clear coat safe rubbing compound function

[ahjun]

Hi guys, so I have been doing LOTS of research on rubbing compound recently, since I have a 2009 black mazda6, and the amount of swirls have past my limit. And, coincidentally, my friend bought me the Meguiars clear coat safe rubbing compound, and many said that rubbing compound is able to remove swirls and kinda have a polish function as well, while some also said rubbing compound should only be used when necessary because it can be too harsh on the paint. But this meguiars new product says "clear coat safe", does that mean its potential damage on the paint is a lot less than the traditional rubbing compounds? Do you guys recommend that I use rubbing compound as a polisher on my whole car?

Thank you for any advice

[Murr1525]

Re: clear coat safe rubbing compound function

Any chance of pics?

Since you are in LA, you should try to sign up for a Saturday class or Thursday night garage,

As far as the products... the Rubbing Compound would be safe, but I'd rather have some Ult. compound for the whole car. I would use smooth foam applicators either way.

Did the car come with swirls, or put in from poor washing, etc? It wont do any good to remove them if you are doing something that causes them again.

[ahjun]

Re: clear coat safe rubbing compound function

thx for quick response! the car actually came with swirls, it is a certified pre owned....i will post some pictures when i have a chance to take some! Since i already have a brand new box of rubbing compound, i wanna try it out before i buy the ultimate compound... I also have a turtle wax swirls remover, which may be less aggressive,but it may not leave a nice finish like RC right? so not if it is a better choice than rubbing compound, I'm planning to wash, clay, wash, rubbing compound, then wax next weekend, trying figure out which product i should use after clay baring

[Murr1525]

Re: clear coat safe rubbing compound function

It would certainly be ok to try it before the Ult. Compound.

It is probably good to point out that this will be a lot of effort. I would not plan on doing it all in one day. Just do the panels you can, and then more another day, and so on.

I believe there is a good link around here somewhere for using it, I'll try searching.

[Murr1525]

Re: clear coat safe rubbing compound function

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?41648-Meguiar-s-Rubbing-and-Polishing-Compound-review!&highlight=rubbing+compound+how+to

Hmm, thats the best I could find.

[ahjun]

Re: clear coat safe rubbing compound function

oh yea, that link is actually the very first link that got me start thinking abt this, thank you!!

[WeekendGlaze]

Just thought I'd tap the subject as I am doing the same thing to my silverado at the moment. Got some advice and classes from a local professional detailed an it's best to use the least aggressive compound necessary and just up the cutting ability of the pad. Another fact is Meguiars ult compound has diminishing effect so the longer you buff, the more it turns into polish. Rubbing compound can leave abrassive micro scratches from the heavy grit. An don't clay then wash again, chances are you will re-deposite small particles from the wash mitt or toweling that you just spent time claying out. Don't forget to use some type of polish cleaner before waxing because polish leaves behind oils that will cause the wax to not bond with the paint. I just finished doing these things to the front half of my truck and it is a Huge difference.

[umi000]

Re: clear coat safe rubbing compound function

Just thought I'd tap the subject as I am doing the same thing to my silverado at the moment. Got some advice and classes from a local professional detailed an it's best to use the least aggressive compound necessary and just up the cutting ability of the pad. Another fact is Meguiars ult compound has diminishing effect so the longer you buff, the more it turns into polish. Rubbing compound can leave abrassive micro scratches from the heavy grit. An don't clay then wash again, chances are you will re-deposite small particles from the wash mitt or toweling that you just spent time claying out. Don't forget to use some type of polish cleaner before waxing because polish leaves behind oils that will cause the wax to not bond with the paint. I just finished doing these things to the front half of my truck and it is a Huge difference.

I'm afraid you have not been properly informed - Ultimate Compound does not use diminishing abrasives, it uses non-diminishing micro-abrasives (SMAT).

[ahjun]

Re: clear coat safe rubbing compound function

i went to walmart looking to buy meguiars swirls X, looking to remove some swirls before i polish, but they were out of it, so i bought the scratch and swirl remover from turtle wax instead (i thought turtle wax would be the next big and reliable brand besides meguiars). But this product SUCKED...was not even capable of removing some very minor scratch from finger nail!! maybe that's why it cost only $3.....I opened it, cant return, but dont wanna waste it, so do you guys think that i could use it after rubbing compound to kinda have a polished effect?

[ahjun]

Re: clear coat safe rubbing compound function

Just thought I'd tap the subject as I am doing the same thing to my silverado at the moment. Got some advice and classes from a local professional detailed an it's best to use the least aggressive compound necessary and just up the cutting ability of the pad. Another fact is Meguiars ult compound has diminishing effect so the longer you buff, the more it turns into polish. Rubbing compound can leave abrassive micro scratches from the heavy grit. An don't clay then wash again, chances are you will re-deposite small particles from the wash mitt or toweling that you just spent time claying out. Don't forget to use some type of polish cleaner before waxing because polish leaves behind oils that will cause the wax to not bond with the paint. I just finished doing these things to the front half of my truck and it is a Huge difference.

thanks for the heads up, i definitely wont clay and wash again, save a big deal of work as well. and i'm just planning to apply by hand for the rubbing compound, do you think that would be risky of micro scratches as well?

[davey g-force]

Re: clear coat safe rubbing compound function

Don't forget to use some type of polish cleaner before waxing because polish leaves behind oils that will cause the wax to not bond with the paint.

This is generally not required, and definitely not required if using a Meguiars polish followed by a Meguiars wax.

[ahjun]

Re: clear coat safe rubbing compound function

any comments on using swirl remover after rubbing compound to polish?

[Murr1525]

Re: clear coat safe rubbing compound function

Well, the things milder than the Rubbing Compound would be things like the Polishing Compound, SwirlX, Ult. Polish, #9 Swirl Remover and some others...

They wouldnt be needed after the Rubbing Compound unless some fine marring was left behind.

You would be just as well to use them for your regular detail next time. They'll have a little more polishing oils than the Rubbing Compound, but nothing that needs that much more time/work right away.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: clear coat safe rubbing compound function

The "clear coat safe" part about our Rubbing Compound means that it won't scour the paint like some old school rubbing compounds often do. Still, it is designed to be the initial, heavier cutting part of what is generally a two part process. Part two here would be the use of our Clear Coat Safe Polishing Compound. The primary difference between these two is the amount of cut offered. Because the Rubbing Compound has more cut and is designed to remove the more severe defects, you'll be using more energy (ie elbow grease) to work it in than you will with the Polishing Compound. In both cases you'll want to use a soft foam wax applicator pad rather than any sort of cotton terry cloth applicator.

[ahjun]

Re: clear coat safe rubbing compound function

The "clear coat safe" part about our Rubbing Compound means that it won't scour the paint like some old school rubbing compounds often do. Still, it is designed to be the initial, heavier cutting part of what is generally a two part process. Part two here would be the use of our Clear Coat Safe Polishing Compound. The primary difference between these two is the amount of cut offered. Because the Rubbing Compound has more cut and is designed to remove the more severe defects, you'll be using more energy (ie elbow grease) to work it in than you will with the Polishing Compound. In both cases you'll want to use a soft foam wax applicator pad rather than any sort of cotton terry cloth applicator.

Thanks for the details, my car is 2 years old, the paint condition is not that bad, just some fine swirls and scratches, and it is a black car, so should i still use rubbing compound on my whole car? i'm planning on using cleaner wax as a polisher after, and then wax it again with gold class plus, any thoughts on that?