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Feb 18 2020
Car Polish and T-Cut, What’s the differences?
Figuring out whether you need a car polish, or a T-Cut can seem like an incredibly daunting task. It’s made even worse if you don’t know the difference between the two or what each is used for.
The first thing you need to realize is that car polish isn’t car wax. If you need a rundown on the difference between the two check out THIS article.
Often used interchangeably car polish and T-Cut are two distinctively different compounds. In order to properly maintain and detail your car, it’s important to know what each is and what it’s used for. Once you understand this information, it won’t seem so daunting to make the decision between car polish and a T-Cut.
Don’t worry, we got you covered. Car polish and T-Cut’s main differences lie in their differing abrasiveness.
Still, confused? Just keep reading we’ll give you the complete rundown on both car polish and T-Cut so when it’s time to make the decision you know just what you need.
What is car polish?
Car polishes are chemicals that contain solvent cleaners in them. Those solvent cleaners contain mildly abrasive particles. Both the abrasiveness and solvent come in varying degrees. Some polishes are stronger than others. Deciding which polish you need is going to vary from application to application.
Before you paint you need to prime. Similarly, before you wax, you need to polish. It’s often forgotten, but it’s an extremely important step. Polishing before you apply a layer of wax removes the old wax layer. Furthermore, the polish will remove any blemishes, swirls, or residue of any old paint sealants.
If you don’t polish your car before you wax it, all you’re doing is trapping all the blemishes and old wax underneath the new wax. You’re not going to get the shiny clean finish that you’re looking for, and your vehicle isn’t going to look as good as it should.
When polishing is done correctly it gives off a glossy finish that makes your vehicle look like it just rolled off the showroom floor. You wouldn’t think of painting without priming, don’t think of waxing without polishing.
How to apply it?
As Mr. Miyagi said, wax on, wax off. Yeah, we know that we’re talking about polish and not wax, but the point remains. The best products in the world won’t work if they’re not applied correctly.
Summary of polish
Car polishes are an essential part of detailing your car effectively. They’re not meant to remove paint, just to prime your surface for waxing. Some come with sealants and protectants mixed in, but not all. Prime before you paint, polish before you wax.
What is T-Cut?
A T-Cut is like a polish on steroids. Far more abrasive and filled with more powerful cleaners. Typically for cars with new paint, all that’s needed is polish. However, once your car gets to be a few years old T-Cut is recommended to fully restore your car’s appearance.
What does a T-Cut compound do?
While polish simply removes the old wax and takes out minor blemishes, T-Cut takes care of surface scratches and bigger blemishes. Dirt and grime that have become engrained on the surface of the paint are easily removed with T-Cut.
When your vehicle is simply being detailed use a polish. If it’s more of a restoration you need a T-Cut.
How to apply it?
If Mr. Miyagi ever used T-Cut he didn’t mention it. The process to apply it is similar to polish, you just have to be more careful not to get the chemical onto anything else. Also, you want to avoid applying T-Cut in hot weather whenever possible.
Summary of T-Cut
When polish won’t do the trick, use T-Cut. Because T-Cut strips off the first layer of old paint it should only be used as a last resort. Using T-Cut a few times won’t cause any damage, and will improve the look of your car, but if you use it every time you detail your car eventually, you’re going to run out of paint layers to strip off. The idea is to layer your paintwork with wax so that it protects your nicely polished car.
Get Connected
Even with all the information in the world, you might not feel comfortable using products like T-Cut to restore your vehicle’s shine. And nothing beats having it professionally detailed. Our team of professionals can take care of it for you. Get a no-obligation quote by clicking HERE. Our team of professionals usually respond within minutes, but we guarantee they’ll get back to you within 24 hours.
Have ideas about what we should write about next? Ideas on how we can answer your questions better? We’re always open to new ideas! Just let us know where you’re from and how we can help!
By Lee Porter • Car Care • 0 • Tags: car polish, car polish and t-cut, compounds, t-cut