Do you feel it’s high time you gave a touch-up to your car in spite of the care you give daily? Has your car become dull in appearance and lost its charm? Don’t worry; that’s exactly when the process of buffing your car comes into play.

The exterior finish of the cars will be lost over time as it is exposed to detrimental environmental elements like acid rains or other contaminants. The constant exposure to sun and other pollutants will cause the car’s paint to corrode and fade with time. In the long run, it loses its luster and glory.

For those who are new to the term ‘Buffing,’ it’s slightly different from the term Polishing. To give you an idea, your car’s paint is covered with a hardened surface called a clear coat, and this prevents the paint from becoming damaged due to continuous exposure to contaminants and UV rays of the sun.

When the surface becomes dull, Buffing can be done to remove a thin layer of paint from the surface of your car, exposing a fresher layer of paint from beneath. This makes the surface shiny again. Buffing, in fact, will help to restore the clear coat for cars and will help you reinstate the original luster and thus improve the overall appearance of your car.

Apart from the fact that buffing will make your car look all new again, there are further advantages it will give a long-lasting finish to the car, and it will help to remove minor blemishes and scratches if they are not deep. Buffing of your cars should be done every 2 to 3 months to yield better results.

Now we will go into the details; let’s gather the required materials before starting the process of buffing:

1. Manual Buffing

Materials required: Bucket of warm water, buffing compound, polishing pads, car wash soap, and Microfiber cloth.

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• Wash your car: Rinse off loose dirt on the entire surface of your car using a hose or a pressure washer. Take a bucket of water and add car washing soap, then start wiping off the stuck-on particles from the top of the car to the bottom by using a soft car wash sponge or a car wash mitt.
• Dry your car carefully: After your car is washed thoroughly, dry it by wiping it with a dry microfiber cloth. The cleaner should be carefully removed from all over the surface.
• Manual buffing: Apply the buffing compound carefully to a small area of your car, smear it properly onto the surface of the car, and then buff your paint with the compound in small circles with moderate to heavy pressure.
• Dry and wipe: Apply the compound gently all over your car and allow it to dry. Once the compound is dry, wipe it off using a clean, dry cloth.

Remember that a low-quality buffer can make your car’s paint appear cloudy. Always go for high-quality buffers. One of the best car buffers available is Meguiar’s M205 mirror glaze ultra finishing polish. You can redo buffing if you are not happy with the gloss obtained after buffing once.

There is an element of risk associated with manual buffing as it is labor intensive and time-consuming, and the result also depends on many factors. It depends on your efficiency and the experience you have in buffing. But manual buffing will help you save the cost.

2. Power Buffing

Materials required: Bucket of warm water, buffing compound, power buffer, polishing pads, car wash soap, and Microfiber cloth. After washing and rinsing your car to remove the dust particles and contaminants, the following steps can be followed:

Photo Credit: http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/articles/car-cleaning/tips-on-using-an-electric-buffer/175

• Apply the polishing compound: The selection of the polishing compound is very crucial, and this plays a vital role in getting the best results. The polishing compound suitable for your car models should be selected. Apply the polishing compound directly onto the surface of your car carefully.
• Power buffing: Power buffers can be used to buff your cars to get that glossy finish. Assemble the power buffer by putting a buffing pad on the power buffer. The cloth should be designated for buffing, and ideally, the pad should be five to six inches in diameter size. Apply the buffing compound to the pad. The buffing compound will act as a lubricant and will prevent the foam of the pad and the paint of your car from damage.
• Apply and smear compound: Apply the buffing compound onto the surface of the surface of the panel and check carefully whether the complete area is covered. Choose one area at a time to avoid missing any area to get an even finish. Smear the compound using the buffing pad. Place the buffing pad in such a way that you maintain complete contact with the paint.
• Turn on the buffer: Switch on the buffer and move it from side to side. Sweep it over the surface to cover the whole panel. Work using moderate pressure over the whole surface of your car.
• Wipe: Wipe down gently using a microfiber cloth.

Repeat the step if you are not happy with the obtained finish. Remember, if you work on a particular area for a long using a power buffer, it can result in overheating and subsequent damage to the paint and clear coat in that area. Always keep the polisher in motion while it is turned on.

The high-speed buffer can be used to eliminate the blemishes and scratches completely, and this also brings in great shine. But remember, improper usage of high-speed buffers will affect the appearance to a great extent, and it will leave scratches and swirls on the surface of your car.

Random orbital buffers can be used in case you require a greater finish with much less effort. But it might not last for long.

Polishing or rubbing compounds are used to add sheen to the surface and to have an even coloring. It enhances the glow and adds depth and clarity to the finish. You can rub the polishing compound lightly using a wet microfiber cloth and remove it using another piece of microfiber cloth.

Wax can also be applied over the polishing compound to protect the clear coat from contaminants and ultraviolet rays. Be careful when choosing wax as some of them cannot be applied with high speed, which can damage your paint.

Use the right combination of buffing compound, buffing pad, and speed of the power buffer to get the best results out of buffing. Inspect your job at regular intervals to spot any blemishes on the surface of your car or whether an area is missing.

By following these instructions, you will find it very simple to do buffing. Get help from experts while selecting the buffers, polishing agents, and waxing agents for your cars. It’s always good to get guidance from an expert about which would be suitable for your car model.

The power buffer should always be held near your shoulder, and you must avoid using high speeds and high pressure when buffing. If you are a novice, manual buffing is not advised at all; you can choose manual buffing when money is a problem.

Try to approach a professional initially and observe him buffing, and slowly and gradually try to do it on your own. Try these simple steps next time and share your comments.

Do It Yourself (DIY)

When it comes to your car, you have a sentimental attachment to it. Therefore, you’ll like your car to look new and fresh from the showroom. The original paint provided by the manufacturer provides protection and decoration to your car.

However, your car is always exposed to an external environment that may cause discoloration, peeling, cracking, and marring of the paint, so you have to clean, treat, and condition the paint of your car properly and regularly. You can do it yourself if you know how to clean your car paint.

Frequency of Cleaning

It depends upon the manner in which you drive your car and how long it is exposed to the UV rays of the sun. Usually, the dirt and pollen get embedded in the painting coat of your car. So, cleaning it weekly will be your best option to keep it ever shining and glazing. You do not have to hire the service of an expert. Nobody can know the age of your car.

You need to take the following steps sequentially to make it look like an expert’s job.

Photo Credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP6GAU2mSvU

Step 1: Preparation

Select a cool place where direct sunlight does not fall. Be sure that the paint is cool to the touch. Before washing, spray enough water on it so as to remove any solid particles or contaminants to avoid scratching.

Step 2: Washing

The basic objective of washing is to remove the top layer of dirt or dust embedded over the clear coat. Prepare yourself with the appropriate tools and materials. These may include a washing mitt or a soft piece of cotton, about five gallons of water, and automotive cleaning products that are pH-balanced and non-detergent. You may also use a clay bar. Such cleansers will not strip off the layer of wax or put over the paint coat but act as a protection against the glaze and shining.

Step 3: Ensure Proper Drying

Perfect drying prevents water spots that may be caused by the deposit of the pesky minerals. You have the option of drying with sheepskin chamois pure cotton cloth or paint-safe drying towels. If you use microfiber or polyester drying devices, they may put scratches over the paint surface. You may use drying towels specially designed for the purpose.

Step 4: Rewashing

After drying, if you still find some contaminating particles, you may use the clay bar, as it can pull off the obstinate contaminated particles from the surface of your car. You can get the clay bar in a kit. Spray the still unlearned area and slowly glide the clay over the clay over the surface of your car paint. For removing heavy tar deposits, use a specialty solvent.

Step 5: Old Oxidized Paint

Your car surface may still look dull if the paint is oxidized. In that case, you may apply the polish to remove the least of the paint. For a persisting condition, you may apply cleansers and may use rubbing compounds for the worst condition, which may remove a higher amount of paint surface.

Step 6: Waxing

A coat of wax protects the paint of your car. You may use a carnauba wax or paint sealant. Wax gives a better shine and protects the paint surface for eight to twelve weeks. The car sealant provides slightly less glaze but lasts for more than six months.

How to Touch Up Your Car?

While you are driving your car, a small solid particle of debris jumps up and strikes the car’s surface. This may cause chipping or scratches on your car surface that may be too small, equivalent to a pencil eraser. It does not need a professional painting. You can do it yourself by giving touch ups. Therefore, it is essential for you to know, how to touch up your car. The following stepwise process will ease out your job:

Photo Credit: http://centerlinewraps.com/paint_protection

Step 1: Buying Matching Paint Color

You cannot exactly differentiate the color shades of paints. You have to refer to the paint code number to select the matching color. You can get this code from the firewall or bulkhead; it is a piece of sheet metal that separates the engine from passengers sitting inside. Open your hood to find it. Also buy primer, along with the matching paint

Step 2: Arresting the Rust

If you find a rusted, chipped area, gently apply a small amount of the rust arrestor over the chipped area. Therefore, the rust cannot spread underneath your touch area.

Step 3: Washing

Wash only the affected area where you are going to put your touch up.

Step 4 Pretreatment of the Chip

Remove the wax from the affected area by applying wax remover. If you find loose paint, remove the same by using a nick sander. For proper sticking of the primer, once again, sand the area with 220 grit sandpaper. Finally, wash the affected area with water to remove the wax and any debris that might have been left over.

Step 5: Application of Primer

If the metal is bare, the paint will not adhere to it. If the chip is deep, squeeze a dab of primer onto the affected area. You can also spread the primer by using a tiny brush. Then allow it to dry perfectly.

Step 6: Test the Paint

To be very sure that the color of the touch-up paint perfectly matches the color of your car paint, apply the paint on an unexposed area, such as the lip below the car door, and compare it.

Step 7: Painting the Primed Area

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After shaking the paint bottle well, take some in a shallow dish. Apply two or three layers of the touch-up paint so that the spot looks elevated. Leave it for 24 hours before you restart the process.

Step 8: Finishing off the Surface

Restart the work by slowly sanding the area with sandpaper of 1000 grit, followed by sand papers of 2000 grit and 3000 grit. The elevated portion of the spot should be smoothed to become even and exactly cope with its adjoining areas. Finally, polish and wax the entire area of your car.

It is a little complicated to understand clear coats for the car. Some believe that it does not need waxing. In fact, it is painted without pigment. And it is also known as the 2^nd stage paint. The pigmented paint is known as 1^st stage paint. Light penetrates the clear coat and is reflected from the pigmented paint lying underneath.

It backlights if there is any imperfection of the clear coat. If there is any minor scratch or swirl on the surface of the clear coat, the backlight becomes more virtually obvious.

The clear coat protects the lower coat from UV rays and harmful chemicals, dirt, acid rain, bee pollen, and bird droppings. It is a protective layer to color coat and provides additional depth and glaze to it.

To test if your car is “Clear Coat Safe” or not, take some polishing compound on a clean rag and rub the car surface with pressure. If the color of car paint comes on it, your car is not clear-cut safe. You need to adopt the same cleaning, washing, and waxing method to maintain a safe, clear coat.