Paint Sealer

[Sour_Squirrel]

What exactly does paint sealer do?

Is it worth getting?

I don't have a garage so the paint on my Sierra is exposed directly to the elements. I wash and wax it on a regular basis.

[elementaltoad]

Do some reading here for some ideas on which direction you might want to go: http://www.autogeek.net/was.html

 

There are two types that are more durable than typical Carnuba wax type products. Coatings and sealers. Sealant will last around 4-6 months, and is what I use on the cars that get a lot of rough use. It's a synthetic sealer that is much more chemical resistant than wax. It's easy to apply with a DA, and doesn't take a ton of prep - and it's cheap. Coatings, like CQuartz, will last much longer, and are much more durable, but require a TON of prep work, money and very careful application. They are formulated a number of ways as silica compounds. They dry on the paint almost like an extra layer of clear coat, and can be layered for insane shine.That gets used on my new or nice vehicles.

 

First thing to do is read up on what each is for and then figure out how much work you want to put in, and how much you want to spend. Second thing to do is get a good DA, like a Porter Cable, or Griot's, or even a Harbor Freight DA. It will make the process of prepping and applying much less painful.

 

This is a little project truck I fixed up for my girlfriend to drive that I used to learn and test on. I started with some aggressive compound, went with a medium, then a polish, then Griot's sealant, and layered carnuba on top: