How To Polish Your Car

After your surface is free of surface contamination, it is time to remove defects, staining and enhance overall shine by cleaning and polishing your paint with a pre-wax cleaner or paint polish system. What you are looking for your polishing process or pre wax cleaning to do is offer a clean, contaminant free, optically clear paint surface that is ready for protection. For proper bonding, the surface should be perfectly smooth and free of defects prior to your application of your chosen car wax, paint sealant or paint protectant.

If your car is new, more than likely you won't need to remove defects unless your car has been on the lot for a while and been stricken with that dreaded swirl from poor washing procedures by the dealership. If your car is older, it depends on how well the car has been maintained as to whether or not it needs correction or just gloss enhancement.

If your paint is free of defects you will still want to use a pre-wax cleaner or pre-wax glaze to enhance the shine and prepare your paint surface for your paint protectant, sealant or car wax. This can safely and easily be done by hand or machine. For those needing more serious defect removal, I would recommend the Sonus Polishing System.

INSTRUCTIONS

Remember to never work in direct sunlight or on a hot surface. Good lighting is also very important so you are able to evaluate your work during the polishing process.

• Thoroughly wash and dry your car.
• Use detailing Sonus SFX Ultra-Fine Detailing Clay to remove bonded surface contamination that is in the way of polishing your paint.
• Choose and about a 2' by 2' area on the surface to begin your process. Usually the worst area is your best choice.
• With painter’s tape, tape off any sharp edges and trim to avoid staining trim, build up in cracks and crevices and pad damage.
• Select the proper polish and polishing pad based on your surface evaluation to start your process.
• Adjust your speed setting according to the “Recommended Speed Setting Guide” below.
• Place the pad on the surface of the paint.
• Turn on the power switch. WARNING! Never lift the polisher off the surface of your paint while it is turned on!
• When removing any type of defect, apply medium pressure while polishing and move in SLOW overlapping motions according to the “Recommended Paint Polishing Pattern Guide” below.
• When the polish is worked in well, it will start to turn clear. At this point turn, off the machine and lift it off the surface of the paint.
• With a clean, quality microfiber towel, buff the remaining product residue off the surface of your paint.
• In good lighting, evaluate your work. If it looks like you need to work on the defects a little more, add a few more pea-size dabs of polish and repeat your process until your evaluation reveals success. (Keep in mind, when using more aggressive products you need to work your way down in aggressiveness to achieve your best shine.) Don’t forget, this is a four-step process but you may not need all four steps.
• Working in sections that are no larger than 2’ by 2’ to concentrate your work repeat the necessary polishing processes over the entire surface of your car until desired results are achieved. Remember areas with more serious defects will require more polishing time so be patient and allow the polisher to do its job.
• Using your final wax pad, apply your favorite car wax, paint sealant or paint protectant and allow to cure.
• Remove remaining residue with a clean, quality microfibre towel to reveal a brilliant shine!

Maintain your shine by quick detailing when lightly dusty and regular washing as needed with a quality Car Wash Shampoo, Car Wash Mitt and Microfibre Drying Towel.

Proper machine polishing is as easy as following this simple pattern and concentrating your work in a 2' by 2' section at a time. Master this and you are on your way to a brilliant shine!

RECOMMENDED SPEED SETTING GUIDE

1. Remove Serious Defects – 5 to 5.5
2. Remove Swirl and Minor Defects – 4.5 to 5
3. Pre Wax Cleaning and Gloss Enhancement – 4.5
4. Protect your paint finish from harsh environmental elements – 2.5
5. Product Residue Removal – Sonus DAS Microfibre Buffing Bonnet - 3.5 to 4

Note: Not all paint finishes require the entire four-step process. Complete only the steps necessary for the condition or your paint finish.