Toxix
New member
- Aug 2, 2012
- 218
- 0
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...menzerna-ultima-te-treatment.html#post1247224
I figured I would share my experience using Menzerna polishes + Ultima's sealant.
After reading this, I ask that the community provide some feedback. Do you guys like this kind of stuff? Too much or too little detail? Too many pictures? Please provide feedback.
I have a lot of images stored that I would happily do write ups for. Simple things like the Duragloss line, Optimum, Pinnacle, I try whatever I can get my hands on and would be happy to share it with everyone.
I have done quite a bit of polishing/correction work over the past years but never did the time to provide the community with a little bit of feedback.
I began stripping the car with Chemical Guys Citrus Wash and Gloss + Optimum Power Clean to get last years product off. Once the vehicle was thoroughly washed I went through the Iron X process.
With the exception of the wheels not much came from this as the vehicle is not parked outside, not heavily driven nor is it Winter driven. Either way, my OCD pushed (and will still push me to Iron X and clay annually); Once thoroughly rinsed out, I began claying the car using the Nanoskin Autoscrub Sponge with fresh soapy water acting as the clay lubricant. Of course the vehicle was rinsed and dried again.
After taping off all plastic/rubber trim + tape along the stripes I began polishing the vehicle using Menzerna's SF4000 coupled with a Lake Country Hybrid Orange Pad. The pad was primed with 2 full pumps (sprayer) of Wolfgang Pad Conditioner prior to being used.
Once primed, I applied 3x dime sized (maybe a bit more) drops in a triangle pattern on the pad. Set the polisher to 4.5 and made 5 passes (Left to right, top to bottom) per panel at a medium speed.
After each panel was completed it received an IPA wipe down and a thorough inspection prior to moving onto the next panel. This method was used for all panels.
After every panel the pad was brushed out using a pad cleaning brush and primed again with one trigger squeeze of pad conditioner. Then again, 3 dime sized drops and back to polishing. After every 2 panels the pad was replaced or thoroughly cleaned.
Once the whole car was polished out it received 2x IPA (1:10) wipe downs. The car still felt a little slick/oily to me so I gave it a wipe down of Griot’s Garage Paint Prep which got the paint feeling tacky and squeaky in a good way.
After thoroughly rinsing and drying the car I allowed the vehicle to drip out for a few hours from the nooks and crannies and then got to work sealing the car with Ultima Paint Guard Plus.
I wasn’t a fan of the microfiber applicator that came with it so I used my no name circular foam applicators. I found the included MF applicator to leave a lot of fluff and lint behind. I primed the applicator with 1 mist of UPGP and then 1 more before I got to work on a panel. The bigger panels (hood + doors) got 2 mists and was applied horizontally and then vertically to ensure coverage. It was a little cold so I allowed 4 hours for it to cure before buffing off the excess. I found that there was quite a bit of excess probably due to the soaking into the applicator; No big deal as these were easy to buff off. Once buffed off, I left the vehicle overnight and returned in the morning to apply a second coat to ensure I didn’t miss anything; Same method, treatments and wait times were used.
The vehicle looked great after the application of UPGP. It has already seen quite a bit of bad weather and rain. We had a heavy day of rain here (Toronto); Unfortunately the car was parked outside because I was working on another vehicle inside. The beading was glorious! I then rolled the car back into the garage to take some really nice pictures.
Just by looking at the pictures you can thoroughly tell that everything was evenly and thoroughly coated using UPGP: The glass, the trim, the wipe blades, the vinyl stripes, the plastics, etc. You can see the uniform beading from material to material.
Some pictures post application!
I figured I would share my experience using Menzerna polishes + Ultima's sealant.
After reading this, I ask that the community provide some feedback. Do you guys like this kind of stuff? Too much or too little detail? Too many pictures? Please provide feedback.
I have a lot of images stored that I would happily do write ups for. Simple things like the Duragloss line, Optimum, Pinnacle, I try whatever I can get my hands on and would be happy to share it with everyone.
I have done quite a bit of polishing/correction work over the past years but never did the time to provide the community with a little bit of feedback.
=======================================
PRODUCTS USED
Nanoskin Autoscrub Sponge
Iron X
Flex 3401 + Lake Country Hybrid Orange Pads
Woflgang Pad Conditioner
Menzerna SF4000
IPA 1:10
Griots Garage Paint Prep
Optimum Power Clean
Chemical Guys Citrus Shampoo
Ultima Paint Guard Plus
3x Yellow Circular Foam Applicators
=======================================
PRODUCTS USED
Nanoskin Autoscrub Sponge
Iron X
Flex 3401 + Lake Country Hybrid Orange Pads
Woflgang Pad Conditioner
Menzerna SF4000
IPA 1:10
Griots Garage Paint Prep
Optimum Power Clean
Chemical Guys Citrus Shampoo
Ultima Paint Guard Plus
3x Yellow Circular Foam Applicators
=======================================
I began stripping the car with Chemical Guys Citrus Wash and Gloss + Optimum Power Clean to get last years product off. Once the vehicle was thoroughly washed I went through the Iron X process.
With the exception of the wheels not much came from this as the vehicle is not parked outside, not heavily driven nor is it Winter driven. Either way, my OCD pushed (and will still push me to Iron X and clay annually); Once thoroughly rinsed out, I began claying the car using the Nanoskin Autoscrub Sponge with fresh soapy water acting as the clay lubricant. Of course the vehicle was rinsed and dried again.
After taping off all plastic/rubber trim + tape along the stripes I began polishing the vehicle using Menzerna's SF4000 coupled with a Lake Country Hybrid Orange Pad. The pad was primed with 2 full pumps (sprayer) of Wolfgang Pad Conditioner prior to being used.
Once primed, I applied 3x dime sized (maybe a bit more) drops in a triangle pattern on the pad. Set the polisher to 4.5 and made 5 passes (Left to right, top to bottom) per panel at a medium speed.
After each panel was completed it received an IPA wipe down and a thorough inspection prior to moving onto the next panel. This method was used for all panels.
After every panel the pad was brushed out using a pad cleaning brush and primed again with one trigger squeeze of pad conditioner. Then again, 3 dime sized drops and back to polishing. After every 2 panels the pad was replaced or thoroughly cleaned.
Once the whole car was polished out it received 2x IPA (1:10) wipe downs. The car still felt a little slick/oily to me so I gave it a wipe down of Griot’s Garage Paint Prep which got the paint feeling tacky and squeaky in a good way.
After thoroughly rinsing and drying the car I allowed the vehicle to drip out for a few hours from the nooks and crannies and then got to work sealing the car with Ultima Paint Guard Plus.
I wasn’t a fan of the microfiber applicator that came with it so I used my no name circular foam applicators. I found the included MF applicator to leave a lot of fluff and lint behind. I primed the applicator with 1 mist of UPGP and then 1 more before I got to work on a panel. The bigger panels (hood + doors) got 2 mists and was applied horizontally and then vertically to ensure coverage. It was a little cold so I allowed 4 hours for it to cure before buffing off the excess. I found that there was quite a bit of excess probably due to the soaking into the applicator; No big deal as these were easy to buff off. Once buffed off, I left the vehicle overnight and returned in the morning to apply a second coat to ensure I didn’t miss anything; Same method, treatments and wait times were used.
The vehicle looked great after the application of UPGP. It has already seen quite a bit of bad weather and rain. We had a heavy day of rain here (Toronto); Unfortunately the car was parked outside because I was working on another vehicle inside. The beading was glorious! I then rolled the car back into the garage to take some really nice pictures.
Just by looking at the pictures you can thoroughly tell that everything was evenly and thoroughly coated using UPGP: The glass, the trim, the wipe blades, the vinyl stripes, the plastics, etc. You can see the uniform beading from material to material.
Some pictures post application!
**NOTE** All pictures are taken right out of the SD card without any post processing **NOTE**
GARAGE SHOTS
OUTSIDE
Got lots of rain while the car was parked on the driveway. Pulled it into the garage as soon as I had the chance.
=======================================
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
You can tell from the pics that this is a solid product.
I can compare it to Zaino ZCS and Optimum's Optiseal as well.
I find this product easier to look than ZCS but not quite as easy as Optiseal. On the plus side I definitely prefer the look of UPGP over ZCS and Optiseal.
The slickness is great, but not the same as something you would find from something like Souveran paste wax or even the spray wax. It's slick, but not that slick.
Application was fairly easy but it was a slight challenge not to overuse; I did manage to find a slight bit of streaking on every panel which easily wiped off with a buffing towel.
I would highly recommend this product to anyone, it looks and feels great, it doesn't take a whole lot of time to apply (up to 25 minutes if you are taking your time)
GARAGE SHOTS
OUTSIDE
Got lots of rain while the car was parked on the driveway. Pulled it into the garage as soon as I had the chance.
BEADING PICTURES
=======================================
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
You can tell from the pics that this is a solid product.
I can compare it to Zaino ZCS and Optimum's Optiseal as well.
I find this product easier to look than ZCS but not quite as easy as Optiseal. On the plus side I definitely prefer the look of UPGP over ZCS and Optiseal.
The slickness is great, but not the same as something you would find from something like Souveran paste wax or even the spray wax. It's slick, but not that slick.
Application was fairly easy but it was a slight challenge not to overuse; I did manage to find a slight bit of streaking on every panel which easily wiped off with a buffing towel.
I would highly recommend this product to anyone, it looks and feels great, it doesn't take a whole lot of time to apply (up to 25 minutes if you are taking your time)
