I did not get the depth I was hoping for from Menz SF4500

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Mike145

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Mr. Phillips,

After working the hood of my '03 F250, Toreador Red CC Metalic twice with Megs 205 and a L.C. 5 1/2" flat White polishing pad I used Menzerna SF4500 and a L.C. 5 1/2" flat Blue pad.Then finished with a L.C. 5 1/2" flat Blue pad and Megs NXT 2.0 liquid wax.
I did not get the "depth" I was hoping for from the Menzerna.
Should I have used a White polishing pad with the Menz? Should I have worked it a second time to get more depth? The speed for both the 205 and 4500 was 4-5.

Thanks
Mike
 
I usually use a black LC pad with SF 4500. I suppose it depends on the paint you're working with, but that combo seems to work the best for me.
 
Try the White Pad. That Pad is a little more firmer. I use SF4500 all the time. That seems to work for me. If that doesn't work, try SF4000. It has more cutting ability than SF4500. I use SF4500 as a 'jeweling" polish.
 
Honestly, my first thought is you took a very light approach. At best, the combo you used has only reduced light surface defects from my prior projects.
I am the more aggressive type. I find myself using FG400 a lot with an orange pad with a Flex.
You may need to change your entire approach. Does the paint have swirls?
 
Have to agree. Tried SF4500 in a few different circumstances and never saw any improvement over SF4000 that I was using on a different section of the same panel. I will continue on with SF4000.
 
Just out of quirosity did it pass the baggy test after you clayed..
 
expdetailing said:
Honestly, my first thought is you took a very light approach. At best, the combo you used has only reduced light surface defects from my prior projects.
I am the more aggressive type. I find myself using FG400 a lot with an orange pad with a Flex.
You may need to change your entire approach. Does the paint have swirls?
Click to expand...

I just realized Megs 205 is similar to SF400/4500 in terms of polish. To remove swirls and then follow up with a polish is what I thought you were doing. My bad. Menzerna FG400 or Megs 105 with an orange pad is what I would do too. Then follow up with SF4500. You will see the results.
 
Kamakaz1961 said:
I just realized Megs 205 is similar to SF400/4500 in terms of polish. To remove swirls and then follow up with a polish is what I thought you were doing. My bad. Menzerna FG400 or Megs 105 with an orange pad is what I would do too. Then follow up with SF4500. You will see the results.
Click to expand...

The OP dis not mention that he is having difficulty removing swirls or scratches....so why suggest Compounding?

He mentioned lack of "depth"


In my experience not all paints have a "deep" look

There are also some paints that do not show a perceptible change when treated to a 3rd step like SF4500

Whatever you try next, save yourself a lot of time and product by using a 2'x2' Test Spot to see if you are getting the results you want with a particular combination of polish, pad, speed, pressure, number of passes
 
allenk4 said:
Whatever you try next, save yourself a lot of time and product by using a 2'x2' Test Spot to see if you are getting the results you want with a particular combination of polish, pad, speed, pressure, number of passes
Click to expand...

This!

I think far too many people still jump into a detail with a pre-conceived idea about how to tackle (especially) the paint correction.

They think things like 'oh, its a BMW therefore the paint is hard' or 'I did one of these last week and so it will polish out the same as that car did' or 'I saw person x on the forum used product y and therefore I will do the same'.

I have never polished out 2 cars that reacted exactly the same, even if they were the same make/model/year/color.

I know Mike Phillips, and many others, keep trying to stress the important of the test spot.... and I personally see it as a complete non-negotiable step in the process.
 
Re; expdetailing
No swirls. Fine scratches probably from washing and drying. They were really noticeable in direct sunlight. Some were circular, some were more straight.
After completing the first application of 205 the hood was clean and shiny. I did notice some fine scratches here and there when viewed in direct sunlight so I decided to go over it again to try to eliminate them. It worked. At that point, after two applications of 205 it was ready for NXT 2.0. It had some depth. I wanted to try to get more depth. I used the Blue pad because it does not "cut." My thought was to let the 4500 do the work since it is a finer cut polish than the 205. I think there was "slightly" more depth after using the 4500. The NXT 2.0 definitely made it shinier and smoother.
When all done, the p/u definitely passed the 5 foot and or 60 MPH test. I was hoping for more depth.
Re; mbkite
No baggy and no clay. I have yet to use clay. I do have some. I may try it on a White Corvette in a month or two.
Re;kamakaz1961
I do have a new bottle of 105 unopened. Also have Speed Glaze, Machine Glaze, Find Cut Cleaner and Medium Cut Cleaner. I really didn't need to use any of them. The 205 did the job with the first application. The second application took care of the fine scratches that I missed on first try. I REALLY like that 205. It has saved me time and material!!
Re;allenk4
BINGO!!! ... not all paints have a "deep" look. ...some paints do not show a perceptible change... ...using a 2x2 test spot.. I just didn't think to do a test spot.
I thank all of you for your responses. You have brought me "down to earth." Once I do the first step in the detailing process and see the results, I always want MORE and BETTER rather it be more defects gone, much cleaner, more shine and deeper look. I want it to look NEW! The vehicles, when finished, always look much better. Most of them I am satisfied with the results. Others I could make look better if I had the product available to use. Often I have to make do with what I have. I detail/wax my personal vehicles and those of my friends. Even though its a lot of work (for me) I enjoy doing it and seeing the results.

Thanks
Mike
 
Mike145 said:
Re; expdetailing
No swirls. Fine scratches probably from washing and drying. They were really noticeable in direct sunlight. Some were circular, some were more straight.
After completing the first application of 205 the hood was clean and shiny. I did notice some fine scratches here and there when viewed in direct sunlight so I decided to go over it again to try to eliminate them. It worked. At that point, after two applications of 205 it was ready for NXT 2.0. It had some depth. I wanted to try to get more depth. I used the Blue pad because it does not "cut." My thought was to let the 4500 do the work since it is a finer cut polish than the 205. I think there was "slightly" more depth after using the 4500. The NXT 2.0 definitely made it shinier and smoother.
When all done, the p/u definitely passed the 5 foot and or 60 MPH test. I was hoping for more depth.
Re; mbkite
No baggy and no clay. I have yet to use clay. I do have some. I may try it on a White Corvette in a month or two.
Re;kamakaz1961
I do have a new bottle of 105 unopened. Also have Speed Glaze, Machine Glaze, Find Cut Cleaner and Medium Cut Cleaner. I really didn't need to use any of them. The 205 did the job with the first application. The second application took care of the fine scratches that I missed on first try. I REALLY like that 205. It has saved me time and material!!
Re;allenk4
BINGO!!! ... not all paints have a "deep" look. ...some paints do not show a perceptible change... ...using a 2x2 test spot.. I just didn't think to do a test spot.
I thank all of you for your responses. You have brought me "down to earth." Once I do the first step in the detailing process and see the results, I always want MORE and BETTER rather it be more defects gone, much cleaner, more shine and deeper look. I want it to look NEW! The vehicles, when finished, always look much better. Most of them I am satisfied with the results. Others I could make look better if I had the product available to use. Often I have to make do with what I have. I detail/wax my personal vehicles and those of my friends. Even though its a lot of work (for me) I enjoy doing it and seeing the results.

Thanks
Mike
Click to expand...

You probably reached the point of diminishing return. We all have reached that point sometime in our polishing career. We keep chasing that perfect shine.
 
allenk4 said:
The OP dis not mention that he is having difficulty removing swirls or scratches....so why suggest Compounding?

He mentioned lack of "depth"


In my experience not all paints have a "deep" look

There are also some paints that do not show a perceptible change when treated to a 3rd step like SF4500

Whatever you try next, save yourself a lot of time and product by using a 2'x2' Test Spot to see if you are getting the results you want with a particular combination of polish, pad, speed, pressure, number of passes
Click to expand...

Because he stated it was an 03', and I was banking on it having swirls. I feel the necessity of using the least aggressive method to save CC, leaves those who have not polished many vehicles nervous about compounding. Sure, a test spot is a good idea, but I bet most start-out buying polshes rather than compounds, therefore not having a compound to use in a test-spot.
I seem to always end-up compounding most of my projects that I am tempted to just go straight to FG400 when my intuition tells me too.
 
expdetailing said:
Because he stated it was an 03', and I was banking on it having swirls. I feel the necessity of using the least aggressive method to save CC, leaves those who have not polished many vehicles nervous about compounding. Sure, a test spot is a good idea, but I bet most start-out buying polshes rather than compounds, therefore not having a compound to use in a test-spot.
I seem to always end-up compounding most of my projects that I am tempted to just go straight to FG400 when my intuition tells me too.
Click to expand...

Well....I try to listen 1st and then make suggestions based on the available information.

When there is not enough available information to base a suggestion on; I ask questions

This applies to listening to the OP and listening to the Test Spot
 
Rsurfer said:
You probably reached the point of diminishing return. We all have reached that point sometime in our polishing career. We keep chasing that perfect shine.
Click to expand...

IMO that's when an acrylic polymer glaze like CG EZ Creme or Wet Glaze 2.0 comes in. It just adds that extra bit of shine, depth, pop and gloss.
 
allenk4 said:
You got my point... right?
Click to expand...

I do and I don't..If a glaze is giving one look and then you top it with a sealant that gives another look, why bother with the glaze? I can see trying to hide some imperfections and with some glazes, darken the paint, but it does alter the look...good, bad, or indifferent.
 
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