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PSA: A detailer told me clear coat is a 'sacrificial layer' and it clicked
He said it's designed to take the UV damage so the base coat doesn't, which is why polishing too much is a real problem. Made me rethink how I explain paint correction to customers. How do you guys explain clear coat limits to someone who just wants their 2012 Civic to shine like new?
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loganhart3mo ago
Clear coat's only about 2 mils thick to start.
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wrenstone2mo ago
Loganhart is right about the 2 mils starting point, but I’ve seen plenty of factory clear coats that measure closer to 1.5 mils fresh off the line. You’d be surprised how many cars from the early 2000s still have decent clear coat after 20 years of neglect, just faded and chalking but not gone. The real problem isn’t thinness, it’s poor maintenance-people hit it with automatic car washes full of dirt and hard brushes, then wonder why it fails. If you keep it clean and waxed twice a year, that clear coat can last a lot longer than most folks give it credit for. So I’d say saving it is more about effort than thickness.
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