Paint correction zero to hero
We will discuss some of the pillars of this topic. No matter what you already know about paint correction, this article can help you. In order to become a master paint correction technician, it takes the sum of knowledge from many different sources. If you are completely new to auto detailing, then I suggest you follow this link to learn about what is included in a full car detail before returning here.
The goal in this post is to move your perspective of the topic around and show you a new way to look at an old idea. For me it was like leveling up & my paint correction skills sharpened. We made it easy to navigate to whatever interests you and skip the rest or do the rest later.
The two top questions we are commonly asked are, how to remove tree sap from car without damaging the paint and how to get rid of water spots on a car without damaging the paint. We will reveal our answer a little further into the article. You can also visit our main car detailing company page for more information.
What is paint correction?
Paint correction describes the process of using a buffer machine & shaving down the edge of a painted surface. Repairing paint is done in this way and it has been proven to be very effective. Body shops also have paint correction skills.
A worker will use a car rubbing compound with a random orbital buffer machine to slowly and evenly strip away paint. If done right, the paint’s integrity will be restored, extending the car’s paint life by many years.
If done too much, the buffer will breakthrough the paint. If done just right but the wrong way, then the paint will lose its orange peel and its hardness value will greatly reduce making it easier to scratch forever into the future.
Real life job experience is how to learn the differences and keeping these things in mind will help you approach the paint correction task differently. It takes practice holding all of these things in your mind to get better. Not just practice.
How to know if a car needs paint correction
The best place to perform an inspection on the painted surface is inside a shop environment. We prefer a backdrop with LED light bars or florescent lights. A fade board over the fixture to diffuse light intensity is a definite plus.
Slow down and lock your focus point onto the clear coat itself. Get closer if you are too far away. Do not look at the grain in the color. You should see the transparent clear coat surface like a skin all smooth and bumpy. It helps to lock your focus point onto a location near a light bar reflection.
You cannot properly inspect a car if it is dirty, be sure to clean the car very well first. Carefully scan your clear coating for defects, inclusions or pollution spots, take note of their locations & include rock chips and rust spots.
How much does paint correction cost (pt 2/2)
This is section you have been waiting for. We will use your new knowledge and discuss how to complete your journey to become a paint correction specialist. We will also reveal how much a paint correction costs in this section.
How to wax a car
Everyone knows some way to wax a car. I accept that I am just like everyone else. Let’s discuss two methods that we use all the time. Do not use a wax product on a clear coat that is heated. It should be cool to the touch. If your interested in replacing car waxing with a more permanent ceramic coating then follow this link to learn more about, we will not discuss that topic in this article.
How to buff wax onto a car
Fit a random orbital buffer with a 5″ backing disk and a new 6″ finishing pad. While in the off position, use the buffer pad to smear the car wax around before turning the machine polisher on.
Set the speed to a lower setting and buff the wax into the car paint. Make sure to allow the buffer pad to fully press the wax into the car paint. You will notice buffer flowers at the edge of the pad, be sure they are mostly very thin and mostly very even across the entire panel. At this point I prefer to allow the car to sit overnight, but usually an hour is good enough.
Final wipe is done with a fresh wax applicator pad and gently skim it across a panel removing the buffing flower residues while trying to leave as much behind as possible. With practice you can increase the wax used and get very thick coatings that can shed water for many months. This method works well with thick carnauba wax as well as thinner creamy wax. Perfect application of each takes practice.
How to hand wax a car
A get a small clean box to hold 2 foam wax applicator pads and a microfiber towel for car detailing. To apply wax, use pad 1 to spread it evenly on a panel.
Don’t make it too thick or the next step will be challenging. Also, don’t make it too thin or it won’t last long against the elements. Wait as long as your wax brand recommends and then use applicator pad 2 and lightly skim over the waxed car panels.
You will appreciate your work when the wax smooths out and it leaves thin oily streaks along the surface. If the wax is too thick, it will be difficult, and you will need to use more applicator pads. Which isn’t really a big deal. I can skim up to 4 panels from a single side of an applicator pad.
Remember you are not using this 2nd applicator to remove it all. You are using it to skim off the excess wax and smooth out the rest, this means leaving a fair amount of wax still on the surface. There should very thin streaks left behind. If the pad becomes clogged, then stop and use a fresh side or new pad.
At this point it’s time to wait 10 minutes or an hour, it doesn’t matter as long as the car is not in the direct sunlight or have a heated clear coat. If you wait too long, dust can ruin your day because the car still needs to be wiped one more time. Any small rough particles that land on the surfaces can scratch the finish when you wipe it for the last time.
When you do decide to come back to the car you will be using a fresh wax applicator to skim it along each painted surface until there are almost no streaks. A streak or two is ok to leave for now. Finally use the microfiber towel to slip across each car panel removing any leftover streaks or smudges. This will produce a super thick coating of wax if done properly.
Searching for paint correction near me
Do not search for things like car wax near me because the results will be mixed with unrelated content. Instead try searching for car buffing near me or car polish near me. The results will be far better for you.
I prefer a website with a healthy gallery of interesting topics that spotlight the car detailing company’s favorite features. It must also be easy to navigate their content or else I feel frustrated and x out.
I do not enjoy a website with a few larger-than-life scrolling pictures of a ceramic coating or a stock image car and little else. Maybe a page or two is set up for keyword ranking purposes, but it doesn’t actually convey a clear message of how they do things or who they are.
Different people have different preferences when it comes to online presence. Some may prioritize achieving a top Google rank, even if it means having little to no content on their website. On the other hand, there are those who value businesses that have a distinct brand and an impactful message.
If the website is designed to make you halt your shopping and contact them, I would anticipate their dedication to be reflected in their blog or social media. This would better demonstrate their passion for their work and persuade me to stop shopping due to their excellence.
We do not support the idea of a mobile detailer performing paint correction services in your driveway, However, if you would like some information to help you find a good mobile detailer nearby then follow this link to our article on it.