Compounds and Polishes

Which one do I need?

• Deep scratches, heavy swirls or sanding marks? A heavy-cut compound.
• Moderate swirls, or one step for most cars? A medium polish.
• Light haze, holograms, or prep before a coating? A finishing polish.

Use the least aggressive one that removes the defect: every cut takes clear coat you can't get back. Match it to the right pad →

Compounds and polishes are graded abrasive systems: cutting compounds remove defects — swirl marks, scratches, oxidation — by levelling a microscopic layer of clear coat, while finishing polishes refine the surface to full gloss. The grade of abrasive, the way it breaks down under the pad, and the pairing of compound to pad and paint hardness decide the result. Used in sequence, they're how a tired finish comes back to showroom depth — and how a surface gets properly prepped before a coating or PPF.

Learn the craft: why paint correction before PPF decides everything and our guide to the Sonax compound range.