Help?
Thread Starter
Registered!!
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: O.C.,CA
Rep Power: 0 
Help?
Alright, I'm confused. What does a polish do, and what does a sealer do? And what order do you put them on? Polish, wax, sealer? I have no idea so someone please help me out.
I can resist everything except temptation.
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,311
Likes: 0
From: Waldorf, MD
Rep Power: 300 
There are different levels of abrasiveness in polishes. Polishes are used to smooth the surface of the paint while removing some mild to light scratches, etching, marring, and swirl marks. If you need a stronger abrasive to get the job done, compounds are the next step up above polish.
Anyhow a polish does just that, it polishes the paint, helps bring it back to life and remove some minor to medium defects from the paint surface. A selant or wax has the sole purpose of protecting your finish. They will not provide any paint correction or fix scratches (unless you use a cleaner-wax which has polish IN it). Wax or sealant will be your final step. A sealant actually cross-links and bonds to the surface of your paint where as a wax just provides a thin layer of protection that rests on top of the paint more or less.
A sealant will provide longer protection (4 - 6) months, where as a wax will usually provide a little less (2-4 months). Sealants and waxes usually do add some depth and wetness to the look of the paint when allpied and many people like to apply waxes OVER sealants to add an extra effect of either wetness or depth in the paint.
Sealants usually take time before they cure (around 24 hours) in which time they should not get wet if it can be helped and you should try to hold off on using a wax on top as well for 24 hours to let the sealant bond to the paint surface.
Hope that helps!
also if you are very interested check out
www.autopia.org/forums
There is alot of helpful information there.
Anyhow a polish does just that, it polishes the paint, helps bring it back to life and remove some minor to medium defects from the paint surface. A selant or wax has the sole purpose of protecting your finish. They will not provide any paint correction or fix scratches (unless you use a cleaner-wax which has polish IN it). Wax or sealant will be your final step. A sealant actually cross-links and bonds to the surface of your paint where as a wax just provides a thin layer of protection that rests on top of the paint more or less.
A sealant will provide longer protection (4 - 6) months, where as a wax will usually provide a little less (2-4 months). Sealants and waxes usually do add some depth and wetness to the look of the paint when allpied and many people like to apply waxes OVER sealants to add an extra effect of either wetness or depth in the paint.
Sealants usually take time before they cure (around 24 hours) in which time they should not get wet if it can be helped and you should try to hold off on using a wax on top as well for 24 hours to let the sealant bond to the paint surface.
Hope that helps!
also if you are very interested check out
www.autopia.org/forums
There is alot of helpful information there.
