Is Polishing Necessary After Car Painting?
3 Answers
Polishing is necessary after car painting to achieve a more perfect finish. The reasons for this include: 1. Paint engineers might accidentally allow impurities to mix into the paint during the process. 2. Dust in the paint booth can get into the paint. 3. After painting, some areas may have imperfections that require sanding with sandpaper. 4. Polishing can make the paint surface feel smoother and more even. 5. It helps eliminate color differences between the new paint and the old paint at the interface. 6. It makes the paint surface smoother and shinier. Note that polishing should not be done immediately after painting; wait a few months before doing it once to make the paint surface shinier. Frequent polishing can also damage the protective film on the paint surface.
From my experience, polishing after car painting is indeed recommended. The painting process may leave tiny dust particles or surface imperfections, and polishing can remove these flaws, restoring the paint's gloss and smoothness. Without polishing, the paint surface is prone to dullness and dirt accumulation, affecting both appearance and corrosion resistance. It's best to wait two or three days after painting for the paint to fully dry before polishing. Use specialized polishing paste and a machine for gentle buffing to avoid damaging the base coat. Investing time and money in this step will make the car look brand new, provide long-term paint protection, and enhance its overall value. I also recommend regular waxing for maintenance to improve rust prevention.
As an average car owner who often works on my own vehicle, I believe polishing after painting depends on the specific situation. If the paint job is flawless, skipping it can save you around a hundred bucks. But in reality, most jobs have minor issues like dust trapped in the paint. In such cases, polishing is totally worth it—it removes imperfections and restores the car's shine. Without polishing, the car will noticeably dull within months and become harder to clean. I enjoy DIY polishing, using fine wax by hand after the paint dries—it's simple and effective. Here's a tip: Polishing works faster in summer heat, but avoid applying too much pressure.
