3M swirl remover or Griots fine hand polish?
- Thread starter jw
- Start date
Accumulator
Well-known member
Probably neither one, sorry to say. I try no to slam products too often, but I gotta say that I do *NOT* like either of those two and IMO you could do so much better with different products that I'd never use either of them.
NOTE: I'm assuming that the 3M stuff is what used to be called "SMR for Dark Paints". I forget the pn (maybe 5996) and/or what they call it these days and I'm not familiar with their newest products. It might be something great that I'm just not familiar with (but I kinda doubt it's anything all that different/special).
Both products are so mildly abrasive that they seldom do much of anything, especially by hand. And both have a lot of "fillers" (scare-quotes are intentional because I don't know what the ingredients that do the concealing really are) that'll trick you into thinking that you truly eliminated flawas that're still there. But maybe just hiding them, and sealing said fillers in with a wax, will be good enough...generally that wouldn't do it for me but everybody's different.
There are a few black paints that are a royal PIA to get perfect (new BMWs sometimes get mentioned in this regard), but more often clear is clear and I'd just give it a light polishing with a more suitable, and more abrasive, product. Even if you want to do minimal correction and lots of hiding, some other product (I'd probably lean towards something from 1Z) would, *IMO* be a vastly better way to go. Sorry if I'm coming across like a jerk (as I sometimes think responses such as this- "go buy something else and do something different"- sound awful).
Note that with the PC, you can turn the speed down to where it's basically the same as doing stuff by hand. IMO after a panel or two of doing that you'll gain confidence and crank it up to do some real work.
If you're gonna use one product or the other, I'd probably use the 3M SMR. The Griot's stuff always struck me as a knock-off of Meguiar's #81 with maybe a tiny bit of abrasive thrown in, just enough that they can say it (technically) has some. The 3M stuff isn't really all that bad for what it is.
NOTE: I'm assuming that the 3M stuff is what used to be called "SMR for Dark Paints". I forget the pn (maybe 5996) and/or what they call it these days and I'm not familiar with their newest products. It might be something great that I'm just not familiar with (but I kinda doubt it's anything all that different/special).
Both products are so mildly abrasive that they seldom do much of anything, especially by hand. And both have a lot of "fillers" (scare-quotes are intentional because I don't know what the ingredients that do the concealing really are) that'll trick you into thinking that you truly eliminated flawas that're still there. But maybe just hiding them, and sealing said fillers in with a wax, will be good enough...generally that wouldn't do it for me but everybody's different.
There are a few black paints that are a royal PIA to get perfect (new BMWs sometimes get mentioned in this regard), but more often clear is clear and I'd just give it a light polishing with a more suitable, and more abrasive, product. Even if you want to do minimal correction and lots of hiding, some other product (I'd probably lean towards something from 1Z) would, *IMO* be a vastly better way to go. Sorry if I'm coming across like a jerk (as I sometimes think responses such as this- "go buy something else and do something different"- sound awful).
Note that with the PC, you can turn the speed down to where it's basically the same as doing stuff by hand. IMO after a panel or two of doing that you'll gain confidence and crank it up to do some real work.
If you're gonna use one product or the other, I'd probably use the 3M SMR. The Griot's stuff always struck me as a knock-off of Meguiar's #81 with maybe a tiny bit of abrasive thrown in, just enough that they can say it (technically) has some. The 3M stuff isn't really all that bad for what it is.
PRB
Still Plays with Cars
Accumulator said:
5996 is the correct part number for that product. It is the consumer packaging for the original Perfect-It Foam Polishing Pad Glaze. According to 3M, they were the exact same product.
When I was having problems with another brand removing polisher marks from new clears in 1995, I went with the 3M product mentioned here. While it looked nice and worked far better than the previous brand, I found that it did fool me into thinking I'd solved my problems. It seemed that most of my correction was being washed out after a day or two in the sun. Not good
To truly remove marks, I'd have to run the product, then remove it to be sure I was getting rid of all my marks. Since it is so mild, it didn't do much on the harder clears and I'd have to run it again. Not sure that it would do anything by hand, but it certainly wouldn't be too rough to cause any problems.
I agree with Accumulator... I actually have the 3M swirl removers. One for light colors and one for dark ones. I've never even used the one designed for dark colors. I did try out the other one on my white Tundra and there was pretty much no noticeable difference before and after. If I had known these products used fillers I would never have purchased them. The "remover" moniker in the name is what sold me. I expected it to remove marring not merely fill them in, which even that it doesn't do very well.
I can't vouch for the Griot's hand polish since I have never used it, but keep in mind that it is virtually impossible to get any worthwhile results by hand. Don't even waste your time going that route.
I can't vouch for the Griot's hand polish since I have never used it, but keep in mind that it is virtually impossible to get any worthwhile results by hand. Don't even waste your time going that route.
PRB
Still Plays with Cars
[quote name='clnfrk']I agree with Accumulator... I actually have the 3M swirl removers. One for light colors and one for dark ones. /QUOTE]
3M told me that the only difference is pigment. Reasoning was that dark polish in a stone chip on a dark colored car will be less noticable than white polish. I used the opposite...white polish for dark cars (so it was easier to detect breakdown and get it wiped out of edges).
They DO have some swirl removing properties, but I feel they need the action of the rotary to do it.
3M told me that the only difference is pigment. Reasoning was that dark polish in a stone chip on a dark colored car will be less noticable than white polish. I used the opposite...white polish for dark cars (so it was easier to detect breakdown and get it wiped out of edges).
They DO have some swirl removing properties, but I feel they need the action of the rotary to do it.
violentveedub
New member
I'm gong to take this opportunity to disagree (respectfully) with Accumulator and everyone.
I love 3M swirl mark remover. The secret is all in the time, it really takes some doing to break down fully but it will remove most mild swirls. I find that it does not hinder the bonding of FMJ regardless of if I do an IP wipedown or not...
Here is one of my favorite glam shots of a car i do routinely with 3m and fmj...
I love 3M swirl mark remover. The secret is all in the time, it really takes some doing to break down fully but it will remove most mild swirls. I find that it does not hinder the bonding of FMJ regardless of if I do an IP wipedown or not...
Here is one of my favorite glam shots of a car i do routinely with 3m and fmj...
violentveedub said:I'm gong to take this opportunity to disagree (respectfully) with Accumulator and everyone.
I love 3M swirl mark remover. The secret is all in the time, it really takes some doing to break down fully but it will remove most mild swirls. I find that it does not hinder the bonding of FMJ regardless of if I do an IP wipedown or not...
Here is one of my favorite glam shots of a car i do routinely with 3m and fmj...
Okay... I take back everything I said about 3M.
With that said, after seeing that pic I want a black car even more so now.
Great work violentveedub! :2thumbs: The depth on the VW is unreal! :drool:
Is that factory paint?
violentveedub
New member
clnfrk said:Okay... I take back everything I said about 3M.
With that said, after seeing that pic I want a black car even more so now.
Great work violentveedub! :2thumbs: The depth on the VW is unreal! :drool:
Is that factory paint?
Factory paint (on all but the kit) and really good photography :goodjob (not mine).
I think it still looks good on the amature pics though...
(diff wheels)
Personally I don't like any of the 3m stuff except the SMR, It looks, smells and acts very close to FPII IMHO, but maybe a bit eaiser to work with.
Cleaning Fool
New member
Whether 3m works or not, the picture on the VW looks awesome..FMJ is a nice product ta boot
Accumulator
Well-known member
clnfrk- That's cool, everybody has their favorites and their also-rans and all we can do is post our honest experiences and opinions. I know others who really like the 3M SMR and what works for you works for you :xyxthumbs And on the fillers/bonding issue, I know that Sal Zaino has recommended the 3M for use before Zaino and I'd expect that stuff to be pretty particular about what's on the panels.
Also, IIRC it does seem like people who use the SMR by rotary *really* like it. It's probably like Meg's #9 and #82 in that regard.
Also, IIRC it does seem like people who use the SMR by rotary *really* like it. It's probably like Meg's #9 and #82 in that regard.
sixty7mustang22
New member
Best MKIV EVER!!! Mmmm. So clean.