

Washing a car can be both fun and therapeutic. It is the cheapest from of therapy for sure. There is no standard on how often you should wash your vehicle, but there is a standard of what you should use to wash it.

What is a Ceramic Coating?

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:11:59 GMT

So, what is a ceramic coating, what is all the hype, what are the benefits, and do you really need it?

Hand Wash Your Vehicle-Pointless or Priority?

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:11:23 GMT

Imagine if you stopped taking showers. Let's let that sink in just a little more. What would happen? Bacteria would grow and grow causing, let's say, some offensive odors. Your friends and loved ones would begin to love ...

Clay Bar-Necessary or Nonsense?

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:11:17 GMT

What is clay bar for automotive detailing? I was first introduced to the clay bar in the late 90's. My brother wanted to wash his truck so we went to the local auto parts store to buy the essentials-wash mitt, soap,...