Cleanse: pH-Neutral Soap  Must strip surface oils without adding waxes/silicones. 

Decon: Fine-Grade Clay Bar  Honda clear is easily marred.  Avoid "Heavy" or "Medium" bars.

Abrasive: Diminishing Polish  Products like Sonax Perfect Finish are optimized for soft JDM paint.

Kinetic: DA Polisher  Dual Action only. Rotary buffers generate excessive heat for Honda clear.

Interface: Closed-Cell Foam  Orange (Light Cutting) and Black (Finishing) pads.

Extraction: 500+ GSM Microfiber  Soft paint requires high-density fibers to prevent "wipe-induced" marring.

Barrier: Si02 Sealant  Essential to prevent UV-induced clear coat failure (a common Honda pain point). 

Before you begin, you must see the scratch for what it truly is.

Surface Scratch: Run your fingernail gently over the area. If it slides smoothly without catching, the damage is in the clear coat.

Deep Scratch: If your nail catches or "clicks," you have reached the base paint.

The Reality of Honda Paint: Honda factory clear coat is typically between 35-50 microns thick. If you feel a click, that layer is gone. Do not attempt to buff this out; you will only thin the surrounding clear coat until you hit the primer.

To polish a car with dirt on the surface is to invite further suffering.

The Two-Bucket Wash: Use one bucket for soap, one for rinsing your mitt. This is non-negotiable for an SI.

The Clay Bar Ritual: Honda paint is "sticky," meaning it holds onto rail dust and fallout. Use a fine-grade clay bar with plenty of lubricant. If you use a heavy clay, you will create "marring" (fine scratches) that you'll have to spend hours polishing out later.

For isolated scratches or tight areas around the VTEC or SI badging:

Apply Compound: Place a small amount of compound on a foam applicator pad.

Mindful Pressure: Work a small 1' x 1' area. Use firm, overlapping circular motions.

Wipe & Inspect: Use a clean, high-GSM microfiber. On soft Honda paint, even a dirty towel can cause new scratches.

Polish: Always follow up with a finishing polish. Compound alone will leave a "haze" on JDM paint.

Because Honda clear coat is soft, it reacts very quickly to machine heat.

Safety First: Use a Dual Action (DA) polisher. A rotary buffer creates too much friction-heat, which can "soften" the paint further and lead to "buffer trails."

The Strategy: Start with your lightest pad and finishing polish first. On many JDM vehicles, a finishing polish is enough to remove 80% of swirls. Only move to a cutting compound if the polish fails to give a smooth finish.

The Process: Apply four pea-sized drops to your foam pad. Work in a slow, overlapping grid pattern on speed setting 3 or 4.

You have leveled the surface. Now you must defend it.

Sealant: Honda paint is prone to UV fading. Apply a high-quality synthetic sealant or ceramic coating to provide a sacrificial barrier.

Maintenance: To honor the work you've done, avoid automatic car washes. Stick to touchless washes or the discipline of a hand wash.