Machine polishing, also known as paint correction, is the process of removing a thin layer of clear coat to eliminate scratches and swirl marks. This process causes the paintwork to look shinier and enhances depth of gloss. Here is a diagram to demonstrate what happens when the paint is polished.
There are three main types of paint correction processes:
1. Polishing: uses very fine abrasives to remove minor swirls and scratches and enhance gloss
2. Compounding: uses moderate abrasives to remove deeper defects
3. Wet-sanding: uses heavy abrasion to address very deep clear coat scratches
Check out this article comparing polishing, compounding and wet-sanding for more information.
These different processes can be used in combination with each other to deal with different levels of defects and address various levels of clear coat hardness. For example, a single-stage machine polish may be appropriate on one vehicle. Whereas on another car, a multi-stage process involving wet-sanding, compounding and finally polishing may be necessary to achieve the desired finish.
Auto Care HQ offers two machine polishing packages:
– Single-stage enhancement: using a 1-step polish to address swirl marks and enhance gloss
– Two-stage correction: using separate compounding and polishing stages to address more moderate scratches
Polishing and waxing are very different processes but two which are often confused. The reason being that some consumer-level car cleaning brands often use the terms interchangeably, but they are in fact completely different.
Polishing is the process of removing a thin layer of paint to remove clear coat scratches and swirls. Waxing on the other hand is the process of adding a layer of protection to the paintwork.
The main differences between the two processes being:
– Polishes are abrasive and not protective
– Waxes are not abrasive but are protective
Machine polishing is designed to deal with scratches in the clear coat layer of paintwork. It is not capable of removing scratches which are white or grey in colour, indicating that they have gone completely through the clear coat layer of paint.
These clear coat scratches cause the paintwork to look dull and are very visible in direct sunlight, often taking on the appearance of spiderwebs. These types of scratches are generally caused by improper wash technique. For example, by using sponges and brushes to clean the paintwork instead of microfiber.
Hand polishing and machine polishing both do the same thing, in that they cut away a layer of clear coat paint to remove defects and enhance gloss. However there are several differences between the two techniques:
– Machine polishing is much faster and more efficient than hand-polishing which is very labour intensive and slow
– Machine polishing often achieves a more consistent finish and better defect removal than hand polishing-
– The risk of removing too much paint is greater with machine polishing
– Hand-polishing requires less equipment than machine polishing
In some cases it may be required to use a combination of hand and machine polishing techniques. Check out this in-depth comparison between hand polishing and machine polishing for more information.
The preparation process required before machine polishing a vehicle is intensive and requires the following steps:
– Thorough pre-wash of the vehicle using citrus sprays or snow foam
– Safe hand-wash of the exterior using a microfiber mitt and car shampoo
– Removal of iron and tar deposits using dedicated chemicals
– Clay barring the paintwork to remove any remaining contaminants
– Drying the paintwork using a microfiber towel or compressed air
– Using a panel wipe solution to remove any remaining residue
– Taping plastic and rubber trim surrounding the paintwork
It is absolutely essential that a vehicle is prepared properly before machine polishing, otherwise it can actually cause more scratches and swirl marks. Check out this article outlining the polishing preparation process for more detail.
Auto Care HQ offers machine polishing from £400 which includes the application of a 1-year ceramic coating to lock in the gloss.
To book your vehicle in, please call 07894 074109 or email heather@autocarehq.com
