📦 Hvordan velge den beste billakken: Komplett kjøpsguide

Car Polish: Compound vs Polish vs Wax, and What Your Paint Actually Needs

Car polish terminology confuses even experienced detailers—"polish," "compound," "glaze," and "wax" get used interchangeably despite meaning different things. Understanding what each does helps choose appropriate products for your paint's condition.

The Correction Hierarchy

Compounds are abrasive—they remove paint to eliminate scratches and defects. The most aggressive option, they actually cut into clear coat. Use only when needed; over-compounding thins clear coat permanently.

Polishes are mildly abrasive, refining surface after compounding or addressing minor imperfections. They remove light scratches and swirls while preparing paint for protection.

Glazes fill rather than remove imperfections. They make paint look better temporarily without actually correcting defects. Good for quick improvements; effects wash away over time.

Waxes and sealants protect paint but don't correct anything. They provide shine and barrier against environmental damage. Essential final step after any correction work.

Assessing Your Paint's Needs

Swirl marks (circular scratches visible in sunlight) usually require polish, not compound. Start less aggressive and increase only if needed.

Deep scratches catching your fingernail likely penetrate clear coat into base paint. No polish corrects these—touch-up paint or professional repair is needed.

Oxidation (dull, chalky appearance) on older paint may require compounding to remove damaged clear coat layer before sealing with protection.

Machine Polishing vs Hand Application

Machine polishing (dual-action or rotary) dramatically outperforms hand application for defect removal. Hand polishing can't generate the consistent motion and pressure machines provide.

Dual-action polishers are safer for beginners—they spin and oscillate, reducing burn-through risk. Rotary polishers require more skill but remove defects faster.

Hand application works fine for waxes and sealants where defect correction isn't the goal. Save machine work for actual correction needs.

Common Mistakes

Using compound when polish suffices removes unnecessary clear coat. Always start with least aggressive option.

Skipping protection after polishing leaves corrected paint undefended. Fresh polish reveals beautiful paint that immediately begins degrading without protection.

Working in direct sunlight causes products to dry prematurely, making removal difficult and potentially causing damage.

Not cleaning paint before correction embeds contaminants and creates new scratches while trying to remove existing ones.

Product Quality Considerations

Professional-grade products (Meguiar's, Chemical Guys, Griot's) outperform auto-store basics. Easier to use, better results, worth the modest premium.

All-in-one products promise cleaning, polishing, and protection together. Convenient but none do all jobs well. Better results come from separate products used appropriately.

Ceramic coatings provide longer-lasting protection than traditional wax but require careful application. Not correction products—they protect already-corrected paint.

Practical Recommendations

For light maintenance on well-maintained paint, quality polish plus sealant ($30-50 combined) addresses minor imperfections and maintains protection.

For paint with visible defects, compound followed by polish followed by protection ($50-80 in products) provides complete correction. Consider professional detailing for first major correction to learn proper technique.

For regular maintenance between corrections, quality spray wax or detail spray ($10-20) maintains protection with minimal effort.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hva bør jeg se etter når jeg kjøper billakk?

Nøkkelfaktorer inkluderer byggekvalitet, brukeranmeldelser og verdi for pengene. Topprangerte alternativer som Nu Finish Nu Finish en gang i året polish og tetningsmasse (4,5★ fra 1740 anmeldelser) viser hvordan kvalitet ser ut i denne kategorien.

Hvor mye koster billakk vanligvis?

Prisene varierer fra $7 til $30, med de fleste kvalitetsalternativer rundt $15. Budsjettalternativer under $10 fungerer for sporadisk bruk, mens premiummodeller over $23 tilbyr bedre holdbarhet og funksjoner.

Hvilken billakk er mest populær akkurat nå?

NU-avslutningen en gang i året polerer og tetningsmasse er for øyeblikket topprangert med 4,5★ fra 1740 bekreftede anmeldelser. Sjekk vår fullstendige sammenligning hos /BEST/CAR-POLISH for alle toppvalg.