How to Fix the Clear Coat on Cars
- 1). Use 800-grit sandpaper to lightly sand the entire car. Keep the sandpaper soaking wet by holding a water hose in the other hand and letting a small stream off water pour over the sand paper while sanding. You can also keep a bucket of water close and dip the sandpaper in it every 30 seconds. Keep your hand flat against the surface of the car with the sandpaper between your hand and the car. Sand until the entire car looks dull, but not so much that you sand down to the colored paint. The goal is to just sand the top layer of clear coat paint. There should be at least three to four thin coats of clear coat paint.
- 2). Rinse the entire car to remove all sanding debris. Allow the car to dry completely. Once it's dry, look over the car to make sure the clear coat looks dull. If there are any shiny areas, sand them again and allow the area to dry.
- 3). Pour 1/2 cup of liquid buffing compound onto a clean buffing pad on the buffer. Begin at the hood of the car and work your way back. Keep the buffer moving in circular motions, in addition to the circles the buffer itself is making. Don't hold it against the surface in one spot for more than a few seconds or it will burn through the paint. Add more liquid compound as needed, or if the haze that the compound puts on the car starts getting thin. Once complete, use a clean polishing pad to buff the car again, this time removing the haze.
- 4). Polish the car with a clean polishing pad and liquid car polish. This adds a deeper shine and protects the clear coat. Use the same buffing method used with the buffing compound. The haze left by the polish can be removed with a clean polishing pad or by hand.
