Quick question regarding polish???
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Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 540
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From: Vancouver British Columbia
Quick question regarding polish???
I am going to clay my car today and wondering about the importance of polish. I will Wash, clay, polish , wax... Is the polish necessary???
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,770
Likes: 3
From: 3rd planet from the sun
After you clay you should put something on the finish (wax and or polish). If you are applying polish to rid yourself of swirls then I would say yes go ahead with the polish. If all you are looking for is a shine and paint protection there is no need to polish and wax. I would just wax.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
What polishes and glazes do...and all polishes and glazes have abrasives, no matter how fine those abrasives...is put microscopic scratches in the paint. Those scratches are what refracts light and gives the finish that "sparkle". Many showcars never get wax after being polished as that can sometimes reduce the "sparkle". The wax is a protective coat from the elements. If the car is a garage queen and never sees the elements, it doesn't really need wax.
Don't recoil in horror over the idea of putting micro-scratches in your expensive paint. How do you think the custom paint shop got any orange-peel out of the finish? They wet sand it and what is sandpaper but an abrasive, regardless of how fine a grit it is.
You have to determine the condition of your paint and decide how abrasive a polish or glaze you need. There's nothing wrong with going right to a wax after claying. You will get better results by using the appropriate grade polish before the wax. Different manufacturers have "systems" or matched car care products that are blended to work best together. I would suggest you stick with one manufacturer's products from start to finish on your car.
Don't recoil in horror over the idea of putting micro-scratches in your expensive paint. How do you think the custom paint shop got any orange-peel out of the finish? They wet sand it and what is sandpaper but an abrasive, regardless of how fine a grit it is.
You have to determine the condition of your paint and decide how abrasive a polish or glaze you need. There's nothing wrong with going right to a wax after claying. You will get better results by using the appropriate grade polish before the wax. Different manufacturers have "systems" or matched car care products that are blended to work best together. I would suggest you stick with one manufacturer's products from start to finish on your car.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,034
Likes: 11
From: Lewes DE
of course there is no requirement to polish (by which I mean 'use an abrasive product') after clay, but it is just a good habit.
claybars often leave some mild marring that you'll correct with your polishing step. Even if there is no visible marring, it's just nice to use a polish as a final cleaning step, a final "smoothening" step for your paint before putting your sealant on.
once the first layer of sealant is in place, you've pretty much committed yourself - so make the paint as perfect as possible before that step.
claybars often leave some mild marring that you'll correct with your polishing step. Even if there is no visible marring, it's just nice to use a polish as a final cleaning step, a final "smoothening" step for your paint before putting your sealant on.
once the first layer of sealant is in place, you've pretty much committed yourself - so make the paint as perfect as possible before that step.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,909
Likes: 4
From: Ponte Vedra Beach / London State: Dazed and confused
A polish is used to (a) remove any surface imperfections (i.e. from using an abrasive product like detailer's clay) and to level a paint surface in order to allow a uniform reflectivity (b) to burnish a paint surface to produce a shine.
Roughrider - wax is used to produce a 'depth' of gloss and to provide a sacrificial surface protection (in my experience as a Concours d’élégance judge 99.9% of vehicles use a wax or a glaze
Some prefer the 'look' of a polymer sealant, I find them a little 'flat' and they tend to produce a silver glow, but then 'looks' are very subjective.
But I will say a polymer provides a far more durable protection than a natural wax could
Roughrider - wax is used to produce a 'depth' of gloss and to provide a sacrificial surface protection (in my experience as a Concours d’élégance judge 99.9% of vehicles use a wax or a glaze
Some prefer the 'look' of a polymer sealant, I find them a little 'flat' and they tend to produce a silver glow, but then 'looks' are very subjective.
But I will say a polymer provides a far more durable protection than a natural wax could
