Aero grade Polish on my automobile

[Andy C]

Hello                  12.31.24

Any thoughts/comments on using an Aero grade Polish on my automobile?

 

[Rwsavory]

Should make it go a lot faster.

[McMooney]

I'm thinking auto polish would be a better choice, more choice and probably better tested against modern finishes

[A64Pilot]

It’s not a polish, but I have been using Rejex on both older and new cars and am very happy with it.

If you search the internet there is a lot of talk about it on Corvette and other forums etc. It’s been around for a long time.

I can’t image that from a polish perspective there is honestly such a thing as an “Aero” polish, I think the truly good ‘ high end stuff is automotive products, personally I like and use 3M machine polish and mirror glaze, my advice is stay away from anything that has silicone in it, not that it necessarily causes harm, just that it’s a short lived band aid and may prevent adhesion if you will of good waxes or polymers. Pretty much any polish that advertises that it “rejuvenates” paint is suspect to contain silicone.

Previously I was a fan of Carnuba my favorite brand was Collinite, I still think it’s great stuff, good protection and a very nice shine, but Rejex seems to work as well, maybe not shine as good but the protection as in keeps things from sticking and imbedding in the paint lasts longer and it’s a whole lot less work, a whole lot less work

[Mooney in Oz]

Been using Fire Glaze on both the Mooney and car for 16 years. Label says for aircraft, car and other use. A US product I can thankfully buy here in Australia that I’m very happy with.

https://www.restructuremarine.com/fireglaze-products-2

[M20F]

Polish is an abrasive by default it is going to remove things to make that shine.  I would be very careful with polishes and polishing pads in general.  One shouldn’t really be using polish except for extreme cases. 

[A64Pilot]

Polish as I define it is a very fine abrasive, it’s what is done when you pay for paint “correction” I believe the name is and very often it’s good as in will smooth out the slight bit of orange peel any paint job will have, I like machine polish, it’s made to remove swirl marks left by someone who didn’t correctly use the machine correctly, it barely cuts at all. I’ve never gotten any color on my pad from the paint when using it, it’s really more of a cleaner to cut that road film or similar.

Then there is Compound it’s usually called, it’s order of magnitudes more abrasive and is meant to remove significant amounts of paint, you will get lots of color on a pad from using it, it’s easy to cause real damage, I never use it. I don’t have the skills.

A major way to damage paint if using a good polisher is from heat, a surprising amount of heat can be generated quickly especially if your using much pressure at all.

But polishing done right can really improve the paint even on a new very professionally painted vehicle or a just new one.

[M20F]

14 minutes ago, A64Pilot said:

I’ve never gotten any color on my pad from the paint when using it

If it is a clear coat you won’t till you cut through the clear coat.  If it is single stage you will get color.  
 
Polishing removes swirls and scratches by grinding the surface to flatness and that requires portions of the surface to be removed.

 

[A64Pilot]

3 hours ago, M20F said:

If it is a clear coat you won’t till you cut through the clear coat.  If it is single stage you will get color.  
 
Polishing removes swirls and scratches by grinding the surface to flatness and that requires portions of the surface to be removed.

 

Yeah your right I was thinking of “back in the day” I guess.

Point I guess being is that even a brand new car can benefit from polishing, ideal being what we used to call cut n buff

Now cut n buff is WAY more aggressive than what I’m talking about with polishing,  done right it makes a huge difference, any new car can benefit from it, the factory doesn’t get to this level of detail, maybe Supercar manufacturers do but nothing mass produced does, even polishing while not getting to the cut n buff level does help some.

I ASSUME that paint correction as it’s called now is cut n buff, just maybe not to that level?

Its the cut n buff or correction that gives the show car gleam, it’s not really the wax or new age polymers etc., although they do add to it and are necessary to protect that paint.

I’ve never owned a car that had a full cut n buff, but I’ve never owned a show car either.

https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/1210chp-right-way-to-cut-and-buff-paint/

[Yetti]

Well if it is OK to use Auto paint on your airplane.