I usually detail my car hardcore about twice a year, and i was thinking about possibly using a polish with fillers once a year, and then remove the scratches and imperfections the other time. I think this may help to reduce paint thinning over the years...i was thinking about using the Pinnacel Paintwork Cleansing Lotion. If anybody else uses has a polish with fillers that they like PLEASE share with me. I haven't really used a polish like this before...till now i've used Menzerma IP and FP. Also...what are the pros and cons of using this technique???
Polish with fillers or NOT???
- Thread starter spudd73
- Start date
raymond_ho2002
New member
I personally like vanilla moose's filling capability. it noticeably hides swirls, but unfortunately swirls seem to be re-highlighted when i wax over it with anything, such as s100 or souveran. what i do instead is to use vanilla moose once every 3 weeks or so without a topper. i love fillers and cannot do without them; i dont want to be polishing all the time and i don't want to always take the time to really *carefully* wash it.
tripper_111
New member
Although #83 and #80 are alleged to have fillers notwithstanding the presence of the diminishing abrasives, I've tried #80 by hand. It will add richness to the paint like no other but without cutting the paint (if applied by hand).
If you want #80's cutting power, go with the rotary or PC, else if you "only" want the rich TS oils coupled with the film of paintable polymers (that adds richness to the color), try using it by hand. Shake it well first, till you feel it like a hand lotion. I've been applying #80 by hand even 3-4 times a year, without abrading the paint too much.
Another good alternative to the Pinnacle PCL, is P21S PCL. It's cheaper I guess...
If you want #80's cutting power, go with the rotary or PC, else if you "only" want the rich TS oils coupled with the film of paintable polymers (that adds richness to the color), try using it by hand. Shake it well first, till you feel it like a hand lotion. I've been applying #80 by hand even 3-4 times a year, without abrading the paint too much.
Another good alternative to the Pinnacle PCL, is P21S PCL. It's cheaper I guess...
Bill D
Hooked For Life
Preliminary disclaimer:
This coming from the owner of two cars with rather hard paint
Just my humble opinion,unless you have super soft/thin paint ( re paint for example) I feel the concern about thinning the paint with polishes is less of a threat than we might think. Using the least aggressive polish and pad to get the job done, opting to take more time with this combination before switching to a more aggressive one and holding off on a more aggressive machine until clearly necessary should help. Once you remove the defects, do all you can to prevent new ones : careful and/or involved washing techniques using premium products, always sanitary, quality mfs, very slick lubricating products, etc. Once this becomes routine it is surprising and very rewarding how little marring you can accumulate on a daily driver.
I do all of this because although my finishes are hard, if they get marred it's probably double the work for me to remove ( and probably thoroughly fill if I wanted to) defects.
This coming from the owner of two cars with rather hard paint
Just my humble opinion,unless you have super soft/thin paint ( re paint for example) I feel the concern about thinning the paint with polishes is less of a threat than we might think. Using the least aggressive polish and pad to get the job done, opting to take more time with this combination before switching to a more aggressive one and holding off on a more aggressive machine until clearly necessary should help. Once you remove the defects, do all you can to prevent new ones : careful and/or involved washing techniques using premium products, always sanitary, quality mfs, very slick lubricating products, etc. Once this becomes routine it is surprising and very rewarding how little marring you can accumulate on a daily driver.
I do all of this because although my finishes are hard, if they get marred it's probably double the work for me to remove ( and probably thoroughly fill if I wanted to) defects.
Accumulator
Well-known member
spudd73- The PCL has some *VERY* mild abrasives and it does seem to fill a bit. Or at least it did back when I was using it in the mid-late '90s. The P21s stuff and Zymol HD Cleanse seem similar.
If you want to fill/hide stuff, you might have better luck with 3M IHG or one of the Meg's "pure polishes" such as #5/#3/#81/#7 or Omega Glaze from the folks who make Blitz, but be sure to put some carnauba over top of them to "lock the fillers in". A "heavy" wax like Meg's #16 or Blitz would probably be best for this.
While I agree that the use of mild abrasives shouldn't really be a problem, using fillers can keep things looking nice with a lot less work.
Oh, you might want to try 1Z's WPS for this too. Very mild abrasives and what they call "concealors".
Only "cons" are that a) it might not work as well as you'd like, b) you might have to redo it quite often, and c) some twit 
will probably say you oughta just not mar it in the first place.
The "pros" are a) you'll like how it looks, and b) that's all that matters, how *you* feel about it Give it a try and see how you like it. FWIW, I actually sorta *like* using Meg's #5, just one of those products that I enjoy working with.
If you want to fill/hide stuff, you might have better luck with 3M IHG or one of the Meg's "pure polishes" such as #5/#3/#81/#7 or Omega Glaze from the folks who make Blitz, but be sure to put some carnauba over top of them to "lock the fillers in". A "heavy" wax like Meg's #16 or Blitz would probably be best for this.
While I agree that the use of mild abrasives shouldn't really be a problem, using fillers can keep things looking nice with a lot less work.
Oh, you might want to try 1Z's WPS for this too. Very mild abrasives and what they call "concealors".
Only "cons" are that a) it might not work as well as you'd like, b) you might have to redo it quite often, and c) some twit
will probably say you oughta just not mar it in the first place.The "pros" are a) you'll like how it looks, and b) that's all that matters, how *you* feel about it
Give it a try and see how you like it. FWIW, I actually sorta *like* using Meg's #5, just one of those products that I enjoy working with.
Bill D
Hooked For Life
Accumulator said:and c) some twit
I'm at least one of those here guilty as charged
Accumulator
Well-known member
Heh heh, yeah you are 
But actually, I was referring to myself 
But just as life is too short for polishing all the time, it can be too short for my kind of washes too.
But actually, I was referring to myself But just as life is too short for polishing all the time, it can be too short for my kind of washes too.I don't like them. I'm a perfectionist. I don't believe in hiding your paint imperfections. I agree with Bill D. I don't use aggressive polishes unless for deep scratches. I use non abrasive polishes and that's it. Plus you don't get the shine you can with fillers. I went car shopping with a friend and I picked out the cars with fillers. It's not hard to tell. But If you practice (on other cars) and work with them correctly you can get out swirls, oxidation and dull paint without using fillers. It takes the right products and education. Most important though is preventing. Washing properly. Not going to a car wash and using there brushes. Using two buckets to wash and one.
Actually that was my problem. I didn't wash my car correctly. Thanks to everybody on this forum I now don't have swirls and now have a succesfull detailing business.
Actually that was my problem. I didn't wash my car correctly. Thanks to everybody on this forum I now don't have swirls and now have a succesfull detailing business.