Owning a car has its perks and setbacks. There are days when you get to enjoy going on long rides and adventures with your friends and family. And there are days when you’ve got to deal with the damage your car paint may have over time. But that’s normal. As a car owner, you need to know the responsibilities of keeping your car in top condition inside and out.
What is Car Buffing?
Car buffing is a process of polishing a vehicle's paint to restore its shine and luster. This process involves using abrasive compounds to remove old paint and minor scratches, followed by a polishing compound to refine the paint's surface, and finally, a wax or sealant to protect the paint and enhance its shine. It can be done by hand, using an orbital polisher, or a professional machine buffer.
A lot of people often confuse car buffing with paint correction or vice versa. To set the record straight, the difference between buffing and paint correction is simply the aggressiveness of the abrasives used, arm speed, pad pressure, and results.
Simply put, buffing adds gloss and shine by abraiding the surface lightly while paint correction aims to remove blemishes by leveling the clear coat to the lowest point.
How often should you buff your car?
There are things that you should consider before deciding to buff your car. Taking your car to a detailing shop to be buffed every time you see a tiny scratch might thin out the car paint or worse, cut through the clearcoat and the paint right through the undercoat.
The first thing you should consider is the age of your car. If your car is about one year old or less, or perhaps new, it's best to give it a buff at least three times a year. Using a buffing machine with the lowest abrasion possible can help prevent any unnecessary stress for your car.
The second thing to look out for is where your car is parked or kept. If your car is exposed to UV rays and other climate-related elements, it's best to have it polished a few times a year. Have your car washed first before having it buffed to remove the debris built up on your car's paint.
Overall, if there are more scratches on your car paint than you can count, it's time to get your car to a professional detailing shop to get a car buffing service.
The Different Types of Buffing
There are different types of car buffing as there are different conditions of the car that needs buffing. Get to know the 3 types of buffing below:
A minor scratch can be easily removed using a mild polishing compound and a microfiber rag. This can help level out the paint surface on a small area to get rid of small blemishes. Just as the name suggests, this type of buffing only uses the movement and power of hands.
This type of buffer is also known as a dual-action car buffer or DA. It's usually used by expert detailers to do finishing work since it's not as intense as high-speed buffing. An orbital buffer spins a foam disc that moves in a circular pattern so that the pad doesn't stay in one place for too long.
This type of car buffing needs a bigger pad and uses a high-speed buffer to remove and cover bigger areas of paint at once. This helps remove major scratches and blemishes quickly however, if not done properly, it may also damage the paint. This type of car buffing should be left to the hands of expert detailers.
5 Benefits of Our Car Buffing Services
You can reap tons of benefits when you have your dull-looking car professionally buffed. From improving your car's appearance to increasing its resale value, our car buffing services will have you coming back for more!
After a few months or even years of usage, your car's paint might not be the way it used to be when you first bought it. However, car buffing can help restore its gloss and shine so it seems like you're driving a new car every time.
Your car's paint is the most exposed surface to extreme hot or cold temperatures, dust, dirt, debris, and other harsh natural elements. You'll be surprised to find tiny scratches, swirl marks, and water spots one day due to a lack of proper maintenance. But don't get alarmed when this happens because it can be easily removed by car buffing.
Loving the color of your car? What better way to protect it than with our expert car buffing service? It's best to make sure that your car doesn't only run well but also looks good. A dull paint can minimize the overall look and feel of a car but adding gloss and shine to it will help protect it from the harsh elements in the environment.
The waxes and sealants on your car paint only last a few months before they need to be reapplied. However, regular buffing can help restore your car's gloss and shine. Even after having a car buffing service, it's best to keep applying and reapplying wax and sealant to your car to help protect its paint and make it look presentable for the years to come.
If you're planning to sell your car sometime in the future, it's best to take care of its upkeep as early as today. You might find yourself dealing with expensive repairs and replacements if you choose to neglect the small scratches and swirls on your car's paint. Even if you're not planning to sell your car anytime soon, it's still worth every penny to have your car looking shiny and glossy wherever you go.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes, buffing is good for your car especially if your car has minor scratches, etching, and oxidation or if you just want to restore your car's gloss and shine. This process helps boost your car's shine and protect your car paint from UV rays and other harsh environmental elements.
Yes, buffing a car's paint can remove scratches and blemishes. It helps remove the scratched layer of clear coat to reveal a smoother, brighter, and shinier finish.
It usually depends on the protective coating used, environmental conditions, wash routines, and ownership but in general, it lasts up to 3 months.
If your car is parked or kept safe in a garage with a roof, away from the UV rays and other harsh elements outside, you can buff your car about once or twice a year. If that's not the case, it's best to have your car buffed out three times a year or so.