How to Polish Car Paint by Hand
Although polishing car paint has been made significantly easier with the invention of the dual-action polisher and the rotary buffer, not all car owners have the expertise to properly use these devices or even have the funds to buy them. In such situations, putting in some extra work and time to polish the car paint the good old-fashioned way-by hand-is nothing wrong. Nonetheless, there’s a method to this process just like using computers. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to hand-paint car polish.
Polishing is a process of paint correction in which the scratches and swirls are removed using an abrasive compound. This compound has different levels of abrasive, and they are intended to be used on the corresponding type of automotive paint, which is also classified as hard, of intermediate hardness, and soft. However, since it is not an easy task to ascertain the hardness of your automotive paint, it is always best to use the least abrasive compound to minimize paint damage.
Hand polishing is a good way of getting rid of minor clear coat scratches and swirls but machine polishing is needed for deeper paint defects. A positive aspect of hand polishing is that there is very little risk of damage to the paint. Conversely, an improperly used rotary buffer burns in seconds right through the paint. But don’t underestimate polishing a whole car by hand, because it takes a lot of time and puts a lot of pressure on your hand muscles.
How to polish car paint by hand – 4 easy steps
Step 1 – Prepare the paint
Polish works best on white paint and free from toxins. Prepare the surface by cleaning it with a car wash soap or shampoo which is chemically free. For best results, you can also steam clean the exterior. Use a bar of clay to remove minute contaminants from the surface after it has been washed and completely dried. Forget not to lubricate the surface well in advance. When the claying process is complete, clean the surface with a microfibre towel.
Step 2 – Gather supplies for polishing
As already stated, choose a less abrasive polishing product. Foam or microfiber applicator pads will also be required. Hold a few spare ones at hand in case the applicator is lost in use or it gets too dirty. Such pads can be washed and reused but since they can not be fully decontaminated by any amount of washing, we suggest one use per pad. Ultimately, purchase a microfiber buffing towel for residue removal.
Step 3 – Work the polishing compound into the paint
Put a spoonful of polish on your pad. Since at first, the pad is dry it will consume quite a bit of product, but once you’ve polished a couple of parts it will reduce the amount of product used. Don’t specifically add polish on the coat. You can work in tiny parts too. Work the polish in circular motions into the paint. Do not polish with your fingertips, but place finger face pressure on the paper. Polish that way until there is only one thin-film left.
Step 4 – Buff residue
Use the buffer microfiber to buff polish residue from the place you worked. Do this before the polish has completely dried or instead of the perfect finish you wanted, you’ll be left with a hazy coating.
Continue working in parts until the job is finished. Work in a well-lit area, so you can check your work continuously. Follow with a coat of wax and paint sealant, once you are satisfied with the results.
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