Like most professions, the world of car detailing has evolved its own language. There are good reasons for this. There are many aspects to car detailing that are unique and specific. People in the profession need a vocabulary to talk about them.
But for outsiders, it can all sound pretty confusing. Especially for would-be DIY detailers who want to learn about taking care of the bodywork of their vehicles themselves. There’s a learning curve involved understanding all the terms used for tools and techniques, nevermind learning the techniques themselves.
To get you started on that journey, here are 10 of the most commonly used phrases in car detailing and what they mean.
Abrasives
You will often hear polishing products described as ‘abrasives’. An abrasive is a substance with a coarse texture. They are used to alter the surface of a material for the purpose of removing blemishes and leaving a smoother finish. A commonplace example of an abrasive is sandpaper. Polishing is by definition an abrasive process. Car polishes are very finely abrasive so they only alter the very top-most surfaces of paintwork.
Clay Bar
Not actually made of clay but a synthetic polymer, clay bars are used to prepare bodywork before polishing. The soft, slightly sticky material is rubbed over paintwork, and when it is lifted away, it pulls out any debris that has become embedded in the paint. This is important to stop dirt, dead insects and grit being ground into the paintwork during polishing.
Cutting Compound
Car polishes are commonly called compounds. The term is usually reserved for more abrasive polishes used to tackle obvious defects and scratches in paintwork, although you still get different grades. The ‘cut’ of a compound is how coarse or abrasive it is, and literally refers to the process of cutting into the paintwork and removing fine layers of paint. So you get heavy cut, medium cut, fine cut compounds, indicating the level of alteration to the top most surfaces.
Finishing
Because polishing involves applying an abrasive to your paintwork to buff out marks and defects, the act of polishing itself can cause marring. This is usually very light but still visible on close inspection or under certain light conditions. Finishing is the process of smoothing out these imperfections to leave a final pristine finish. It involves the use of ultra-fine finishing polishes, and then the application of waxes and sealants to gloss and protect the paintwork.
Glazes
Glazes are a ‘quick detailing’ option that both tackles defects in the paintwork and provides a glossy finish. Unlike polishes, glazes don’t remove marks by abrasion, but instead fill them in. This works well for achieving a great finish to your car quickly, but it doesn’t last as the glaze eventually washes off.
IPA / Panel Wipe
IPA stands for Isopropyl Alcohol, more commonly known as rubbing alcohol. It is used in between polishing and finishing to remove the last traces of compound and polish ahead of applying sealant or wax – hence the more straightforward name ‘panel wipe’.
Sealant
Sealants are a finishing product used at the end of the detailing process. The main purpose is to protect your now-pristine paintwork from further damage for as long as possible. While sealants won’t stop chips and scratches, they will guard against so-called ‘etching’ – chemical damage caused by tree sap, acid rain, UV rays, bird droppings and more. Many sealants also repel water to guard against bad weather.
As well as sealants for your paintwork, you can find similar products to protect glass, metal, tyres and wheel trims.
Snow Foam
The part of detailing that most car owners are familiar with is washing. Washing your car plays a big role in a complete detailing process, as you need to thoroughly wash and rinse several times in between stages. One of the secret weapons pro detailers use to make their lives easier is snow foam. Snow foam is a pre-wash agent that breaks down dirt and contaminants, making them easy to rinse off. Snow foam is also easy to apply, as it can be sprayed all over your car using a special ‘lance’.
Swirls and Swirl Removers
It’s pretty obvious to most people what a scratch or mark or chip in a car’s paintwork is. But swirls? These are some of the faintest defects you’re likely to come across. They’re typically caused by poor washing technique (never use anything other than microfibre!) and look like a spider’s web. What’s especially annoying about them is they’re often invisible until the light shines just right on them.
Swirls are too light for conventional compounds and polishers to deal with. So you need an ultra, ultra fine cut abrasive. Enter swirl remover.
Wax
Out of all the terms on this list, wax is the one you’re most likely already familiar with. But even if you have waxed your car from time to time, are you completely up to speed with what it is and why you are using it?
Like sealants and glazes, wax is a finishing product. While it has some protective qualities, wax won’t guard your paintwork as well as a sealant will. But it will leave a glossy finish and it’s highly water resistant. While synthetic waxes are increasingly common, many people still swear by all-natural carnauba wax, which comes from palm trees native to Brazil.
