Paint Polish

Many people mistakenly think that waxing is what makes a car look good.  While it's true that a quick coat of wax will make a car shine for a while, it's polishing that really makes paint look sharp.

Reasons to Polish Your Car's Paint

Many people believe that cars come off the assembly line with perfect paint.  That's far from the case.  There are many conditions that cause minor paint flaws requiring additional finishing work.  Dust nibs (small particles that land in the paint while it is still wet) are a good example.  Most car manufacturers take care of these problems at the factory using abrasive finishing materials.  Sometimes it is the car dealer who recognizes the flaw and fixes it.Throw away everything Dad ever taught you about polishing your car, because the rules have changed dramatically in the past 10 years.  There are three important changes that have made a significant impact on paint polishing.

First, modern car paint systems are no longer petroleum-based coatings.  All new car paint systems are water-based urethanes.  Equally important, almost all cars rolling off the assembly line today have a multistage paint that includes a top clear coat.

Second, production of man-made micro abrasives has been perfected.  Abrasive manufacturers are making micro abrasives engineered to an exact size and shape to produce a consistent cut.

Third, the microfiber cloth industry began producing cloth materials specifically for polishing applications.  Traditional cotton terry cloth is not only yesterday's rag, it is also many times more likely to scratch modern paint finishes than a quality microfiber polishing cloth.

Here is a list of problems that can be fixed or improved through abrasive polishing:

• Scratches - Surface abrasions that do not extend past the first 25% of top coat material can be fully repaired by polishing.  Deeper scratches can be improved as long as they do not fully penetrate the color coat into the primer.
• Scuffs and rub marks - Scuffs are broad, shallow surface abrasions that are easily repaired by polishing.  Rub marks are commonly caused by shoe heels (getting in and out of the car) or the bumpers of other cars.  The rub mark is generally a transfer of rubber or other vinyl material to the paint surface.  Rub marks are easily removed by compounding and polishing.
• Micro marring - Micro marring, also known as swirl marks and spider webbing, means very small scratches in the paint's surface.  Micro marring is created by machine compounding and in everyday use and maintenance of the vehicle.  Micro marring is easily removed by compounding and polishing.
• Etching - Paint etching is a common problem caused by hard water (tap water) or acidic water (acid rain).  Bird droppings are another common cause of paint etching.  Depending on the severity of the etching, polishing will repair or lessen the appearance of etched spots.
• Dust nibs - Small particles of dust and other foreign material that land on the paint during the painting process create small nibs on the surface.  Wet sanding, compounding and polishing will remove the visible portion of the nib and level the paint.
• Orange peel - When a car is painted, the paint is applied at a consistency and thickness that allows the paint to flow (briefly) and level.  If the paint is applied too heavily, sags and runs will result.  If applied too thinly, the paint does not properly flow and level, causing an uneven surface called orange peel.  If the orange peel is not severe, abrasives can be used to level and glaze the finish to match the rest of the vehicle.
• Runs and sags - If paint is applied too heavily, sags and runs will result.  If the sag or run is in the clear coat, it can be repaired, but not if it is in the color coat or primer.  On a non-clearcoat paint, sags and runs in the color coat can be repaired.

PRE-WAX CLEANERS

Many people assume that detailing clay replaces pre-wax cleaners. While it’s true that clay does the heavy lifting, it does not replace the need to use a pre-wax cleaner.

Pre-wax cleaners are designed to remove old wax, embedded dirt and light stains from your paint. They also help to restore gloss and remove light surface imperfections.

Pre-wax cleaners are a combination of light polishing material and cleaning solvents. Most of their cleaning ability is provided by the cleaning solvents, not the polish. The polish is so light that you would have to rub for hours to remove swirl marks. In fact, you could use pre-wax cleaners every month and not measurably reduce paint thickness.

I recommend using a pre-wax cleaner after detailing clay and before waxing. If your paint is in excellent condition, a good pre-wax cleaner will keep it healthy so you can avoid having to use heavier polishes

Car Wash Shampoos (soap) - A car shampoo is a mild soap (not detergent) formulated to gently clean, lubricate and restore gloss.

Car Tire & Wheel Cleaners

A tire cleaner is a detergent that removes old tire dressing and the nasty brown film that forms on tires.  Read the label on tire-cleaning products carefully.  If a tire cleaner contains petrochemicals, bleach or abrasives, I don't recommend using it.  They will harm your wheels and cause your tires to dry out and prematurely crack.  Likewise, I'm not a fan of using wheel cleaner to clean my tires.  While it works okay, most wheel cleaners are too expensive for cleaning the tires, and the cleaning formula is not exactly right.

Wheels need a strong cleaner that can break the bond between brake dust, road tar, road grime and the wheel.  Wheel cleaners come in two basic formulas: acid cleaners and acid-free cleaners.  Acid cleaners are very strong and work without much agitation.  Care must be taken not to use acid cleaners on wheels with pitted or chipped surfaces.  The acid will migrate into any fissures and accentuate flaking and peeling of surface coatings.  Non-acidic cleaners are mild solutions of alkaline solvent.  These solutions creep under brake dust to loosen and lift.  Non-acidic cleaners require some surface agitation (brush or sponge), but are safer to use than acidic cleaners and will not etch the wheel's finish.

Engine  Cleaners

Some people would never think to clean their engine or undercarriage, even though it's the dirtiest part of their car.  I think it's a good practice for preventive maintenance to regularly detail these areas.

Car Leather & Vinyl Cleaners

Leather and vinyl are both very durable materials.  Their number one enemy, however, is oil from the human body.  The oils from your skin will cause vinyl and leather to break down, age and discolor.  To prevent this from happening, you should use a mild interior cleaner to clean your interior vinyl and leather surfaces.  There are many good leather and vinyl cleaners available for this very purpose.  Avoid using household cleaners, such as Formula 409 or Simple Green, for this task, as most household cleaners contain very harsh detergents.  Detergents will damage vinyl and leather by dissolving the protective coating, causing the material to prematurely lose its sheen, dry and crack.

Car Detailing Clay ("clay bar")

Paint-cleaning clay, also called a detailing clay bar, is a mildly abrasive material mixed with a plastic or elastic clay base.  Originally developed for the body shop industry, paint-cleaning clay removes contamination from the exterior surfaces of the car (paint and glass). The clay works mostly by pulling and shearing off foreign materials that are stuck to your paint and glass.  Unlike a polish, clay requires only two or three light passes over the paint to leave the surface perfectly smooth.  However, clay does not have the ability to remove scratches or other paint imperfections.  The long-term benefit of detailing clay is that it allows you to quickly and safely clean your car's paint without reducing paint thickness.  This is very important on modern clearcoat finishes.

Last Step Products (Car Wax or Sealant)

The last step in paint finish care is waxing.  Wax is a protective substance, natural or synthetic, that provides a thin layer of protection over painted or polished metal surfaces.  Waxes can be paste, cream or liquid.  A pure wax does not contain solvents or abrasives for cleaning like a cleaning wax.  Many people mistakenly assume the term pure wax means that the wax contains nothing but pure carnauba wax or pure beeswax, but this is not the case.  All waxes are blends of different substances.

Synthetic waxes, often called sealants, serve the same purpose as natural waxes.  However, they are often formulated with superior durability.  Most commonly, synthetic waxes contain polymers or acrylic compounds to create a sophisticated surface coating  with exceptional gloss and slickness.