GrussGott

As a polishing noob, I decided this weekend to dig into the Menzerna since I had the time and the car didn't have any obligations. About 4 months ago UPP'd it so here's what I did this time:

1.) Meg's NXT wash
2.) 4* Clay
3.) Wipe down (no 2nd wash needed IMO)
4.) Tape up - I taped everything!
5.) PO85RD via PC with green Propel pad and 5" backing plate
6.) Detape and wipe down
7.) Menzerna Glaze by hand (by PC next time)
8.) Full Molecular Jacket via PC
9.) Menzerna high gloss acrylic shield
10.) Clayed & FMJ'd the wheels, Eagle 1'd the tires.

Thoughts:

PO85RD
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I'd never polished before, but the PO85RD was easy! It was simple to watch it break down and it did get out a few scratches, but not many. That was ok however because as a noob I didn't want much but experience and maybe some gloss; I was willing to leaves the scratches until I'm more experienced this fall.

For the PO85RD I ran the PC on 6 with the green Propel pad and tried different techniques such as applying lots of pressure and almost none. Multiple applications with pressure seemed to dull out a few scratches, but it was hard to see any real improvements. Gloss did seem to improve.

The pad didn't make it out too well - it looks beat up and the rear area where theres a hole in the velcro is shredded. I'll try to clean it up and see, but it may be a dead soldier. I do like the Propel pads and I'll stick with them; the problem was probably due to my experiments.

Overall I'm really happy with the polish, but it's hard to say since I'm new and I didn't IP first.

FTG
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I'm not sure if this did anything. My garage has 9 dual 4' fluorescent fixtures set up right over the car and then I use a dual 1500 watt halogen stand. I could see the scratches no problem! I used the FTG and tried numerous times to see if it did anything to the scratches, but I couldn't tell. Could be the light, the white, or the product - I dunno.

FMJ
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Great stuff - I like it better than UPP and I'm sticking with it. I've used AIO, UPP, and FMJ and of the 3 FMJ is easiest and looks as good and probably better.

White Car
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White's WAY under-rated, but it does depend on the white. I love the "arctic" white I have now - it's warmer than most and while I wouldn't have necessarily picked it (it was way down on my priorities) I'm now a fan!

Final Thoughts
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Taping newspaper sucked and I'm not sure it's necessary. I did a few small tests and the PO85RD didn't stain anything although once it's dried it's hard to get off. However I had to go over the whole car anyway so I'm not sure what the benefit is with the exception of the seams.

I really like the Menzerna products and I'm going for the IP next time although I want a full compliment of Propel pads. I have one LC contour orange pad, but it doesn't feel right - the Propels feel better.

BTW - I used an old junky "office" chair to roll around the car and it worked great.

Here's some pics:

Monster tape job:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/71240/tapeup.jpg">

Obligatory reflection pic (not too bad on white I thought!):
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/71240/reflect.jpg">

Full shot, doesn't do Arctic white justice!
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/71240/full.jpg">

TOGWT

I agree on your Artic white observations, with the right products they can be reflective (as your car proves, good job)

Although Menzerna‼sup&gt;TM&lt;/sup&gt;s polishes can be applied with a random buffer polisher (Porter-Cable) or a rotary orbital polisher (Cyclo) the best results will be obtained with a high-speed rotary polisher, especially the PO106FF and PO85RD polishes as the micro fine diminishing abrasives require heat to break them down fine enough to burnish the paint surface.
JonM

GrussGott

I've asked a few people to do side by side tests and every one of them has said they see no difference. Not that I would know, but I love it if somebody could prove this with empirical data since I hear it a lot.

I'm too new to even think about using a rotary, but I'm still waiting for someone to actually do a test and say that a rotary is necessary. I've heard:

1.) From people that've used only a rotary with PO85RD and said it's only a rotary polish,

2.) From people that've never used it and say it's only a rotary polish, and

3.) From people that have used both and they said the PC works fine, although maybe a rotary is better.

It's not that I'm doubting it's true, but I'm still waiting for evidence to prove it. That being said I'll probably never use it because the rotary would be too dangerous in my hands!