Glossary
Mobile Detailing Glossary
25 terms people ask about, each in a sentence or two. Every definition links to its source and to a full guide. For numbers, see the statistics page.
C
- Carnauba wax
A paste wax; pure carnauba wax contains no cleaners or abrasives. It builds about 1 to 2 microns per application, and one marine detailer reports it lasting only 2 to 4 weeks in summer heat.
- Ceramic coating
A protective coating applied to paint that leaves a hydrophobic surface that repels water and dirt. It does not stop rock chips, and once applied it locks in any scratches and swirls underneath.
- Clay bar
A detailing clay rubbed over lubricated paint to remove embedded contamination, tar and iron deposits. Clay almost always leaves some marring of its own, so a polish usually follows it.
- Clear coat
The top layer of modern car paint, which protects the colored layer below from UV light. Factory clear coat is usually 1.5 to 2.0 mils (35 to 50 microns) thick, and once it is compromised the panel needs repainting.
- Compound (cutting compound)
An abrasive product that removes a layer of paint or gelcoat to cut away oxidation and defects. Cleaners contain smaller amounts of the same kinds of abrasive, and one supplier advises using the least aggressive product that achieves the result.
E
- Enzyme cleaner
An enzymatic cleaner used on urine stains and odors. A label says to use enough to soak through to the cushion and let it stand at least an hour, and leftover non-protein cleaners weaken it, so rinse them out first.
F
- Full front (PPF coverage)
A paint protection film package that covers the full hood, full front fenders, front bumper, headlights and mirrors. A partial front covers the bumper, the first 18 to 24 inches of the hood, the leading edges of the fenders, the mirror caps and, on most vehicles, the headlights.
G
- Gelcoat
The coating on a boat's surface, applied at a cured film thickness of approximately 18 to 24 mils. A boat builder's manual says it should last about 3 years in typical conditions without significant yellowing or chalking.
- Graphene coating
A paint coating sold with graphene oxide or reduced graphene oxide added. Graphene itself is a flake of carbon one atom thick, and one spray's safety data sheet lists graphene at just 0.1 to 0.5% by weight.
H
- Headlight restoration
Removing the damaged UV coating from a cloudy plastic headlight lens by wet sanding and polishing, then sealing the lens with a new UV-blocking clear coat.
- Hydrophobic (water beading)
A surface that repels water so it beads up. Whether it beads is determined by surface energy, and a build-up of contamination raises surface energy and leads to loss of beading.
I
- IPA wipe-down
Wiping paint with isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to strip any remaining waxes, sealants or polishing residue.
M
- Matte paint
A factory paint finish kept matte rather than glossy. One carmaker's manual says not to use polish, abrasives or cleaners that finish with wax on it, and a coating made for matte paint is designed to retain the matte finish and not add gloss.
N
- NAICS 811192 (Car Washes)
The U.S. industry code the Census Bureau uses for car washes; its examples include automotive detail shops and mobile car and truck washes.
- Nonemployer business
In Census data, a business with no paid employees that is subject to federal income tax and has receipts of $1,000 or more. Most are sole proprietorships, which may or may not be the owner's main income.
O
- Oil-spray undercoating
An oil-based rustproofing spray that stays pliable and works into small places to lock out moisture; one shop recommends a yearly application. One carmaker's warranty booklet warns that after-manufacture rustproofing may reduce the corrosion resistance built into the vehicle.
- Oxidation (gelcoat)
Sun, moisture and pollutants leave gelcoat chalky and faded, with a dull, porous surface. It is removed by compounding and polishing, and severe oxidation may need wet sanding first.
- Ozone treatment
A device that produces ozone, sold to treat odors. The EPA says ozone within public health standards is not effective at removing many odor-causing chemicals, high concentrations are sometimes used to treat an unoccupied space, and inhaled ozone can damage the lungs.
P
- Paint correction
Polishing that removes a thin layer of clear coat to take out swirls and shallow scratches. Most automakers recommend removing no more than 0.3 mils (8 microns) of clear coat, so paint thickness is measured before and after.
- Paint protection film (PPF)
A film applied over painted panels. Because it is a thicker, impact-resistant layer, it is generally better than a coating at preventing scratches and chips, and it typically lasts 5 to 10 years.
- Paint thickness gauge
A meter that measures the distance between its probe tip and the base metal, counting primer, color and clear coat together. Readings are in mils (thousandths of an inch) or microns (thousandths of a millimeter); factory paint is typically 4 to 7 mils (100 to 180 microns) in total.
S
- Single-stage paint
Paint with the color and gloss mixed together in one layer, with no separate clear coat. Color coming off onto the pad or towel while polishing it is normal, and rubbing a door jamb with a light polish is a quick test.
- SiO2 spray sealant
A spray-on paint sealant based on silicon dioxide (SiO2). One maker rates its spray at up to 3 months of protection on a daily driver.
T
- Total dissolved solids (TDS)
The amount of dissolved minerals in water, read in parts per million (ppm) with a TDS meter. Water that is not demineralized can leave lime-scale spots, and one deionizer maker recommends replacing the resin once the meter reads above 0 ppm.
W
- Wet sanding
Sanding with water through progressively finer grits to remove a damaged surface layer before polishing. One shop wet-sands a hazy headlight through 3 to 4 grit levels, and a boat builder says severe oxidation may need wet sanding before buffing. Carmakers specify measuring paint thickness before and after.