How to Polish a Car After Painting?

[MacJocelyn]

Wash the entire vehicle to avoid particles and dust causing new scratches during the grinding process. Use water sandpaper for grinding. Before polishing, use water sandpaper soaked in water to grind the surface until it is smooth. Apply polishing compound for fine grinding. Then use a polishing machine with a mirror-finish treatment agent to remove swirl marks left by the coarse polishing compound. Finally, perform manual polishing.

[McJake]

I just had my car repainted, and the polishing step was crucial. After the paint fully dries, usually waiting a day or two is necessary—don't rush it, or you might scratch the finish. I used compressed air to remove dust and debris to avoid grinding in particles during polishing. Then, I took out my rotary polisher with a coarse compound to start sanding, focusing on removing orange peel and unevenness from the paint job. The key is gentle, even strokes, starting from the roof and moving toward the edges. After switching to a fine compound for a glossy finish, I applied a layer of protective wax to maintain shine and prevent oxidation. The whole process was a bit tiring, but seeing the car look brand new made it all worth it! The tools are easy to find online, and getting started isn't difficult.