Keeping your vehicle’s finishing looking brand new does not need a costly worth of gear or even professional help. Damage to a vehicle’s paint is bound to happen no matter how careful you are. The reason is that the exterior is exposed to destructive sunlight rays and acid rain that contaminates the paint on a regular basis.
Slight paint damage such as swirl marks or scratches can be temporarily removed by using polishing agents or wax with the help of a polishing machine or a buffing. But for the drivers who are in need of a permanent solution, compounding is the ideal solution. Compounding is even more perfect if there are scratches that are deeper than the paint layers.
Many people compound polish their cars as it offers numerous benefits – adds a strong layer of protection, permanently eradicates defects, offers a smooth exterior, and thoroughly removes the contaminants.
Wheeling is a term that refers to polishing a car with a rotating wheel similar to a professional detailer. This technique works by temporarily warming up the clear coat of the paint until it gets softened to a thick liquid that fills up and eradicates blemishes.
To avoid permanent harm to the paint, you should do this technique of polishing once a year and wax the vehicle after a few months. Following the steps provided by CarSwitch, your car will gain an attractive shine in a few hours.
First Step
Initiate by washing your vehicle manually under a shade. Rinse the car completely without drying it afterward.
Pro Tip: Wheeling can get messy, which is why you should cover the objects that you do not want to clean, like pets, walls, or nearby cars. Utilize polishing compounds and soft pads on dark vehicles because they are more vulnerable to swirl marks. Aggressive pads and compounds are suitable for light-colored cars.
Second Step
Put a slightly wet, clean pad on the polishing wheel. Now, place an appropriate portion of the compound on one body panel. Distribute the polish by using the wheel at an average speed. The technique is to put the spinning pad in a parallel direction to the vehicle’s surface in order to prevent swirl marks.
Add a steady pressure and employ a back and forth motion on the whole panel surface. When the clear coat gets heated and the paint also becomes warm, you will see scratches.
As the water and compound are placed aside and absorbed with the foam pad, the illuminated finish will appear. Stop when it becomes visible. Go to the next panel and repeat the same directions.
Pro tip: Make the area wet and utilize sufficient polish for each panel.
Third Step
As required, stop and wash off the foam pad with a power washer or a hose to avoid it from being gummed up with compound or saturated.
Pro tip: The external edge of the foam pad moves quicker, creating more friction as compared to the center, and it typically comes with less polish, which is what leads to a burned finishing.
Therefore, be very careful with delicate trim areas like mirrors, washer nozzles, emblems, and bumper contours that can be polished utilizing only the external edge of the foam pad.
Fourth Step
Rinse the vehicle again manually, including the hood jambs, trunk, and door. Afterward, dry it completely.
Fifth Step
Applying a wax coat on the paint will help to hide swirl marks and cover any other surface imperfections. Position a plush foam pad on an orbital sander. Now, apply a 60:40 blend of paste wax along with a fine finishing polish on the foam pad.
Utilize the orbital sander at an average speed to distribute the wax on the car in an up-and-down motion. Apply subtle but consistent pressure as well. Leave a sufficient waxy haze that appears when it dries.
Sixth Step
As the wax is getting dry, clean the other portions of the vehicle (cabin, windows, and more) and then erase the wax with a microfiber towel.
Do not use a rag or towel as these can mar the surface. Use touch-up paint to any remaining scratches or chips as required. Place the vehicle under direct sunlight for the last observation.
Read More: Best way to deal with your car Scratches
