I have a Porter Cable 7424XP polisher that I use for swirl removal, I've always used the OEM foam pad and replace it when it starts showing any signs of wear. Optimum Hyper polish for swirl removal, I've had good results with this combo but after last weekends car show I'm looking to step up my game a little because there were some absolutely BEAUTIFUL finishes out there lol. Any recommendations for different pads or are foam pads still ok to use?

Unfortunately no one was sharing information about products they used...

What do you folks use for swirl removal and polishing? Any products that really stand out but don't wreck the bank?

I only do swirl removal on a vehicle once a year (twice per year on the G35), but I have quite a few vehicles that I service (various older family members) and I'm looking for newer/better products.

Also, has anyone done a direct comparison of Optimum Opti-Clear vs the newer and exponentially more expensive Optimum Gloss-Coat. I was "convinced" to join this century and upgrade from the old Klasse AIO/High Gloss Sealant and recently used the Opti-Clear on 5 vehicles with good results and a hell of a lot less work than the Klasse products. Anything else I should be looking at that's less than $20 per vehicle by volume?

It appears to me that the newest line of ceramic products only has the benefit of a longer lifespan (2 years vs 9-12mo). I can't justify the 10x cost simply for the sake of a longer interval.

 

Subbed for the info.

 

I use Meguiars M105 for heavy swirls and M205 for light stuff. The finish is awesome after M205 and ready for wax/sealant.