compound vs polish

Can any one explain to me what the difference is. I have tried googling the topic and they seem to be pretty much the same. If I am looking to have surface scratches/swirls removed which process should i pursue.

Have you tried CLAYING it first with a non-aggresive clay bar? Depending on your color and how bad the swirls are. Clay normally takes out most swirls and even scratches. It has to be done a certain way though b/c you could mess your paint job up if done improperly.

Compounds and polishes are similar. They usually differ by the amount of abrasives they contain (usually aluminum oxide ) . The larger the particle size and the larger the quantity the more aggressive the solution is. Think of compound as liquid sandpaper. Just like sandpaper, compound comes in a multitude of grits. Some compounds like Menzernas Power Gloss are aggressive at first and then begin to break down in size becoming more and more fine, turning into a polish. Compounds are the most aggressive. polishes are used to removed compounding marks and glazes are used to feed and fill minute blemishes (on some occasions, glazes do contain super fine abrasives).

My personal choice of paint care would be as follows:

Menzerna Power Gloss with a medium cut foam pad

Menzerna Intensive Polish with a light cut foam pad

Menzerna Final Finish with a ultra light foam finishing pad

Seal with FMJ followed by P21S Carnauba Wax


The steps listed above are assuming the paint problems are pretty bad. Always start with the lighter of the steps. For example, I would start with the Final Finish on a panel. First work it in, wipe the panel down and inspect it. If the mperfections are still present move up to the Intensive Polish. If the Intensive Polish is unsuccessful, move to to the Power Gloss.

I hope this help a little. If you have any question, don't hesitate to ask.

Brett @ OCD

Originally Posted by Chad McGowan

Have you tried CLAYING it first with a non-aggresive clay bar? Depending on your color and how bad the swirls are. Clay normally takes out most swirls and even scratches. It has to be done a certain way though b/c you could mess your paint job up if done improperly.

This is a common misconception about clay bar. Clay bars will do nothing more and nothing less than properly prepping the paint for coats of polish, glazes, sealants and waxes. It removes both macroscopic and microscopic contamination but will do nothing as far as removing scratches and swirls.

Great explanation Brett on the question at hand.