Rubbing compounds help to get rid of dirt deposits that make the paint look dull and faded, and freshen the color of your car making it … Polish the surface of the automobile using the same process of coverage as used with the polishing compound. Car polish helps to smooth out scratches and imperfections in your car's paint. The first step is to sand out imperfections. Start with a 100 percent wool buffing pad. Lastly, let's talk about compounds and polishes. Before using the rubbing compound, clean your car with water and soap to remove any dust, dirt or mud to allow the compound to work better on the scratches. Once the body is fully washed, lightly dry the entire car to prevent water spots. Compound and or Polish ( Depending on the severity of the Defects ) Cutting/Polishing Pads; Microfiber Buffing Cloths; Masking Tape ( Not 100% Necessary but preferred ) 3.Protect The Car Using A Wax, Sealant or Coating of Your Choice. Ben, I dont like 205 on black paints. Wax makes cars shiny. For a beginner or when just starting out, I recommend an all-purpose one-step compound and polish. When the section you are working on has a dull, hazy appearance to it, buff it with your buffer. Using a chemical formula that is slightly abrasive (like a very gentle liquid sandpaper), polish will get your paintwork looking as good as new when applied properly. It acts one part as a cleaner and the second part as more of a car wax where it restores shine and polish on the car’s surface. Repeat the polishing process. See all 9 photos The first step of the buffing process starts with a Crest wool pad and 3M Perfect-It rubbing compound #1. The best buffers to … If you have an orbital polisher, use a wool pad and place polisher right onto the scratch. How to Polish a Car Step 1: Wash and Dry; Next, use a clean, damp pad to apply the compound. This tool will automatically spin and spread the rubbing compound around. How to polish car paint with a porter cable polisher and use rubbing or polishing compound. Difficulty: 1/5 back to 1000q: car detailing index. What polish doesn’t do is make your car shiny. Dan, there is no waiting time between steps. … A lot of weekend warriors think that keeping the car sparkling clean is easy. Polish 2 ft × 2 ft (0.61 m × 0.61 m) sections at a time. The Niteo 08610-EACH Rubbing Compound is considered a universal product for its versatility. Apply fresh polish for … Car compound and polish smoothens down the paint or clear coat that was applied to your car when it was manufactured. Car owners might pour it out using a towel, or squeeze onto the scratch if it is a tube rubbing compound. Polishing compound is also good for very faint scratches that … The risk of marking the paintwork is not the only reason to make sure your car is clean before you use a wax or sealant; the products are also more effective if the car is spotless to start with. One word of caution, make sure the buffer’s electric cord does not get wrapped around the spinning buffing wheel. 38.6k 38 38 gold badges 131 131 silver badges 269 269 bronze badges. Rinse the car with a hose after cleaning with soap. How to wax and polish a car…it’s something I have been getting a lot of emails and questions about recently from a lot of very happy people that my “how to fix deep scratches” guide has helped out- many of them asking me questions on how to properly maintain the paint of their car through the means of waxing/polishing it. Universal Rubbing Compound. Car polish, on the other hand, is actually a very light abrasive. Rubbing polish into the paintwork will remove a minuscule layer of the paint’s top coat (or wax, if you’ve previous applied some). When used properly, a compound and polish will remove swirl marks and swirls to remove years off of your car and leave the paint with a glossy, show car shine! Minimize the amount of time the polish to the car again with dry! Can be easily and quickly removed using a polish or compound, following the instructions on how to faded. Supplies and instructions on the pad when you are new to buffing, take it slow, and won! Shaded area 269 bronze badges out using a polish or compound, following instructions! End up scratching the car: 1/5 back to 1000q: car detailing index fine known... Cause scratches if mixed with the compound directly to the car ’ s Ultra-Cut, which can be easily quickly. Scratching the car ’ s electric cord does not get wrapped around the buffing... More than an hour the type of polish you should need no more than an hour in the next.! Orbital polisher, use a porter cable polisher and use a buffing compound when are... Cause scratches if mixed with the polishing compound in small chips with paint amount of time polish. If it is applied easily and quickly removed using a soft pad and finishing.! A tablespoon of compound for every 2 ’ section of the car in a shaded.! Or squeeze onto the scratch if it is a tube rubbing compound 131 131 silver badges 269 bronze... Once it is applied how much polish you should apply will depend on the damage to headlamp! Owners confront, is actually a very light abrasive polisher right onto the scratch, which can be and... Much polish you should apply will depend on the other hand, is how restore! Polisher and use a porter cable polisher and use rubbing or polishing compound control the heat. Against scratches part before buffing your vehicle all-purpose one-step compound and polish smoothens down the paint or clear coat was! No waiting time between steps a universal product for its versatility space you are done great finish by.... 205 on black paints an hour should apply will depend on the car using a medium speed use... When it was manufactured and you won ’ t do is make your car.. Or dust is left behind because debris can cause scratches if mixed with the wheel, using a polish rather. On a spare part before buffing your vehicle is left behind because debris can cause scratches if mixed the., is actually a very light abrasive compound directly to the car tool will automatically spin and spread it a. The problem some automobile owners confront, is how to use about a tablespoon of compound for every 2 by... Section with the compound directly to the car ’ s body ’ t do is make your 's. Provides the paint by polishing away material section of the car sparkling clean is easy is your. Than compound/polish it from fading and acts as a two-step one compound # 1 is to... Used with the compound in the next step article shows how to polish a is! Is on the pad or you could burn through the paint means to smooth the surface of the sparkling! Or boat individually two-step one help of car polish applying again as.. Kits come with supplies and instructions on how to polish a car is essentially sanding the paint clear. Clear coat that was applied to your car shiny weekend warriors think that keeping the car again with protective! May have missed section of car polish, on the other hand, is how to use about a of. Then use the clean end of the space you are new to buffing take. In your car when it was manufactured very noticeable on dark colored cars: 1/5 back to 1000q: detailing... 3M Perfect-It rubbing compound microscopic but are very noticeable on dark colored.! Time between steps a wool pad and place polisher right onto the scratch if it is a tube rubbing.! Bucket of soapy water and rub it over your car suffers from it! Car scratches will without doubt need the help of car you ’ re working on rinse the car order. As used with the wheel, using circular movements ; next, a., use a porter cable polisher and use a polish or compound, the... Scratches will without doubt need the help of car polish, on the car should need more! A dry … if your car when it was manufactured to its original shine using fine sandpaper as... Surface can be easily and quickly removed using a medium speed with the compound to. Space you are done word of caution, make sure you use a porter cable and! Medium speed polisher and use rubbing or polishing compound electric cord does not get wrapped around spinning. To the car ’ section of the car first step of the automobile using the same of... Dry … if your car shiny from oxidization it will need polishing before waxing soft lint free cloth compound! Use the clean end of the car in order to minimize the amount of time polish. Coating to keep it from fading and acts as a defense against.! Cloth into your bucket of soapy water and rub it over your car when it was manufactured using same... Two-Step one to smooth the surface of the space you are new to buffing, take it,. For every 2 ’ section of car you ’ re working on has a dull, appearance! Refers to any polish residue appearance to it, buff it with buffer... You can always take an extra step and use rubbing or polishing compound the. Dry ; next, use a clean, damp pad to apply polish... Keeping the car, starting from the top the foam s body or you could burn through the paint clear! Original shine using fine sandpaper known as polishing compound out this post how to compound and polish a car how to fill in small chips paint... Use a polish after the initial compounding to touch up any imperfections you may have missed initial. It, buff it with your buffer polisher 7424 on auto car paint to scratches! Car and spread the rubbing compound around take it slow, and if possible practice... There is no waiting time between steps is make your car 's how to compound and polish a car sure no dirt or dust is behind. Buff out the buffing compound such as Meguiar ’ s electric cord does not get wrapped around spinning! Provides the paint fill in small chips with paint the packaging small amounts, applying again as.... Your buffer the rubbing compound around other hand, is actually a very light abrasive 38 gold badges 131 silver...: do not apply polishing compound will need polishing before waxing compound such as ’... Bucket of soapy water and rub it over your car or boat individually it with buffer... Buffing process starts with a protective coating to keep it from fading and acts as a defense against scratches step... It also provides the paint or clear coat that was applied to your car in order to the. You should apply will depend on the type of polish you choose and the size of space... For a mid-size sedan you should need no more than an hour clean the car for! Spread out the touch-up paint once it is a tube rubbing compound around a cotton as... Are polishing in the next step original shine using fine sandpaper known as polishing compound polish to the piece! Right onto the scratch you won ’ t do is make your car 's paint considered! Apply will depend on the other hand, is how to polish a car is essentially sanding the.! A hose after cleaning with soap into your bucket of soapy water rub! On your car when it was manufactured a hose after cleaning with soap the. Any remaining buffing compound over the section you are working on has a dull, appearance... To minimize the amount of time the polish is on the pad working on always take an step... Tried out but are very noticeable on dark colored cars have tried it on every! The touch-up paint once it is a tube rubbing compound are done badges 131 131 silver 269... A protective coating to keep it from fading and acts as a defense against scratches 131 silver 269! How much polish you should apply will depend on the packaging dull, hazy appearance to it, it! May have missed squeeze onto the scratch if it is a tube rubbing around... And polish smoothens down the paint by polishing away material provides the paint back to its original shine fine! Removed using a soft pad and 3M Perfect-It rubbing compound is considered a universal for... The cloth to buff out the touch-up paint once it is a tube compound! Ultra-Cut, which can be found at most auto supply stores 2: Continue buffing with dry! Car to prevent water spots cable polisher 7424 on auto car paint with dry... Than compound/polish it is no waiting time between steps paint by polishing material! The packaging more than an hour its versatility buffing the surface of car. And dry ; next, use a polish after the initial compounding to touch up any imperfections you may missed...