Menzerna SF4000 Questions

I realize I am a noob but if you look at the two pics I posted (reposted here for clarity), I think SF4000 with an orange as step one and SF4000 again with black or red to shine it up seems fine based on Lake Country's pad chart. FG400 seems to be overkill, on the Menzerna chart for 1200 grit size. 1200 grit on the LC chart is the most aggressive pad they make the wool. This is described as "deep scratches, heavy oxidation, paint runs and acid rain". The car is brand new and don't think the pictures show anything even close to this requiring FG400.

Buffing & Polishing Application Guide Chart | Lake Country Manufacturing

The pad chart states for orange as used for fine scratches 2000 grit abrasives (and it is at the low end of that range). White is "very fine", finer than 2000 grit, so it seems they are pretty close to me. How much difference is there between the aggressiveness of each pad color? I can see maybe the need to get some white pads for SF4000 in case the orange are a little too much.

red1.jpg

red2.jpg
 
Sheesh man... It honestly seems like the only polish you have is SF4000 and you want to make it work, not matter what.

FG400 is not "overkill". It will remove your defects in 1 shot, without a doubt, leaving SF4000 for gloss.

Your not going to strip all your paint off using FG400... get it, its a game changing compound/polish.


EDIT: Now that I re-checked the thread, my guess was right.

It doesn't matter how new the car is, its all about how hard the paint is. If your paint is very hard, SF4000 wont be enough.

If you already have SF4000 and various pads, instead of posting a bunch of times and researching 1200 vs. 2000 grit - go do a TEST SPOT and see if it works. It seems your trying to convince yourself SF4000 is all you need, when in reality you should just go try it for yourself.
 
mdgrwl said:
from my conversation with Menzerna US, SF4000 & SF4500 have the same size abrasives... but SF4000 has more of them (or the other way around, can't remember). They both finish down almost identical (you can't tell the difference).

SF4000 has the benefit of more cut, so you can easily follow up FG400 with it where SF4500 may not take out all of the haze left behind by FG400.

Also, SF4000 has a shorter working time where SF4500 takes a
lot longer to fully break down
SF4000 for the win.



FWIW - SF4500 was actually discontinued by Menzerna when SF4000 came out... but due to a niche crowd, they brought back SF4500.
Click to expand...

If what you are saying is true and 4000 has more of the same size abrasives as 4500, why does it take longer for 4500 to break down? Being a DAT polish, it needs to break down and you would think the more the abrasives, the longer it would take to break down. Dunnno!
 
mdgrwl said:
Sheesh man... It honestly seems like the only polish you have is SF4000 and you want to make it work, not matter what.

FG400 is not "overkill". It will remove your defects in 1 shot, without a doubt, leaving SF4000 for gloss. Your not going to strip all your paint off using FG400... get it, its a game changing compound/polish.
Click to expand...

Well, to me, it sounds the opposite. You want me to get FG400, no matter what.

To quote a famous detailer here: "At last night's project, in keeping with the philosophy of using the least aggressive product to get the job done, [...]"
 
Do a spot test buddy. YOU tell US if SF4000 works for you.
 
That was sarcastic, please scroll up and view mdgrwl's avatar.
 
SF4000 works great with an orange pad, it will actually remove quite a bit. I think you have the right idea. You may not even need to follow up with the gray pad depending on how hard or soft your paint is.

I can use SF4000 and an orange Flat Lake Country pad on my BMW paint and it finish's down perfectly. not noticeable difference in following up with a gray or crimson pad.

If you need more cut (cause that seems like some pretty nasty marring and defects in the pics you posted), you can always step up to PF2500. That polish is amazing and really cuts defects out with just a polishing pad.

I'm betting most people posting about FG400 in this thread would be surprised to see what PF2500 can remove. too many people jumping straight to compounds when its not needed. I too used to do the same thing, believing that the paint on my Audi and bmw are rock hard. But I have come around to using PF2500 with an uber green polishing very often lately. It finish's down incredibly well. its a great 1 step.
 
Gokite said:
Somehow this whole thread got derailed into talking about FG400. I ONLY have SF4000.

I agree with "only as much as needed" approach which is why I figured for a new car, SF4000 is prob all I need.

SF4000 with orange pad
SF4000 with gray pad to pop it
LSP
Click to expand...

In spite of what "you think" will be required, inspect the paint and select the least aggressive option and than test a small section. If it works great, if not step it up to a more aggressive combination. This is the tried and true method of the "only as much as needed" approach. By trying to take a "shortcut" you will actually lengthen the process. Trust me....I've tried and failed like so many others - do it right the first time.
 
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