Beginner’s Guide to Polishing & Ceramic Coating your car!  

OG (old guy) detailing here, I detailed for 10 + years back in the early 80’s and 90’s and I’m now learning all the new technology of the detail world. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge!

Awesome video. Feels great and a refresher on able to use the jeweling pad on the DA. I love the opening the door tip to reach the half of the roof 💪💪

Looking forward to this, the Stack is AMMAZZING!!!

It feels so effortless when watching Yvan polish ..thank you for the knowledge sir 🙏

Yes this is the video I always wanted to see the red pad on the DA👍🏻👍🏻💪🏼💪🏼 really enjoyed it

I’ve been in the business for over 25 and I still get excited polishing a car and making it look 👀 good! I’m obsessed with all of your detailing videos. I don’t jus watch them one ☝️ time ☝️😂 keep up the good job 👏 guys

Your videos are always very informative.

We’ve been able to apply the 3-8 stack on our 3 cars (Tesla Model 3, Nissan Leaf and Nissan Versa Note) with one bottle of the 8 and one of the 3. Really amazing how easy it is to apply! And now water just beads on them - they are super easy to clean now! (We also used the 8-year on the tire rims, but opted not to add the 3 year on them… we were too tired and it was getting very late at that point…)

Awesome stuff, thank you!

Great video guys,

Sure seems like putting on a coating is easier and quicker than polishing. Awesome video of showing us how to do but your conversations during the video is very educational. Thank you both!

Gracias a ustedes cambie totalmente mi manera de hacer detailing y ahora lo disfruto, tardo menos tiempo, además ahorro muchisimo en productos, gano más dinero y no termino cansado, gracias por todo! Espero esten sus productos pronto en Sudamérica

“As an older guy those contorted positions aren’t always fun” - I’m with you there Yvan! I stick to car detailing instead nowadays!! 😀

Nothing like seeing a freshly polished car.. Btw i love sheeting over beading

Excellent video, I just got my shipment of products from you, thanks guys 👍😁

I’m more of a hobbyist/moderate knowledge. Thanks for the great video!!

First time polisher here, but last week bought gold standard polish and pads. Going to give it a try. Would love some videos/clips of those hard areas, like bumpers and small areas. Tricks for those detailed areas.

Never polished and just bought a ridgeline with hard cover and 3,000 miles on it. Not sure if I should polish before coat, but this video makes me think so following with ceramic 3 year and interior ceramic for cover and interior.

The pad washer mounted to the roll cart is petty slick. Might need to do that myself haha.

Such great content ! I'm going to do my first polish and coat here soon and need to buy a polisher. I thought DA before watching y'all and now have no idea as to DA or Rotary ! I'm obsessing over it more than anything else!

Love your videos. Always get a nugget or two from each one. I'm an enthusiast who enjoys a clean shinny car. Unfortunately, I'm in my last 60's with a bad back so I have to work sections/days at a time. I've often wondered how hard to wipe when leveling a coating. I'm old school so was used to applying wax back in the 70's & 80's. Then had company cars. I started re-educating myself by watching Ivan when he was with Optimum & now DYI. He's brought me into today's world of car detailing. I worry that I'm wiping off coating by pressing/rubbing off too hard. Trying to get the slickest & shiniest car possible. Am I wiping off the coating too?

Great video! I’m working in a garage that’s hot and humid during the summer, what temperature should I avoid while polishing and applying ceramic coating? TIA

Ready x2 🎉🎉

Just ordered DIY C6 Hydro Lite. This will be my first ceramic coating. I hope it will protect against bird/bug bombs. Yvan, Nick, Pan and Keav have convinced me that C6 Hydro Lite is innovative and ground breaking. Until now I've been foam cannon washing my cars bi-weekly and applying drying aid/toppers as protection. Recently I tried DIY Detail Ceramic Gloss and was amazed with the anti-static properties which actually keep my car cleaner than any other products I've tried (I thought it was marketing but it actually works). I've since purchased many of the DIY product line leading up to C6 Hydro Lite. I enjoy Yvan and Nick's RU-vid videos, Viewer Comments and the DIY philosophy of making detailing simple and FUN. Thanks DIY Detail! Looking forward to your DIY wax product in the future.

Nice info video u both bro❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

Thank you for all the knowledge you guys share 🙏 much appreciated! For a complete rookie buying his first polisher, can you recommend makitas cordless 5,5mm orbit, or should i choose one with larger orbit? Hopefully all your gear will reach the danish marked! 🙏

Y’all make great videos and it has motivated me to do my truck. It has some deep scuffs and swirls in areas. When doing a 2 step process would I just compound and polish the panel where it’s needed then go back to just polishing the rest of the truck?

Just completed the 8/3 stack on my brand new F350 SuperDuty. It took me 2 1/2 days solo. It’s a BIG truck! Here’s what I did: 1) Washed and decontaminated the vehicle - wash, clay towel w/IronX, rewash. 2)Polished with Milwaukee 15 mm DA gold standard and yellow waffle pad. 3) polished with red jeweling pad using GS polish and my Festool Rotex on 2.5 speed 4) used same festool rotex and red polishing pad to apply APP. 5) applied 8 yr 6) applied 3 yr Also did the windows on the 3rd 1/2 day with 8 yr only. This used all the 8 year I had. Still have a little 3 yr graphite left. Used quick beads on the wheels. This vehicle doesn’t fit in my garage so everything was done outside, avoiding the sun by moving the truck and taking a 3-4 hr break in the middle of the day. Did I say this was a LOT of work? Only because the sheer size of this truck, i.e. the hood is at least 3 times the size of the hood of this Hyundai!. I used to polish and wax my vehicles (Remember Zymol?) with amazing results but this is all next level technology. I kept thinking about Yvan saying how you don’t need to be working hard at any of the steps. It is actually WAY easier to apply a ceramic coating than wax. Will do the first wash later this week (about 2 1/2 weeks after initial app). Looking forward to a long lasting coating that makes me smile every time i wash it! Thanks for all the instructional videos. They really helped! I have totally changed my wash methods and am all in with wash supplies and equipment.

Hi guys, I’m really excited to try to install my first coating soon (thanks to your videos). I have a question, will the coating last less time on the windscreen than the paint because of the abrasion from the wipers? What do you do when the windscreen coating starts to fail?

I've been watching a lot of you guys' video as I am planning to coat my car with C6 Hydro Lite after polishing. I have a 2500 miles new car. Would you think 1-step polish with DA red jeweling pad is good? or is it still better to do a 2-steps polish with DA + yellow pad, then a rotary + red jeweling to finish? I am a little bit worry of take too much of the clear coat off. Also is it safe to polish over emblems? Sorry for many questions

Hey guys, awesome job. I have a black car and I like it slick with some hydrophobic properties also; so what would your recommendation be 1. The Stack or 2. Hydrolite?

Yvan nice video! Question: For how many cars will one C6 Hydro Lite bottle be good for?

Ivan, any plans to make those cart accessories and sell them? really like the bucket holder for the pad washer.

Two to three years ago, I put on Adams Graphine ceramic coding. It was my first attempt at coating, and I am still finding high spots here and there. I would like to do the stack, Do I need to do a two-stage polish for the whole car or just fix the high spots. What pads should I use? Can I put it on the stack? Do you have any video that covers this?

Would the red rotary jeweling pad be aggressive enough to remove the 8 and 3 year stack so I can apply hydro lite? Or would I need the gold waffle pad?. I know the stack is good enough already but it's fun to try new coatings and I really want to make sure I apply the hydro lite correctly

Do you reuse the applicator for the different coatings or do you dispose of them and use a new one? Are they reuseable after being washed if they coatings set in them?

I've only tried polishing my truck hood, once. I haven't found the time yet to jump in and wash, decontaminate and polish the entire truck. It's intimidating given the size of the truck (F150 Supercrew) and I'm working alone. Not to mention my garage isn't quite big enough to work in, so I'm at the mercy of weather outside. Why don't you use a gloss meter, like you see Brian from Apex Detail? Just curious what numbers would be behind where you started, to after polish, to after the ceramic. Thanks for another great video!

If I want to do a one step polish with a 5” palm sander, which pad should I use? I saw one video you used wool and another you used gold.

May I ask, would it impact the performance of the stack if the car was to get a little dusty in case the application was happening outdoors and not in a controlled environment? If so, is there any way to tackle this or maybe just prefer Hydro Lite simply now that it’s available?

Will a short stroke DA give a little more gloss than a long stroke DA when using the red jeweling pad? I was thinking that a short stroke DA would be closer to a rotary.

Proper incredible suds dilution in wash bucket? 2 caps for 4~ gallons? 2 caps for foam cannon?

When working on hard Mercedes paint would the gold waffle pad provide more gloss over the red jewling pad?

Synthetic clay towel on 2020 CR-V with factory "special coating." Any experience with this coating? I backed off quickly, because it felt so rough under the towel. Definitely not typical paints I deal with.

Hi Guys and Gal! Great video series! I'm just about ready to coat your 5 year coating on a 2016 Pearl White Lexus! Unfortunately I'm doing it outside. I'll be very careful! Since we are finally getting some clouds and not serious temps. Except for the constant bombardment of Just falling on the Vehicle? I'm using all of your products. ( Unfortunately I can't find a video on older ppf and how to get the dirt out?Also can I polish the PPF. With Diy polish? Please help if you know?

So cool. Would stacking 3yr over 5yr diminish the gloss?

I've never polished my paint before and intimidated in doing it not going to lie. Do you guys recommend a palm sander and a yellow pad as the all-in-one?

You mention rinsen less for damp removal of the initial coat then dry. I hate to ask a dumb question but with the rinse less wash how much do you add to the pad cleaning bucket in ounces. I've been trying to find a chart to help me understand the ratios more. Thanks

I've done two vehicles with Meguiars Ultimate Compound and Polish. Is your Gold Standard comparable to either?

If you don’t have a pad cleaner, what should you do to your pads in between panels?

I am curious the benefits of doings a 8+3 stack vs going with the C6 hydro lite.

If you still own the car, what do you do after the 3 years has passed? Is it time to coat again, polish etc.? If you don’t do the stack, does the coating actually last longer? May be stupid questions but just trying to get a full grasp. I just purchased the 8 year and am debating getting the 3 year as well lol.

Hey Yvan. I've got a dryer that does not work with heat but rather just spins at 2800 rpm for 5 minutes to dry towels etc. My question is, is it safe to dry my decon towel in this machine regularly?

At the very end of the video you mentioned a link to another video of how to maintain your coated vehicle, but I don't see it. Can you please link for me? Also what's the difference between a regularly applied Ceramic Gloss coated car vs a Ceramic Coated car with regards to performance and maintenance? As I do the former and not the latter. Thanks.

Is it ok to cover the car with a blanket or something so the dust doesn't get to it in those 2h I have to wait before applying the second coat? I live in Brazil, in a high humidity area, but it also has a lot of wind and dust because it's a litoral area with a lot of sea salt acting up around here. 2h is indeed enough for a thin layer of dust to accumulate in some spots of car panels.

Ready

I have a car that has ceramic spray on it. Is it needed to remove it before applying the 3 year ceramic? Also, would the red jewelinf pad in DA remove it in one pass?

How do you guys feel about ceramic coatings for boats being put on car paint? Supposedly they offer superb lifespan because they have to be formulated differently for gelcoats.

When I finish applying the ceramic coating, how do I clean the applicator and cloths?

Il be listening to you nick and Yvan at the same time im detailing this dreadful car . Using the air method and and vacuuming

I divide the car into sections using the trim on doors or the windows as a guide.

Would it be easier to have a single layer coating with all these attributes instead of having to decide between the 5 with the 3 or the 8 with the 3?

any tips for reconditioning headlights with your products

Question for y’all, I know yall previously recommended using your interior ceramic to waterproof your shoes and it works well. Have y’all tried it with work gloves?

How the stack's slickness compare to the hydro light? Because even if we must touch the paint, well we all do it because we like the slickness feeling!

How do you guys get all the different cars in? Do you run a detail shop simultaneously?

Been polishing paint since around year 2000

Yvan, can you please put out a video explaining in more depth about how you feel the cleaning of the glass instead of looking at it?

Can you put a carnuba wax on top of a ceramic coating. Would it damage the coating?

So you are using I spray of polish per panel right

I thought I seen video where the jewel pad on da can leave marring. This true ?

I have to admit I'm struggling with understanding how much coating i should use. I believed i have to prime the pad with 10 to 12 drops and after than use 1 to 2 drops pr panel But then i use only 5 to 6 ml on a car without glass and trim How many drops should i use on a fender or a door after the pad is primed? Thanks😊

Can you explain when you need polish v ceramic v stack - just a basic, "what situation needs what product"

After applying DIY C6 Hydro Lite and needing to wait 1 week before washing, do I just leave the bird bombs on the car during that 1 week wash-free period?

What do you do after you put on a ceramic coat and later notice a spot that you missed wiping

Not even a first time user yet. Thinking of the new one at WallMart. Getting it with my rewards from Medicare Advantage. Free to me then.

StackAliciousness !!!

"Exactly" Yvan even has me saying it lately when people are talking to me.

Where can I get that fantastic creeper?!

Is water spot remover eventually going to be sold in a gallon?

Can you show polishing the front of the vehicle next to the headlights thanks

What about polishing a 1964 car how would you go by doing that knowing paint was different???

How can I remove a 4 year ceramic and add 8 DIY or G6 ceramic to a 2020 ram 1500. Thank you much.

Just asking. Is there a reason why the APP was not used? Just trying to understand its real purpose if we don’t need it.

Rinceless wash is the truth!!! I put the 3 year on wife car first wash was rinceless

Why not use the app instead of panel prep?

Is always good sharing, but it will be great to get the camera close-up on the panel during each phases to better appreciate the progression of the work. For example, seeing the pre-treatment wipe, the flashing taking place and etc. Is 99% camera exposure on you guys......take a break guys!!

Why gold standard instead of app

First time polisher 😅

I found Nick’s lost twin! Separated at birth. You’re welcome… ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3hFh-wULTSA.html

I find doing inside a car is worse than outside especially if you get dog hair to remove. Going crazy right now!

Lets get ready to rumble

41min can yall trim that down lmao

♤♡◇♧ a PRO doesn't squirt uncalibrated amts of material to their pad like that ,spinning @3000 rpm slinging it all over the car, sht around you and yourself. 3 dime or quarter size dots is sufficient for a 3x3 panel. These guys are clowns

Nick & Ivan, can i use your ceramic coating over my vinyl race stripes without damaging them??

Have a brand new rotary still sitting in the box for over a month... Too afraid to use it on my new 2023 Volkswagen paint that has swirls all over from only 3 months using the automatic car wash during the winter. 🥲