From the back of a 4 stick craftsman package:
1 Emery cake (black); for heavy cutting action for rust and scale removal from cast iron and steel.
2 White rouge; for stainless steel, cast brass and aluminum, chrome and nickle plated metals and other hard ferrous metals.
3 Tripoli; for buffing aluminum pewter, brass copper, wood, bone, plastics, painted surfaces
4 Red rouge; for bright luster on silver plate, gold, sterling, other precious metals.
Apply new compound to the spinning wheel generously, using a wiping motion.
Buff the item lightly, moving the item constantly to avoid burning. Do not press hard, let the wheel and compound do the work.
Apply compound sparingly but frequently, as needed.
Before changing from one compound to another, clean the wheel by "raking" with a sharp tool such as a screwdriver to remove old compounds.