Finishing Polishes

A finishing polish is the last machine step before protection: fine abrasives that remove the haze and micro-marring a compound leaves and bring the paint up to full gloss. On soft paint with light swirls it can be the only step. Koch-Chemie, CarPro, Rupes, Sonax, Stjarnagloss and Autobead all have finishing grades here.

How to choose

• What goes on next: before a ceramic coating, use a polish made as coating prep, such as CarPro Reflect. Koch-Chemie P3.01 contains carnauba wax and silicones and P1.03 leaves a protective layer, so keep them for cars that are not being coated.
• Paint type: Rupes Uno Pure is made for very soft or haze-prone paint. On hard paint a finishing polish mostly refines after a compound. If swirls remain on the test section, step back to Medium Cut Compounds.
• Pad: a soft pad from Finishing Foam Pads gives the clearest finish.

Good to know

CarPro Eraser, listed here, is not a polish. It is a panel wipe that strips polishing oils so you see the true finish before protection. More are in Panel Wipe & IPA.

Is finishing polish the same as wax?

No. A finishing polish uses fine abrasives to remove haze and fine marks and bring the paint up to full gloss. A wax does no correcting: it is protection that goes on afterwards. Some polishes, such as Koch-Chemie P3.01, contain wax, but the abrasives do the polishing.

What is the difference between polishing and finishing?

Polishing with a compound cuts out defects such as swirls. Finishing is the last machine step: a finer polish on a soft pad removes the haze the compound leaves and brings up the gloss.

Related: Compounds & Polishes, One Step Polishes, Paint Protection & Finish. Popular brands here: CarPro, Koch-Chemie, Rupes, Sonax.