What is paint correction
Most of us have heard the term “cut and buff”
This is a pretty simplistic way of referring to taking a machine polisher or “buffer” and running over the paint with a cutting compound, polishing the vehicle and throwing a coat of wax on it.
This process will remove some scratches, remove oxidation and yes, enhance gloss and paint clarity. However, this does not “correct” the paint.
Paint correction is a process in which a professional detailer will use a multi stage process (usually 3) to thoroughly correct the paint with machine polishing.
True paint correction will require the use of LED lights to spotlight and expose EVERY scratch and defect on the paint. The detailer will then start with the 1st stage (the most aggressive compound and pad) and buff over the entire vehicle. The 2nd stage is going to be utilizing a medium aggressive compound and pad to then work over the vehicle for any remaining scratches and swirls.
The 3rd stage of this process is polishing back over the vehicle a 3rd time, using a soft polishing pad and polish to refine and hazing effect that was caused by the first two stages and work out any lighter, more delicate swirls and scratches that still remain.
After a full on 3 stage paint correction, a professional detailer will do a full wipe down on the vehicles paint with Isopropyl alcohol to rid the surface of any wax residue or other foreign contaminants to reveal any remaining defects as well as create a clean sterile surface to then apply any wax, sealant or ceramic coating.
