A No-Nonsense Guide to Paint Correction and Ceramic Coating

Most paint looks “okay” after a quick wash. Look closer under good light and you’ll spot swirl marks, water spots, and crud baked into the clear coat. Follow the steps below and you’ll turn dull paint into a deep, glassy finish that stays that way for years.

What You Need

Chemicals

• Alpha Fallout Direct (iron & limescale remover)
• 91 % isopropyl alcohol or Alpha Prep surface cleaner
• One-step cutting/polishing compound
  
• Dawn dish soap (strong wash mix)
• Alpha Prime Graphene 10H ceramic coating

Tools

• Synthetic clay bar (or non-synthetic)
• Random-orbital buffer (cordless Milwaukee is a favorite)
• Medium-cut foam pad
• Three clean microfibers per panel
• Wash mitt and two-bucket setup
• Blower or high-absorbency drying towels
• Lake Country System 4000 Polishing Pad Washer

Have everything on hand before you start so you can move from one step to the next without delays.

1. Strip the Junk

Wash first
Use soap, water, and a wash mitt. Old-fashioned friction knocks loose dirt that foam cannons miss.

Decontaminate

• Spray Alpha Fallout Direct on wet panels. It stinks like rotten eggs. That smell means it’s eating iron and mineral deposits.
• Work the surface with a synthetic clay bar.
• Rinse thoroughly.

Pro tip: Work indoors or in shade. High heat or humidity will flash the product before it can do its job.

2. Quick Alcohol Wipe

After rinsing and drying, hit the paint with 91 percent isopropyl or our Alpha Prep spray. One new microfiber, medium pressure. This clears leftover residue so your compound bites evenly.

3. Level the Clear Coat

Gear

• Random-orbital buffer (we like the cordless Milwaukee)
• Medium-cut foam pad
• One-step compound that starts aggressive then finishes like polish

Method

1. Dot the pad with four nickel-size drops.
2. Spread the compound on half the hood to prevent sling.
3. Crosshatch pattern at 2,650 RPM, up/down, left/right. That’s one pass. Do eight passes.
4. Let the machine’s weight do the work. No extra pressure.
5. Wipe off with a fresh microfiber, then a second towel for final polish.
6. Clean the pad after every panel.

Pull the car into sunlight. The corrected side will look like new paint. The other half will remind you why you started.

4. Degrease and Dry Again

Wash the car with a strong Dawn mixture and a soft mitt. Rinse, then blow-dry or towel off. Let it sit overnight if you can, trapped moisture ruins ceramic bonding.

5. Final Surface Prep

Spray Alpha Prep over every panel and wipe with a clean microfiber. Skip plain alcohol at this stage, Alpha Prep leaves nothing behind and flashes fast.

6. Lay Down the Ceramic

• Use a fresh applicator block wrapped in suede.
• Soak the pad. Thick, even layer.
• Work a 2 ft × 2 ft section. Crosshatch pattern again.
• Total working time: under 100 seconds from application to first wipe. Hot day? Cut that window shorter.
• Level with towel #1, polish with towel #2, chase high spots with towel #3.

Repeat until the entire vehicle is coated.

Tackling High Spots

High spots look like dark, oily smears that appear a few minutes after wiping. Catch them early by scanning each panel at multiple angles under strong LED light.

• Under 30 Minutes: Dab a clean microfiber in room‑temperature water, wring it out, then polish the spot with a dry microfiber cloth.
• Over 30 Minutes: If you spot one under 60 minutes, apply a small dab of coating to your applicator, lightly buff the area in a tight cross‑hatch pattern, wait 15 seconds, and level again with a clean microfiber.
• Over 60 Minutes: For any spot cured past 60 minutes, spot‑polish the blemish with a finishing compound, wipe with Alpha Prep, and re‑coat just that square before moving on.

7. Cure Time

Keep the car bone‑dry for 72 hours. Full cure happens at ten days, and after that the coating will shrug off weather and chemicals for up to nine years.

During the first ten days:

1. We don't recommend driving the car on day one. If you must, give the coating at least 3–4 hours to flash‑cure before hitting the road.
2. Park indoors the first night to avoid morning dew. The coating is very sensitive for the first three to four days, so steer clear of rain or any water exposure.
3. After ten days you can gently hand‑wash with a pH‑neutral shampoo like Alpha Foam. Low temperatures or high humidity can slow curing, so give the coating extra time if conditions are poor.
4. If you plan to tint your windows, do it before coating. The hydrophobic surface created by ceramic can make film installation difficult once it is applied.

8. How Long Does It Take?

Expect 8–10 hours for a sedan. Full-size SUVs can stretch into day two or three. Rushing skips steps and shows in the finish.

Ready to Try It?

Grab what you need, trust the process, and turn “okay” paint into a mirror. Scroll up to view a video guide or click here.