Nobody loves a car with neglected, abused, dull, or old paint. Even if the car’s performance is outstanding, the exterior look contributes significantly to the perception people will have of you as the owner.
If your car has either one of the above characteristics, it is crucial that you find a lasting solution to this problem.
A quality rubbing compound can help refresh your car’s finish making it look newer and better. With there being so many rubbing compounds out there, it can be difficult for car owners to know which is best for their vehicles.
3M Finesse-it and Perfect-it are two of the most popular rubbing compounds you can get your hands on. Despite both having the ability to restore your car’s finish, they do have their differences and individual benefits that make them unique.
If you are stuck in between the 3M Finesse-it or Perfect-it, below is a comparison of both.
Let’s Start with 3M Finesse-it
This machine polishing compound is designed to be used on fully cured automotive paint. This includes cars, boats, RV paint, and any other vehicle that you may be interested in improving its finish.
Whether you want to remove scratches or defects on your paint, this rubbing compound does an incredible job. It is affordable, easy to use, and very effective. There are many reviews online that praise this product for its usefulness.
3M Finesse-it is one of the best swirl-mark removers in the market. It leaves behind an appealing glossy finish. To get the most out of 3M Finesse-it, we recommend you buff it with an orbital polisher.
When you use it with this machine, the rubbing compound penetrates through scratches and defects on your car thus restoring its former look.
Compared to claying, 3M Finesse-it isn’t only easier to apply but they both offer the same effect, that is to make paint smooth again.
3M Finesse-it smoothens the car paint and prepares it for waxing. To get the most out of this rubbing compound, we recommend that you only buy it if you have a polishing machine. It is popular amongst both car owners and auto body shop experts.
What about 3M Perfect-it?
Though not very visible, fine sand scratches can ruin your car paint. Not only are they entry points for salt and water which cause rusting, but they also make it harder for wax and sealants to adhere to your car paint.
The 3M Perfect-it is a high-quality rubbing compound that can be used for a wide range of applications, including the removal of swirl marks and scratches.
3M Perfect-it boasts of a rich formula that will fill in scratches and remove swirl marks without leaving a residual film or sticking to other parts of your car’s surface.
It is very gentle on paint and works exceptionally well on newer clear coats which are hard to buff.
This particular polishing compound holds better on compounding pads and effectively removes scratches thus giving your car that showroom finish.
It is very common in auto shops mostly because it delivers impressive results. 3M Perfect-it doesn’t leave a film residue and can be used in nearly all conditions. You can therefore comfortably use it inside or outside your auto shop.
3M Perfect-it is made with specially formulated aluminum oxide. This ingredient is the one responsible for cutting through scratches and removing all surface defects.
Its formula has been improved to match new clear coat and paint technologies.
Similar to the 3M Finesse-it, this product works best when used with a rotary buffer. And it also has plenty of positive reviews from individuals who have used it on their cars.
How Are They Different?
• Regarding popularity, Finesse-it has more fans than Perfect-it. Because it is commonly used by car owners, Finesse-it has been able to gain a positive reputation amongst its clients.
• From several user reviews, Perfect-it has a shorter workaround time than Finesse-it.
• Finesse-it can leave behind a haze, especially if it is not rubbed correctly or if huge amounts of the compound are used at once. This rarely happens when you use Perfect-it.
How Are They Similar?
• The ideal polishing compound for your car will heavily depend on your preferences because these two are formulated to perform the same task which is to remove scratch marks on your car. To fully determine which one suits you the most, we recommend giving each product a try.
• Both products have plenty of positive reviews online. From what we have seen from other user comments, provided you know how to use the two, you won’t have any problem with the polishing.
• Irrespective of the polishing compound you will choose, make sure that you use it with a rotary buffer. Even though you can buff by hand, using a machine takes less time and rubs either of the compounds heavily on areas with scratch marks on your car.
• Both do a commendable job of removing swirl marks and scratches. If you hate seeing scratches on your car, you will love 3M Perfect-it and Finesse-it.
What’s Better About 3M Finesse-it?
There are many reasons why you should use this polishing compound on your car. 3M Finesse-it can give your car a complete makeover in just a couple of minutes.
Unlike its competitors, 3M Finesse-it works fast to get rid of oxidation, water spots, swirl marks, and scratches. With this car, you can be assured of a deep and wet-looking shine.
3M Finesse-it is very easy to use. Please be careful when applying the polish to the orbital polisher, because when used in excess Finesse-it will leave behind a haze, which will require more buffing.
When applying it to your car, divide your car into smaller partitions and polish it one area after another.
Be gentle with the pressure. This ensures all defects are well dealt with. One of the many advantages of 3M Finesse-it is that it effectively eradicates imperfections on car paint.
Unlike claying where you have to spend hours removing impurities on your car surface, this polishing compound works in minutes. And if you own a polisher, you can restore your car’s finish in a fraction of the time and use minimal effort.
Other than being very easy to apply, the effects of 3M Finesse-it lasts for a long. You will immediately notice a huge difference during the application of the rubbing compound. To ensure your car stays that way, we recommend applying some wax afterward.
What’s Better About 3M Perfect-it?
Similar to the above, Perfect-it is another excellent polishing compound. Please note that this particular OEM finishing polish is designed for rotary use only.
So, before you buy it, get a rotary polisher or borrow one from a colleague. Anyway, that aside, the things Perfect-it can do to your car are plenty and amazing.
This polish promises to create sharp reflections and a glossy finish on your vehicle’s paint. It is ideal for all car paints even those with dark hues.
You can also use it on all paint types, clear coats, and even those that are formulated to be scratch-resistant. Perfect-it doesn’t contain silicone or fillers, that’s why it doesn’t cover imperfections, it fixes them completely.
3M Perfect-it is loved by detailers because of the professional results it can provide. As mentioned earlier, it is meant to be used with rotary polishers only.
Make sure that you also use it with high-quality foam finishing pads. Don’t forget to buff the compound with a clean microfiber towel after polishing it. A layer of wax will ensure the effects of the polish last longer.
Who Should Get 3M Finesse-it and Why?
Are you a car fanatic that loves it when your car is spotless? Then you should have some Finesse-it in your garage.
This affordable yet effective polishing compound has a rich formula that can get rid of scratches and swirl marks on your vehicle. With 3M Finesse-it, you will never have to worry about seeing those annoying scratch marks on your car.
A bottle of 3M Finesse-it can give your car a fresh new look. Thanks to its ease of use, this polishing compound can be used by all car owners even those who have never done any detailing job on their vehicles.
It requires minimal time and effort, so you don’t have to worry about spending an entire morning polishing your car with 3M Finesse-it.
Who Should Get 3M Perfect-it and Why?
This polishing compound was created for expert detailers who offer professional polishing services. Being a rotary-only polishing compound, Perfect-it doesn’t fill scratches on car paint, the compound seals these scratches completely.
Ensuring that no salt, water, or contaminant can penetrate the paint and cause rusting. 3M Finesse-it is also very easy to apply and because it is used with a rotary polisher, you will use little time.
The results of 3M Perfect-it are impressive and long-lasting. No matter how old the paint job of a car is, it is no match for 3M Perfect-it.