what is the best finishing polish "hands down" in your opinion???

For the fans of 3800: How does it perform on soft paint found on many Japanese cars?

I'm looking to consolidate my polishing products, but I've got cars that range from very soft Toyota to very hard VW. I've seen where 3800 is a nice finisher for hard paints, but if it works well on soft paint too it could be a winner for me.
 
Desertnate said:
For the fans of 3800: How does it perform on soft paint found on many Japanese cars?

I'm looking to consolidate my polishing products, but I've got cars that range from very soft Toyota to very hard VW. I've seen where 3800 is a nice finisher for hard paints, but if it works well on soft paint too it could be a winner for me.
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not sure about that but is there any way to tell what paint is hard or soft without working on it? someone told me hard paint chips easier? ive also heard hyundias and kias have hard paint. i think mines hard but i cant really tell
 
fightnews said:
oh nice i have some hd polish i havent even opened yet. i kind of figured it would be the exact same thing as m205


geez if i got the car pro essence i could start detailing some of these peoples cars that keep asking me. i been saying no cuz it takes to long. what would you guys get for a wash and a one step, like $250 ?
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yep, $250 for mid sized sedan
 
IMO Menzerna SF4500 (I believe it is now SF3800) and 3M Perfect-It Ultra fine machine polish.
 
I only have to take care of my vehicles but enjoy trying new product like most of us, but I have been unable to beat 205 on my cars.
 
Meg's Ultimate Polish/205 for most things. Essence for coating prep.
 
Reflect and Essence. Once you get them dialed in they are tough to beat.
 
Desertnate said:
For the fans of 3800: How does it perform on soft paint found on many Japanese cars?

I'm looking to consolidate my polishing products, but I've got cars that range from very soft Toyota to very hard VW. I've seen where 3800 is a nice finisher for hard paints, but if it works well on soft paint too it could be a winner for me.
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As a finishing polish, it works great on both soft and hard paints.
 
Desertnate said:
For the fans of 3800: How does it perform on soft paint found on many Japanese cars?

I'm looking to consolidate my polishing products, but I've got cars that range from very soft Toyota to very hard VW. I've seen where 3800 is a nice finisher for hard paints, but if it works well on soft paint too it could be a winner for me.
Click to expand...

If 3800 is the old SF4000, then the answer, IME, is 'very well'. As you know I mostly work on harder German paint (VW's, Audi's, BMW's, Mercs etc) but have knocked out a few Subarus, all of which had very soft paint, and as you can see below, the finish was excellent... (I've done a couple of Toyotas and Hondas with soft paint as well)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/60312-java-black-pearl-subaru-impreza-wrx-detailed-lawrence.html

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/67270-obsidian-black-subaru-impreza-sti-detailed-lawrence.html

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/77211-another-obsidian-black-subaru-sti-detailed-lawrence.html

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/102826-lightning-red-subaru-wrx-detailed-lawrence.html

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/102466-aspen-white-subaru-wrx-sti-detailed-lawrence.html
 
lawrenceSA said:
If 3800 is the old SF4000, then the answer, IME, is 'very well'. As you know I mostly work on harder German paint (VW's, Audi's, BMW's, Mercs etc) but have knocked out a few Subarus, all of which had very soft paint, and as you can see below, the finish was excellent... (I've done a couple of Toyotas and Hondas with soft paint as well)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/60312-java-black-pearl-subaru-impreza-wrx-detailed-lawrence.html

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/67270-obsidian-black-subaru-impreza-sti-detailed-lawrence.html

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/77211-another-obsidian-black-subaru-sti-detailed-lawrence.html

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/102826-lightning-red-subaru-wrx-detailed-lawrence.html

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/102466-aspen-white-subaru-wrx-sti-detailed-lawrence.html
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3500 is the old 4000, 3800 is the old 4500 which had practically no cut and couldn't handle removing compounding haze. Rupes Diamond which is their lowest cut ultra fine polish also has more cut than 3800.
 
Thanks for the clarity.

On the old labeling system if I remember correctly, SF4000 had a cut of 4 and a finish of 10 and SF45000 a cut of 2 and a finish of 10. If that's the case, then then 3800 (ex-SF4500) using slightly finer abrasives should be able to finish out even better on softer paints than the 3500 (ex-SF4000) I used on the Subarus?
 
lawrenceSA said:
Thanks for the clarity.

On the old labeling system if I remember correctly, SF4000 had a cut of 4 and a finish of 10 and SF45000 a cut of 2 and a finish of 10. If that's the case, then then 3800 (ex-SF4500) using slightly finer abrasives should be able to finish out even better on softer paints than the 3500 (ex-SF4000) I used on the Subarus?
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Like you I mostly work on hard paints but had no issues with 4000 on softer Range Rover,Porsche,Ferrari paint etc. On hard paint skip the 3800, on Subaru paint I can't comment there would love to see a side by side test there, 4500/3800 is oily.
 
Zubair said:
3500 is the old 4000, 3800 is the old 4500 which had practically no cut and couldn't handle removing compounding haze. Rupes Diamond which is their lowest cut ultra fine polish also has more cut than 3800.
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ya but they tell u right on the chart that it has no cut. its stricktly an ultra fine finishing polish. its an extra step after a regular finishing polish like 205 or hd polish
 
Right now my pick would be Pinnacle Advanced Finishing polish, works forever, jeweling type.
second pick is Rupes Diamond, for the same reasons.
Can't forget Scholls S30+ or CP reflect.
 
Glad to hear someone thinks that highly of Pinnacle finishing Polish. I have an unopened bottle of that. If I had just one I think I would have have to go Hyper Polish. Very versatile, and when used with s finishing pad it will finish with the best of them IMO.
HD is great, especially the ease of use.
For strictly a polish CarPro Reflect is great. It works fast, one of the easiest to wipe off, and looks are incredible.
of Coarse Menzerna 3800 every one know is a great polish.
 
lawrenceSA said:
Thanks for the clarity.

On the old labeling system if I remember correctly, SF4000 had a cut of 4 and a finish of 10 and SF45000 a cut of 2 and a finish of 10. If that's the case, then then 3800 (ex-SF4500) using slightly finer abrasives should be able to finish out even better on softer paints than the 3500 (ex-SF4000) I used on the Subarus?
Click to expand...

the 3800 has a cut of 2 and a finish of 10, the 3500 has a cut of 4 and a finish of 9
 
fightnews said:
the 3800 has a cut of 2 and a finish of 10, the 3500 has a cut of 4 and a finish of 9
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Why anyone would choose 3800 over Essence is beyond me. Essence outshines and outcuts it. If one doesn't need the cut just use a Gloss pad or any finishing pad. Infact I challenge any finishing polish against Essence as far as gloss goes.
 
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