Originally Posted by golfdude

Ahh, Patpur, the differences between polish and wax is something that few people really understand. Nevertheless, here goes: Polish is a liquid with abrasive properties that removes a super thin coat of clearcoat on your finish. Scratches and swirl marks are all just indentations within the clearcoat, and polish levels the clearcoat to leave a smooth, reflective finish. And yes, you can remove your clearcoat and paint with polish the proper buffer (a rotary buffer that is), and the proper pad. The Porter Cable, because of the pad's action, makes it almost impossible to burn through a clearcoat, that's why many beginners are recommended to use this product. Wax is used to provide a protective layer against the elements. Waxing your vehicle will make it easier to remove dirt and other forms of foreign material on your paint finish because of it's slick properties. I noticed you live in MD, and I would be glad to share you some tips if you are ever in Harrisonburg, VA.