Why Can Waxing Repair Scratches?
2 Answers
Waxing cannot repair scratches; it can only conceal them. For relatively minor scratches that are visible to the naked eye but cannot be felt by touch, polishing and waxing can be used to remove the scratches. Waxing alone cannot remove scratches; it must be combined with polishing. The effect of waxing to remove scratches can last for about a month, but this depends on the polishing and waxing techniques used and the vehicle's condition. Below is an introduction to polishing: 1. Principle: Polishing refers to the use of mechanical, chemical, or electrochemical actions to reduce the surface roughness of a workpiece, achieving a smooth and glossy surface. 2. Purpose: Polishing does not improve the dimensional accuracy or geometric shape precision of a workpiece but aims to obtain a smooth surface or mirror-like finish.
Having driven for over twenty years, my experience with waxing to fix minor scratches tells me it's mainly the fine components in the car wax that do the trick. The wax contains filling powders or polishing agents that penetrate into tiny scratch gaps when applied, effectively filling in those shallow marks. This smoothens the paint surface, ensuring more uniform light reflection, which makes the scratches visually disappear. However, this is only a temporary cover-up, not a permanent fix. Deeper scratches, like those exposing the primer, can't be fixed with wax—polishing or touch-up paint is needed. I usually wax my car every two to three months, not just to hide these minor flaws but also to protect the paint from rain and dust corrosion, extending the car's lifespan. Overall, waxing is a cost-effective DIY maintenance method—simple to do at home, saving both money and hassle. Just avoid waxing in windy conditions to prevent dust from getting trapped and affecting the results.
