Optimum Polymer Technologies is a well known and respected brand among the detailing community. They are perhaps most known for their Opti-Coat product that has been one of the industry leading paint coating products for years. Without going into much detail, this product previously existed in two forms – a certified professional only product which is most recently known as “Opti-Coat Pro”, and a consumer based product which was called Opti-Coat 2.0. Recently, Optimum had decided to completely discontinue their Opti-Coat 2.0 and introduce a new coating called Optimum Gloss Coat.
Opti-Coat 2.0’s claim to fame was its durable protection, however there were several characteristics that were in need of some minor tweaking. Perhaps the most common comments about 2.0 was that it felt tacky on the surface after it had dried and that it was not as visually appealing as some other products. Gloss Coat has set out to resolve these concerns by increasing gloss and surface slickness while still maintaining an impressive layer of protection on your paint, and my first impressions indicate that it has certainly succeeded.
The application process of Gloss Coat is nearly identical to Opti-Coat 2.0. Prior to applying the coating, the paint should be properly corrected and then wiped with isopropyl alcohol or CarPro Eraser to eliminate any residual polishing oils. Next, apply Gloss Coat to the applicator of your choice by squeezing several drops of product from the syringe. Note that you may need many more drops initially in order to prime the applicator, but will not need nearly as much as you continue with application as there will be residual product on the face of the applicator.
Spread a thin layer of product onto the paint, working on one panel or section at a time. When the product no longer spreads evenly, it is time to add more to the applicator. The following photo shows a panel that had just been covered with Gloss Coat roughly 45 seconds prior to taking the picture. You will notice that some of the product has already disappeared. This is the “self leveling effect” of the product. Flash time will vary with ambient temperature and humidity, so be aware of how the product is reacting based on your particular environment.
After another minute or so, the majority of the coating had flashed away on its own (I have not wiped away any residual product at this point), and only the heavier spots at the top and bottom of my strokes remained. This is common as these areas where you start/stop your wiping usually have more built up product as it is not being spread out.
After another minute or so, even more of the product had disappeared. At this point I decided that it had been long enough and I would have to level the remaining high spots. I chose to use a new microfiber towel to lightly spread the remaining product so that it would disappear. This was noticeably easier than the previous Opti-Coat 2.0 as the residual product wiped away without any issues and was not grabby or tacky feeling at all.
You’ll notice that the panel is now free of any residual product after quickly and easily leveling the remaining high spots.
This application process was repeated until the entire car had been coated. I used approximately 5cc of product on this vehicle, applying generously, therefore there should be enough product to coat even a large vehicle in the 10cc syringe. Afterwards, the paint was very glossy and had a nice slick feeling to it. I think you’ll agree this car looks great!
The coating was left to cure for 24 hours, prior to spraying some water on the surface to capture this excellent beading shot. Obviously I do not have any true indication of durability at this point, however Optimum claims a 2 year life for this new Gloss Coat, which will offer great protection and ease of maintenance throughout this lifetime.
My first impressions of this product are mostly positive as I feel Optimum has succeeded in improving several characteristics of their consumer based coating. Gloss Coat is very easy to use, looks great, and has a nice slick feeling, but my only concern at this point is the relatively high price. There are many consumer coatings that are available at lower price points and provide you with similar durability claims, great gloss, and more volume of product per bottle. Certainly everyone will value these characteristics differently, so only you can decide if this product may be the best choice for you. Ultimately, Gloss Coat should be another great option for the car owner who is seeking an easy to use paint coating to protect their vehicle from the environment.