how often to polish

[sleepy]

For the average car nut, how often does a person need to polish?

[Murr1525]

Re: how often to polish

Do you mean using a pure polish, or polishing as in swirl/scratch removal?

[sleepy]

Re: how often to polish

Ether, on one stage paint, or say a 2008 Taurus.

[Murr1525]

Re: how often to polish

Well...

As far as a pure polish, you can do it as often as you like before waxing.

Being that my car is a daily driver, and sits outside, I tend to at least use a mild cleaner or cleaner/wax before waxing.

But I do my best to keep swirls away with proper washing techniques, etc, so unless something bad happens, I really only need to focus on "swirl removal" each spring.

[MrCLRider]

Re: how often to polish

I try and do it twice a year, in the spring and fall..then have a very good wash system in place, and use the proper products in between to keep the finish nice

[Fischer]

Re: how often to polish

Twice a year, once before spring and then fall.
Last year I only polished, (swirl removal) one time, right in the middle of summer.

[Ivan Rajic]

Re: how often to polish

I just brought this issue up in a couple other forums because it seemed everyone was way too eager to pick up some M105 and polish away...

Long story short, my car, along with MANY others, are 10+ years old, and polishing twice, or even once, a year for that long can definitely do some damage to the cc... then you have to consider these 10+ year old cars will go another 10+ years and we're easily into a re-paint if polishing with something like M105 is done yearly...

For this reason, on my car and repeat clients' cars I will do 1 or 2 'maintenance' polishes per year, after the initial correction, and these polishing sessions consist of nothing more than M09 or M80 with a 9006 or 8006 pad just so I can remove enough swirls to have the car nearly perfect again... I've started more and more doing only maintenance polishes in the spring and just sealing it for the winter...

So to answer your question, you need to learn enough about polishing to know how much/often to do so... I think people have taken up polishing way too 'loosely' and will do a lot of damage to a lot of cars over the next few years.

I would recommend polishing once to make the paint as perfect as it will be, then 1-2 times per year max with a lighter combo.

[MrCLRider]

Re: how often to polish

very good point made!

[Murr1525]

Re: how often to polish

If you are doing good maintenance, wash techniques, and nothing bad happens, there really should be no need for #105/UC or #83 to be used more than once. After that, the milder #80/#205 products should be fine.

Unless you have a crazy Neon....

[sleepy]

Re: how often to polish

So, using the clay bar will not bother the polish? Thanks for the feed back!

[Murr1525]

Re: how often to polish

Claying is an entirely different step.

Think of it this way:
1. Wash - removes big loose dirt.
2. Clay - removes bonded on contaminants.
3. Clean - removes dirt from pores/imperfections, and can remove swirls with the right product.
4. Polish - puts polishing oils back onto/into the paint to hide imperfections and add moisture.
5. Wax - seals in polishing oils, and add some protection.

So, claying does not do anything to thin the clear coat, but it will remove things on the surface, including polish/wax.

[sleepy]

Re: how often to polish

Does this apply also to the one stage?

[Murr1525]

Re: how often to polish

Yes, the concept is the same for Single Stage or Clear Coat paint jobs.

Using a pure polish will generally show the most difference on an old single stage paint, and least on a new clear coat.

[akimel]

Re: how often to polish

You may find of interest this poll: How Often Do You Clean the Paint?

[sleepy]

Re: how often to polish

Thanks again for the help guys! So me washing and hand drying, then claying and then using M80 and then using #7 and finishing up with Gold Class is the right steps?