Car Valeting Guide
Exterior Care
Polishing & Waxing (continued)
Background
What is Polishing?
A paint polish is a product used to remove small amounts of the paint's surface - at the microscopic level (it will not mess with the integrity of your paint film build).
The cutting ability of the polish will determine the amount of paint removed with each hand stroke or each revolution of a buffer, as well as the resulting finish. A fine polish will create a deep, wet-looking gloss, whereas a coarse polish may cloud the paint's surface. Each polish is designed for a specific purpose (e.g. repair or refine) and method of application (e.g. hand or machine).
Types of Polish
Always use the least abrasive polish necessary to get the job done. You may need two, even three products to get the desired results - no single polish can do it all.
Hand Polishing
Many people and product manufacturers suggest using a terry cloth towel or terry cloth applicator to apply polish. This is no longer the best polishing tool.
Today, the best tool for polishing is a high-quality foam applicator.
Likewise, for buffing off polish residue, do not use terry cloth or flat cotton towelling - a good microfibre polishing cloth is far superior and is many times less abrasive than cotton terry cloth towelling.
Machine Polishing
It is difficult to effectively polish and wax your car by hand. The simple reason is that modern car paint finishes are very hard and durable.
A car polisher has the ability to apply polish (any abrasive compound) with enough energy to correct paint defects (surface scratches, swirl marks, water spots, etc.). On the other hand, an electric waxing machine, often called a "car polisher", generates enough energy to distribute wax, but won't make corrections.
Electric polishers are very easy to use - they do have some weight to them, but you don't apply much pressure unless you're doing paint correction. There is some technique involved, but most people get it in about 5-10 minutes. The technique is to use overlapping motions and run the polisher over your paint at a nice and slow speed.
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