AE compound works at gentle pressures to lift color mistakes and clean surfaces without damage, while AEX compound handles higher PSI applications where you need actual material removal for etching effects.

The softer AE formula excels at correcting pastel, charcoal, or graphite errors, removing pigment while preserving the paper surface beneath. It cleans illustration boards and prepared surfaces without abrading away your tooth. AEX compound contains harder abrasive particles that bite into material at elevated pressure, creating controlled etching effects on glass, metal, or dense surfaces where you want permanent marks rather than gentle correction.

Using the wrong compound at the wrong pressure either fails to remove what you're targeting or damages your substrate. These purpose-specific formulations give you the control to match abrasive action to task: restoration-level gentleness for color lifting or aggressive material removal for surface etching. Each compound flows consistently through Paasche air eraser mechanisms without clogging, maintaining steady particle delivery throughout extended correction or etching sessions.