Better one step polish?

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flugufrelsarinn

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I am looking for a new one step polish. I have been using P21S Paintwork cleanser, and it has done a good job removing minor swirls and haze. I would like to try something new, perhaps with more cutting power. Right now I am looking at Menzerna 2500, are there others to look at?

If it matters, I use CG Wash+Gloss for soap, CG Blacklight and Sonax BSD as LSPs.
 
Menzerna FG-400 is the most aggressive product in their line up yet I'm amazed at how nice this product finishes up. :props:

Here's a chart that might help you decide....
menzerna-chart-2013.jpg
 
You will never know for sure what works well until you do a test spot and look at it in the sun. So many people have gone down this path. They have polished the whole car with what should have worked, and the defects were not removed - or the car looked hazy/milky. If your trying to do a one-step, depending on the hardness/softness of the paint and your specific combo you can:

1. "Over polish it" (soft paint): the paint will look hazy or scoured. You will no longer see swirls - but you will see abrasive marks left by your polish.

2. "Under polish it" (hard paint): the defects will not be removed by your specific combination. So, in essence you will polish the car, but not correct the defects.

***The BEST thing to do IMHO, if I was in your shoes, is to pick up a line of polishes, like Wolfgang or Optimum (or Rupes if you went that route) and at least 3 different types of pads. That way, you will be able to mix and match to get the best results using the least aggressive method.

That's how I do it anyway.
 
D151 is another good one IMO.
Doesn't take long to knockout a car, it's so easy to remove it, even a caveman can do it themselves. Lol
 
FG400 or HD Adapt.

Both are on my list of favorite 1-steppers. FG400 is insane amounts of cut, depending on the pad, but can easily be finished down in one step and be LSP ready.
 
WillWashesCars said:
FG400 or HD Adapt.

Both are on my list of favorite 1-steppers. FG400 is insane amounts of cut, depending on the pad, but can easily be finished down in one step and be LSP ready.
Click to expand...

I have read some people saying that they like FG400 as a one step too. Isn't that a lot of cut for a one step? Or would I use it on a white or softer pad? I mean I wouldn't use M105 as a one step.
 
flugufrelsarinn said:
I have read some people saying that they like FG400 as a one step too. Isn't that a lot of cut for a one step? Or would I use it on a white or softer pad? I mean I wouldn't use M105 as a one step.
Click to expand...


I agree I would not ever use 105 as a one step. FG400 actually can finish very well on aggressive pads. Try it out on a Meguiar's Microfiber pad and see for yourself. Slow speed, slow arm movement, and fully work the compound. I would not use that combo on softer black paints, but on most cars it works very well.
 
flugufrelsarinn said:
I have read some people saying that they like FG400 as a one step too. Isn't that a lot of cut for a one step? Or would I use it on a white or softer pad? I mean I wouldn't use M105 as a one step.
Click to expand...

It all depends on the paint you are working on and how deep the damage is.

On harder VW/Audi/BMW clears with quite bad damage you could use FG400 as a one-step.

Try that on a Subaru for example and you will have no paint left on the car.

This is why it is CRITICAL to perform a test spot with your least aggressive combo (pad/polish/machine) and progressively increase the 'aggressiveness' until you find a combo that removes sufficient defects whilst still leaving the paint glossy enough for LSP.

IMO there is no simple one answer for everything....
 
lawrenceSA said:
It all depends on the paint you are working on and how deep the damage is.

On harder VW/Audi/BMW clears with quite bad damage you could use FG400 as a one-step.

Try that on a Subaru for example and you will have no paint left on the car.

This is why it is CRITICAL to perform a test spot with your least aggressive combo (pad/polish/machine) and progressively increase the 'aggressiveness' until you find a combo that removes sufficient defects whilst still leaving the paint glossy enough for LSP.

IMO there is no simple one answer for everything....
Click to expand...
:iagree:

You want to use a combination of the best cut, but more importantly maintaining the best finish for a 1-step. There is no one pad/product for this. All paint is different.
 
Dogfather said:
Does anyone use Optimum Hyper Polish as a one step?
Click to expand...

On softer paint the Optimum will work well. It is quite a mild polish so on harder paints it will not do any serious correction. It is however a lovely product to use and the worktime seems to be endless.
 
HateSwirls said:
D151 is another good one IMO.
Doesn't take long to knockout a car, it's so easy to remove it, even a caveman can do it themselves. Lol
Click to expand...

I am SOOOOO glad I got you hooked on 151. Im the MAN

FivePoint.0 said:
You want to use a combination of the best cut, but more importantly maintaining the best finish for a 1-step. There is no one pad/product for this. All paint is different.
Click to expand...

BAZINGA!

It just kills me when you hear that question, a 1-step process is one thing, a 1-step universal compound/polish is a totally different matter. Like saying all tires are the same size. :doh:

We were tasked to do a 1-step over the weekend on the most trashed 6000 mile car I've ever seen. He wanted PBL coating so it needed to be as good as possible. OTOH, I only promised 80%, but really didn't want to coat it unless it was better. Why do we keep torturing ourselves like that, why oh why?????? :rolleyes:

Speaking 'generally' I've seen more cars done with middle of the road products and come out better than cars done with heavy cut products. Megs 205 can cut and finish, just change out the pad depending on what you want/need. The other side of that coin, DAT products... Menz 1500 or 2000 isn't bad at all. I like the Megs SMAT better because it cuts till you stop, and isn't as oily as Menz, but have both in my bag.

Last weekend we toyed with the idea of trying out the new Duetto with the Rupes product and Menz, leaving all the Megs in the bag. But we just didn't have the time to work out a new process and a new machine (especially with my back as bad as it is right now). So we did 5 test spots, 205 with 2 pads, D300 with 3 pads, then Menz 2000. Did NOT break out any microfiber pads, didn't want to risk it with that paint as it was sort of soft. Turns out that the Rupes pad with the Rupes yellow was "winner winner chicken dinner". :buffing:So for THAT car, on THAT day, it ended up being a fairly heavy cut product.... yet finished out flawlessly. :props:
 
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