How to Restore Faded Black Automobile Paint
by Heather Montgomery
Over time your car's finish will show signs of oxidation, fading due to UV exposure. Black finishes dull faster than lighter colors because they absorb more UV rays. Your paint may also have small scratches and abrasions. In three steps, your finish can look new again. If your paint finish does not have any scratches and is only dull, you can skip the compounding step.
Step 1
Move your car out of direct sunlight. Pull it into a garage if possible.
Step 2
Place the compounding pad onto the circular polisher. Work in a 24-square-inch area and apply compound solution to the car.
Step 3
Mist the compound pad with water, and while the polisher is off, spread the compound around with the polisher.
Step 4
Place the polisher on the car and turn on the polisher. Use a 1000-rpm speed and work in figure-eight motions. Go over the area thoroughly until the compound solution dries. Repeat the process over the entire vehicle.
Step 5
Spray a microfiber cloth with an equal mixture of rubbing alcohol and water. Rub down the car to remove any compound residue.
Step 6
Remove the compound pad from the polisher and replace it with a finishing pad.
Step 7
Work in a 24-square-inch area, apply polishing solution to the car.
Step 8
Mist the polishing pad with water and while the polisher is off, spread the polish around with the polisher.
Step 9
Place the polisher on the car and turn on the polisher. Use a 1000-rpm speed and work in a figure-eight motions. Go over the area thoroughly until the polish solution dries.
Step 10
Spray a microfiber cloth with water and wipe down the car to remove the residue from the polishing solution.
Step 11
Apply a small amount wax to the pad, if liquid, or use the pad to dig wax out of the container.
Step 12
Use a circular motion to apply the wax to the car. Work from the top of the car to the bottom to avoid getting dirt into the wax. Avoid any plastic or rubber trim.
Step 13
Allow the wax to haze, and then buff it out with a clean lint-free towel.
References
Things You'll Need
- Circular polisher
- Yellow foam compounding pad
- Car compound
- Water bottle
- Rubbing alcohol
- Spray bottle
- Microfiber cloth
- Polishing pad
- Finishing polish
- Wax
- Small wax pad
- Terry or microfiber towels
Writer Bio
Based in Lakeland, FL., Heather Montgomery has been writing a popular celebrity parenting blog and several parenting and relationship articles since 2011. Her work also appears on eHow and Everyday Family and she focuses her writing on topics about parenting, crafts, education and family relationships. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in early education from Fort Hays State University.
