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Compounds & Polishes

3M Compounds & Polishes

3M Compounds and Polishes – Finishing Systems for numerous applications

Looking for a 3M finishing system?

We have a solution for every challenge: denibbing, defect removal, compounding and polishing to let your results shine. If you are looking for general industrial solutions, automotive or marine finishing or collision repair applications, find out more about our offering below.

Industrial Compounds and Polishes

3M™ Finesse-it™ Finishing Solutions are specially designed to achieve satin, semi-gloss or high gloss finishes on wood, automotive, marine and aerospace coatings.

Find out more about our compounds and polishes for OEM applications
3M™ Perfect-It™ Finishing Solutions for Collision Repair

Choose the right system for your application – the 3M™ Perfect-It™ Random Orbital Polishing System, a professional-grade set of tools, pads and polishes – typically used in detailing shops, re-engineered for the collision repair industry.

Find out more about our compounds and polishes for Collision Repair applications

Do you have compounding, finishing or polishing challenges?

We can help you solve your real-world challenges. Our mission is to provide you with all the support you need to keep your project running as smoothy as possible. We can collaborate with you to increase productivity and mitigate the challenges of a shrinking workforce, complying with regulations, eliminating risks, training your workers and much more.

Let´s Stay In Touch

Frequently Asked Questions About 3M Compounds and Polishes

What is the difference between compounds and polishes
Compound: An aggressive liquid, which has been designed to ‘cut’ the top surface of the paint. Using a compound after a sanding step, or on fine scratches, will help to quickly remove these defects leaving a smooth finish.

Polish: Polish is much less aggressive and is used to achieve extremely high gloss levels to give the best possible shine to your paintwork. A polish is often used as a second step after compounding.
What options do I have to shorten the compounding & polishing process?
Depending on your goals this can vary. But If you have defects in your paintwork that need removing with a sanding step (i.e. dirt nibs or runs), we recommend utilizing our 3M™ Trizact™ range of fine abrasive products. If you finish the sanding step with a Trizact Abrasive grade 3000, 6000 or 8000, your compounding work will be significantly reduced - meaning less liquid being used, less chance of burning through your paint and less time on the job overall.
What type of pads are available?
We have a large range of compounding and polishing pads available in a variety of sizes and connections to suit your needs.
- Wool pads give the most cut, but the finish is down when compared to a foam pad.
- A foam pad will give slightly less cut compared to a wool pad, but the finish will be better.
Our pads come in single sided ‘hook and loop’ style or Double Sided Quick Connect style.
What pads should I use with which liquids?
Our pads and liquids have been developed to work with each recommended system. Mixing and matching between systems is not recommended as this can significantly decrease performance. For example, Random Orbital Compound and Random Orbital Polish is designed to work optimally with our selection of Random Orbital Pads, just like our rotary system liquids should be used with the rotary pads. Most of our pads are colour coded to help you understand which pads work with which liquids.
What are the brands that 3M has developed - how do the products differ?
Typically, 3M™ Finesse-It™ Products are used in an Industrial setting, for example an OEM vehicle factory. 3M™ Perfect-It™ Finishing products have been developed to be used on fresh aftermarket paints and coatings. This is often down to the different substrates, application and how cured the paint/coatings are, so different products are required.
Where can I buy 3M Compounds, Polishes and Pads?
Please contact us or select the specific product online, a “where to buy link” is provided on the individual product page.

85 products

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3M™ Ceramic Coating 39901, 4/Case

3M Stock

7100227801

UPC

00051131399013

Alternative ID

39901

3M™ Metal Restorer and Polish, 09019, 18 oz Paste, 6 per case

3M Stock

7000000616

Previous 3M Stock

60980035525

UPC

00051131090194

Alternative ID

09019

3M™ Marine Aluminum Restorer and Polish, 09020, 18 oz, 6 per case

3M Stock

7000120468

Previous 3M Stock

60980035467

UPC

00051131090200

Alternative ID

09020

3M™ Finesse-it™ Foam Buffing Pad

Options available

3M™ Perfect-It™ Gelcoat Heavy Cutting Compound

Options available

3M™ Finesse-it™ Natural Buffing Pad

Options available

3M(tm) Perfect-It 1-Step Finishing Material Family

3M™ Perfect-It™ 1-Step Finishing Material

Options available

3M™ Finesse-it™ Felt Buffing Pad

Options available

rich content B5005352028 Foam Polishing, front UPC sized image display

3M™ Perfect-It™ Random Orbital Foam Polishing Pad

Options available

3M™ Perfect-It™ Foam Compounding Pad 4 inch, 30041

3M™ Perfect-It™ Foam Compounding Pad, 30041, 4 in, Single Sided, 2 pads per bag, 6 bags per case

3M Stock

B40072434

UPC

00051131300415

3M™ Auto Care Rubbing Compound

3M Stock

B40065605

3M™ Perfect-It™ Foam Finishing Pad 4 Inch

3M Stock

B40072435

3M Finesse-it Polish - Advanced Series product family

3M™ Finesse-it™ Polish - Advanced Series 200

Options available

3M™ Finesse-it™ Knit Buffing Pad

Options available

3M™ Mag and Aluminum Polish, 39529, 10 oz, 6 per case

3M Stock

B40065575

UPC

00051131395299

3M™ Finesse-it™ Marine Paste Compound, 06039, 1 gal, 4 per case

3M Stock

7100066061

UPC

00051131060395

Alternative ID

06039

3M™ Perfect-It™ Denibbing Polish

3M Stock

B40065568

3M™ Marine Finesse-it™ II Glaze

3M Stock

B40067423

3M™ Perfect-It™ Random Orbital Polish

Options available

A 3M Finesse-it Polish Standard Series- Finishing Material 140

3M™ Finesse-it™ Polish - Standard Series 100 - Finishing Material

Options available

3M™ Marine High Gloss Gelcoat Compound, 06025, 10 lb

3M™ Marine High Gloss Gelcoat Compound, 06026, pail (50 lb), 1 each

3M Stock

B40065583

UPC

00051131060265

3M™ Foam Compounding Pad, 05723, Single Sided, Flat Back, 8 in (203.2 mm), 2 pads per bag, 12 bags per case

3M Stock

B40067385

UPC

00051131057234

3M Finesse-it Polish - Standard Series product family

3M™ Finesse-it™ Polish - Standard Series 100

Options available

3M™ Perfect-It™ Random Orbital Compound

Options available

3M™ Perfect-It™ Gelcoat Compound + Polish

Options available

3M™ Perfect-It™ Foam Polishing Pad 4 Inch, 30042

3M™ Perfect-It™ Foam Polishing Pad, 30042, 4 in, Single Sided, 2 pads per bag, 6 bags per case

3M Stock

B40072436

UPC

00051131300422

Perfect-It™ EX Machine Polish,8 oz,Qt,Gal, 06093, 06094, 06095

3M™ Perfect-It™ EX Machine Polish

Options available

3M(TM) Perfect-It(TM) 1 Finishing Material, 36064, Quart

3M™ Perfect-It™ 1 Finishing Material

3M Stock

B40065597

3M™ Foam Polishing Pad

3M Stock

B40067378

3M™ Perfect-it™ ll Wool Compounding Pad, 1927, 5-1/4 in, 2/Carton, 10 ea/Case

3M Stock

B40067404

UPC

00051111510438

3M™ Perfect-It™ Low Lint Wool Compounding Pad 4 Inch, 30040, Single Sided, 2 pads per bag, 6 bags per case

3M Stock

B40067395

UPC

00051131300408

3M™ Perfect-It™ Gelcoat Medium Cutting Compound + Wax

Options available

Perfect-It™Ultrafine Machine Polish 8oz Qt Gal,06068,06069,06097

3M™ Perfect-It™ EX Ultrafine Machine Polish

Options available

3M(TM) Scratch Remover, 39044, 8 fl oz, 4 per case

3M™ Scratch Remover

3M Stock

B40065571

3M™ Lens & Hard Plastic Cleaner

3M Stock

B40070715

3M™ Marine Rubbing Compound

3M Stock

B40065611

3M(TM) One Step Cleaner Wax, 39006, 16 oz, 4 per case

3M™ One Step Cleaner Wax

3M Stock

B40066653

3M™ Detail Polish 208, 38116, 1 Gallon (US), 4 per case

3M Stock

B40065609

UPC

00051131395169

3M™ Synthetic Wax Protectant

3M Stock

B40066656

3M(TM) Perfect-It(TM) Ultrafine Foam Polishing Pad, 33286, 05708

3M™ Perfect-It™ Ultrafine Polishing Pad

Options available

3M(TM) Perfect-It(TM) 1 Foam Finishing Pad, 33291, 8 in

3M™ Perfect-It™ 1 Foam Finishing Pad

3M Stock

B40067379

3M™ Finesse-it™ Knit II Buffing Pad

Options available

3M(TM) Perfect-It(TM) Foam Compound Pad, 05706

3M™ Perfect-It™ Foam Compounding Pad

Options available

3M™ Hand Glaze

Options available

3M™ Perfect-It™ 1-Step Foam Finishing Pad

Options available

3M™ Perfect-It™ Paint Finishing Pad Kit, 30045, 4 inch

3M™ Perfect-It™ Paint Finishing Pad Kit, 30045, 4 in, Single Sided, 6 per case

3M Stock

B40072437

UPC

00051131300453

3M™ Perfect-It™ Gelcoat Light Cutting Polish + Wax

Options available

A 3M™ Perfect-It™ Random Orbital Wool Pads

3M™ Perfect-It™ Random Orbital Wool Compounding Pad

Options available

3M™ Finesse-it™ Premium Foam Buffing Pad

Options available

A 3M™ Perfect-It™ Random Orbital Coarse Foam Pads

3M™ Perfect-It™ Random Orbital Foam Compounding Pad

Options available

3M™ Scuff-It™ Paint Prep Gel, 06013, 24.7 oz, 6 per case

3M Stock

B40072358

UPC

00051131060135