How to Buff Car Paint with Rubbing Compound - By: Tauqeer Hassan

If your car has reached a stage that its paint is looking dull and faded, then maybe the car is newly painted and it needs a smooth and shiny look removing the years old car wax. The answer is rubbing compound. One will get surprised even with a finishing of clear coat and a good result of buffing with fine compound. It will really brighten up the finish by removing the yellowing film and wax that accumulates on the clear coat.
Things needed:

- An automotive rubbing compound which is finely cut, it can be found at any auto supply or professional auto paint supply stores.
- Specific rubbing compound covers, circular power buffer with terry cloth or for the disk.
- Soft and clean towels or rags
- Clean water
- Safety glasses

Step 1

Rotary buffer and terry cloth cover and Professional grade rubbing compound is the best for applying in temperature over 50 degrees while outside in the direct sunlight. One should start at the furthest section of the car like the roof and then it can be worked back towards panels with easier access. The aim is that once an area is completed, one would not have to lean over to reach another area.

Step 2
A small amount of about a teaspoon of compound should be applied on the buffer pad and also one teaspoon on the car with an approximate amount of 14 x 14-inch section. More can always be added as one continues or if there is a feeling of buffing.

Step 3
Before turning on the buffer, the pad can e slid around a bit on the car on the compound. The level has to be sorted out it out a bit and the area be defined which has to be buffed. While pressing the pad on the car, the buffer motor has to be turned on. If the buffer motor is turned on while not on the car with compound on it, the compound will spew out all over the place including the person who is doing.

Step 4
The safety glasses should be worn. The buffer should be worked using reasonable downward pressure in an up, down or side to side direction. The last pass can be covered by about 50 percent and working on one defined section of the car at a time till the compound is finished. A lot of compound is not needed on the car that may dry up before one reaches to it. To be productive, working on a large section would not be a good idea.

Step 5
The buffer should be avoided running over any edges unless a person is a professional and using a very light and quick run. It would be much better to do edges by hand so one does not have a high risk of burning off the paint.

Step 6
When an area is completed, it should be cleaned with clear water and then dried off with a clean soft towel. This will prevent the scratches on the paint and it will consequently remove any remaining compound or grit. It will also identify any areas that might have been missed. The next working section has to be cleaned just before applying the compound. It would prevent the debris from getting mixed into the fresh compound which may scratch the finish.

Step 7
The entire finish is to be inspected when done for spots or missed or areas that might require more attention. The car can be rinsed with clean water and then the car is ready to be waxed with a favorite wax product. There is no protection offered for the rubbing compound from the elements like in the case of wax.

About the Author

You might also want to learn how to paint a car and after painting, how to touch up car paint. This will save you a good sum of money.

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