Keeping your car’s finish looking new doesn’t require a paycheck’s worth of equipment or a professional detail shop. “Wheeling”—i.e., polishing a vehicle with a rotating wheel, just like a pro detailer would—works by temporarily heating the paint’s clear coat until it softens into a viscous liquid that fills in and dissipates blemishes. To prevent permanent damage to the paint, limit this method of polishing to once a year and wax your car every couple of months. Follow these steps, and your ride will have a like-new shine in a matter of hours.

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STEP ONE: Start by washing your car by hand in a shaded area. Rinse the vehicle thoroughly but do not dry it.

Technique Tip: Wheeling is a messy process, so cover items (such as other cars, pets, and nearby walls) that you don’t want to clean afterward. Use softer pads and polishing compounds on dark-colored cars, as they are especially sensitive to swirl marks. More-aggressive compounds and

pads can be used on lighter hues.

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STEP TWO: Place a clean, slightly damp pad on the polishing wheel and put a moderate amount of compound on one body panel. Spread the polish with the wheel, using a medium speed. The key is to keep the spinning pad parallel to the car’s surface to avoid swirl marks. Apply constant pressure and work back and forth over the entire surface of the panel. As the clear coat heats up and the paint becomes warm to the touch, scratches will begin to disappear. When the compound and water are thrown aside and absorbed by the foam pad, the brightened finish will become visible. Stop. Move to the next panel and repeat.

Technique Tip: Keep the area wet and use just enough polish for each panel.

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STEP THREE: As necessary, stop and rinse off the foam pad with a hose or a power washer to prevent it from becoming saturated or gummed up with compound.

Technique Tip: The outer edge of the pad moves faster, generating more friction than the center, and it usually carries less polish—a recipe for a burned finish. So be especially careful around intricate trim areas, such as washer nozzles, mirrors, emblems, and complex bumper contours that can be polished using only the outer edge of the pad.

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STEP FOUR: Wash and rinse the car again by hand when finished, including the door, trunk, and hood jambs. Dry thoroughly.

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STEP FIVE: Applying a coat of wax to the paint will help mask swirl marks and cover up most remaining surface imperfections. Mount a soft foam pad on an orbital sander and apply an approximate 60:40 mix of paste wax and a fine finishing polish onto the pad. Use the sander at a medium speed to spread the wax onto the vehicle in a back-and-forth motion and with light but steady pressure. Leave just enough of a waxy haze to be visible when dry.

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STEP SIX: While the wax is drying, clean the other areas of the car (windows, interior, etc.) and then remove the wax with a microfiber towel—bath towels or rags may mar the surface. Apply touch-up paint to chips and any lingering scratches as needed. Move the car into sunlight for a final inspection. Crack a cold one and enjoy.

ROY RITCHIE

ROY RITCHIE

ROY RITCHIE

ROY RITCHIE



Clay Bar

Griot’s Garage Paint Clay & Speed Shine Kit, $39.99



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ROY RITCHIE



Tools

DeWalt Variable-Speed Polisher, $160–$243;

DeWalt Right-Angle Orbital Sander, $152–$241



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ROY RITCHIE



For Buffing Light Colors and Deeper Scratches:

Meguiar’s SoftBuff Cutting Pad

$13.99 (seven-inch size)

ROY RITCHIE Mothers Professional Machine Glaze, $29.02 (32 oz.) or

Meguiar’s Ultra-Cut Compound, $32.99 (32 oz.) or

Griot’s Garage Machine Polish 2, $12.99 (16 oz.)



ROY RITCHIE



ROY RITCHIE



For Buffing Dark Colors and Lighter Blemishes:

Meguiar’s SoftBuff Finishing Pad

$13.99 (seven-inch size)

ROY RITCHIE Mothers Professional Foam Pad Polish, $36.89 (32 oz.) or

Meguiar’s Ultra Finishing Polish, $37.49 (32 oz.) or

Griot’s Garage Machine Polish 4, $16.99 (16 oz.)



ROY RITCHIE



ROY RITCHIE



For Waxing:

Griot’s Garage Foam Wax Pad

$12.99 (six-inch size)

ROY RITCHIE Mothers California Gold Carnauba Wax, $10.99 (16 oz.) or

Meguiar’s Hi-Tech Yellow Wax, $13.99 (16 oz.) or

Griot’s Garage Best of Show Wax, $11.99 (8 oz.)



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