3M™ Perfect-it™ 1-Step Paint Finishing System

Say goodbye to compounding.

Compounding is messy, hard, and can create dieback or swirls that require rework. Get flawless results with optimal business efficiency. The 3M™ Perfect-it™ 1-Step Paint Finishing System features a 3M™ Trizact™ Hookit™ 8000 Foam Abrasive Disc to help you get a deeper, glossier finish with fewer steps, less mess and no compound swirls.*

No more compound

Make jobs easier and cleaner with no compound sling, wool fibres or lint.*
Quick with deep, glossy finishes

Achieve a beautiful gloss without the need for a heavy buffer.
Less buffing work

Cut down on time wrestling with that heavy buffer.

* As compared to compound systems.

Products included in the 3M™ Perfect-it™ 1-Step Paint Finishing System

The 3M™ Perfect-it™ 1-Step Paint Finishing System offers a complete system

Defect removal

Use a dry 3M™ Hookit™ Purple Finishing Film Abrasive Disc P1500 or P2000.

Sand to remove dirt nibs and other paint defects and level excess surface texture, matching the texture of surrounding panels.
Scratch refinement

Refine the scratches using 3000 grade 3M™ Trizact™ Hookit™ Foam Abrasive Disc.

Dampen disc and area to be sanding with a spray bottle and make 4-6 passes using a north-south, east-west pattern.
Microscratch refinement

Remove previous scratches using an 8000 grade 3M™ Trizact™ Hookit™ Foam Abrasive Disc — used in place of compounding!

Dampen disc and area to be sanding with a spray bottle and make 4-6 passes using a north-south, east-west pattern.
Final polish

Create a deep, glossy finish by using 3M™ Perfect-it™ 1-Step Finishing Material with a 3M™ Perfect-it™ 1-Step Foam Finishing Pad.

Wipe with a clean microfibre towel.

Standard operating procedures

How to achieve deeper, glossier finishes without rubbing compound.

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WATCH: Large area repair

See detailed step-by-step instructions for using the 3M™ Perfect-It™ 1-Step Paint Finishing System to refinish full panels of a vehicle without rubbing compound.
WATCH: Spot repair

See tips and tricks for achieving optimal results on smaller area repairs using the 3M™ Perfect-It™ 1-Step Paint Finishing process, including the best pad sizes, techniques and dampness levels.

Frequently asked questions

Does the 3M™ Perfect-it™ 1-Step Paint Finishing System really let me skip compounding? I’m not sure I believe that.
This system features our Trizact™ Hookit™ Foam Abrasive Disc in an incredibly fine 8000 grade. Trizact™ Hookit™ Foam Abrasive Disc 8000 refines scratches while also burnishing the paint surface. When followed with the specially formulated 1-Step Finishing Material, you get glossier results compared with compounding.
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I have compounded for a long time. Are there enough benefits for me to change my process?
We believe so. Compounding is the longest step in the paint finishing process, and it uses the heaviest tool. With the 1-Step system you can trade the heavy buffer for a lighter dual action (DA) sander. It’s easier to train new techs, and they make fewer mistakes. Without compounding you don’t have compound sling or swirls, and the risk of burn-through is much lower. This means there’s much less cleanup and rework — after a process that’s easier and less tiring.
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What if I want to skip sanding with Trizact™ Hookit™ Foam Abrasive Disc 8000? Can I simply buff the surface with the 3M™ Perfect-it™ 1-Step Paint Finishing Material after using Trizact™ Hookit™ Foam Abrasive Disc 3000?
No, we don’t recommend this. The 1-Step Finishing Material was specifically developed to work with Trizact™ Hookit™ Foam Abrasive Disc 8000. You won’t get the same results if you skip sanding with Trizact™ Hookit™ Foam Abrasive Disc 8000.
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I like to be thorough. Should I use Trizact™ Hookit™ Foam Abrasive Disc 5000 too?
With this system, you sand with 3M’s 8000 grade after sanding with 3000 grade. While sanding with 5000 won’t hurt, it’s not necessary.
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Can I still compound?
If you really want to, go ahead. But the whole point of the new 1-Step system is to remove compounding from the paint finishing process. Compounding would just be extra, unnecessary work.
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Will I have to finish with ultra-fine machine polish?
The 3M™ Perfect-it™ 1-Step System produces a gorgeous deep, glossy finish. As with 3M™ Perfect-it™ 1-2-3 System, you may want to follow with an ultra-fine polish when working on black or dark-coloured paint (for example, if you need an ultra high gloss shine to match adjacent panels).
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What is the importance of the purple pad?
The 3M™ Perfect-it™ 1-Step Foam Finishing Pad is a hybrid of our white compounding pad and blue polishing pad. It combines the firmness of the white pad with the softness of the blue pad and was specially developed to be used with 3M™ Perfect-it™ 1-Step Finishing Material.
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What kinds of paints and clear coats can I use?
We tested the system extensively on soft and hard-to-buff paints and clear coats. It works well on them all.
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Can I use it on anything besides passenger vehicles?
Yes. We’ve gotten excellent results and feedback on all painted surfaces, including heavy-duty trucks and vehicles, tractors, equipment, watercraft, motorcycles, and even bicycles.
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Should I use Trizact™ Hookit™ Foam Abrasive Disc 8000 wet or dry?
While Trizact™ Hookit™ Foam Abrasive Disc 8000 can be used dry, we recommend using lightly dampened Trizact™ Hookit™ Foam Abrasive Disc 3000 and 8000 for optimal results. A light spray of water on the surface and on the disc is all you need—don’t make it too wet.
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How long does each disc last?
On average, if used properly, you'll be able to refine the 3M™ Trizact™ Hookit™ Foam Abrasive Disc 3000 scratch on at least 3 auto body panels with each disc.
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Can I use the 3M™ Perfect-it™ 1-Step Paint Finishing System on gelcoats?
The 3M™ Perfect-it™ 1-Step Paint Finishing System wasn’t designed for gelcoat. We recommend using the 3M™ Perfect-It™ Gelcoat System for refinishing marine and RV gelcoat surfaces.
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Can I use Trizact™ Hookit™ Foam Abrasive Disc 8000 by hand?
You can, but Trizact™ Hookit™ Foam Abrasive Disc 8000 won’t be as efficient when used this way. We recommend using it with a DA sander if you can.
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How is 3M™ Perfect-it™ 1-Step Paint Finishing System different than other 1-step compound formulas?
The 3M™ Perfect-It™ 1-Step Paint Finishing System is the only 1-step solution that exclusively uses abrasives instead of compound for scratch removal. Trizact™ Hookit™ Foam Abrasive Disc 8000 is specially designed to produce a unique conformed scratch pattern, and it’s so fine it easily achieves the same results as compounding – without the hassle and mess.
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Related applications

Finishing with 3M™ Perfect-it™ EX Finishing System

The 3M™ Perfect-It™ EX System provides technicians with optimal performance every time. The easy clean up and high performance will reduce process time and provide the perfect finish. The additional wet time with these products allow technicians to use less material.
Paint finishing and detailing

Achieve a perfect paint finish with 3M’s best finishing systems: 3M™ Trizact™ Abrasives and 3M™ Perfect-It™ EX System. From defect removal to scratch refinement to compounding, 3M’s paint finishing products offer a path to the perfect finish each step of the process.