Can someone explain the concept of "breaking down" a polish? Or more specifically, how to tell when a polish is properly broken down?

I tried my hand at polishing for the first time (Prima Swirl w/ PC) and while it's a big improvement over what the paint looked like previously, I'm not convinced I polished as thoroughly as I should have.

And on a somewhat related note, I'm a little confused about the difference between Amigo and Finnish in the Prima system. Can someone enlighten me about when one or the other would be used?

Thanks

 

In modern polishes like Swirl there are diminishing abrasives which well, diminish when they are used on the paint. They start out as larger chunks and then start to break down smaller and smaller to polish and refine the paint on a more microscopic level. To answer your other question; you'll know when it's broken down when the white polish turns mostly clear. Just make sure you don't polish for too long or the polish will dry and be difficult to remove.

You might be able to improve your technique by slowing your arm movement and making sure the polish is completely broken down; I know those were two of my problems when I first started out.

I've never used Finish simply because I've never had to, the Swirl and Amigo team really do a good job. You can think of Finish as a baby Swirl, the abrasives in it are finer and therefore, you get a polish that more suited for very, very light swirling an hazing. Amigo isn't a polish but more a a filler glaze, it will fill those same tiny swirls that Finish will remove but it will also provide that nice freshly glazed finish after you're done, thus the reason I don't use Finish. I'm sure you could try both but unless you're going for an absolutely perfect finish with no fillers then I would just skip the Finish step and move right on to Amigo.

I hope this helps.