I’ve read lots of threads on car forums that basically start with people asking “what polish should I use?” I couldn’t help but think, how do I best avoid using a harsh car polish all together?
I think it’s time for a different discussion about car polishing. What I strive to achieve is the highest level of paint perfection without altering the structure of the vehicle’s paint. Once I get there, I use proper tools and techniques to keep my paint looking perfect.
Do No Harm
When I have a car paint problem, I want to be able to fix it without removing excessive clearcoat that’s needed to maintain a deep-looking finish. I’m a huge advocate of spot treatment. I rarely take an abrasive polishing compound to an entire body panel, or worse, the whole car. It simply isn’t necessary.
My experience shows me that 95% of paint issues can be resolved with a very fine polish, the right tools and the right technique. So, why is it that so many people are willing to reach for a harsh compound as the first step… when it should be the last resort?
Very fine car polishes, often called pre-wax cleaners, can maintain gloss without the scouring that thins your car’s paint. The polishing (gloss enhancing) action is a combination of chemical cleaners that remove embedded dirt and a super gentle polish that maintains gloss. The material is about the consistency of talcum powder.
In the car detailing circles we talk about gloss, depth and clarity. But think about what you might be doing to each of these final finish characteristics when you take an abrasive polish to your paint. You may be seeing more gloss, but it’s coming at the expense of depth and maybe even paint finish clarity.
Most professional car polishes are designed to be used with a rotary buffer, by an experienced technician. When you use these polishing compounds by hand or with a good car polisher, you put scratches in your paint finish that will not come out by using the next polish up in the line.
So, what’s the solution?
There’s no doubt that the clearcoat on the modern car finish creates the beauty of the finish. To retain the good looks, the clearcoat must remain clean and finely polished. Heavy polishing will reduce finish clarity and depth. They must be avoided.
It should be noted that a proper paint finish (primer, color and clear) is only 6-8 thousandths (6/1000) of an inch thick. Removing 1-2 thousandths of an inch of the clear finish happens in a matter of seconds with an abrasive polish.