I use the same Meguiars products on my car. I have a Craftsman 7 inch buffer that I apply them with. First of all, none of those products will remove the swirls, no matter how you apply them. They just don't have enough of a compound to do it. The only way you will remove the majority of the swirls and scratches is with a mild rubbing compound, like a 3000 grit and a higher speed polisher. The Meguiars products are great, but for different purposes. I love the Show Car Glaze and it doesn't come off hard for me... You'll find that once the car has a good coat of wax, the glaze goes on and comes off easier. Like Mike said, make sure you only do a panel at a time and keep it wet. Remove the glaze while wet and then turn the cloth and wipe again to get everything off. As for pads, I use the microfiber pad, but you have to be careful and keep it in a plastic bag when you're done with the car because it will collect particles, like saw dust or dirt, which can really hurt your paint during the next use if not removed first. You'll get used to using the Porter Cable after a few times. It really makes the job easier. Good luck!