Compounds; WARNING

[turbomangt]

I have had a few people recently do some serious damage using DuPont #7 rubbing compound on their car. I can see how it happens, on the can it says "cleans and restores dull finishes", problem is this is the same technology they use 50 years ago when single paint was used. DuPont didn't even change the label, still looks the same as it did way back then. I have wrote letters asking them to type a warning on the can, but to date no repsonse. The clear coat on todays modern finishes is as thick as a piece of note book paper, it doesn't take much to rub through it, especially with a compound. Never use a compound by hand, use the less is best approach. using some common sense can save you a headache and a trip to the body shop. Gary

[JeffInDFW]

That stuff is for enamal (sp?) paint, which has not been used on new cars in at least a decade.

Best bet is to never use anything that does not specifically say "Clear Coat Safe". Never use "rubbing compound".

[TY NINI]

Few observations on the Dupont compound products: There is Rubbing compound (orange color) and there is Polishing compound (white color), The rubbing compound is a gritty paste that should only be used to remove deep dirt and film from the finish. Lean in to it a bit too much and you remove finish. The polishing compound is for removing surface film, dirt ,grime, tar and minor paint imperfections. It is a smoother, less gritty paste that works great if you are careful. I have used both for over 25 years on Acrylic car finishes as well as Nitrocellulose guitar finishes. Turtle wax has a polishing compound that is somewhere between No.7 polishing compound and car wax. Not as good as the No.7 compound but a little stronger than just wax. I personally don't like it. A side bar: DuPont sold their stake in the Polshing compound business a few years ago so the product can , which is still green and white, just says No.7 polishing compond and is getting harder to find since most auto stores only stock the Turtle wax brand. Louis