Tips on M101?

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The Critic

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Hey gang,

I think I have a car to try M101 on this weekend.

To prepare, I have been reading the old Kevin Brown posts from 2012 on proper usage of the product. From what I gather, the proper process is:

1) Prime Pad thoroughly, especially edges.
2) Work with moderate, consistent pressure
3) Once dried, spray surface with a fine mist of water
4) Work again until cycle is done.

For the last year or so, I have been using a lot of DAT polishes, so I have not been following the above steps. At the same time, with DAT polishes like FG400, it has taken me 6-8 passes to both cut and finish.

Can anyone comment on the work time for cutting and finishing with M101? Should I expect to reduce the number of passes that it will take me, for cutting and finishing, compared to FG400?

Thanks.
 
The Critic said:
Hey gang,

I think I have a car to try M101 on this weekend.

To prepare, I have been reading the old Kevin Brown posts from 2012 on proper usage of the product. From what I gather, the proper process is:

1) Prime Pad thoroughly, especially edges.
2) Work with moderate, consistent pressure
3) Once dried, spray surface with a fine mist of water
4) Work again until cycle is done.

For the last year or so, I have been using a lot of DAT polishes, so I have not been following the above steps. At the same time, with DAT polishes like FG400, it has taken me 6-8 passes to both cut and finish.

Can anyone comment on the work time for cutting and finishing with M101? Should I expect to reduce the number of passes that it will take me, for cutting and finishing, compared to FG400?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Steps 3 & 4 are only needed if you need more cut. It can be a PITA to wipe off.
 
I use it daily on trashed paint, and is actually the only compound I currently have and use. I only use it however with Megs MF pads fully primed and up to 5 passes on speed 5 on Rupes and Griots with 5.5 pads. It has yet to dry up on me, only once I was required to spray water on it and that was on a super hard clear and I only did it to keep working it more.
 
M101 cuts very fast. Less passes than FG400. It does not dry out as fast as m105.
 
It was originally made to use on a rotary Megs SOLO BP with the Megs Foam pads. I think it is more versatile than that designed purpose. I think it will cut faster.
 
I would expect it to be shorter cycle relative to other compounds. But if you are experiencing a hard wipe off, that could mean too much product used in the application or too many passes. Pad choice and environment have impact on the result as well.

M101 has a very high density abrasive set. It will do a lot of work in a short amount of time for you. Trying for long cycle or long polishing time with this product is counter-productive to what the product was designed to do...and what it is capable of doing. It was made to remove a lot of paint defects within a short but powerfully efficient buffing cycle.

Too much and too long...will not be your friend with this product.
 
Jason Rose said:
I would expect it to be shorter cycle relative to other compounds. But if you are experiencing a hard wipe off, that could mean too much product used in the application or too many passes. Pad choice and environment have impact on the result as well.

M101 has a very high density abrasive set. It will do a lot of work in a short amount of time for you. Trying for long cycle or long polishing time with this product is counter-productive to what the product was designed to do...and what it is capable of doing. It was made to remove a lot of paint defects within a short but powerfully efficient buffing cycle.

Too much and too long...will not be your friend with this product.
Click to expand...

Thanks Jason.

Does Meguiar's have a recommended number of passes, like they do for M205?
 
Jason Rose said:
I would expect it to be shorter cycle relative to other compounds. But if you are experiencing a hard wipe off, that could mean too much product used in the application or too many passes. Pad choice and environment have impact on the result as well.

M101 has a very high density abrasive set. It will do a lot of work in a short amount of time for you. Trying for long cycle or long polishing time with this product is counter-productive to what the product was designed to do...and what it is capable of doing. It was made to remove a lot of paint defects within a short but powerfully efficient buffing cycle.

Too much and too long...will not be your friend with this product.
Click to expand...
Great info. Thanks!
 
I wouldn't run it till it dries. Also unless it's really warm it'll work plenty long enough to get the job done before it even HINTS of drying.

Working 101 should be 3 or 4 passes then remove it wet. It doesn't have a "cycle" like a DAT product. It cuts and cuts and cuts while the abrasive material actually fills up with spent product and abraded paint. That's why you remove it wet.

If it does dry, then yes you need to either spritz it or put more product on it to bring it back to life. It's not like 105 in that it'll work one pass then dry the next, then turn to cement. :rolleyes: But it really works better, and gets better results (imo) if you do 3 ~ 4 passes, wipe clean, check the panel, then reapply if needed.
 
Thanks guys.

On yesterday's vehicle, I was working side-by-side with the owner. The owner was working on the hood with my Rupes 21, FG400, and MF Finishing Disc. From what I witnessed, this combination was only removing 50-60% of the defects.

So, I primed a Hybrid Blue Cutting Pad with M101, added 3 drops, and did a test spot on the hood using my Flex. I did 4 slow passes with medium pressure and speed 5. I would estimate the work time to be around 90 seconds total.

All of the defects disappeared. M101 did leave significant micro-marring, but this was aftermarket non-metallic black paint. Dust was minimal, and I had no problems with the work time. Wipe-off was ok - better than M105, but not as easy as FG400.

I think this product is a real winner. It removes defects very quickly and is pleasant to work with. However, it really needs to be used with caution as it removes a lot of paint in a very short amount of time. The deep defects that I was able to remove so quickly...tells me that I was removing a lot of clear.
 
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