Auto Polishing Compound Instructions

Use a rotary polisher and polishing compound to remove minor scratches from your vehicle prior to waxing.

With time, dirt and contaminants can cause damage to the protective covering of your car's paint job. Though the damage doesn't affect the actual auto body paint itself, it creates a dulled worn look on the surface of the vehicle, making the car look dirty regardless of how often it's cleaned. Repairing this damage requires a smoothing of the small scratches with the minor abrasives contained in auto polishing compounds. With a mechanical polisher and the compound, you can reduce the scratches to the point where a non-abrasive polish and wax can then restore your vehicle's gloss and shine.

Things You'll Need

• Car washing liquid
• Rotary or dual action polisher
• Polishing pad
• Auto polishing compound
• Microfiber towel
• Car polish
• Car wax

Instructions

1. Wash the car with car washing liquid and allow it to dry before using the compound. Washing the car first will remove dirt particles from the car's surface that could potentially scratch the paint.

2. Attach a polishing pad to a rotary or dual action polisher. Set the speed of the rotary polisher to 1500 RPM. If you are using a dual action polisher, set the speed to 5000 RPM.

3. Pour a small, quarter-sized dab of the polishing compound onto the center of the polishing pad. Spread the compound over the paint surface without turning on the polisher. Use the pad to get an even coating of the compound over the entire area that will be polished.

4. Turn on the polisher and run the pad over the area to be polished. Move the rotating polishing pad from left to right in slightly overlapping rows across the surface, and then move the pad from top to bottom. Make your movements slow but constant. Do not allow the pad to linger in any one place as this could damage the paint rather than remove the slight damage you're trying to polish out.

5. Continue to polish the surface until you have a smooth looking paint job without any small scratches or swirls. Reapply more polishing compound as needed to complete the process.

6. Buff the surface with a microfiber towel to remove any dried residue from the polishing compound. Use small, circular motions with the towel. Go over the entire surface to reduce the dullness caused by the abrasive polishing compound.

7. Use a car polish and polishing pad to restore the glossy finish to the painted surface. Wax the surface to protect the newly acquired finish.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a handheld polishing pad for covering areas with small scratches instead of using machine polishers.

References

• Autopia Car Care: XMT Heavy Duty Swirl Remover #4 Polishing Compound
• Samarians Used Car Information; Car body care tips; Vlad Samarin