Does Full Car Polishing Damage the Paint?
2 Answers
Full car polishing does cause some damage to the paint. Here is relevant knowledge about the paint damage caused by full car polishing: Paint damage from polishing: The normal thickness of car paint is between 80-120 microns, and polishing once typically removes 2-3 microns. An occasional polishing session is not a big issue, but polishing too frequently for the sake of appearance can actually worsen the damage to the paint. The purpose of full car polishing: Full car polishing is necessary after a full paint job. In fact, even partial paint jobs require polishing because spray mist, dust, and other imperfections can occur during the painting process. Without polishing, these imperfections would be easily noticeable on the paint surface.
When I first got my used car, I thought polishing could make it shine like new, but I regretted it after my first DIY attempt—using regular sandpaper and coarse wax, which ended up leaving fine scratches on the paint. Later, I learned that polishing is actually a process of removing oxidation and scratches, and proper operation shouldn’t damage the paint. However, improper techniques like excessive force or high frequency can thin the clear coat, reducing its protective properties. Experts recommend professional polishing no more than once a year. After learning my lesson, I switched to an electric polisher with a mild polishing compound and now do it annually. The paint’s gloss has improved significantly without further damage. The key is to avoid cheap, low-quality tools and prioritize regular paint condition checks over blind polishing.
