Caring For a Quality Finish

I often get asked on how to care for a paint job and what is best for the finish. Harmful fallout from birds, airborne chemicals, acid rain etc will have an effect on even the toughest finishes.

On a fresh finish, the paint may still be venting solvents for a while and should be left alone for about a month to let fully cure especially when it has not been baked, particularly with enamels. If you must clean it, use a cold-water wash and a small amount of car wash soap.

Most show cars are never washed, they are kept covered and cleaned of dust and fingerprints with a spray on – wipe off detailer like Mothers Showtime or Meguiars Final Inspection. On a car you are driving, this is not practical except between washes.

Use car wash-type soap only as these contain rinse agents that leave the finish free of soap residue and are mild and most will not strip wax. Do not use a scrub brush on paint ever; use a soft clean cotton wash mitt. Try to keep your wash mitt away from areas that might be greasy like rims and fender wells. Do not wash your car in the sun so you have a chance to chamois the finish dry. Tip: always soak your chamois in warm clean water before use, the ones that come in a tube to stay soft work well too because they stay wet.

When dealing with an older finish that has weathered and is bit dull, you may need a good compounding to restore the gloss. It is amazing how a dull finish can be restored with a good compounding. Mild oxidation can usually be polished out by hand with a good mild hand polish and some elbow grease. More severe deterioration will require machine compounding with a buffer. The new “clay” bars also will work well to clean a mildly weathered finish (use a quick detailer to lubricate the bar). A good compound job should restore the finish for years. The foam polishing pads are generally preferred as they leave less swirl marks.

Glaze is a form of makeup for your finish. Itwill quickly fill in fine scratches and swirls (even more than wax) and make for a more even finish surface that reflects better. Glaze can be applied by hand or by machine (usually with a waffle foam pad so it doesn’t heat up). The downside is that glaze will start to wear off following a few washes and flaws will reappear. Clear coats are notorious for getting fine scratches that dull the color, as the fine scratches will reflect a white haze.

Car wax is probably the most misunderstood product out there and often subject to ridiculous claims. On a show car, wax will actually slightly dull a perfectly polished finish. Most rides are subjected more to the elements. As such, waxing will help protect the finish and, like a glaze, will fill in some of the fine scratches. I prefer a pure carnauba type wax with the liquid ones b eing the easiet to use. Most retail car waxes contain abrasives so there is a noticeable difference when you use on a slightly faded finish. Stay away from these on fresh paint as they can cause fine scratches. Instead use a pure carnauba wax as a protectant.

I recommend you wax your ride a few times a summer and use a quick detailer between waxes. This will maintain the finish without too much work. If you have a car that will go through a carwash, try to use touchless only and still hand wash occasionally to get a more thorough cleaning.

The best rags for detailing, glazing and waxing are of fine cotton such as shoeshine flannel, baby diapers, old 100% cotton T-shirt material or old flannel sheets. Tip: new “Microfiber” cloths from Korea work absolutely amazing and I highly recommend them for dusting, polishing and waxing (they don’t scratch and you can wash them). These are marketed by 3M, Meguiars and cheaper versions are sold in Walmart.

Miracle paint sealants, waxes that claim to last forever with one application, laser proof coatings etc, are the modern day equivalent of snake oil, and are usually useless and accomplish one goal – separating you from your money. Keep in mind that that the more expensive the product in this case means little. With a little care a quality finish can last for decades.

John