Good polish and compound combo other than Meguiar's

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

I currently have the over counter Megs ultimate compound and polish and I'd like to get something a bit better because I feel like my result maybe aren't that good and looking for something more "boutique" I guess you can say. So I know Meguiar's D105 and D205 are really the top recommended but I'm wondering if there is any other to recommend. I would like to stick with a basic compound and a basic polish since I am beginner and want to keep it simple.

So what do you all recommend?

 

[The Guz]

Meguiar’s M110 + M210. M205 for a one step polish
Sonax Cut Max + Sonax EX 04-06
3D ACA Compound + 3D One
Optimum Hyper Polish

I’ve used all of these and they all work well.

 

[Boostedqtr]

Meguiar’s D300 is great for beginners and finishes great too! one off my favorites

For the polish Menzerna 3800



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[acuRAS82]

PBMG (Wolfgang, Pinnacle, Blackfire) compound/swirl remover/finishing polishes are all excellent. They go on sale often too. I haven’t tried the new DP ones yet but would imagine they are good too.

 

[vobro]

Meguiar’s M110 + M210. M205 for a one step polish
Sonax Cut Max + Sonax EX 04-06
3D ACA Compound + 3D One
Optimum Hyper Polish

I’ve used all of these and they all work well.

^ this

 

[ctdave]

If you’re looking for different products Griot Garage is good also

 

[C5Longhorn]

If you’re looking for different products Griot Garage is good also

I'd second the Griot's. They have a system and you could use Fast Correcting cream for compounding and Perfecting cream for polishing.

Rick

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[TheMidnightNarwhal]

I'd second the Griot's. They have a system and you could use Fast Correcting cream for compounding and Perfecting cream for polishing.

Rick

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Ok yeah Griot I would be interested in to.

Currently that Griot combo or Sonax perfect finish and cutmax are my top 2 choices.

 

[RZJZA80]

Once you use Griot's BOSS line there's not much reason to go back and use anything else. On occasion I still use M205 and D300 depending on the car.

 

[tcope]

I think a good question is, why do you feel UC is not working for you. What pads are you using with it? Are you working the UC long enough? Perhaps the problem is not the compound but rather something else. I'm guessing that you are using a DA? If so, what kind? Again, I think the _real_ question to get you a better answer is knowing what you feel is lacking from UC.

Personally, UC is about the only aggressive compound I use. Compared to M105, I'll choose UC any day of the week. M105 just dusts _WAY_ too much for me. UC is just slightly less aggressive then M105. For heavier work I'll go with an orange pad and UC. For light corrective work I might switch to a white pad and UC. That covers a lot of what I'd be doing. UC can be worked as long as it has not flashed and it takes awhile to do that. One thing that I do and I'm not saying it actually makes any difference but I'll lighten up pressure to almost nothing on the last pass or two of a section. I can't say that I actually see a difference but I've worked it into being a habit. If I'm looking for a more mirror like finish (2 step polish) I will then go with something less aggressive.

I know a lot of people on this forum don't mention using UC. Perhaps it is because it is an inexpensive item that can be bought locally. But I'd not underrate it for that reason. Typing this, I just thought of something. Someone should create a video where they take a few products, put then in nondescript containers and then have someone else use and rate them. There are _so many_ video's giving reviews of product and comparing them against each other but in all cases, those brands are known. Putting them in non descript containers would remove all bias. Course, I think then we might see that most of these products are really about the same.

For a 2nd step I'm now using Menzerna 3500 or 3800. I like it for the same reason I like UC, I can work for a long time as it does not flash out quickly. But it is really subjective.

I think you may want to look more at ways you are using and applying your compound but of course, you need to feel good about the product.

 

[Eldorado2k]

I currently have the over counter Megs ultimate compound and polish and I'd like to get something a bit better because I feel like my result maybe aren't that good and looking for something more "boutique"

Your results aren’t necessarily going to get better simply because you decide to spend more and get “boutique” with your compound & polish.
The compound is either going to remove all the swirls or it’s not.. And if UC can’t do it then that must mean that you’ve somehow managed to severely thrash your own vehicle by not knowing how to properly wash it.

Unless you’re seeing visible marring or an inability to finish down to a good level, chances are it’s not going to suddenly gain a world of difference just because you use a more expensive compound or polish because alot of the differences are mainly in the user experience as opposed to the final shine that’s produced.

If you’re really hating the user experience with Ultimate Polish, then I can’t blame you.. But if the results are fine then the majority of the difference will likely be with ease of use, not how shiny your paint gets. Just because you’re using OTC products, doesn’t mean you’re settling for OTC results. I was taught the very same lesson a long time ago.

 

[mwoywod]

Once you use Griot's BOSS line there's not much reason to go back and use anything else. On occasion I still use M205 and D300 depending on the car.

Agreed. Fast Correcting Cream doesn't leave behind the oily residue like Menzerna or Jescar and has more cut and finishes better than D300. It smells fantastic and other than really soft paints it seems to work better than any other compound.

 

[Boostedqtr]

I agree with the guys that suggested fcc
Fast correction cream is like D300 with steroids
More cut and finishes better
Both products 0 to low dusting
Easy wipe off
Both are smat tech

Cut max Is great but in the wrong hands could be damaging and is too aggressive for beginners and it’s not easy to use like the griots fcc and d300

But it depends sometimes you don’t need the extra cut

For an aggressive cut I’ll suggest fast correction cream with the white cutting pad by griots or microfiber

You can minimize the aggressiveness by switching to a softer pad

So if you decided to get the fast correction cream get the white and orange pads and always start with the orange




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[mwoywod]

I agree with the guys that suggested fcc
Fast correction cream is like D300 with steroids
More cut and finishes better
Both products 0 to low dusting
Easy wipe off
Both are smat tech

Cut max Is great but in the wrong hands could be damaging and is too aggressive for beginners and it’s not easy to use like the griots fcc and d300

But it depends sometimes you don’t need the extra cut

For an aggressive cut I’ll suggest fast correction cream with the white cutting pad by griots or microfiber

You can minimize the aggressiveness by switching to a softer pad

So if you decided to get the fast correction cream get the white and orange pads and always start with the orange




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Do you like the griot's white foam pad? I hated using that thing especially on a panel with any concave/convex surfaces. Too thin and firm for me. The Boss Microfiber is easily my favorite microfiber pad though. Not the best at heavy correction but the soft interface and long fibers make it so user friendly IMO

 

[PaulMys]

Another vote for GG Creams.

My cousin recently sold his work truck. It was pretty hammered, but he asked if I could "do anything to make it look a little better".

Only about 2 hours with FCC, and he was shocked. He said it looked "New again".

I know better than that, but the FCC took that dark blue Ford paint from beat to hell to not being able to tell how bad the paint was from a couple feet away.

When I use the CC on my own truck, it works flawlessly.

 

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Ok guys thanks for all the replies.

To address my current issues with my compound, yes it might be a combination of having bad pads and a pad polisher and my low experience. It's off brand "Presa' I'm looking to sell and get a Griot ones instead but want to sell it before with my pads to.

I just found that the ultimate compound didn't cut enough, after polishing and compounding I find that there are still some swirls I can find when looking at them at a very specific angle and it bugs me. A part from that honnestly my car looks perfect, it's just I know there are swirls.

I'll see more as COVID ends (hopefully) and car meets start and see if I see them swirls under a lamp post at night skies but yeah.

 

[Boostedqtr]

Do you like the griot's white foam pad? I hated using that thing especially on a panel with any concave/convex surfaces. Too thin and firm for me. The Boss Microfiber is easily my favorite microfiber pad though. Not the best at heavy correction but the soft interface and long fibers make it so user friendly IMO

I liked them on flat surfaces
My only issue was they have the tendency to sling polish after priming
I also like their boss microfiber pads both are great in my opinion but I felt that the foam pad gave me a better finish



On the concave/convex i use the 3in boss microfiber pads with my flex cordless polisher

I have there fast finishing microfiber pad but haven’t tried it yet, it falls between the white foam and the boss microfiber in cutting power and it has a thicker interface than the boss

View attachment 69138




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[Eldorado2k]

Ok guys thanks for all the replies.

To address my current issues with my compound, yes it might be a combination of having bad pads and a pad polisher and my low experience. It's off brand "Presa' I'm looking to sell and get a Griot ones instead but want to sell it before with my pads to.

I just found that the ultimate compound didn't cut enough, after polishing and compounding I find that there are still some swirls I can find when looking at them at a very specific angle and it bugs me. A part from that honnestly my car looks perfect, it's just I know there are swirls.

I'll see more as COVID ends (hopefully) and car meets start and see if I see them swirls under a lamp post at night skies but yeah.

Ok then, I’ll toss my vote in with the Fast Correcting Cream. It’s great stuff.

What kind of car do you have and what color is it?

 

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Ok then, I’ll toss my vote in with the Fast Correcting Cream. It’s great stuff.

What kind of car do you have and what color is it?

Ok nice, my question to you, shouldn't you be using perfecting cream instead of correcting to follow up? The perfect one says it remove minute swirls and holograms.

Or am I looking at it wrong. Are they all one step products and don't need a follow up after to look good or? I assume you compound with the fast cream and polish with the correcting cream?

My car is a 2011 BMW 335is in sapce gray mettalic. Here's a pic of my after winter wash, it looks good and reflection is great! I know it's not sunny but hope if gives you an idea. Please ignore the wheels they are still the winter ones!

 

[Eldorado2k]

Ok nice, my question to you, shouldn't you be using perfecting cream instead of correcting to follow up? The perfect one says it remove minute swirls and holograms.

Or am I looking at it wrong. Are they all one step products and don't need a follow up after to look good or? I assume you compound with the fast cream and polish with the correcting cream?
[/IMG]

You’re mostly right... Ideally you’d follow up the correcting creams with the perfecting cream or even the Boss finishing sealant, however while I’m a big fan of the Correcting Creams, I’m not as big on the other 2 creams. I do have them, but I prefer others.

For me personally it’s always Meguiars M205 that I reach for. IMO it just does everything better and I’ve always had good results with it.

And yes the Boss Correcting Creams usually do work very well as 1 step products, alot of times not even requiring a 2nd step. However if and when I do a 2nd step, it’s not the FCC followed by the CC. That’s overkill... My choice would be either 1 of the correcting creams followed by a finishing polish i.e. Megs M205.