What is the difference between polishing wax and scratch wax?
3 Answers
The differences between polishing wax and scratch wax are: 1. Different compositions: Polishing wax is a synthetic wax, which is relatively hard and thick; Scratch wax contains Teflon, making it very slippery and thin. 2. Different usage methods: Polishing wax is used with a polishing machine to remove body scratches; Scratch wax is a type of car wax designed to repair minor scratches on the paint surface. 3. Different functions: Polishing wax can grind away the aged paint film on the surface; Scratch wax can quickly remove fine scratches on the car paint. Methods for car paint maintenance are as follows: 1. Waxing: Prevents oxidation, isolates static electricity, enhances the brightness of the car paint surface, and isolates the paint from dust and harmful gases; 2. Crystal coating: Applies a high-molecular film with hardness and smoothness to the car surface, which solidifies to protect the paint; 3. Glazing: Penetrates into the car paint to form a mesh protective film, enhancing the strength of the paint.
Last time I dealt with car paint scratches myself, I finally understood the difference between these two. Scratch wax is for those hairline surface scratches—just apply and rub back and forth a few times to cover them up. It’s super easy to use, even for women to handle on their own. Polishing wax, on the other hand, is much more powerful. It’s meant for deep scratches and oxidized paint surfaces and must be used with an electric polisher, almost like giving your car’s paint a exfoliating treatment. The key thing is that polishing wax removes a layer of clear coat, and overusing it will thin out the paint, so it’s best to limit it to twice a year max. If your car only has minor fine lines, there’s really no need to use polishing wax—it’s like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut and could end up damaging the paint.
Last time I watched the repair technician working with polishing and scratch wax, I picked up a few tricks. Scratch wax is like a band-aid for the paint surface, only addressing superficial flaws, and no further treatment is needed after application. Polishing wax, on the other hand, is a heavy-duty weapon specifically for oxidized and dull paint surfaces, requiring three stages of grinding with different grit sanding pads. The most dangerous part is that beginners often grind through the clear coat with polishing wax—I've seen someone grind through to the primer on a black car. Nowadays, car paint is generally only a fraction of a millimeter thick, so for light scratches, scratch wax is sufficient, and a full-body polish once every six months is more than enough.
