Evening star., 1934-06-03

in mind a statement is hereby
expert of one of the largest nat
All automobile finishes become dull
and faded when exposed to the
weather for months. The element
which is most destructive to the car
finishes and top materials is the ul-
tra-violet ray of the Sun-the ray
which is chiefly responsible for burn
ing and tanning ones skin. Pro-
longed exposure to the ultraviolet
rays causes a slow but gradual dis
integration of car finishes. This is
frequently referred to as "chalking
or "weathering." AS a result of this
process, the surface which was orig
inally smooth and glossy becomes
microspically roughened, loosening
tiny particles of pigment put into the
finish to give it color. Additional
dulling is caused by an accumulation
of dirt and grease. These eventually
form into a thin hard coating which
we call traffic film. 1t cements itself
to the car finish and cannot be re-
moved by soap and water.
Mistaken Opinion.
Many people believe that, when a
finish becomes dull and faded, the
only way to restore the luster is to
refnish with additional coats of paint
or lacquer. This is a mistaken opin
ion, as the original color and luster can
be restored by polishing as long as
there is a layer of finish still on the
car. OF course, if the finish has
weathered right through to the under
coats, reflnish job is necessary, but
most dull cars simply need the re-
moval of traffic film and the chalked
pigment to make them look like new.
No advantage is gained by using an
oil type polish on a badly weathered
car. 1t simply puts an Gil film over
the traffic film
While this develops a temporary
luster. it leaves the surface greasy, and
will soon gather more dust. The cor
rect plan is to use a polish which
contains safe solvents to soften the
traffic film, and a mild abrasive to
scour away the scum and chalked
pigment which are the result of
weathering.
A great many people become
alarmed when they polish their cars
and find the color coming off on
the cloth. They sometimes assume
that the polish is too severe, and that
its continued use will soon take off
all the finish on the car. These peo-
pie should be reassured, as there is
nothing to fear if they use a cor
rectly formulated polish. The color
on the polishing cloth simply indi-
Gates that they are removing tiny
particles of chalked pigment which
have become loosened through wealth
ering. This chalked pigment and
traffic film should be removed in or
der to uncover the hard live lac
quer underneath.
A polish containing ctrong abra-
sives would. most likely. wear away
the good lacquer as well as the
chalked pigment, but a properly
formulated polish will simply clean
away the dirt film and chalked pig
ment without even scratching the
live finish, or injuring it in any. way.
It may leave the finish trif1e thin
ner than when new, but the sun
.tand not the polish) will be re-
sponsible. To neglect the finish still
longer will do no good. The chalked
pigment will finally blow away if it
is not removed with polish, and the
weathering process will continue
without interruption.
Methods Of Polishing.
There are two correct methods of
polishing a car-one is to use a COM
bination cleaner and polish of the
liquid type which does the complete
job in one operation. This will re-
move traffic film and restore the
original color and luSter 1t will not,
however, insure a long lasting luster,
nor protect the finish against wealth.
ering The car will have to be pol
ished at frequent intervals to keep it
looking bright and beautiful
The other method is to clean the
finish Oemove traffic finn, then ap-
ply a polishing wax. The cleaning
operation may be dispensed with if
the car is new, but if the car has been
in service for several months or more,
a certain amount of weathering will
have taken place, and traffic film will
have formed over the surface. In
such cases, the car should be cleaned
with mild abrasive polish Cor clean
err to remove the chalked pigment
and traffic film. The cleaning opera
ton is extremely important as wax
cannot be applied satisfactorily until
the surface is absolutely clean and
dry. An oily polish should not be
used for cleaning. because it will leave
an oily film, and this will cause the
wax to smear if it is applied imme-
diately afterward.
After the surface is cleaned, polish
ing wax should be applied with a ball
of soft cloth which has been damp
ened and wrung dry" The wax
should be applied sparingly, then
rubbed to a bright luster with dry
clean cloth. Wax small sections in
turn-not more than two or three
square feet at time.
Wax Filters Rays.
Wax, like window glass, has the
ability to filter out the violet
rays of the sun. When you wax a
car, you apply a thin transparent
film over the entire surface. This
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