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3M Imperial Compound and Finishing Material provides fast cut and leaves an excellent finish without swirl marks. This liquid compound and finishing material is designed to remove P600 and P800 dual action sand scratches from gelcoat.
Use with an electric or air polisher (1500-2500 rpm) and a wool pad. Imperial Compound can cut your polishing time in half by making it a one step process! Quart (32 fl. oz.) and gallon sizes available. (3 06044 and 3M 06045, respectively.)
Safe for most paint or gelcoat finishes on boats, cars, and RVs. Want to bring back the luster on your boat's gelcoat? Use this with a buffer, followed by a coat of 3M Finesse It II.
$35.99
$144.22
$485.63
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BRAND:
3M
Type:
Finishing Compound
Questions & Answers about 3M Imperial Compound and Finishing Material:
2013-04-13HAROLD SHOOP asked: My fishing boat paint is really faded does the 3m 06044 compound realy work?
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2013-04-16MIKE FITZGERALD: Hi Harold...
I use the product on my new woodworking projects that are finished with polyurethane such as cigar boxes, table tops, and other custom pieces. Solid shine and finish. I also used the product to remove film on my headlights.
I have not restored a faded boat.
Works well and I continue to purchase as needed. Good luck.
2013-04-16PHILIP WESSLING: Having hired a professional to prepare the teak and fiberglass, he suggested the 3m product as a time saver.
He is correct
2013-04-17LUKE MENDREK: Hi Harold,
Yes Harold it works awesome I live bye it. I own large Boat detailing in traverse city mi. We use alot of 3m imperial compound finish every year.
Without seeing your boat first but bye what you said this is how I would attack your boat. First I would try a small area that is not noticeable. Then try the 3m imperial compound if that does the job finish it up with a good wax. We use alot of fleet wax and meguiars flagship cleaner wax.
I'm thinking for the best results so the fading does not come back, you may want to wet sand it first with either 1000 to 800 grit. Start high with the grit then work done to where it does the job. If you don't know how to wet sand google it!!
After that try either 3m imperial compound hopefully that will do the job. But you may need to use 3m heavy duty compound followed up bye meguiars flagship cleaner wax to protect the shine.
I have been using 3m imperial compound on boats that are medium oxidize that has a little hazing and are slightly dall it cuts right through all of that, I use heavy cut compound foam pad and than I follow that up bye meguiars flagship cleaner wax with a medium cut foam pad. I been using porta cables and have been working awesome for us.
I hope that I help you a little bit. Feel free to email me anytime time and I will be glad to help you.
Luke Mendrek
Traverse city mi.
2013-04-17BRUCE BOGARDUS: Yes. I have a green hulled boat and it does a great job taking the haze off and sealing it.
2013-03-13A shopper asked: are their temperature limitations?
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2013-03-19RICHARD ANDRON: Not sure if there are temp limitations, I would contact 3M.
It is the best polishing compound I have ever used. Expensive but worth the money.
2013-03-19JOSEPH GREENE: I do not have the spec in front of me, but I believe that you want to be in at least the mid 50's before using. I would think that the product would spread too thickly and you would be using a lot more material than you should.
2013-03-19KEVIN WEEKS: I don't believe there are temperature limitations but I don't think it will polish well if it is freezing.
2013-03-19MARIO MARINO: I can tell you not to use It in direct sunlight or on a warn hull. I used this product in cool tempertures as low as 60 degrees in low humidity
2013-03-20BARBARA HONCHARSKI: I would apply above 55.
2013-03-20CHURCHILL CONSULTING PARTNERS: I've used this product in both warm and cool weather and have seen no difference in results. By the way, results are terrific with this product. Much better than other waxes and cleaners I've tried. I apply with an electric buffer, and that creates some heat, so I don't believe application down to about 40 degrees would be a problem.
2013-03-26JOHN SPALTRO: 3m finishing compound is very good for revitalizing oxidized gel coat. I use with rotating disk sander and 3m buffing pad and will use with outside temperatures higher than 60 deg F.
Finishing is easier with better results at warmer temps > 60. My experience hope this helps.
2012-09-24MARK HEDIN asked: would this product work to polish 2 part epoxy finishes?
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2012-09-25Nathan Fournier: Yes, you can, but first you should sand with 80, 120, 220, then 600-800 grit to get the proper results before buffing, also epoxy needs to have some kind of UV resistance whether it's a polyurethane varnish like Epifanes high gloss clear, or a primer and paint system, if it's exposed to the sun at all without protection it will yellow and crack, thank you.
2012-11-09Nathan Fournier: If it's an already painted and cured 2 part epoxy finish not an epoxy job then the regular perfect-it system "3M-05933" (not perfect-it 3000 for your job because it's a harsh extra cut) which we sell will work perfectly to remove any scratches in the paint, followed by finesse-it "MMM-09048", will yield beautiful results. If you have light to no scratches and don't need a compound then just use the Finesse-it, thank you.
Nathan
JD Store
(401)253-3840 ex130
store@jamestowndistributors.com
2012-09-17A shopper asked: is there a usage rate? how do I know whether to buy a quart or a gallon
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2012-09-20MATTHEW COHEN: No real usage rate. Depends on the size of the job and the condition of the paint/ gel coat. I just finished polishing my 26ft CC. I did the hull and topsides and I used about 1 1/2 quarts. I may have put it on heavy but the gel coat was a bit rough in spots. Hope this answer helped.
2012-09-21DOUGLAS JOUBERT: I used less than a quart for a 26' hull only, a quart should do the whole boat, top side and hull if it is not in real bad shape
2012-09-24MICHAEL PUETZ: It's been 3-4lyrs but as I remember my boat had a very light coat of oxidation on a 34' Catalina. It took about 1.5 liters. Mike
2012-05-02A shopper asked: for a 2000 grady trying to remove "ghosting" from previous owners
decals Area were there was a decal is darker or original color.
Is Imperial recommmended or should I use a stronger compound?
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2012-05-03WILLIAM MILLER: It depends. If the decals have been on for a very long time (5-10 years) they will have protected the underlying gelcoat from color change. The ghost of the old decals will probably remain after wet sanding (1200-2000) and polishing with the #M or any other product. With luck they will be considerably diminished, but they will probably remain visible upon close examination, until the areas is re-gelcoated or painted. A new decal of uyou own design will do a lot to hide the ghost pattern.
2012-05-03ROB ROBERTS: It just so happens that I used this product for exactly that purpose in January. It was a 2001 Grady, with the name on both sides, it worked great. I also used it on a 1989 Whaler a couple of weeks ago, but I needed to be much more aggressive with that. I wet sanded first then finished with the 3M compound. hope this helps.
2012-05-04LEONARD CLARK: Once the pigment has faded from UV exposure nothing except a paint job will correct the "ghosting". The fading generally penetrates the entire pigmented coating.
2012-05-04DWIGHT C NORMAN: Nope... I'd start with Imperial and that should do the trick, If you need to wet-sand a bit to get some of the discoloration staining or marking off the imperial will bring back the gloss and luster like new...(hint only wet-sand in one direction and ONLY if it's absolutely necessary so any minute scratches will be unnoticeable)
2012-01-18ALAN K asked: Hello,
How does 3M Imperial Compound differ from 3M Marine Rubbing Compound (restoring grade with green label on bottle)?
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2012-01-19RICHARD HALL: 3m Imperial Compound is an abrasive that works at around 600 grit. 3M Rubbing compound is an abrasive that works ar around 1200 grit.
2012-01-19Alan K: Thank you for your help.
I have an older sailboat with a blotchy, stained topside gelcoat. The marine rubbing compound seems to clean it up and I was wondering how well the imperial would work.
2012-01-19GIB CHARLES: Alan,
I haven't tried the green label rubbing compound, but would assume being a "rubbing" compound that is a much coarser grit. Imperial is a polishing compound which doesn't scratch gelcoat. I use it to polish hulls and decks on small sailboats, and restore color. Excellent product with a power buffer.
Gibsail
2012-01-20BRYAN BLAGG: Alan
The rubbing compound is a heavy duty deep cleaning product which would be used if what you are trying to restore is very very badly oxidized almost black, But I have never used it.
The 3M Imperial Compound รข??Finishing Material" I have used a lot, 3 boat so far. It brings back pretty fade gelcoats without leaving swirl marks. You will need a buffer to use it. I have used the 3M Imperial Compound on my ski boat as a great deep cleaner and to fix an area that started to fade due to sun exposure 1991 boat. I used it on the Sailboat I just restored and had it looking better after I application than it did after 4 coats the old own did with a car buffer and wax. (1982 boat looks like it just came off the show room floor). I would start with this and see if it cleans what you are working on, because you will need it to get rid of the marks from the other rubbing compound.
I learned about this finishing compound from magazine where they talked to a guy who buffed out boat for a living. He had the type of pads list and the cleaners. He had another lighter compound he used for painted boats.
Bryan
2012-01-20ANNE LEE: I have never used 3M Marine Rubbibng Compound, so I can't compare. I used 3M Imperial Compound for the final restoration of my fiberglass gelcoat. I first sanded with several grits, and finally used 3M Imperial Compound with an electrical buffer to bring thback the gloss. Because I race my sailboat I also hand wax my hull regularly.
2012-01-20LEONARD CLARK: I can't compare the two, but everything from 3M always works great! Most of your results will be more influenced by technique than the specific product. My advise is to simply follow 3M's directions to the letter. Cheers!
Comments about 3M Imperial Compound and Finishing Material:
Quick and easy, gave results much better than other products. Cut time in half to polish 40' boat that was in very poor condition.
Primary use:
Personal
9/6/2011
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
5.0
This compound is no Joke!
By Amature
from Elizabeth City, NC
About Me Quality Oriented
Pros
Fast cutting
High gloss finish
Zero swirl marks
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about 3M Imperial Compound and Finishing Material:
This compound works 3 times better the the Buff Magic I had been using. Not knocking the Buff Magic, but for the amount of oxidation my boat had this stuff worked GREAT! I compounded a 2000 Century 2100DC that appeared to have never been buffed or waxed, and 3M Imperial Compound brought back to a mirror finish.
Primary use:
Personal
6/4/2011
5.0
Does exactly what it claims to do
By Sailorman 100
from Rochester, New York
About Me Quality Oriented
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about 3M Imperial Compound and Finishing Material:
This compound saves me from having to go around the boat and polish again, it does 2 jobs in one, I used to do compounding, then finesse it swirl mark remover, this imperial compounding does it all in one time. It made the hull look new again, and i only had to go around the boat twice not 3 times, a 34' sail boat gets very big when you have to do it 3 times. I used the entire container to do the boat.
Primary use:
Personal
4/14/2009
(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)
5.0
Looks like a new hull!!
By Flashgordon
from Des Moines, Iowa
About Me Quality Oriented
Pros
Easy To Use
Cons
none
Best Uses
Gelcoat
Rub rail
Comments about 3M Imperial Compound and Finishing Material:
Must use foam pad at 2000rpm and do a 2'-3' square area at a time ( credit given to Sail magazine 4/08 by Geoffrey and Pam Shattuck. For perfect results follow their instructions.
Primary use:
Personal
1/23/2009
(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
5.0
WOW
By Bygone
from Heber Springs, AR
About Me Quality Oriented
Pros
Easy To Use
Works Effectively
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about 3M Imperial Compound and Finishing Material:
I am polishing a 16 year old black hull that has faded. First tried to use this product with a Porter Cable random orbital buffer using a foam pad and the results were so so. Then used a 3M wool buffing pad and a Dewalt DW849 buffer and the results are amazing. It is truly a mirror finish.
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