Even if you haven’t seen the movie, you probably know his famous line, “wax on, wax off.”

The trick was to polish in a broad circular motion, but does Miyagi’s method work in the real world, or was it just a training method to teach Daniel the blocking technique?

RAA Car Advice Manager Andrew Clark gives us the lowdown on how to get your car’s paintwork looking spick and span.

Preparation

Preparation is the key to giving the paintwork on your car a good shine. You can save yourself a lot of time, effort and disappointment by picking the right tools for the job. That way, you’ll get the best results.

It sounds simple, but there’s more to achieving a pristine polish than you realise.

For example, removing deeper abrasions may require an ‘extra cut’ in the compound. However, this might not be suitable for a general polish of the whole car. So, make sure you choose the correct product for the job you’re doing.

Inferior product quality and the wrong type can bring all your hard work undone.

Target established brands and do your own research to get a good understanding of what the various products on the market are designed for.

It’s also worth spending the money on quality polishing mitts, cloths and applicators to ensure you’re happy with the final results.

Process

Don’t polish straight away. It will wash surface dirt into the paint, leaving blemishes you’ll need to fix later. Grab a sponge, fill up a bucket and give your car a good wash.

Now, if the water beads while you’re washing, it usually means that the polish or wax is still protecting the paintwork. If that’s the case, you can relax, unwind, and take it easy. Find something else to do, because you probably don’t have to worry about polishing the car.

The equation is simple: no water beads mean you need to reapply wax.

Now, it’s time to polish and wax. Do you “make the circle” as Mr Miyagi taught Daniel? Well yeah,  you actually do. The Miyagi method is the correct shining technique. Apply the wax in a broad circular motion and polish off the exact same way.

Polishing means you’re removing very fine layers of paint so don’t rub too hard in one spot for too long. Don’t overdo it, either. Over time, you risk thinning your car’s paintwork.

Focus on one panel at a time to keep track of the areas you have already polished. Also, it allows you to perfect your polishing technique (and, if it helps in any way, repeat Miyagi’s mantra as you shine in smooth sweeping strokes.)

The roof, boot and bonnet are the most exposed areas on any car and receive the most sunlight damage. As a result, they’ll need the most time, attention and elbow grease.

The whole process sounds exhausting, doesn’t it? A motorised buffing wheel makes the job easier and less taxing. However, using this tool takes some experience and know-how. It isn’t as easy as it looks and there’s the risk of rubbing through layers of paint quickly, so be careful and proceed with caution.

Prevention

Here’s a few tips to ensure you get the best bang for your buff!

Don’t polish your car in extreme heat or direct sunlight. Warmer paint and panel temperatures can cause unexpected outcomes that you might be unhappy with. You should also consider the health and safety risks of working in hot weather.

Avoid applying polish or wax to surfaces like glass, rubber and some plastics. They can impair the clarity of glass on windows and mirrors and cause damage and discolouration to rubber and plastic.

Shade is your paintwork’s best friend. Seek it where possible. The reward is not having to polish or wax your car anywhere near as much.

Postscript

Mr Miyagi was a wise man. He taught us life lessons, elegant karate technique and how to properly shine our cars. Wax on and wax off using the correct products and equipment and your prized set of wheels will sparkle like the Under-18s All-Valley Karate Championship trophy. Now, I wonder if “paint the fence” is real or just Hollywood magic.