Car polishing is the process that makes the bodywork surface smooth and shiny, thus revitalising it, giving greater depth to the colours and eliminating superficial scratches and imperfections.
The principle behind car polishing is to make the paint layer homogeneous and free of roughness, and this objective can be achieved by following two different approaches:
- Filling imperfections;
- Redistributing the paint.
To perform these operations, body repairers and enthusiasts can use various products, such as wax, abrasive paste, and polish.
What are their characteristics and differences? And which is most suitable for car polishing?
Car wax
Car wax is a finishing product applied to the car body.
Initially, the wax is malleable and can be spread over the entire surface to be treated, filling any scratches and imperfections present.
Subsequently, the wax solidifies, forming a protective and transparent layer that can reflect light and conceal any damage present on the outermost paint layer.
If the wax has been applied correctly, i.e., evenly, the car will have a shiny and radiant appearance.
However, professional body repairers prefer to polish cars by redistributing the paint rather than filling imperfections as car wax does, because once the protective layer wears off, the problems reappear.
Car wax should therefore be understood as the 'finishing touch' that enhances the aesthetic and durability of the results obtained with the products we will describe in more detail.
Abrasive paste
Abrasive paste is a car product with controlled grit size, meaning it contains tiny hard grains designed to achieve a glossy effect on the bodywork without causing damage.
The application of abrasive paste triggers chemical and physical reactions on the bodywork surface that allow the existing paint layer to be redistributed and moved to cover scratches and imperfections, thus correcting them permanently.
At the same time, the redistribution of paint due to the abrasive paste makes the affected area smooth and homogeneous, thus achieving the desired glossy effect.
There are different degrees of abrasive paste aggressiveness, but it is usually not recommended for bodywork with particular aesthetic effects, such as pearlescent and metallic finishes.
Polish
Polish is a hybrid car product that combines abrasive and protective action to achieve a beautiful and long-lasting result with a single treatment.
Car polish can be considered a more delicate abrasive paste, as it also has the ability to redistribute the paint of the surface layer to remove scratches and imperfections, but it is more suitable for small/medium damage.
Similar to abrasive paste, car polish also comes in various formulations that are more or less aggressive and more or less protective, and depending on the product chosen, it can also easily remove any halos and dull areas present on the bodywork.
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