Autogeek PC Kit - Optimum Vs Poorboys

2StepsAhead

New member
I am looking into getting a PC for x-mas and I really hadmy heart set on the poorboys package to start me off with but I hear conflicting reviews on some of the swirl removers (it seems 1 and 2 are good but 2.5 which comes in the kit might cause micro marring) and some people say the sealant isn't all that...being that they're both priced roughly the same which is best for my 06 tarmac black evo?



Working in the sun isn't a necessity and ill obviously be working with the pc, not looking for the best of the best of the best and spending $500 but looking for something that gives the best bang for my buck for a beginner (I heard klasse sg is tough to use so I'm looking into staying as close to one product brand to avoid any bonding issues etc).
 
i'm also a noob, so take this with a grain of salt...



BUT, after annoying the heck out of autopia's fine members, i ended up buying the PC for 120. Spent 100 on the edge kit( you can save by buying a cheaper kit) and purchased the products that fit my vehicle best.
 
2StepsAhead said:
I am looking into getting a PC for x-mas and I really hadmy heart set on the poorboys package to start me off with but I hear conflicting reviews on some of the swirl removers (it seems 1 and 2 are good but 2.5 which comes in the kit might cause micro marring) and some people say the sealant isn't all that...being that they're both priced roughly the same which is best for my 06 tarmac black evo?



Working in the sun isn't a necessity and ill obviously be working with the pc, not looking for the best of the best of the best and spending $500 but looking for something that gives the best bang for my buck for a beginner (I heard klasse sg is tough to use so I'm looking into staying as close to one product brand to avoid any bonding issues etc).



Look with Bob at www.danase.com He's an autopia.org site sponsor and he works with Poorboys and Optimum products! The best part he has great costumer service and can work things out with you in a way nobody else would! Hope this helps...



Joey:xyxthumbs
 
Neither kit seems to have a great sealant to use on it's own. I liked the PB's sealants, but never used any of the SSR's. I wouldn't worry about marring witha PC though, I can use compounds on my car an it's eems to leave a smooth, clear finish.



People seems to love the Optimum Polishes, which they say don't dust.



I'd get the Optimum kit, save the $20 to use for a good sealant of your choice.



I've liked my PB EX with Carnuba which just ran out (some say it doesn't last but my hood beads from 3 months ago), but just ordered the Optimum Poli Seal to upkeep my finish an try out. Also bout the $6 Duragloss Aquawax to spray on after weekly washes.
 
Unless you are asking for a kit as a present, I'd just order what you want individually. You may want to stick with a particular brand of polishes and pads, do not mix these as a noob it will cause frustration. Even using some charts of abrasiveness it can get tricky trying to figure out things between different brands.
 
I think the Optimum polishes are a much better choice for a first-time user because they have a long working time and don't dust like the PB polishes. Either option will work for you, but I think the Opt polishes will lessen the learning curve a little.
 
If I had to choose I would go with Optimum. You really can't beat OP and OC. Great working time and no dusting. I always seemed to get dust with the PB polishes..:nixweiss
 
Well that's my thing, since I'm relatively new to detailing and going to be brand new to the PC I don't want to start mix and matching too many products (especially ones that get mixed results) because ill never truely know what works best until I test every single combo out...so I'd like to order a decent beginners kit for a decent price that I know works together before I get discouraged because my polish is so so or my sealant hazes, wax goes dead after a week or so meanwhile spending $500 in the process lol.



I'd like to start out with the basics and branch out over time after I see how each product works out but I'd like to start out with the kit that gets better overall reviews.



I've read tons of back and forth over optimum and poorboys so I'm just wondering which kit might be better for a beginner on a black car with new clear coat with some minor swirling on a car that doesn't have a garage and is my daily driver.



Sorry for the long winded posts but the more I read the more conflicting reviews on products and its confusing me lol.
 
On a newer car with little defects, I'd just buy the PC (got mine cheap at lowes), a backing plate and pads - you'll only use a polishing pad and finishing pad to apply sealant.



Get an all in one like optimum poli seal (good reveiws) which will polish and seal. Car should look great if you don't have major defects.



Save some $$ cost should be around $140 or so.



1. Wash

2. Clay car

3. Apply Poli Seal (which contains fine polish) with polishing pad (finishing pad if no defects)

4. Wait 24 hours

5. Top with xxx if desired

6. Wash weekly and use aquawax or some Quick Detailer

7. Repeat every 3 months



I'd say that's an easy beginners pace, and what I do now that I don't detail my cars as much. - i.e. I'm lucky to get a wash in bi-weekly because whe have 4 cars...



My $.02
 
I got the Poorboys package and I have to say that I am dissappointed with it. The SSR dusts WAY too much and after a while, my whole car gets covered in the dust. It gets very annoying and I have to rewash the car after I compound it. I have not tried the Optimum line, but I would advise you to STAY AWAY from the Poorboy's SSR line. That's just what I think.



-Jeff
 
I personally like the Poorboy SSR's. You may get some micromarring with the 2.5 but you wont even need to use 2.5 if you only have minimal marring to start with as SSR 1 will get out most swirls by itself. I havent tried the Optimum polishes but plan to order them once my SSR's are near empty.
 
I've got to give another vote for the Optimum products. I just tried out OP for the first time this past weekend, and I loved it. It just became my favorite polish because it's so easy to use and gives great results. The PB polishes were never one of my favorite products, personally.
 
I have only used the Poorboys line but can safely say that I've been very happy with it. I've done four different vehicles now and they've all come out looking great. Yes, it does dust, but I was after polishing
 
what do you guys think of the pinnacle xmt stuff? I'm also a n00b to pc's and I was considering the xmt #2 and #1 for some swirling I have on my black car...Its the xmt series very "user friendly"?
 
personally, as im sure mahy others would say . . . . optimum is probably one of the best user friendly, no 2 low dusting, pc friendly, long working time products avalible. I use menzera (which does dust a little), hi temp and optimum lines for my polishes. thats it. and when i use hi temp and menzerna, i add optimum to the mixture to reduce dust and increase working time. thats just my .02.



if i was to start all over, i would buy the entire optimum line. OHC, OC, OP, OPS (poly seal)

and call it a day. problem is im anal, have OCD and like trying mixes of products, i also now use a rotary for all leveles of polishing. my pc is only used for glazes, and liquid sealants and waxes.



optimum will give you the results you want, at the price you want to pay.



best of luck, happy buffing.
 
Optimum, although I'd snag a jar of Poorboy's Natty's Blue or a bottle EX Sealant w/carnauba. Polish out your paint as needed, seal with Optimum Car Wax and top with Natty's Blue, or seal with EX w/carnauba and use OCW to keep the appearance fresh after every couple of washes.



auburnryan has a good idea though, get the PC from Lowes, backing plate and pads (I'd go with excel detail on that, but Autogeek, Autopia's store, etc all have good deals too), get a quart of Optimum Polish and one of Poli-Seal, and maybe get a jar of Natty's Blue as your topper.
 
Thank you guys for your responses, checked out what you guys said and have heard nothing praise from the optimum polish line, I like the idea of low dusting and longer work in time since I'm new to this...just need to decide how much abrassiveness I need (ie do I really need the compound?)



Then I'm thinking of grabbing klasse aio to polish without too much abrassiveness so I can also use it on windows etc.



Also looking into 4* upp for a sealant and maybe top that with nattys blue.
 
I would go with the Poorboys Kit over the Optimum. I never got the results I liked from using Optimum and the PC. I didn't say it didn't work... but the long working time = oils (maybe wrong word) but they were a pain to remove. Using a rotary they are my go to products (which I thought they were designed for.....) because they work in for a long time. The PC doesn't need the long work-in time because it doesn't generate as much heat. OCW is a great spray on wax but I wouldn't leave it as a stand alone product.



If you get dusting problems from the SSR line.... it is all user error. Simple as that. I've been working with the SSRs for 2 years now and the only times I got dusting was when my pads got wet or I used too much product. As for the micromarring from SSR2.5, well that could be user error as well. Using a cutting pad with SSR2.5 isn't needed and that could be causing the marring. If used with a polishing pad and worked in so the diminishing abrasives cut down, you could go right to LSP, when used properly. Ex and EX-p and especially the Natty's waxes are all great products.



Either package is a good one...
 
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