Review on Chemical Guys Gap_620_16 Hybrid Radiant by John Wells

This review also links to other products I have used as they all helped me achieve the end result. Products used in my setup: Chemical Guys VSSChemical Guys White LightCarPro Cquartz UK 3.0Torq X Polisher with orange pad for cutting and blue pad for spreading white light. Now I didn't bother to photograph every step of the process as the end result really counts and 30 photos uploaded here will be saved. I have tested the color with every new step and can understand every step. I will do my best to describe my findings to help anyone who comes after me. This work was done on a 2016 Summit White Camaro with 34,000 miles and I received the car with 21,000 miles from the previous owner. I have about 3/4 years experience in detailing, but it is not necessary to get amazing results, just enough time for the work itself. The first owner left scratches and curls from improper washing, but it was all on the surface. My process took 9 hours non-stop from start to finish, including total curing time and standard waiting time. This work was carried out on a car parked in a garage overnight at a constant temperature of 65 degrees thanks to three heaters.1. I washed the car with my standard soap and I don't think it made a difference to the end result as it was a basic car shampoo with no additives but pH neutral. I wash my car every week, even in the Chicago winter, so I don't need strong soap. I started using the iron remover after the exposure time on all surfaces of the car with some roughness and started rinsing it off with a spray bottle of water and a microfiber cloth.3. After the car was dry, I clayed the entire car on every painted surface, using plain water as a lubricant to avoid getting any extra oils or substances into my fairing. After this step the paint was incredibly smooth and contamination free as I took the time to carefully inspect each body panel to ensure every spot was corrected. It's taken a while but it's all about the prep work of polishing and then ceramic coating as that final coat will fix all your work and imperfections if you're not careful. Then I took some rubbing alcohol and went over the entire car lightly to make sure the surface was sterile and I didn't feel the paint in that spot like I used to and it was just a matter of not contaminating it. Then I took out the polisher and VSS and started removing the scratches and curls. There are tons of videos on YouTube by the Chemical Guys teaching you how to do it right so I'll skip the tutorial, I used an Orange Hexlogic cutting insert. After working in small areas and very slowly, I worked panel by panel and was pleased with the little fatigue I felt from using the machine. At the end of the day I had no desire to use a polishing machine in the total 5 hours I spent, very impressed. I clipped the paint according to the instructions and the wait time and was left with an incredibly glassy finish that eliminated any paint imperfections. This took the most time of all the steps and was about the length of my bottom feed, but I didn't want to leave a fuss and wasted a great deal of time. (A desk chair on wheels or something else that rolls makes your life a thousand times easier than standing for so long)6. After polishing I used WhiteLight and applying the glaze with a polisher was incredibly easy and not much can be done. It uses a lot less than doing it by hand and it spreads very thinly and I used speed two with no pressure but with the weight of the machine. After this step was completed I checked the finish and it was like a mirror, cool and quiet when I touched it with the back of my hand. I was very impressed and came to this thought that there is a placebo effect that this is for white cars it will make them popular but I won't think that until after I've spent a few hours on it and see the difference wanted to. From the beginning to this step I got two third party opinions and they noticed a big difference and compared it to a car in the museum showroom it was perfect.7. Then I continued that process by applying the ceramic coating and it was a very simple process with an incredibly short dwell time and the application was incredibly easy and it took a little, very, very long time. I've barely used a quarter of the evil and it always had an even layer which I kept checking in the light to make sure I wasn't too thin. I have black plastic on the roof and back of the car and I tested for a small patch first and when there was no reaction I also covered it with plastidip as the box said it was pH neutral and safe for almost all. Upon application I noticed that the plastid was smooth to the touch and very glossy (I used 3/4 coats of gloss as I wanted the gloss level to match factory white) and was very impressed. The photos provided were taken after I was done with my car all day, although it was the last step the paint saw.8. My final steps were to use a mother metal polish on my exhaust pipes and what an incredible difference it made. Later I washed the windows and interior, then the engine compartment and then the tires. Finished the day with Meguir's tire gel and then left the car in the car park before driving it as long as the time of day would allow. Overall the product combination worked incredibly well and each product used for the color was amazing on its own and combined with your other favorite of products. My provided photos are not of the highest quality as I can't take high quality photos and it was a long day and I was just happy to drive my car afterwards. I fully recommend the products and the other products mentioned, and the most important thing is the preparation that is necessary to completely clean the paintwork and then have time to devote to work during the day. I haven't tested the abilities of the ceramic as it needs to last 24 hours before it even comes into contact with water and then it still hardens for the next 5 or so days but feels and looks great. I recommend 100% and I'm in love with the look of my car.