How to Use Polishing Wax Correctly
1. Coarse Polishing
For coarse polishing, yellow polishing wax should be used. This type of polishing wax is also called abrasive wax, and its main component is quartz powder. Used with a cloth abrasive wheel, it lubricates the wheel and provides some grinding effect, removing burrs and eliminating pinholes.
2. Medium Polishing
Purple polishing wax should be used with a sisal wheel. Purple polishing wax is made from brown corundum micro-powder with strong cutting power. It can quickly remove residual abrasive marks from coarse polishing and deeply remove pinholes from the workpiece surface, resulting in a smooth finish.
3. Fine Polishing
Fine polishing is the final step in polishing and is crucial for achieving a high-gloss or mirror-like finish. White polishing wax and blue polishing wax both belong to fine polishing waxes. The difference is that white polishing wax produces a white gloss effect, while blue polishing wax produces a bluish gloss effect.
4. Choosing the Size of the Polishing Wheel
The motor power determines the size of the polishing wheel; generally, a larger wheel is required for a higher power motor. Additionally, the motor shaft must be compatible with the bore diameter of the polishing wheel. Place the polishing wheel in the center of the rotating shaft and tighten it with a wrench to prevent loosening. Otherwise, the wheel may fall off or pop out, causing workplace injury. A uniform surface speed on the polishing wheel is essential for optimal polishing results.
5. Select the Correct Polishing Wheel
The polishing wheel must be rotated towards the operator to ensure the polishing machine achieves the appropriate speed. Before use, apply polishing wax evenly in the direction of the wheel’s rotation. Then, hold the workpiece and move it in a parabolic motion against the wheel. If necessary, apply more polishing wax to the wheel (ideally, remove any wax from the wheel before applying more).
6. Use the Polishing Wheel Correctly
Grip the workpiece firmly and gently press it against the wheel surface, ensuring the workpiece is below the horizontal plane of the wheel’s central axis. Otherwise, the wheel may throw the workpiece out of your hand. First, lightly touch the wheel surface with the workpiece and then remove it. This helps to remove sharp edges and prevent spots. Add wax as needed, but do not overdo it. Do not press wax onto the wheel surface forcefully; allow the polishing wheel to rotate freely. When transitioning from coarse to fine polishing, ensure no coarse particles remain on the polishing wheel, as this will cause scratches. After polishing, wipe the workpiece surface with a soft cloth dampened with talcum powder to remove wax. For workpieces requiring electroplating or with irregular surfaces, use a wax remover for cleaning.
Different polishing waxes should be used for different paint finishes.
1. Air-dried paint and baked enamel paint
Both air-dried and baked enamel paint surfaces can be polished, but the polishing waxes used are different because these paints contain different solvents. Using the wrong wax can cause the paint film to soften, crack, and discolor. Light-colored and dark-colored paints should not be mixed. Using a dark-colored polishing wax on a light-colored paint will darken the paint film, resulting in a mottled appearance; conversely, using a dark-colored polishing wax on a light-colored paint will lighten the paint film, creating a hazy effect and severely affecting the appearance.
2. Coarse Polishing Wax vs. Fine Polishing Wax
Coarse polishing wax and fine polishing wax must be carefully distinguished. Coarse polishing wax must be used first during polishing. After the paint film is shiny, switch to fine polishing wax. Using them in reverse not only wastes polishing wax but also fails to achieve the desired polishing effect. Machine wax and hand wax must be distinguished. Machine wax must be used with a dedicated polishing machine; hand wax is applied directly by hand with a polishing cloth. Using machine wax by hand is laborious, time-consuming, and ineffective, while using hand wax with a machine is extremely wasteful.
3. Solid Color Paint vs. Metallic Paint
Polishing waxes for solid color paint and metallic paint should be used separately. Polishing wax specifically for metallic paint not only increases the gloss of the paint surface but also makes the shimmering effect of metal (or pearl) clearer and more three-dimensional. It’s important to distinguish between paint protection wax and mirror finish wax. Mirror finish wax is a special wax used to enhance the shine of the paint surface, but its protective effect is not as strong as that of protective wax. Protective wax contains many ingredients that form a protective film on the paint surface, resisting damage from external factors such as ultraviolet rays, acid rain, static dust, and water stains.
4. Silicone Content
Silicone-containing and silicone-free products should be distinguished in their application. Silicone-containing products should be avoided in repair shops as much as possible because once silicone adheres to the paint film, it is very difficult to remove during paint repair. Ordinary abrasive waxes have a strong abrasive effect on the paint surface, and if not handled properly, they can easily wear through the paint film, causing unnecessary damage. Therefore, abrasive waxes should also be avoided in general car paint detailing.