If you're a beginner I wouldn't recommend a buffer (rotary).

I would recommend getting the Griots 6" DA from Phil, with the Uber Foam pads.

FG400 is a great compound but if the Escalade is a hammered black it will take multiple passes with MF cutting pads to get it looking decent again.

For fine but visible scratches in your paint, again I'd start with least aggressive method first. For me and my shelf, that is the SF4000 or Sonax Perfect Finish with the Uber Green Foam pad. If I want more power, I step up to the Uber Orange pad with same products. If I'm compounding I can use the FG400 with the Orange pad, but I mostly use the MF cutting pads because its quicker and finishes nicely.

Always start with least aggressive pad/polish combo and work your way down.

I would watch Garry Dean, Larry Kosilla (AMMO NYC) and Mike Phillips videos on how to use a DA machine properly, even though it is a basic tool to use and you won't burn your paint, you need to use it properly to be proficient in orbital polishing.

For the shadowline trim, the reason it came back looking like crap is whatever fillers in the products you were using wore off and thats why when you got it back the trim showed what it "truly" looks like. Once you machine polish it (and the products I mentioned have no fillers) it will be permanently looking better.

Good luck man hit me up if you need anything, proper detailing is a true regimen and once you're "caught up" maintaining it is easy, but to be honest the most marring of the paint comes from improper washing/drying techniques in my experience.

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