This how-to article is written by Jeff McEachran, the national brand manager at Gyeon USA and owner of Detail Force and Denver Auto Shield in Denver Colorado.

Q2 Pure is a part of the 2018 New Product Release from Gyeon quartz at this past year’s SEMA. Q2 Pure lives in the Professional category of Gyeon coatings and is designed for use by fixed shops or mobile detailers, as well as the advanced “Do It Yourself” detailers.

Q2 Pure contains the highest concentration of SiO2 possible by volume (which can lead to a tricky wipe off). It is designed to be installed in a single thick layer, however additional layers can be applied. The gloss and water behavior of this coating are at the highest level. The packaging notes at least 18 months of durability. I would easily expect more than that with proper maintenance. Q2 Pure can also be topped with other products in the Gyeon line, like Q2 CanCoat or Q2 Booster to take it even further.

To maximize the ease of application, Gyeon is introducing a different method for applying the coating. To be honest, we get mixed reviews in terms of the ease of application. If you are used to applying pure SiO2 based coatings in a thick single layer you will feel right at home. If you are used to applying something like Q2 Mohs, that feels very light and smooth, especially during wipe off, this will feel a little foreign and uncomfortable. I can say I felt the same, as we use a ton of Q2 Mohs in our facility, until I tried this new application method that came straight from the top at Gyeon quartz. It makes a SIGNIFICANT difference in ease of removal and has pushed Q2 Pure up my list of favorite coatings. The gloss, water behavior, and chemical resilience are hard to beat out of a single layer.  So let’s go over it!

As always, you should begin your coating application with a thorough wipe down with Q2 Prep. This will help remove any leftover polishing oils or detergents from the previous detailing step. I like to go on fairly heavy with Q2 Prep to allow the product to interact with the paint and remove any unwanted contaminant. I also use several new and plush microfiber towels to allow the contaminant I am trying to remove to be absorbed into the towel and actually removed from the surface. Using several towels will also ensure that there is no cross-contamination from one panel to another.

Now the fun begins! Read closely as this will be quite different from any other application methods you’ve seen me describe before.

We are going to place a medium-sized dot of Q2 Pure at the TOP section of the suede applicator only. The dot must be placed at the TOP of the suede applicator and not at the center. We are NOT going to run a line of product across the entire suede applicator. For this, I would choose the end of the suede applicator where the Gyeon logo is present so you can remember which end you applied the product to and which end you did not. You want to keep product applied to a single end for the next section and the rest of the applicator fairly dry.

Choose an area of the paint to start with about shoulder width wide so that it can be easily controlled. Pick either a left to right motion OR up and down motion/pattern in which to apply Q2 Pure. We are NOT going to apply in a traditional cross-hatch pattern, where we would move in both the left to right and an up to down motion. We are not looking to level the coating at this stage, simply apply a good amount to the paint. Move your suede applicator and your dot of product over the paint in whichever motion you choose for ONE pass, and make sure to overlap just a bit so you don’t miss any coverage.

Now, wait approximately 20-30 seconds. If your humidity level is high I would start this next step a bit sooner.

This next step is the most important, and where the most intention should be placed. Taking your same suede applicator with your applied dot, and without adding any more product, we are going to run the applicator over the previously applied area in very tight and even circles. We are looking to perfectly level the coating here. You will produce a very even and cloudy surface, where there are no high spots or “streaks”. This is perfect leveling of the coating.

After you feel like you have left a very even surface, which should take about 10-15 seconds of working the applicator in a circular motion, you are ready for the final wipe off. I suggest using a Q2 SoftWipe for this process as the long fibers are highly absorbent. We have tried every other towel from Gyeon and the SoftWipe performs the best in this scenario. I also use a hand held light, where I can see any remaining product left on the panel.

The wipe off of Q2 Pure will feel much easier with this application method. It is worth applying Q2 Pure using the traditional cross-hatch method on another area of the car just to feel the difference in ease of removal.

Once the area is complete, you move around the vehicle in the exact same fashion. Apply another dot to the top of your applicator and follow the steps above! When complete, you will have an incredibly glossy and super thick layer of pure SiO2 protection and performance. This process will also work great for Q2 ONE.