When you buy a completely new car, it looks magnificent, and it looks very nice and attractive thanks to its shiny bodywork and with the color that we have chosen in all its glory.
However, over the years, that shine fades or disappears and the general appearance is more ashy, or if the sheet metal has suffered the occasional scratch or scratch, the appearance of the car is fundamentally disappointing and unpleasant. As time passes since the car was purchased, it suffers small or large scratches that should be restored, and on the other hand, spots may appear in the plating that are exposed to oxidation, which corrodes the metal and causes major damage.
It is normal for the materials to deteriorate and the paint, which at first was shiny and with all its intensity, loses its best qualities and reaches a deteriorated state, but this problem does have a solution, and this is regular polishing and with some frequently so that the car always has a presence like the first day and looks like new.
For this we indicate a series of tips and guidelines so that you have all the keys to know how to polish a car and be successful with your work, ensuring that your vehicles always have an impeccable appearance.
What do you need to polish a car?
- Big bucket
- Soap, water and sponge
- Polishing liquid
- Special applicator or sponge
- Microfiber cloth
- Orbital polisher
- Rotary polisher
Instructions for polishing a car
- Wash the car. Before you start polishing the body sheet, you should wash the car thoroughly. You can take it to a professional car wash, where you will ask them to do a complete wash. You can also wash it yourself, in a closed place such as a patio or garage, with a large bucket, water and specific soap that can be purchased at any motor or car accessories store. On the product packaging you will have the indications on the appropriate doses and ways of using this type of detergent. With a large sponge dipped in soapy water, which should have a lot of foam, you can clean all the external surfaces of the car part by part, using rotating movements, and rubbing vigorously in the most difficult areas to remove dirt. Make sure that all corners of the bodywork are very clean, Well, later you are going to polish them and any remains of brush could cause a small scratch or tarnish the subsequent polishing. After thoroughly washing the exterior of the car, remove the foam and soap with water, for which a hose will be of great help to spray the vehicle abundantly and finally it is completely clean.
- hand polished To polish the car by hand you will need a specific polishing liquid -they are called polish, for its name in English- to do it by hand, an applicator, which is a special sponge found in any establishment in the industry, and a cloth microfiber. It is the least aggressive system and therefore, although it gives very good results in general, the defects will not be 100% eliminated if they are many or of a certain severity. It is applied by pouring the liquid into the applicator, onto the sponge, and then the sheet is rubbed with light pressure, with movements in a circle and also in a straight line, until it is observed that the liquid becomes transparent. As this happens, it ends up reviewing and removing the remains of the product with the microfiber cloth.
- With an orbital polisher. Using machines will give car polishing a more professional look. You can use an orbital polisher, which moves eccentrically, much like your hand, round and out. It is easy to use, although it has a great vibration. To handle it safely, you have to grasp the head of the polisher with your right hand and the bottom end with your left hand. You must guide with your right hand to the sides, and with your left you control its impact. You have to center the sponge well and use no more than two squirts of polishing liquid. Then you must polish by squares that are not larger than about 40 cm x 40 cm. To distribute the polish, use speed 3, and once spread evenly, work at speed 5 or 5.5 of the machine, although it is not advisable to increase it to 6. Put some pressure on both actions, and finish off by passing the machine loosely against the sheet. It is about making the liquid transparent, and when you finish polishing, remove the remaining particles with the microfiber cloth.
- With rotary polisher. This option is the most professional, leaving an impressive shine. To use it, you must hold the head with your right hand and the lower end with your left, to guide like this, with your right, and with your left you direct and control its impact on the body. It is very important to follow the thread of how the paint is applied, looking at the sponge of the machine instead of the paint, to control the rotary polisher well. The sponge should be well centered when we place it. The liquid is applied in the same way as with the orbital, spreading it at a speed of 1000 rpm, and then at a speed of 1500-1800 rpm. Once the polishing is done, it is finally reviewed at the minimum speed. The remains that arise after work are also removed with a microfiber cloth.
- With the headlights, special care must be taken when polishing and for this reason we advise you to visit this article that will teach you how to polish the headlights of your car.
Tips for polishing a car
- The sponges of the machines are easily saturated with the polishing liquid, so it is advisable to clean them every time they are used, or every two times.
- So that the polishing liquid does not get into the crevices of doors or hoods, cover these with wallpaper or insulating tape.
- Car polishing requires several hours of work. Prepare everything you need in advance and carry out the work calmly and carefully.
