Most people believe that buffing and compounding are the same thing, when in fact they are two completely different processes. Buffing is the process of using a rotary buffer with a polishing pad to remove scratches, swirl marks, and other imperfections from the paint surface. Compounding, on the other hand, is the process of using a dual action or random orbital buffer with a abrasive compound to remove deeper scratches and stains that cannot be removed by buffing alone.