United States
All 3M Products
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.

78 products

Filter

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

Family shot of 3M Finesse-it Foam Buffing Pads

3M™ Finesse-it™ Advanced Foam Buffing Pad

Options available

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

3M™ Perfect-It™ EX Machine Polish

Options available

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

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

Options available

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

3M™ One Step Cleaner Wax

3M Stock

B40066653

3M™ Detail Compound 308, 38105, 1 Gallon, 4 per case

3M Stock

7100109591

Previous 3M Stock

60455069405

UPC

00051131381056

Alternative ID

308

3M™ Hand Glaze

Options available

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

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

Options available

3M™ Perfect-It™ Random Orbital Polish

Options available

3M™ Perfect-It™ Gelcoat Compound + Polish

Options available

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

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

Options available

A 3M™ Perfect-It™ Random Orbital Fine Foam Polishing Pad - 6"/150 mm

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

Options available

3M™ Perfect-It™ Random Orbital Compound

Options available

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

Options available

3M™ Perfect-It™ Boat Wax

Options available

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

Options available

3M Finesse-it Polish - Advanced Series product family

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

Options available

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

3M™ Perfect-It™ 1 Finishing Material

3M Stock

B40065597

3M(TM) Perfect-It(TM) II Rubbing Compound 05983

3M™ Paste Rubbing Compound, 05983, 1 gal, 4 per case

3M Stock

B40065628

UPC

00051131059832

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

3M Stock

B40072358

UPC

00051131060135

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

3M™ Perfect-It™ 1 Foam Finishing Pad

3M Stock

B40067379

3M(TM) Perfect-It(TM) Hookit(TM) Foam Polishing Pad 05726

3M™ Perfect-it™ Hookit™ Foam Polishing Pad 05727, Waffle Face, 5 1/4 in, 12/Carton, 48 ea/Case

3M Stock

B40067402

UPC

00051131057272

3M(TM) Perfect-It(TM) Wool Compounding Pad, 05753

3M™ Perfect-It™ Wool Compounding Pad

Options available

3M™ Marine Finesse-it™ II Glaze

3M Stock

B40067423

3M(TM) Finesse-It(TM) II Machine Polish PN 39003

3M™ Finesse-it™ II Machine Polish

Options available

3M™ Finesse-it™ Knit II Buffing Pad

Options available

3M™ Foam Ultrafine foam Polishing Pad, 05751, Single Sided, Flat Back, 8 in (203.2 mm), 2 pads per bag, 12 bags per case

3M Stock

B40067397

UPC

00051131057517

3M™ Machine Polish, 05996, 1 qt (32 fl oz/946 mL), 6 per case

3M Stock

B40065578

UPC

00051131059962

3M™ Car Wash & Wax

3M Stock

B40066675

3M™ Perfect-It™ Rubbing Compound

3M Stock

B40065569