CARPRO Polishes

Before protecting your car's paint, it's necessary to prepare it. The first step is to wash the paint and then decontaminate it (deep clean). After decontamination, you can apply your favorite sealant or paint protection product. However, if you want to achieve the best possible appearance, a polishing process (now better known as paint correction) is necessary. For the polishing process, we need three tools: a polishing machine, polishing pads, and polishes (paint polishing fluids).

Below, we'll introduce you to CARPRO polishes, which have the necessary steps to achieve the look we all desire. From aggressive polishers to preparations for applying ceramic coatings like CQUARTZ or DQUARTZ. They'll be listed in order of aggressiveness, from most aggressive to least aggressive.

UltraCut

This is our most aggressive polisher. Ideal for removing or eliminating deep swirls from paint. It was designed for use with rotary polishers; however, it can also be used with orbital or forced rotation polishers. You'll be amazed at the shine and finish UltraCut leaves, considering its high cut level.

ClearCut

Aggressive polisher (Heavy Cut Compound), designed to work quickly. ClearCut was created because detailers needed to streamline the paint correction process. Looking for a way to cut paint faster, they used the latest technology. CARPRO created ClearCut , exceeding everyone's expectations.

When using ClearCut , you'll need fewer passes with your polisher because ClearCut cuts quite quickly. You don't need multiple passes to achieve the desired result. This also reduces the dust produced by the product (which is minimal if used correctly). I recommend using an orbital polisher or forced rotation with ClearCut. If you want to use a rotary polisher, we recommend using UltraCut .

The big question is: how does it compare to ClearCut ? There are two major differences between ClearCut and UltraCut . First, lubrication. UltraCut contains more lubrication, which allows you to work more passes or for longer periods of time. For this reason, it's recommended for use with a rotary press. It's also a better option when more lubrication is required due to the work environment or paint conditions.

The second difference is cutting speed. ClearCut has an advantage in cutting speed; it will cut faster than UltraCut . This means you need to make fewer passes when using ClearCut . Otherwise, the product will dry out and produce a lot of dust.

I recommend UltraCut for use with the China Peel (texture on the clear coat), Denim and Velvet pads.

Both compounds can be used with different types of mottles of your choice. You can combine them with our mottles:

• Flash Pad
• Wool Cutting
• MF Pad
• Wool Ring
• Denim
• Velvet

Fixer

Fixer has the cutting power to remove 1,500 to 2,000 grit sandpaper and leave an excellent shine. It's ideal for use in what's known as one-step polish. The idea behind this type of polish is to achieve a balance between the cut level and the desired shine on the paint. Typically, this type of polish isn't strong enough to remove deep, severe defects, but it will leave an excellent shine.

I highly recommend it for soft paints from Asian brands. It's excellent for cutting and finishing Toyota paints. It can be used with wool, foam, and microfiber pads. It can also be used on rotary, orbital, and forced rotation machines.

Reflect

To achieve that incredible shine we're always looking for, you already know that a polishing process is necessary. First, use a polisher to cut and remove defects, such as UltraCut or ClearCut . This cutting process will remove defects, but it won't leave a good finish or shine on the paint, which requires another polishing process. This second or another polishing process is done with a combination of polishing and a finer grit. This increases the shine and removes marks left by the aggressive polishing process. In this second step, we use a polisher like Reflect . With Reflect, you achieve a mirror-like effect on the paint.

This polisher should be used with a soft, very low-grit pad. Typically, a foam pad, such as Gloss Pad , is used.

Essence Primer Polish

Essence combines the same abrasives as Reflect , but in smaller quantities, with resins and silica to create a deeper shine and leave a preparation layer for CQUARTZ . It was created to be compatible with CARPRO ceramic coatings. It can also be used with coatings from other brands; you should test for compatibility. This makes it a versatile polisher as a refining polisher, a preparation polisher, and it also leaves a protection on the paint. It is not necessary to use a cleaner (prep) like Eraser after using Essence, because the residue left by Essence after removing it with a microfiber cloth will not affect the performance of CQUARTZ . In practice, I do recommend using a cleaning product to ensure the removal of polisher residue (as a second cleaning step).

A controversial fact about Essence is that, due to its components, it can fill a little. This can be beneficial when working with delicate paints, and also with paints that are thinner than thin. There are other times when we simply want to use it to increase shine; it can be used after Reflect. This will change the appearance. In my opinion, the paint will look like it already has a ceramic coating when we polish with Essence.

Because it contains abrasive, it allows for a small amount of cutting power to remove holograms or very light marks. The residue left on the surface is compatible with Reload , SiC , UK 3.0 , and CQ Professional .

The primary use of Essence is to enhance the shine of paint, which is why we recommend using it with Gloss Pad . It can also be used with more aggressive pads like the Orange Pad or MF Pad (microfiber) for a smooth cut and high shine.

Essence Plus

Plus is abrasive-free. It was designed to repair swirls and stains on paints with protective ceramic coatings like CQUARTZ and DQUARTZ . When I say "repair," I mean it fills in swirls or light marks and cleans some light stains on the paint, or rather, on the coating. All this while improving the gloss and hydrophobicity of the ceramics.

It's very important to note that Essence PLUS is abrasive-free, meaning it has no cutting ability. This is very important because it won't remove or negatively affect the coating layer on the paint.

Since it doesn't contain any cutting abrasives, a lot depends on the pad you use. If it's just for repairing or filling swirls in CQUARTZ paints (some ceramic coatings), CARPRO Gloss Pad is recommended. If you need a little more cutting power, you can use more aggressive pads; but I don't recommend this if you're working on coated paints.

It can also be used as a sealer, leaving protection, a high shine and a hydrophobic surface.

I've mentioned all of CARPRO's paint polishes. They range from the most aggressive (UltraCut) to the least aggressive (Essence Plus). Each polish is ideal for a particular aggressive step you want to perform during the polishing process. But you don't have to limit yourself to that process alone; I mean, you can use UltraCut with a fine pad like Gloss Pad. This will combine the aggressiveness of UltraCut with the minimal cut of Gloss Pad; this combination will maintain shine and provide a good cut. Learning different combinations requires experimentation. I've had to invent a combination on occasion to work with certain paints.