[rovexCDTi]

Compounds

Now it starts to get complicated. Compounds are abrasive products that are designed to remove paint to varying degrees. Compounds are usually more aggressive and are used to remove a lot of paint and to level it. The reason for doing this are to remove dead dull paint, take out minor scratches and to remove swirls. Aggressive first stage compounds can be used to level paint after painting or remove over spray. Rubbing compound is an example of that, but you need to be careful with it because it can remove too much paint.

For home use the milder ones are better, the trick is what type to use. There are 2 basic types, Diminishing Abrasive types and Micro abrasive types. The diminishing ones have large abrasive particles that break down as you work them, becoming finer and finer, making the paint clearer as they go. If you stop working them too early they can leave hazy marks and holograms behind. These are like cloudy areas of paint that dance around as the light source moves. I see them a lot on badly prepped cars. Heavy use of coloured waxes can also produce a similar effect.

Diminishing compounds are great in that they tell you when to stop polishing, but the risks are higher for home users. Micro abrasive compounds use smaller particles that dont leave behind holograms if you bet bored and stop. You need to work them a bit, but not as long and they tend to leave a finer finish. A readily available product is Meguiars Ultimate compound. Dead easy to use and remove, ideal for use by hand or machine on paint thats not too badly marked. Technically T-Cut (original) is a compound, but its rather harsh and horrible to use.

Compound are also sold as colour cut, paint cut or paint restorers. They are polishes but are in a more abrasive class, so ideally you should polish after use.


Polish

Now this is where it get REALLY confusing. A Polish is not a top coat, its a preparation stage, but some products have waxes or sealants in them in an attempt to make a one step solution. Avoid those, they wont give you a lasting, brilliant finish. Avoid those awful coloured waxes/polishes, they really are appalling.

A true polish is just a very fine compound that gives a final super clear, crystal like finish to your paint, they are also sold as paint cleaners. The line between compounds and polishes is a fine one and they overlap to some degree. Poorboys and Sonus make a range that has little distinction between each stage. Poorboys have SSR3 going down to SSR1, 1 being a fine swirl removing polish, 3 being harsher for more serious defects and is more like a compound. All are true polishes in that they leave no coating behind.

True polishes are best for use under ceramic, nano and other fancy coatings. The stuff you get in Halfords is the stuff that really complicates things. Most are glazes, some are polishes, but few are much good.


Glazes

These can be polishes as well, but the difference is that they leave something behind to enhance gloss. Technically Autoglym Super Resin Polish is a glaze because it contains filling oils that hides remaining swirls. Meguiars Techwax is also a Glaze, but with extra sealant in it, as is their Ultimate Polish.. Annoying isnt it..

Some glazes are very mildly abrasive, SRP is very slightly and my current favourite, Prima Amigo, is also abrasive. They will remove remaining dirt and any remaining polishes or compounds, but remove very very little paint, they are just a refining stage, that give a wet deep shine once you apply a top coat.

Glazes will leave behind glazing oils, waxes or synthetic layers that hide swirls, but they shouldn't be relied on as top coats, they are only an enhancement stage.

Others are chemical cleaners and glazes, such as Werkstat Prime, some are both like Dodo juice Prime lime and Prima Amigo. If you have mild swirls use the abrasive ones, if your paint is really crystal clear use a non abrasive.

If you are going to use a ceramic or nano crosslinking top coat don't use a glaze, use a true polish only because you don't want anything getting between your paint and the coating. Some nano products have companion cleaner/polish products. Use them whenever possible.

Glazes are really great for dark cars, especially black. They hide swirls, which really show up on black and enhance depth. There are glazes especially for dark paint, like Prima Amigo (although its great on any paint) and Poorboys Blackhole.