7 Paint Correction Mistakes Beginners Always Make (And How to Avoid Them)
If you're new to polishing, these are the most common (and costly) mistakes we see—plus what to do instead so you don’t ruin your results.
1. Skipping the Prep Work
You can’t polish dirty paint. Always wash and clay your car first to remove dirt and bonded contaminants. Otherwise, you risk dragging debris across the surface and scratching it more.
Use The Super Soaper to pre-foam and clean safely, then clay the surface before polishing.
2. Using Too Much Product
More isn’t better. Using too much polish can gum up your pad, reduce cutting ability, and leave a greasy mess on the paint.
Start with 3–4 pea-sized drops of Picture Perfect Polish per section. Reapply only as needed.
3. Choosing the Wrong Pad
The pad you use matters. Don’t try to correct swirls with a finishing pad—it won’t cut. And don’t use a cutting pad to finish paint—it might haze soft paint.
- Burgundy Pad = Swirl removal
- Black Pad = Final polishing
4. Applying Too Much Pressure
Let the pad and polish do the work. You want medium pressure—not bodyweight. Pressing too hard can stall the machine or cause heat buildup on the panel.
5. Not Checking Your Work
Beginners often just keep polishing the whole car without inspecting results. Use a good LED inspection light and check your work every few panels.
This saves time and helps you catch issues before it’s too late.
6. Forgetting to Clean the Pad
After a few panels, your pad gets saturated with polish and dead paint. If you don’t clean it, you’ll reduce its effectiveness.
Brush your pad out or blow it clean every 2–3 panels to keep performance consistent.
7. Not Protecting the Paint After
You just fixed the paint—don’t leave it exposed. Apply a layer of Tough As Shell to lock in the gloss and make future washing easier and safer.
Final Thoughts
Paint correction doesn’t have to be scary. As long as you prep properly, use the right products, and avoid the mistakes above—you’ll get amazing results in less time than you think.
Want a system built to make it easy? Grab Picture Perfect Polish and a Burgundy Pad—then let your DA do the rest.
Recommended Products
- Picture Perfect Polish
- Burgundy Correction Pad
- Black Finishing Pad
- Tough As Shell Ceramic Spray
- The Super Soaper
