I have been reading a lot of threads on my forum lately that basically start with people asking "what polish should I use?" I could not help but think, how do I best avoid using a harsh car polish all together?
I think it 's time to a completely different discussion about car polishing. What I strive to achieve is the highest level of paint perfection without altering the structure of the vehicle & # 39; s paint. Once I get there, I want to to use the proper tools and techniques to keep my paint looking perfect.
I am afraid to take care not to overtake it. I need to maintain a deep-looking finish. I 'm career of spot treatment. I rarely take an abrasive polishing compound to an entity body panel, or worse, the whole car. It is is not necessary.
I have the distinct feeling from reading many forum threads that people are buying step 1-2-3 products and using all of them because that & paint polish appropriate car care.
RULE 1: Do less damage than the damage that already exists.
So, why is it that so many people are willing to reach for a harsh compound as the first step. .. when should the last resort?
The polishing (gloss enhancing) action is a combination of chemical cleaners that remove embedded dirt and a My two favorite products are Klasse All-In-One and P21S Paintwork Cleansing Lotion. There are many others.
RULE 2: Do not remove more clear topcoat than necessary ... you may need it some day!
In the car detailing circles we all talk about gloss, depth and clarity, but are you stopping to think about what you might might be doing to each of these final finish characteristics each time you take an abrasive polish to your paint? gloss, but it & # 39; s coming at the expense of depth and maybe even paint finish clarity.
When you use these polishing compounds by hands or with a dual-action car polisher, you put scratches in your paint finish that using will not use out by using the next polish up in the line. So, what & # 39; s the solution?
They must be avoided. They should be avoided. There must be avoided. .
Remove 1-2 thousandths of an inch of the clear finish happiness in a matter of seconds (6/1000) with an abrasive polish.
He said "..." said said He said "Lotus SC. I used a spot pad and a corrective polish to pull most of the scratch out so it would pass the 5 foot test. But I can still see a trace of the scratch close-up ... "I explained that more than we risked thinning the clearcoat and creating a patch of paint that no longer matches the rest of the finish.
Sometimes, enough is enough. The real skill in auto detailing is learning how to read the paint and knowing what the final result will be you you use a product.
RULE 3: Know for a fact what tasks the products you 're using were designed to perform.
If so, what are the equivalent specs, rotation speed and polish time to to 2400 grit sanding marks? remove your 5000 grit equivalent swirl marks?
Are you using a refinisher ???????????????????????????????? so so, can your your foam cutting pad valid generate sufficient heat on your DA to break down the abrasives to prevent paint scouring?
Very few others have bothered to correctly match "general purpose" polishes with polishing pads and proper instructions to create a system.
Others are designed differently, some and different size, shape and hardness. Other particles are designed to break down into smaller, finer abrasives as the polish is applied. at the same rate.
CAR PAINT CARE WITHOUT ABRASIVES
Mostly washing and wax tools (wash mitts, applicators, towels, etc.) and cautious parking . Nothing will swirl a paint finish faster than a bad wash mitt or drying towels.
When you park it from soccer moms and shopping carts, you can keep the finish free of light surface damage for a long time. When your paint does not get marred, the problem can be locally treated by hand or with a spot pad with a corrective polish.
One approach to this problem is to use "cover-up" products. Many car wax products can be layered to help cover minor surface marring. My favorite combination is is Klasse All-In-One followed by P21S Carnauba Wax. Others swear by the Zaino Show Car polish system (Z-2, Z-5 and others).
I offer the following tips for proper long-term paint finish on both new and like-new cars:
- Wash weekly (as possible) using a quality car wash, wash mitt and drying towels.
- Deep clean paint twice a year with detaileding clay.
- Polish paint 3-4 times a year with a pre-wax, non-abrasive polish.
- Seal paint 3-4 times a year with a quality paint sealant.
- Protect your paint finish from damage by other motorists and pedestrians.
These five simple steps will keep your vehicle looking great without need to use heavy compounds for corrective action.
