Get the ultimate gloss! Tips for making a car glossy.
A glossy car is so cool!!
Have you ever been surprised when you had seen car bodies at exhibitions?
Everyone who loves cars ought to think like this.
“Wow, that car is shiny and so cool!!”
A beautiful car catches everyone’s attention, doesn’t’ it? Because we can find the owner cares about it well and before everything that the car is very attractive.
The car which we said above is applied some coating to the car body.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to get an attractive gloss by only washing a car.
(Of course washing a car is the most important in car caring!)
Many people who can keep their cars beautiful might spend a lot of money for polishing and applying glass coating by professional detailers to make their cars glossy.
We cannot do full-scale polishing and coating by ourselves, it is too hard to apply by ourselves, so there is the only one choice which is asking professional. However, it is too costly and time consuming you ask professional detailing every time your car is caught scratches or glass coating starts to come out.
“Nevertheless, I want to ride an extremely glossy car!!”
“I want to make my car catch the eyes of everyone its beauty!!”
For you who think above, we would like to introduce the low-cost way and tips of making your car glossy like an exhibited car on your free time.
First is the explanation about three necessary things to make a car glossy – “car wax”, “car polymer coating” and “car glass coating”.
Maybe many people have already known them, but we summarize each (gloss, features and durability), so let’s make your car glossy by the best matched way for you!
Also tips how to make a car glossy are mentioned below, so we very much hope you will read it until the end.
You can do it by yourself! How to make a car glossy
Mainly there are three kinds which can give a car gloss – Wax coating, polymer coating and glass coating.
Before solid wax was main as making gloss, however, in these days, the number of DIY glass coating and people who apply them are increasing.
Which one is the best?
To be honest, it is very difficult to say the answer because each features are so much different. Then, what is the difference between wax and glass coating?
We summarize as below.
[ About Car Wax ]
Gloss;
Glare insists itself strongly.
Features;
You need to wipe it off after applying due to carnauba which is the main ingredient.
Please make note not to apply it too much even though you want to make a car glossy. Because there is possibility that you cannot apply evenly now wipe it off completely. Its gloss and shine are strong due to the main ingredient.
Durability;
About from 1 month to 3 months.
It depends on circumstances how to drive and keep a car. If the rainy weather continues, car wax is taken out easily. Moreover, because the oil is contained, so if you leave a car without any maintenance, it might change to stubborn dirt. Therefore you need daily washing and waxing a car.
[About Polymer Coating]
Gloss;
Between car wax and glass coating. It has both shine and translucent gloss.
Features;
It is a simple type of coating which is contained a mixture of a lot of silicon, resin and sometimes glass component, too. Almost of them can apply easily, it is finished only by spraying/applying and wiping off. It doesn’t have gloss like car wax, however, it can get strong and translucent gloss like glass coating.
Durability;
From 1 month to a half year.
It depends on the ingredients, however it is no longer than glass coating same as car wax. If you want to keep its gloss, you need to apply it regularly.
[About Glass Coating]
Gloss;
Elegant. It is moist like it gets wet. It also makes your car deep color.
Features;
It doesn’t have the glare gloss like car wax because it doesn’t include fats and oils, but, the car body is coated by glass and it makes the elegant and translucent like an earthenware.
When you apply car wax, you apply it whole of the car body and wipe them after a while.
On the other hand, when you apply glass coating, the work is a repeat which applying the surface of the car body into small areas and immediately wipe there.
It is recommended if you need beautiful and natural gloss which doesn’t insist too much.
In the case of Pika Pika Rain PREIMIUM, it is crystalized by moisture in the air, so you have to wipe off water and dry the car body before you apply.
Durability;
Around 3 years.
It isn’t removed easily because it forms the glass layer on the car body. The gloss will be lost by getting dirt under circumstances of driving and rainy weather, however usually it will get brilliance by careful washing with car shampoo and applying car detailing agent. In addition, the glass layer doesn’t drop off unless you polish it with a polish machine.
Can you imagine the product which may get your favorite gloss?
Also it might be good that choosing whether it is possible to take care of glass coating easily in your daily life.
Please make note that we talked above only for a new car which doesn’t have scratches and dirt much.
For a second hands car or a car which is covered with scratches and dirt, you need the preparation before application to make glass coating more beautiful.
Nowadays many tools and applicators are sold. From the next category, we would like to explain about the way of cleaning up a dirty car as the preparation for glass coating in great detail.
What should we do if a car has already been dirty by scratches and water spots?
Although you are eager to get the ultimate gloss, some of you might be anxious it is too late due to many scratches and water spots on your car. However, it is fast to give up!
We would like to introduce about how to deal with them carefully!!
How to deal with scratches
Scratches which are got during washing and driving a car can be removed by polishing with compound. If scratches cover with a wide area, handwork is getting tough and polishing evenly get hard as well.
Therefore, we recommend polishing with a machine on the market.
The applications with compound change a little by tools, so we would like to introduce both of them.
[Hand application]
(1) Wash a car to remove any dust and dirt and dry the car completely.
(2) Put proper amount of compound on a sponge.
(3) Apply compound straight forward.
(4) Move to a next small area and apply using steps #2 and #3 to finish.
(5) Wash a car completely after polishing and wipe off with a clean microfiber cloth.
[Microfiber Cloth application]
(1) Wash a car to remove any dust and dirt and dry the car completely.
(2) Put proper amount of compound on a microfiber cloth.
(3) Apply compound straight forward.
(4) Move to next a small area and apply using steps #2 and #3 to finish.
(5) Wash a car completely after polishing and wipe off with a clean microfiber cloth.
[Machine application]
(1) Wash a car to remove any dust and dirt and dry the car completely.
(2) Put proper amount of compound on a buffing pad.
(3) Move a polishing machine horizontally and buff the area that needs attention.
(4) Move to next a small area and apply using steps #2 and #3 to finish.
(5) Wash a car completely after polishing and wipe off with a clean microfiber cloth.
When you apply compound by any ways, please be careful not to polish too much. Moreover, please also make note that the glass layer of glass coating is removed by applying compound.
Pika Pika Rain Liquid Compound has two types, Fine and Ultra-Fine. Please apply Compound Fine for scratches or swirl marks removing. On the other hand, Compound Ultra-Fine for final mirror finish. (Application order is Fine and Ultra-Fine.)
How to deal with water spots
If water spots are not so stubborn, they can be removed by daily car washing. However, if you leave water spots on car body for a long time after raining, they will change to white spots due to crystalize minerals such as calcium when the water evaporate. We call this “Ion Deposit”. It is very strong and stubborn, so it cannot be removed by daily car washing, water spots which we said above can be removed by Pika Pika Rain Water Spot Remover literally.
Here is the way of application.
(1)Wash a car in advance and remove extra dirt.
(2)Put a few drops of Pika Pika Rain Water Spot Remover on cotton, then place the cotton on strong water spots.
(3)Put off the cotton in 30 seconds (if water spots are strong, in 1 minute).
(4)Wash the car again not to remain Pika Pika Rain Water Spot Remover and wipe off with a clean microfiber cloth.
Pika Pika Rain Water Spot Remover is very strong, so if you apply in a wrong way, the glass coating is decomposed itself. Therefore, please make sure three things, “apply in a small area”, “do not leave for a long time” and “wash it off in the end”.
“There are many water spots which we cannot be covered with cotton…!”
We recommend to the machine application of compound. We want to care your car without missing before we must do a hard work, don’t we?
[Tips for making a car glossy vol.1] Re-applying of glass coating
Say frankly, one of tips to make a car glossy is double coating.
However, the amount of Pika Pika Rain Glass Coating is only 25 ml and it is same size as Zippo lighter.
“Can it apply twice with such as little amount?”
“I feel anxious using one bottle in a one time.”
There are quite a few people think like these, but don’t worry about it!
Pika Pika Rain PREMIUM spreads very well, so usually only half a bottle (12 ? 13 ml) for applying an ordinary sedan. (Of course, it depends on size of a car.)
Though it is much cheaper than applying by car detailers, we don’t want to throw away the leftover of Pika Pika Rain PREMIUM, do you?
Then we would like to introduce double glass coating in this time. It can get more gloss, deeper color and more effective water repellency, too.
However, it is suitable for advanced people because you should set a schedule and judge if the letover liquid is able to use to apply coating. Just one more thing, please make note if you fail to apply, it is your responsible.
Then in this paragraph, we would like to explain how to apply double coating in detail to reduce mistakes as much as you can.
[STEP1] The first application of Pika Pila Rain PREMIUM
Just read an instruction and apply it normally.
[STEP2] Storing the bottle appropriately
After the first applying, please close a cup tightly on the bottle and store it in a cool, dark place such as a refrigerator. The air makes crystalizing fast, so don’t forget to close a cup tightly.
[Step3] Wait the first layer to be completed
Pika Pika Rain PREMIUM needs two weeks to be completed, so please apply after 2 weeks when you applied it first time.
If you apply again before completed, there are possibility that wiping and using sponge hurt the first layer. Accordingly please set a suitable schedule.
[STEP4] Check the leftover liquid in the bottle
Check the condition of leftover liquid. Here are the check points.
・Whether something powdery white(it is crystal) on the top of the bottle when you open the cap
・Whether liquid in the bottle becomes cloudy
Above are signs which has already started to crystalize, so please hold back applying in these situation.
Rarely, the liquid is usable but some crystals are on neck of the bottle.
In this case, please wipe off the crystals on the bottle with microfiber cloth before you use.
[STEP5] The second application
After checking the liquid and if it is possible to apply, let’s apply it immediately. Because the hardening is still keep going. Moreover, your car might get dirty during this period, so please wash your car with soft cloth like microfiber cloth, same as the first application.
There is possibility to damage the applied glass layer if you wash a car with sponge. Please be careful not to damage a car as much as you can. After washing a car, please apply the second coating on a car which is dried completely.
Please apply by following in the instruction again. However, please apply it thoroughly without any carelessness. Also please don’t forget to check whether you apply evenly. Also please DO NOT allow your car get wet for 12 hours after application and approx. 2 weeks to cure completely.
[STEP6] Finish re-applying of glass coating!
After 2 weeks to cure completely, finally double coating is done!!
Enjoy the ultimate gloss!!
How was it?
You need a lot of time from the preparation to the first application finished.
Additionally, you need to set the schedule with consideration of the weather, too. So we think that it might be hard a little if you do the second application.
By the way, the storage period is around 1 month after you opened the bottle. Though you close the cap tightly, the crystallization goes on little by little. That’s why applying quickly is important.
You must pay attention about other cases such as when you leave the cap of the bottle opened a long time and some water and liquid in the bottle are mixed together during the application for some reasons. Because the glass coating liquid crystalize faster than as usual in these cases.
It seems like that it will take a long time to do the second application when you read how to apply. However, understanding only a few points and you can get the ultimate gloss with the leftover liquid.
This article should be helpful for you who think that you don’t waste the glass coating liquid of it and you’re thinking about the double coating.
[Tips for making a car glossy vol.2] Combination with Pika Pika Rain PREMIUM & Pika Pika Rain 2
We’ve introduced the tips above, however, there is more other tips for experts!
This is a secret information which is known by only few people in our customers and our staffs. Some of you who have been reading our blog for a long time might understand it.
The answer is… applying Pika Pika Rain 2 on Pika Pika Rain PREMIUM!!
To be honest, this is not so cost-effective.
The total cost goes up to JPY 178,300 (Pika Pika Rain PREMIUM JPY 9,850 + Pika Pika Rain 2 JPY 7,980) and it is very gorgeous in DIY glass coating. (Of course it is much cheaper than detailers…)
However, its finishing become the very “ultimate gloss”!!
Now, we would like to introduce about required information and the way of applying.
[Preparation for glass coating products and each instructions]
(1)Pika Pika Rain PREMIUM – Glass coating with the deep and luxurious gloss
Making the glass layer by original method (STG method) which is the highest level percentage of glass and it forms the translucent glass layer.
It produces luxuriousness with the attractive deep gloss which people cannot help touching.
(2)Pika Pika Rain 2 – Long-seller polymer coating in the radio shopping with the glare gloss
It refreshes the car gloss quickly like a mirror.
The glare gloss is its distinctive quality and it is also different from glass coating’s solid gloss.
[How to apply]
(1)Applying Pika Pika Rain PREMIUM
Please have a look about the preparation and washing a car from our blog below;
[Perfect preparation]
https://www.pika2rain.com/blog/manual-1/
[Perfect application for Pika Pika Rain PREMIUM]
https://www.pika2rain.com/blog/perfect-glasscoating/
(2)Wait 2 weeks after applied Pika Pika Rain PREMIU
(3)2 weeks later, applying Pika Pika Rain 2
Please make note that Pika Pika Rain 2 needs to re-apply once a half year to keep its gloss for 3 years. It means that the bottle is usable five times, so please don’t use all at once!
[How to apply Pika Pika Rain2]
https://www.pika2rain.com/fs/pikapikarain/all/TOP-PIKA2
(4)Wait 2 hours until Pika Pika Rain2 is hardened
When you finish all of the works, there is your precious car with the ultimate gloss in front of you!! Moreover, the durability of protection layer is very nice due to applying glass coating, Pika Pika Rain PREMIUM as the base coat.
It is succeeded if the touch changes from squeak like touching a mirror to smooth touch!
Enjoy your ultimate gloss-life!!
[What should we do when the gloss gets unclear?]
You need to apply Pika Pika Rain2 once a half year to keep its gloss.
When its gloss gets unclear, please apply the leftover again on Pika Pika Rain 2 which has already you applied.
[How about the demerits?]
・It is unsuitable for people who need the solid gloss because this method is applied Pika Pika Rain2 on Pika Pika Rain PREMIUM.
・As above, you need to apply Pika Pika Rain 2 many times.
On the other hand, glass coating is just once application, so some of you might feel tired of it.
・The water repellency is overwrote with “Hydrophilic effect”. It means that “Water-sliding effect” – the one of the biggest features of Pika Pika Rain PREMIUM cannot be effected fully.
【Application example】
This picture is an example of combination with Pika Pika Rain PREMIUM and Pika Pika Rain 2 by our staffs.
“I cannot be satisfied with usual gloss anymore!”
“I want both of the durability like glass coating and the gloss like car wax!”
“I want make my car prominent for the exhibition!!”
Please try it if you think like these!!
[Extra article: Combination with Pika Pika Rain PREMIUM and Nano Pika Pika Rain Type-K]
We haven’t said it yet, but Nano Pika Pika Rain Type-K which is recommended officially is excellent with Pika Pika Rain PREMIUM of course!
Please use it after 2 weeks when you applied Pika Pika Rain PREMIUM.
Then the fresh texture of Nano Pika Pika Rain Type-K is added to the moisture gloss of the glass layer.
If you apply only Nano Pika Pika Rain Type-K every time you wash your car, it can keep the gloss and texture continuously.
From thinking about the durability and gloss, glass coating is the best.
Honestly, everyone has own preference of gloss. Some people like the glare gloss, but others like the moisture gloss. Therefore, in our opinion the “ultimate gloss” can be produced by sets of glass coating and glossy coating products.
If you can wash and wax a car frequently there is no problem with applying only car wax, but we recommend to apply glass coating for the protection of a car if you’re too busy to wash a car. Applying glass coating can make the gloss refresh with only washing a car when you’re busy in the worst case. (Of course, the gloss is lost by scratches and water spots on glass coating.)
Future more, you don’t have to worry about the bad effect on the car body by the glass layer because it becomes inorganic after crystalized. In car wax and polymer coating which is short duality, the deterioration and oxidation can be caused if you forget to care about a car. Then there is no more talk about making a car glossy anymore.
Protecting your precious car should be connected with getting the ultimate gloss.
Let’ aim at the ultimate gloss with DIY products!!
