Adam's Polishes Heavy Cutting Compound vs P&S Detail Products Ballistic Max Cut Compound

Adam's names the sanding grit it removes, states that the abrasives are diminishing and free of fillers and silicones, and publishes a working method. Ballistic makes the same grit claim for professional use and is cleared for rotary as well as DA.

Adam's Polishes Heavy Cutting Compound

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States the sanding grit it removes, says the abrasives diminish, and tells you there are no fillers hiding the result.

• Removes up to 1000 to 1200 grit sanding marks, a checkable statement of cut rather than an adjective.
• Diminishing abrasive technology, so the compound breaks down as you work it and finishes finer than it starts.
• No fillers or silicones, stated explicitly, which is what makes it body shop safe and means the finish you see is real.
• The page gives a working method: two to three cross-hatch passes over 40 to 60 seconds, then stop with the pad still in contact.

• Sold in 4 and 12 ounce sizes, so a full car correction goes through it quickly.
• Designed around the brand's own heavy cutting pad, though it is not restricted to it.
• Diminishing abrasives need to be worked for the full time to finish properly, which is slower than a non-diminishing product.

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P&S Detail Products Ballistic Max Cut Compound

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Removes 1000 grit sanding scratches, works on rotary or DA with wool or foam, and comes by the quart.

• Developed to remove 1000 grit sanding scratches or finer, alongside oxidation, fallout and water spots.
• Cleared for rotary as well as high action DA polishers, with either wool or foam cutting pads.
• Stated as suitable for harder paint finishes and gel coat, which widens it to boats as well as cars.
• Sold by the quart, which is the right quantity for anyone correcting more than one vehicle.

• No statement of whether the abrasives are diminishing or non-diminishing.
• Nothing said about fillers or silicones, which matters when you are judging your own work.
• Quart minimum, which is a lot of compound for a single correction.

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Side by side

The bottom line

Our overall pick is the Adam's Polishes Heavy Cutting Compound - States the sanding grit it removes, says the abrasives diminish, and tells you there are no fillers hiding the result. Choose the P&S Detail Products Ballistic Max Cut Compound instead if professional and high volume correction, hard clear coats, and gel coat work where the extra aggression is the reason you are buying.

Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Polishing Compounds: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).