Table of Contents
Once or twice a year should be enough to polish your car and take care of any small dings or damage if you’re maintaining it well. You might get it polished more frequently if you constantly discover scrapes or stains on it.
Also Read: Damage Car Paint: 25 Common Causes You Need to Avoid
Understanding Car Polishing
In the context of automotive maintenance, polishing is a procedure that uses abrasive materials to get rid of oxidation, small dings, swirl marks and marring from your car’s paint. It’s an essential step in automobile detailing meant to bring back the radiance and luster of the outside of your car. But it’s not all about looks. Additionally, polishing is essential for shielding your car from UV rays, roadside debris, and general wear and tear.
Polishing and Waxing: We Polish to Shine and Wax to Protect
In essence, we polish to restore the shine of the car’s paintwork and wax to protect it. The two processes go hand in hand, each complementing the other. Polishing removes imperfections and enhances the shine, while waxing seals the paintwork, adding a protective layer that prolongs the life of the paint and clear coat.
wax the car
4 Reasons to Polish Your Car
You can discover a few of the typical reasons for car polishing below:
1. Minor Scratches and Swirls
You know, those little scratches from purses, keys, etc. Swirl marks work the same way. We’re all going crazy because of them. Your car’s minor paint scratches can be repaired by polishing the car’s surface.
Also Read: Mysterious Scratches on Car:16 reasons and how to repair
2. Oxidized and Faded Paint
The body paint of the vehicle is being harmed by environmental factors, particularly the sun’s UV radiation. It will eventually begin to oxidize and degrade the paint of your automobile; it is only a question of time.
Depending on how oxidized the paint is, polishing will improve the paint finish from the surface and make the car paint look new again when it loses its sheen and gorgeous glossy appearance.
Oxidized and Faded Paint
3. After Painting Some Car Parts
Assume that your front left doors have just been painted. There are going to be a lot of disparities between them and those who are in the back. When the vehicle is polished, the colors will be balanced and it will be difficult to tell which area of the vehicle was recently painted.
4. Enhance The Car Paint’s Shine
This is more of a justification for car lovers who want their vehicle to appear better than when it was brand new. A vehicle that has been polished will always look nicer than one that has not. For instance, this might occur before the auto show.
Enhance The Car Paint’s Shine with polish
However, you won’t go as far with polishing when prepping your automobile for the car show as you would when repairing minor scratches or oxidized paint.
Polishing vs. Compounding: Understanding the Difference
The terms compounding and polishing are occasionally used interchangeably in car detailing, although they have separate meanings. To erase deeper scratches and flaws, a more vigorous technique called compounding is utilized.
Polishing vs. Compounding
It involves the use of a cutting compound, which is more abrasive than polishing compounds. Polishing, on the other hand, is a less aggressive process used to remove minor scratches, swirl marks, and oxidation. It’s typically done after compounding to refine the paintwork and enhance its gloss and shine.
Finishing polishes and light swirl
How Much Paint Does Polishing Remove?
The kind of polish or compound used, as well as the pressure employed during the operation, determine how much paint is removed during polishing. Polishing typically removes 1-3 microns of transparent coat. The clear coat is generally 40–50 microns thick, therefore over- or under-polishing can cause the clear coat to fail.
Polishing typically removes 1-3 microns of transparent coat
Risks of Paint Correction
While polishing and compounding, among other paint repair techniques, can restore the luster and gloss of your car’s paintwork, there are hazards involved. These include paint thinning, clear coat failure, and holograms or buffer trails. Determining the paint thickness with a paint thickness gauge and employing the appropriate methods and supplies are therefore essential before beginning the repair procedure.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Polishing Your Car
Polishing is beneficial for your car since it smoothes out tiny flaws in the paint, increases gloss and sheen, and gets the surface ready for applying wax or sealer. To prevent any harm to the clear coat and paintwork, the technique should be used carefully and sparingly.
Polishing smoothes out tiny flaws in the paint, increases gloss and sheen
On the other side, if done improperly or in excess, polishing can be harmful to your automobile. As was already noted, excessive polishing can result in paint thinning, clear coat failure, and other paint defects. Understanding the polishing procedure, using the appropriate materials, and using the proper methods are therefore essential.
Understanding Clear Coat
A translucent paint layer called the clear coat is applied to the surface of an automobile over the base coat. In addition to providing shine, it shields the skin from the elements, including UV radiation, rain, and roadside debris. The clear coat’s thickness might vary depending on the car maker, although it normally falls between 40 and 50 microns.
Is Clear Coat Removed While Polishing?
Yes, absolutely. Polishing removes a thin layer of your car’s clear coat. It’s how it eliminates minor scratches, swirl marks, and oxidation, which are usually located on the clear coat’s surface. However, it’s crucial to use the right polishing compounds and techniques to ensure only a minimal amount of clear coat is removed.
car polishing
Tips for Safe Polishing and Avoiding Clear Coat Damage
Safe polishing involves using the right products and techniques to minimize clear coat removal. We have mentioned some advice down below:
- Start off with the gentlest approach possible. This means using fine polish and light pressure on the surface and then gradually increasing the aggressiveness if necessary.
- Use a paint thickness gauge before polishing to ensure there’s enough clear coat.
- Avoid polishing in direct sunlight or on hot surfaces as this can cause the polish to dry out and become more abrasive.
- Always use a clean, high-quality polishing pad on the surface to ensure even distribution of the polish and minimize the risk of marring.
- After polishing, always apply a wax or paint sealant to protect the newly exposed clear coat.
Safe car polishing
Frequency of Car Polishing
How Often Can You Machine Polish Your Car?
The frequency of machine polishing depends on several factors, including the condition of your car’s paintwork, the type of polish used, and the techniques applied. However, as a general rule, an automobile shouldn’t be polished more than once a year. This is because each polishing session removes a thin layer of clear coat, and excessive polishing can lead to clear coat failure.
car polishing
How Many Times is Safe to Polish a Car?
An automobile may be safely polished three to five times over its lifespan. Depending on how thick the clear coat is and how vigorously the polish is applied, this number may change. To ensure there is an adequate clear coat, it is essential to gauge the paint thickness preceding each polishing session.
How to Tell When It Is Safe to Polish
When there are obvious scratches, swirl marks, or oxidation on the paintwork and there is enough clear coat to survive polishing, it is okay to polish your automobile. To measure the clear coat’s thickness, use a paint thickness gauge. Additionally, the kind of polish used is crucial to take into account; less abrasive polishes are safer for repeated usage.
car polishing
Can You Polish Too Much?
It is possible to polish too much. Over-polishing can cause paint thinning, clear coat failure, and other paint flaws. Understanding the polishing procedure, using the appropriate materials, and using the proper methods are therefore essential.
When to Polish and Wax Your Car
When to Polish Your Car
When there are obvious flaws in the paint of your automobile, such as swirl marks, oxidation or scratches, polishing should be done. It’s also recommended to polish your car before applying a new layer of wax or paint sealant to ensure the best adhesion and results. However, remember to measure the clear coat thickness before polishing to ensure there’s enough clear coat.
car polishing
When to Wax Your Car
Waxing should be done after polishing to protect the newly exposed clear coat and enhance the gloss and shine of the paintwork. Depending on the kind of wax used and the climatic conditions your vehicle is subjected to, it is advised to wax your car every 3-6 months.
What is the Lifespan of Car Wax?
The type of wax, the frequency of washing your automobile and the climate all affect how long a waxed automobile will last. Generally, a high-quality carnauba wax can last 3-6 months, while a synthetic paint sealant can last up to 12 months.
car waxing
Can You Wax Your Car Too Much?
Waxing your car too often is not necessarily harmful, but it can be unnecessary and time-consuming. Waxing should be done when the previous layer of wax has worn off, which is typically every 3-6 months for carnauba wax and up to 12 months for synthetic paint sealants.
car waxing
Is Waxing Your Car Really Worth It?
Waxing an automobile is worthwhile, yes. It adds a protective layer to the car’s paintwork, shielding it from UV rays, rain, snow, hail, and roadside debris. The automobile will seem brand new since after applying wax, it improves the gloss and luster of the paintwork.
Conclusion
Polishing is an integral part of car maintenance that can restore the shine and luster of your car’s paintwork. However, it’s a process that should be done sparingly and correctly to avoid potential damage to the clear coat and paintwork.
Keep in mind that the objective is to protect your car from the weather and increase its lifespan as well as to make it appear attractive. So, whether you choose to polish by hand or machine, always use the right products, follow the correct techniques, and consider the condition of your car’s paintwork for detailing.
