I think the answers to your observations would best be answered by the chemists in charge of any product that were discussing, (whatever it might be), and the problem with that is you can't find chemists that work for car polish companies that are able to disclose proprietary information. You might be able to find a chemist that can talk in general about formulations but as to the specifics of any specific product it would really be just speculation based off an MSD sheet in all likelihood.
This is where my Sig Line usually comes into play...
Sure you can! The key to finishing out with SwirlX and any cleaner/polish or Swirl Mark Remover is to lighten up your pressure for you last passes or re-polish using the same chemical but switch to a less aggressive pad and less your pressure for your last passes.
Polishing paint is an art form that requires not only the right products, pads and technique but the human elements of care and passion. -Mike Phillips
M80 is water soluble, so it's not really an AIO
AIO = Cleaner/Wax
Cleaner/Wax = AIO
AIO stands for All in One. All in One means a product that cleans, polishes and protects in one step from one product
Cleaner/Wax is an all in one product. A cleaner/wax will clean, polish and protect.
The terms AIO and Cleaner/Wax are interchangeable and the term Cleaner/Wax has been around a lot longer than the term AIO.
M80 is not a Cleaner/Wax and it's not an AIO because it doesn't provide any substantial protection like you would expect from a wax or paint sealant. It does contain a small amount of a synthetic protection polymer that's Body Shop Safe but not enough to be used like a true Cleaner/Wax. M80 is a Cleaner/Polish which you could also think of as a SMR or Swirl Mark Remover.
M80 first came out in the first version of our Professional Detailer's Line of products and was formulated for both single stage paints and basecoat/clearcoat paints.
I was told it was targeted for auto auctions where there was a need for a product that would work on anything, could be applied using a rotary buffer to quickly restore the shine to a abused or neglected surface with easy, fast wipe-off.
Keep in mind that the goal for cars buffed out for wholesale auto auctions is never to create a swirl-free finish but to make the paint shiny and glossy fast. There's no profit in buffing out auction cars, it's all done to make the car presentable and sell.
Enthusiasts and Pro Detailers on the other hand learn to exploit M80 for all it's benefits and features.
I like to use M80 when restoring antique single stage paints because it uses diminishing abrasives to clean with so it has the ability to chew off dead paint and because its very rich in the same polishing oils used in M07 Show Car Glaze which is probably the oldest pure polish still in existence that was made at the time single stage paints were introduced.
If you're using SwirlX you don't need M80, they are both cleaner/polishes. SwirlX uses DMAT and M80 uses DAT
SMAT - Super Micro Abrasive Technology
DAT - Diminishing Abrasive Technology
No. Ultimate Compound and SwirlX are a similar combo as compared to the M105/M205 Tag Team
Etchings can be deep and that means removing a lot of paint to remove the etchings. M105 or Ultimate Compound wit a DA or M105 with a rotary buffer.
