Professional car polishing: tools and technology

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

During the operation of the vehicle, various kinds of scratches and chips are formed on the body cover. As a result, the appearance of the car loses its appeal. Serious damage is eliminated by painting, and small defects can be eliminated by professional polishing of the car body. Consider the features of this process, the tools used and the possibility of carrying out the procedure yourself.

Purpose

Professional polishing of the car body allows you to solve two main problems:

1. Remove minor paintwork defects (small chips, abrasions, scratches).
2. Refresh the appearance of the car, after which it looks like a new car.

As a rule, such work is carried out in specialized services. It is divided into several categories, namely: restorative, abrasive and non-abrasive, protective, anti-hologram.

The first option is used to level small scratches, the depth of which does not reach the ground. Abrasive processing is carried out atthe help of special pastes, of which there are many on the market. Protective polishing is carried out to protect the body coating from adverse environmental influences. The non-abrasive method involves the use of special tools that give the paintwork a shine. In this case, wax, Teflon or epoxy is used.

Car body polishing price

Processing cost depends on various factors:

• Region where the work is done.
• Reliability and reputation of the car service.
• Type of paintwork.
• Degrees of body damage.
• Vehicle type.

For example, professional polishing of a car body in Moscow will cost from 5 to 12 thousand rubles. A minibus, jeep or minivan will be more expensive to process. It should be noted that the price of the restoration option is almost twice as high as the anti-hologram polishing. In addition, the final cost depends on the car service.

Processing paste

Polishing compounds come in different types, divided into abrasive and non-abrasive options. The first type of paste, in turn, is classified into fine, medium or coarse-grained modifications. The body is always processed with abrasives of a larger section, gradually reducing the size of the material.

Professional car body polishing can be done with different types of pastes. Products differ from each other in composition, purpose and price. It should be noted that a cheap analogue does not guaranteequality result, and may even harm the body coating.

Coarse abrasive is used for leveling deep scratches, medium grit is used for minor damage, and zero section paste is used to give shine to the surface of the body.

The composition may include the following components:

• Wax or Teflon.
• Paraffin.
• Diamond chips.
• Liquid glass.
• Bor.

Features

Professional polishing of a car body requires the selection of the right paste, as they differ in their purpose. For example, boron-based car chemicals clean the surface well from exhaust gas residues, diamond and Teflon counterparts do an excellent job with dust and minor defects. The paste can be produced on a water or fat basis.

Choosing the polishing material is not easy. Therefore, before processing, it is advisable to consult with specialists or consultants in a car dealership. Usually abrasive pastes are numbered from 1 to 3, they differ in the size of the active substance. You can buy special products in aerosol cans, cans made of plastic or metal, canisters.

Professional DIY car body polishing

Proper processing is not always possible. Often the reason lies in improper car care. Bird droppings or buds from trees that have not been removed in time can cause serious damage to the paintwork. Timely removal of all caustic materials from the body will help to avoid serious problems with its subsequent restoration.

Body work in specialized services is not cheap. Therefore, some owners carry out polishing on their own. To carry out the work correctly, stock up on the necessary materials.

Main stages of work

Professional polishing of a car body with a machine begins with the preparation of the appropriate tool:

• Set of abrasive wheels.
• Scotch.
• Fuzzy disc.
• Paste applicators.
• Directly the machine itself.

The work is carried out as follows:

1. The area to be treated is covered with adhesive tape.
2. Synthetic clay is applied, which copes well with various types of pollution.
3. Then the surface is wiped with a cleaning compound and a dry cloth, which should be soft and not scratch the surface.
4. Additional spot lighting is directed to the right place, allowing you to see the smallest defects in the paintwork.
5. Polish is applied to the abrasive wheel, after which the surface is treated with a grinder in a circular motion.
6. After the procedure, the adhesive tape is removed, comparing adjacent sections of the body.

Final stage

The price of do-it-yourself car body polishing is, of course, lower. However, it is necessary to follow the rules of processing andattentiveness. At the end of the above procedure, the abrasive wheel is changed, the process is repeated using a composition with a smaller cross section.

At the final stage, the body is treated with a protective compound. If the area is small, this can be done manually. After 15 minutes, the surface is thoroughly wiped.

Rules for self polishing

When processing the body with your own hands, follow these recommendations:

• Choose your material carefully. Do not rush to buy the first polish that comes across. Read the information on the label, talk to experienced friends or experts.
• The room where the work will be carried out must be dry, well ventilated, equipped with sufficient lighting.
• During processing, you should carefully monitor the temperature regime of the polished areas, since the paint may deform when overheated.
• Before starting the procedure, thoroughly wash the body to avoid dust particles entering the treated area. In addition, the surface must be cleaned of other foreign intrusions (bitumen and other reagents).
• Do not apply too much paste on the abrasive wheel, and also rub the machine for a long time in one place, so as not to spoil the varnish.
• Do not use gasoline or thinner instead of polish, this will darken the paintwork.
• Machining is always done from top to bottom (roof, hood, trunk, fenders, doors).

Bconclusion

Body work allows you to restore the attractive appearance of the car, eliminate minor scratches and defects. Some motorists carry out such processing on their own. If you do not have skills and experience, entrust this work to specialists, even if it will be more expensive.

For example, in the capital, near the Dynamo metro station, professional car body polishing is done by high-class workers at a very reasonable price. In another area, it will also not be difficult to find craftsmen who will quickly and efficiently restore the worthy appearance of your car.