Achieving professional-grade results when detailing your vehicle starts with selecting the right compounds, polishes, and polishing pads. Ethos Car Care has specifically designed pads and compounds to address various levels of paint defects, from severe scratches to fine swirl marks, ensuring a flawless finish every time.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through how to choose and properly use Ethos compounds and polishing pads, with detailed insights into paint correction, coating preparation, and tips for different paint types and conditions.

Understanding Paint Correction: Compounding & Polishing Explained

Paint correction is a systematic process involving abrasive compounds and polishes to remove defects, imperfections, oxidation, and scratches from your vehicle’s clear coat, resulting in enhanced gloss and clarity. This process typically involves two key stages:

1. Compounding Stage:

• Removes heavy scratches, oxidation, deep swirl marks, and paint imperfections.

• More aggressive abrasives are used, which leave behind microscopic marring and dullness requiring further polishing.

2. Polishing Stage:

• Refines the paint surface, eliminating micromarring left from compounding.

• Enhances gloss and clarity, leaving a mirror-like finish ready for coating, wax, or sealant application.

Preparing Your Paint for Correction and Coatings:

Proper surface preparation is critical for achieving optimal results:

1. Wash & Dry: Begin by thoroughly washing your vehicle using Ethos Car Shampoo to remove loose contaminants and dirt.

2. Chemical Decontamination (Iron & Fallout Remover): Remove embedded iron and metallic contaminants safely.

3. Clay Bar or Clay Mitt: Further decontaminate your paint surface, removing bonded contaminants that washing alone can’t remove. This ensures the pad and compound contact directly with the paint for effective correction.

4. Inspection: Assess paint condition in bright lighting to determine severity of defects and choose the appropriate pad and compound combination.

Choosing Your Ethos Compound & Polishing Pads:

Ethos provides four specifically engineered polishing pads:

Determining Your Paint Hardness & Pad Choice:

Different vehicles have varying paint hardness levels. Here’s how to choose pads and polishes accordingly:

• Hard Paint (Typical European and luxury vehicles):

  • Often requires aggressive compounds (Ethos Pure Cut) paired with Microfiber Cutting Pads to effectively remove deeper imperfections.

  • Usually more resistant to micromarring, allowing use of microfiber pads safely.

• Soft Paint (Typical Japanese and some domestic vehicles):

  • More prone to micromarring and hazing with aggressive pads.

  • Begin with less aggressive options (Orange Polishing Pad and Perfect Polish) and gradually increase aggression if needed.

Step-by-Step Polishing Process with Ethos:

Step 1: Choose Pad and Compound

• Heavy Defects: Microfiber Cutting Pad + Pure Cut Compound

• Moderate Defects (Single-Step Polishing): One-Step Microfiber Pad + Perfect Polish or Pure Cut Compound

• Minor Defects and Enhancement: Orange Polishing Pad + Perfect Polish

• Final Gloss/Prep for Coating: Black Finishing Pad + Perfect Polish

Step 2: Prime the Pad

• Apply several small drops of your chosen Ethos compound or polish onto the pad surface to prime it evenly.

Step 3: Polishing Technique

• Work in sections (about 2’ x 2’).

• Spread product evenly at low polisher speed.

• Increase speed (medium-high setting), apply moderate pressure for cutting and minimal pressure for polishing pads.

• Make 3-4 overlapping passes until abrasives break down, refining defects smoothly.

Step 4: Inspect and Refine

• Remove residue using a high-quality Ethos Microfiber Towel.

• Inspect the finish carefully. If micromarring or haze is present (often on soft paints), follow with a finer polish and softer pad (Orange or Black Pad) to refine the finish.

Step 5: Final Prep for Coating

• To ensure maximum adhesion for ceramic or graphene coatings, wipe down the vehicle thoroughly using Ethos Detox. This removes residual polishing oils, creating a perfectly clean surface ready for coating application.

Avoiding Micromarring & Achieving Perfect Results:

Micromarring is very fine hazing left behind from aggressive polishing or compounding, especially noticeable on soft paints:

• Reduce Pressure: Lighter pressure helps reduce micromarring on softer clear coats.

• Choose Proper Pads: Start with less aggressive pads (Orange or Black) when working with soft paint.

• Clean Pads Regularly: Frequently clean pads during polishing sessions to prevent buildup and minimize micromarring.

Pro Tips for Advanced Detailing:

• Test Spots: Always perform a test spot to determine the best pad and compound combination for your specific vehicle paint.

• Keep Pads Clean: Regularly clean pads throughout the detailing process with a pad brush or compressed air.

• Change Pads Often: Rotate pads frequently to maintain consistent results and prevent overheating or saturation.

Caring for Your Ethos Pads:

Extend your pads’ life and performance:

• After use, immediately wash pads in warm water with a mild detergent or specialized pad cleaner.

• Air dry completely before storing to maintain performance and longevity.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can Ethos pads be used with rotary and dual-action polishers?
Yes, Ethos pads work efficiently with both types of polishers.

How often should pads be replaced?
Replace when efficiency decreases, pads become excessively worn, or visible damage occurs.

Conclusion:

Properly choosing and using Ethos compounds and polishing pads is the key to professional-grade paint correction and detailing results. By understanding your vehicle’s paint hardness and taking the correct steps for preparation and polishing, you can achieve flawless results, every single time.

Discover Ethos’s full range of polishing products for impeccable results: