Taking care of our cars all comes naturally, especially if you want your autos to be in the best shape all the time. Aside from maintaining your car’s health internally, every car owner should also be mindful of the external part, like your car’s paint and overall appearance.
If you’re a typical auto enthusiast, it’s likely that you feel at ease washing your car, as well as spray-coating it or hand-waxing it. However, many of us immediately hesitate when it comes to polishing or buffing an automobile as part of correct paint treatment. And there is a valid explanation for this anxiety.
So, let’s take a moment to dispel some misconceptions about auto polishing. We’ll look at a few of the facts concerning paint repair in the information that follows. What does it do, when do you need it, why is it needed, and how can you preserve your car’s paint from potential damage in the near future?
What is Auto Paint Correction?
As the name suggests, auto paint correction is the process in which your car’s external layer are ‘corrected’. This means that minor scratches and any imperfections found in your car’s clear coat are removed and cleaned. These defects accumulate over time, but also varies on the following factors;
- Your local climate or environment;
- When, where, and how your drive your car;
- The mixture of the paints and the processes used on your car; and
- Where it stays overnight.
The process involves the use of an electric polisher, a microfiber buffing pad, and / or a special cutting compound. The car detailer will then cut into the clear coat of your car’s external paint, until all the scratches, swirl marks, holograms, hazing, and any other imperfections are leveled or removed.
What Is the Process of Paint Correction?
Auto paint correction involves a number of steps to ensure that your car is in the best shape possible. Here are the processes involved in paint correction:
1. Clean the area you intend to work on.
Before beginning the paint correction process, it is vital to clean the damaged area’s surface of all pollutants in order to get the best results.
To prevent obstructions during the paint correction stage, first perform a decontamination procedure to remove any debris, sap, insects or whatnot. A decontamination spray, an iron or fallout remover, or a clay bar treatment are used by professional detailers to ensure a thorough cleaning down to the microscopic level and reduce the risk of further harming the car’s paint. Of course, washing your car is a must before performing any sort of decontamination procedure.
2. Carefully examine the scratches on the surface
After the paint has been thoroughly cleaned, it is time to thoroughly inspect the scratched surface to determine the origin and severity of the damage. You will know how deep the scratch is and what kind of equipment to utilize after your analysis. Here are some effective methods for examining scratches:
- If your nail doesn’t pick up the scratch, the clear coat was probably the only thing that was harmed. Scratch and swirl removers, or even just a nice layer of polish, can cure this.
- The base coat has been compromised if you can see the metal portion of the car. It will take more than a clear coat restoration to repair this damage because it extends below the surface. The base coat has been compromised if you can see the metal portion of the car. It will take more than a clear coat restoration to repair this damage because it extends below the surface.
3. Level the ground.
The steps listed below can be used to correctly level the surface and will require a set of microfiber cutting pads:
- Use the electric polisher and microfiber cutting pad to apply a cutting compound, then buff it into the surface. Continue buffing it backwards and forwards.
- Replace the worn-out cutting pad with a new one when necessary. To get the greatest results, change your cutting pad every six square feet to avoid damaging the unaffected paint regions and escalating the scratch.
- Repeat the process until necessary.
4. Polish or sand the surface.
Use a car polish to get rid of dings, dents, and other flaws in the paint while preserving the natural hue of the vehicle.
It frequently requires several polishing stages to complete the task. While the succeeding, finer polishing processes remove the smaller surface abrasions generated by the polish, the first is the most abrasive and eliminates the deeper scratches.
5. Recoat the vehicle
Apply a layer of reinforcement to the clear coat after polishing is finished. The car is shielded from UV rays, other external variables, and scratches when it is coated.
Applying auto wax to the surface that has been repaired will do this. Nano ceramic coatings, which can last up to three to five years, are an excellent substitute for car wax. They are said to be more visually pleasing and more scratch resistant.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Auto Paint Correction
Now that we answered your questions on what is auto paint correction and also its steps and processes, here are some frequently asked questions on paint correction.
Why not simply repaint the entire panel or vehicle?
Before the paint is too damaged to repair, there is a certain amount that can be done. However, it’s typically advised to first repaint before touching up and fixing any paint issues. It costs more to repaint than it does to repair the current paint to nearly pristine condition, usually by a factor of two to three. In pricey luxury and super sport cars, the factory-original paint is a valuable component.
Additionally, freshly painted body panels are sometimes far from flawless and require some paint correction nevertheless. Last but not least, if your automobile has a bespoke paint job, finding an exact match without a color code can be a body shop headache.
Does the clear coat come off after paint correction?
The answer is yes. Using a cutting compound, a grainy substance, is necessary for polishing. The polish liquid or paste is evenly applied to the painted surface of the vehicle when the electric polisher is turned on, causing friction that will cut through the clear coat of your paintwork. The polishers come in a variety of grit levels; some are made to fill scratches, while others are made to remove clear coatings until the scratches are gone.
When should I get a paint correction?
Consider getting a paint repair if you notice any markings that detract from the overall appearance of your car or if it’s starting to look a touch dull. The color will eventually become less vivid, which is normal. The deterioration is typical; even car washes can cause a dull surface.
To Sum It Up!
All good things must come to an end. Like anything we own, our cars and autos require utmost care and maintenance to ensure that it is in its best shape possible. Just like how we take care of it internally, the same thing can be said to our car’s paint. Sooner or later, our car’s appearance will eventually lose its shine due to human and environmental factors.
With all this said, auto paint correction is the way to improve your car’s paint like its brand new.
