PB Polishes or OPT Polishes?

[FMINUS]

I am thinking about picking up another polish line. But I keep hearing different sides on this issue on which line is better. Some say one dusts less, some say the other.
Some say one has a longer working time, one say another.

SSR 1-3 is the same price as the entire OPT line, so help?

 

[budman3]

I am thinking about picking up another polish line. But I keep hearing different sides on this issue on which line is better. Some say one dusts less, some say the other.
Some say one has a longer working time, one say another.

SSR 1-3 is the same price as the entire OPT line, so help?

They are both my go to polishes.

Poorboy's via PC and Optimum via rotary.

I've tried PB with the rotary but it was pretty short work time and I've tried Optimum with the PC but the oils in it to keep it from drying out don't get broken down with the PC and are a bear to remove. PB SSRs are great once you can figure out what they like... I've posted a list in the past of how I get optimal results with SSR2.5 with little to no dusting.

 

[D]

OPT dusts less BY FAR, and has a longer working time BY FAR. If someone says PB dusts less, then they are doing something. Either priming the pad a good bit, or mixing in a little bit of another polish?? Budman?? But both can be used in the sun.

IMO, PB might be easier to use with the PC because of the shorter working times.

 

[LazerRed1]

Does less time to break down correspond with less cutting?

 

[Bunky]

I found if you use the search by tag feature (tag: Optimum) there is a lot of prior threads on Optimum vs PB vs others. I was doing similar research and finally discovered how this feature works.

 

[tod071]

I always go to Optimum products for customers' cars. Easy to work with, good work in time, and economical. I've used the SSR stuff and didn't like the dusting.

 

[budman3]

Does less time to break down correspond with less cutting?

No, it means that it cuts a lot at first and then slowly gets less and less until the polish is fully broken down and can be removed.

Here is that write up I talekd about to successfully use the SSRs without any dusting:
-Always use a polishing pad with SSR2.5 (it'll remove a ton of swirls, if not do another pass or bump up to another product)
-DO NOT PRIME WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE PRODUCT ITSELF (very crucial)
-Apply a thin bead of product around the pad for each section of the car
-Spread it at whatever speed you want, work it in at Speed 6.... don't be afraid of speed 6.
-Work it in until very clear (may take a few minutes)
-If the product begins to build up on the pad, brush off with stiff brush or wipe off excess polish with a terry towel
-Wipe off polish residue
-Admire no swirls

-Go to finer polish (if needed- with the polishing pad you most likely don't NEED to follow up but it wouldn't hurt).
-Do not use a new pad that hasn't been washed- Pads come from the factory with small foam particles left in the pad that look like product dust.

 

[D]

So if you use a cutting pad with SSR2.5 then it will dust?

 

[Bence]

budman, if the Optimums are hard to remove, you are using too much and/or don't working it long enough. Using the correct amounts it will break down quickly with a DA, and they will produce a very finely prepped surface.

Priming: 4-6 pea sized drop on a 6.5 inch pad, 3-4 drops on a smaller pad.
Regular use: 2-3 pea sized drops on the bigger one and 1-2 on the smaller.

They need a very thin buffing film, because their abrasives are designed to strike through a given film thickness. If you use more, the stable lube oils will take over, and the abrasives are floating inside the film and are useless, ineffective. This might give the false perception of long breakdown times and hard removal characteristics. And properly used, they don't dust.

 

[budman3]

So if you use a cutting pad with SSR2.5 then it will dust?

I believe that the cutting pads dry out these polishes a little faster which results in the dusting. Using a cutting pad and SSR2.5 is overkill (on certain surfaces), IMO... try a polishing pad and cutting pad side by side some time, it's surprising how close they are, and with the polishing pad you could go to LSP.

Bence- That could definitely be the problem. It's quite difficult to figure out what products require for best results. I've never seen any dust from Optimum via PC or rotary, it excels in that part. It was just a tad oily when used with the PC but that was probably because I used too much product. I do like the results from the OPT when using a rotary, that is if I don't use too much product. OHC is tricky to use the right amount. Use too much and it'll gum the pad up and result in buffer hop. It's funny how one polish likes a certain amount of product while another likes a lot less... a learning curve for everything.

 

[ScottB]

you cannot go wrong with either offering, that said both are obviously quite different and will require a different learning curve. If using the PC, get your arms ready when using Optimum because it works alot longer.