Interesting quote on Meguiars new 205

[Kevin Brown]

Anyone know who sells Menzerna 85RD in the Orange County/Irvine area?

As per David Fermani's recommendation, I would like to round up some Super Intensive Polish & 106 FF/FA, but my main goal is to spend some "quality time" with the 85RD.

David- what is your favorite pad of choice for finishing with this product?

I try not to ask for too much instruction so I can learn as I go without bias, but in this case I will be in a time crunch, so your help is appreciated.

As for speed settings, time per application, that will also help, but I am not sure I want to know.... but then if I do not see the results that YOU regularly see...
I may write about it and you guys will be like: "DUH! DOPE- you can't polish at that speed, you didn't use the APEX method.... GOSH! Cheater-Boy!"

Naw, I don't expect that, but as I said before, I have a lot of time with the M105/M205, but almost none with the Menz line.

Thanks!

[toyotaguy]

I dont think menzerna is available in OC...if you find it, let me know!!!

[David Fermani]

Kevin - Here's a good source for pads & product:

Menzerna, Germany's Best Polishes

I prefer using Lake Country Classic Flat pads. White typically. Keep in mind that Menzerna polishes use "deminishing" abrasives so they start off relatively strong, but once the abrasives fracture, the gloss starts to get more refined.

I'll start off slow (speed 2) to spread the polish on the panel, then crank it up to the max(speed 6~moderate pressure) and make 6, 8 or even 10 passes until the polish goes from creamy to clear and then reducing presssure a bunch more at speed 5. I move really slow and alternate each pass up and down(vertical) / side to side(horizontal).

I think it would be cool if someone had a gloss meter to measure the differences! Good luck - let us know how you make out.

[Kevin Brown]

Originally Posted by David Fermani

Kevin - Here's a good source for pads & product:

Menzerna, Germany's Best Polishes

I prefer using Lake Country Classic Flat pads. White typically. Keep in mind that Menzerna polishes use "deminishing" abrasives so they start off relatively strong, but once the abrasives fracture, the gloss starts to get more refined.

I'll start off slow (speed 2) to spread the polish on the panel, then crank it up to the max(speed 6~moderate pressure) and make 6, 8 or even 10 passes until the polish goes from creamy to clear and then reducing presssure a bunch more at speed 5. I move really slow and alternate each pass up and down(vertical) / side to side(horizontal).

Just talked to our buddy... paint polishing guru T. H. Elme.

I am getting 106FA, PO83Q, and 85RD.
Also getting the appropriate pads, just to be safe.

I will dust off my "diminishing abrasive memory bank"...
At one time ALL of the Meguiar's compounds were of the diminishing variety, so no worry there.

Originally Posted by David Fermani

I think it would be cool if someone had a gloss meter to measure the differences! Good luck - let us know how you make out.

I will let you all know the results! Wish me luck!

[DJBAILEY]

I think Picus is right about more cut in M205. I think that M205 is more comparable to Menz Powerfinish with its higher cut. It's not as much as SIP or IP but more cut than 106FF.

One thing about M105 and M205 is that it always seems to do a number on orange peel. Nothing like wet sanding, but the paint surface always comes out very smooth.

Its just that 106FF or 85RD or UF afterwards always takes it up a notch. I guess a M305 finessing polish is needed.

[Picus]

I forgot about power finish; that's a good comparison!

[Accumulator]

Originally Posted by DJBAILEY

..One thing about M105 and M205 is that it always seems to do a number on orange peel. Nothing like wet sanding, but the paint surface always comes out very smooth..

Huh, now that I have *not* experienced Sure didn't notice any improvement on the Yukon...

[Kevin Brown]

Originally Posted by David Fermani

...Good luck - let us know how you make out.

Well, ran out of time for testing the Menzerna, Meguiar's M105/M205/M86, and Ultrafina.

Got all the goods from PAC, but just got behind the eight ball on scheduling.
No worries- looking forward to getting behind the machines soon and spending a day or two with the liquids and pads.

On another note, an autopia member/car wax buddy and I did get a chance to confirm that the maximum RPM movement of the Flex XC 3401 VRG is accurate (he brought along a trick machine that counted rotations via strobe light).

As for the OPM rating, I guess Flex is defining their OPM differently as compared to the other manufacturers I know of.
I do not mean that in a smarty-pants way, either. They must be counting ONE oscillation movement from a peak to a low, versus a peak to a low to a peak. Make sense? If we were measuring the random orbital's motion, that would be a peak to a high, since it creates its curved motion outward (versus the Flex starting outward and moving inward).

If we are using what we consider to be a "normal" way to measure OPM, the Flex specs out at 4,800 OPM, 480 RPM (this is based upon a 10:1 ratio of oscillation versus rotation of the backing plate, confirmed by rotating it by hand and counting the oscillations).

We tried to measure the random orbital, but it was difficult because the strobe had to be matched to the rotation to get an accurate reading (as far as I know), and since the rotation was random, there was inaccurate readings. I am pretty confident that the random orbital can exceed the RPM of the Flex, at least until the pressure/friction dynamic takes its toll.

[Accumulator]

Originally Posted by Kevin Brown

..We tried to measure the random orbital, but it was difficult...

Heh heh, yeah, I'm sure it was! I can just imagine trying to figure that out with a Cyclo.

[Got_Leather]

Kevin, any updates on using Menz?