As any car enthusiast knows, maintaining the quality and finish of your car's finish is absolutely critical. Even minor scuffs can drive you crazy. Don't even go there with a doorbell. Car polish is a key tool for anyone seeking to keep a vehicle in tip-top condition to maintain its value and own sanity, but when polishing a car, you need to make sure the job is done correctly.
Here, we outline everything you need to know about car polish, from how it works to when it should and shouldn't be used.
What is Polish?
Many people do not realize that polish is abrasive and its purpose is to remove defects. With modern cars, you don't need to touch the paint at all. In fact, the polishing process removes a very small amount of varnish because it is the varnish that is damaged. Polish is designed to eliminate this damage, whether it's watermarks, acid rain etchings, fine scratches or swirl marks.
How clean must the car be before polishing?
Ideally, the car should be clinically clean. That means decontamination to remove tar, bedbugs and brake dust buildup, then degreasing, then pre-washing. These are all processes that help polish and improve finish.
What do I need to do after applying the polish?
Polishing is not the final process; You shouldn't leave it there because then the paint is still not protected. Polishing is usually the preparatory stage before the application of carnauba wax or ceramic type sealants.
What's the difference between wax and polish?
Because it is abrasive, polish should not be used regularly, only when you want to remove blemishes and in turn improve the transparency and gloss depth of the paint. Meanwhile, wax adds a layer of protection to keep the varnish shiny by preventing damage from UV rays and natural contaminants.
How long will the finish last?
It depends on what protective coating is used. For carnauba wax, you may need two to three months, depending on environmental conditions, ownership, and cleaning procedures. This time horizon is greatly increased if you spend money on ceramic sealers.
Do you need a machine polisher?
For some defects, you don't have to use a machine polisher -- it's an add-on to the process -- but you'll get better results with one, and it's faster!
Is there a different polish applied to the machine and the hand?
Many better and more refined hand polish agents can also be used with the machine. However, certain polishes are specifically designed to be used only with machines. The idea behind this is that machines work to break the abrasive into finer and finer particles. Therefore, they are not suitable for hand polishing.