one step or AIO

crovello

crovello

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Can someone clarify this for me.
I want to look into products that compound and polish. Products that start off more aggressively and then break down and leave a polished finish. What are these called?

When I try to find these products, I find products that polish and seal the paint. All in one products. Are these products one in the same. Do all these products that break down and polish also have sealers in them?

I am OK if the product has a paint sealer in it as long as it is OK to wax over it. I prefer to wax my car frequently.

I am looking for a product that I can use on my Cars in the spring to freshen things up without the time involved in using multiple steps.

Dave
 
crovello said:
Can someone clarify this for me.
I want to look into products that compound and polish. Products that start off more aggressively and then break down and leave a polished finish. What are these called?

When I try to find these products, I find products that polish and seal the paint. All in one products. Are these products one in the same. Do all these products that break down and polish also have sealers in them?

I am OK if the product has a paint sealer in it as long as it is OK to wax over it. I prefer to wax my car frequently.

I am looking for a product that I can use on my Cars in the spring to freshen things up without the time involved in using multiple steps.

Dave
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We typically call them an All In One (AIO). One that a lot of us use is HD SPEED. Fairly cheap and works great. Depending on your climate and if it's garage kept or not, the sealant in this (better than wax) has lasted people anywhere from 2-6 months. It lasted on my garage kept daily driven BMW north Alabama location for about 5 months Max with hydrophobic properties still working great. And if you wish, yes you can still wax over it but there is really no need to.


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So a one step product and an All in one is the same thing?
 
You are referring to diminishing abrasives or 'DAT'. The Menzerna line uses DAT abrasives. Mike or others can chime in with a lot more detail.
 
An All In One (AIO) will do SOME correcting and then protection, either in a sealant base or wax base. An example is Meg's new D166. It is considered an All-In-One. A 1 Step is a polishing step and then the LSP is applied. It could be a coating, wax or a sealant. The 1 Step will take longer, however, IMO the results may be a little better. An AIO is do it once and your done.
 
Kamakaz1961 said:
An All In One (AIO) will do SOME correcting and then protection, either in a sealant base or wax base. An example is Meg's new D166. It is considered an All-In-One. A 1 Step is a polishing step and then the LSP is applied. It could be a coating, wax or a sealant. The 1 Step will take longer, however, IMO the results may be a little better. An AIO is do it once and your done.
Click to expand...

I’ve always wished there was better labeling for a one step vs an AIO.

By its nature an AIO is literally one step... Blackfire even named their AIO blackfire one step.



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I don’t know of any AOIs that are considered compounds. AOIs leave protection behind where compounds and polishes do not. I hope this helps.
 
Finick said:
I’ve always wished there was better labeling for a one step vs an AIO.

By its nature an AIO is literally one step... Blackfire even named their AIO blackfire one step.



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Click to expand...

When i do a search on AG for either a one step or an AIO, i get the same results. Products that polish and leave behind a LSP. I just want to remove slight swirls or scratches and polish with one step. I will then follow up with sealant or wax after that.

Dave
 
As I understand it an one step is either a high cutting polish or a compound that finish great. I think most of the one step is deminishing abrasives.
Coarse polish:
Sonax Perfect Finish or EX 04-06
Carpro reflect
Menzerna PF2500 PF2400 PF2200

Compounds with great finish.
Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover 3.0
McKees 37 FC-717 Swirl Remover
Menzerna FG400
Griots Garage Correcting Cream
Rupes UHS
Sonax Cut and Finish

These are some that comes to mind. Maybe not excactly the right placed. Some maybe is not deminishing abrasives too.
The thing is to have a wide range of polishing pads at hand. To find the right coarseness to get the best finish and cut with the one step of choice.

AIO or cleaner wax or cleaner sealant is used to one step with a LSP or as a follow up from a compound to get a haze free finish and LSP.
 
Good questions - so much confusion - somewhere I have articles on all of these topics.

Nutshell answer

A one step cleaner/wax and an AIO are the EXACT SAME THING - call em what you like but they both,

Clean/correct
Polish
Protect

They do three things in one step. MOST of the waxes you find at you local car parts store, like Nu-finish are cleaner/waxes, or AIO's.


There are compounds that people refer to as one-step products BECAUE the correct and polish in one step but UNLIKE a cleanner/wax or AIO they don't leave any "protection", thus you must do 2 STEPS at a minimum and that is to apply a wax, a sealant or a coating over the paint after using a one-step compound or the surface will not have any protection.

The REASON we NOW have compounds that are SO GOOD they are called one-step products is due to MAJOR advances in abrasive technology. (think about it). I've been preaching for years the MOST important FACTOR when it comes to positing paint is the abrasive technology because it's the abrasives that touch the paint first, then the pad then the tool and then the person.

The PERSON is the MOST removed from the process. Thus anyone that says technique first is usually an alpha-male detailer that is ego-driven. Truth is I've taught girls and old guys how to polish black paint to perfection when it's their FIRST time ever polishing paint. They don't have any technique because they don't have any experience but they can still get pro results.

But yeah... confusing topic. Hope what I wrote above makes the muddy water a little more clear.


:)
 
crovello said:
Can someone clarify this for me.
I want to look into products that compound and polish. Products that start off more aggressively and then break down and leave a polished finish. What are these called?

When I try to find these products, I find products that polish and seal the paint. All in one products. Are these products one in the same. Do all these products that break down and polish also have sealers in them?

I am OK if the product has a paint sealer in it as long as it is OK to wax over it. I prefer to wax my car frequently.

I am looking for a product that I can use on my Cars in the spring to freshen things up without the time involved in using multiple steps.

Dave
Click to expand...

You first paragraph refers to what I call "Medium Cut Polishes". Products like Menzerna PF2500, Rupes Quarz, Meguiar's M83 are of that category. These polishes can do some nice clean up of typical swirls and scratches, as well as leave a good enough finish for waxing.

I try not to type "AIO", "All In One", or "One Step" any more, because I don't want to further confuse newcomers to the forum. I prefer the generic term "cleaner wax". Products like Duragloss 501, and 101, Meguiar's M06, and M66 are some that I have enjoyed using. These are, as Mike and others previously stated, products that clean, polish, and protect.
 
Thanks for the info SWETM and Mike. I believe I understand what an AIO is now. I guess I was trying to search for compounds with DAT so I could remove slight scratches and leave a nice polished finish ready for a LSP.

The last time I polished my car ( which happens to be the first time I ever polished my car ) I used Wolfgang swirl remover and then Wolfgang finishing glaze and finished it off with Wolfgang deep gloss paint sealant. I was happy with the results but was very time consuming. I have since read about products that can do paint correction but will finish like a polish saving a step.

Perhaps there are drawbacks to these products but i wanted to look into them myself but did not know how to search for them. I mistakenly referred to these products as one step products but when searching this way, it came up with AIO product.

Dave
 
crovello said:
The last time I polished my car ( which happens to be the first time I ever polished my car ) I used Wolfgang swirl remover and then Wolfgang finishing glaze and finished it off with Wolfgang deep gloss paint sealant. I was happy with the results but was very time consuming. I have since read about products that can do paint correction but will finish like a polish saving a step.
Click to expand...

That would be what I call a multiple-step process or show car detailing.

With a multiple step process you are using "dedicated" products for each step and generally speaking you will get the best results.



crovello said:
Perhaps there are drawbacks to these products but i wanted to look into them myself but did not know how to search for them. I mistakenly referred to these products as one step products but when searching this way, it came up with AIO product.

Dave
Click to expand...


Yeah.... there's a lot of word confusing in this industry.

Don't even ask what a glaze is.


:laughing:
 
dlc95 said:
You first paragraph refers to what I call "Medium Cut Polishes". Products like Menzerna PF2500, Rupes Quarz, Meguiar's M83 are of that category. These polishes can do some nice clean up of typical swirls and scratches, as well as leave a good enough finish for waxing.

I try not to type "AIO", "All In One", or "One Step" any more, because I don't want to further confuse newcomers to the forum. I prefer the generic term "cleaner wax". Products like Duragloss 501, and 101, Meguiar's M06, and M66 are some that I have enjoyed using. These are, as Mike and others previously stated, products that clean, polish, and protect.
Click to expand...

I still like AOI as a term because it is what it says it is, a polish with a protectant. Cleaner wax implies it removes dirt and is a carnauba wax. Also for me a cleaner wax is something used by hand to remove light oxidation leaving behind a wax protection. One Step is probably the term that should be discontinued. One step really doesn’t tell you much of anything. I never use the term “One Step”.
 
rlmccarty2000 said:
I still like AOI as a term because it is what it says it is, a polish with a protectant. Cleaner wax implies it removes dirt and is a carnauba wax. Also for me a cleaner wax is something used by hand to remove light oxidation leaving behind a wax protection. One Step is probably the term that should be discontinued. One step really doesn’t tell you much of anything. I never use the term “One Step”.
Click to expand...

I'm in your camp on this one, man.
 
OP (Dave) -- I only bring this up because you did say you wanted to save some time. I totally understand if you're a traditional old school guy and like/enjoy applying a polish (to clean and correct swirls) and then a "wax" for some protection. But... as mike mentioned, abrasive technology has come a LONG way in the last few years. As has paint sealant technology. By paint sealant I mean "synthetic waxes" (as opposed to traditional carnauba waxes).

Paint sealants are typically glassy/glossy in appearance and tend to LAST LONGER than carnauba waxes that tend to have the deep, wet look.

That said, and terminology aside, I might encourage you to try an AIO (polish + paint sealant). A product like McKee's 360 has impressive corrective ability as far as AIO's go, and the durability of the sealant, in my opinion, is unmatched in this category of products. It's incredibly easy to use, gives some nice correction/elimination of swirls, great gloss, and product removal is almost effortless. You simply buff until the product starts to disappear and then give it a final wipe. Done.

And you can top it with McKees Hi Def Paint Sealant if you really want to apply a second product. Totally not necessary, but you sure can.

Most will suggest if you're doing two separate steps, then use a dedicated polish and finish with a dedicated wax or paint sealant (which I think was your initial intention/question). I only suggest the AIO route because you might not know what you're missing ;)

On daily drivers, AIO's are a great time saver and can arguably achieve what 3 separate steps did 20 years ago in 20% of the time (give or take).
 
crovello said:
I am looking for a product that I can use on my Cars in the spring to freshen things up without the time involved in using multiple steps.
Click to expand...

Cleaner/Waxes or All in One's aka AIO to me are one in the same. I tend to see cleaner waxes perhaps correcting a bit less but that's likely dependant on the brand and product and the type of polishing agents they are using. Some of my favorites are SONAX Paint Cleaner which I fine extremely EASY to use, especially wiping off. I corrected this 911 with it. Tell me that didn't just kill it :) It's now my favorite AIO Cleaner/Wax product.

I also like HD Speed. It's a go-to stand-by product for many. Great correction and excellent gloss/finishing. I have used it many times, but here's a Jeep I did with it just to pull one out of the many.

Another that works extremely well and corrected better than expected with easy wipe off is Meg's D166 Ultra Polishing Wax. It's a runner up product for me. I didn't have before shots but this Camery was swirled up from car washes and after hitting it with a nano sponge it had marring all over as the car had never been sealed polished or waxed in it's several years of ownership. D166 killed it and turned it to glass.

Another Excellent AIO Option is CarPro Essence. Granted I use it mainly as a base to my coatings but it can be used as a one step since it contains some SiO2. Corrects well and is easy to remove. I did this Subaru STi with it.
 
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