SSR2.5 vs. IP - The Showdown (w/pix!)

animes2k said:
I used SSR2.5 as my main cleanup polish on my extreme detailing entry a couple months ago and have indeed noticed swirling "coming back to life" even though I know the car doesn't see a lot of harsh washes. I'm just about out of 2.5 and have lots of IP and Optimum, so I don't think I'll be ordering more 2.5 any time soon.

I've basically experienced the same thing with swirling "coming back to life". I cleaned up the dealer swirls on my white WRX a couple months ago with SSR2.5 and was extremely happy at the time with how I was able to take out all the marring. However, in recent weeks I've noticed more and more swirls appearing on my hood. I consider my wash technique gentle and I never use any circular motions, so I was a bit confused as to how swirls were being put into my paint. I never thought that SSR2.5 would hide results, but apparently it does. I guess I should have done an IPA wipe down for throughness.



Great write up. At least now I have a possible explanation for what's going on with my paint. Looks like I'll be reaching for my IP and OCP/OCC from now on.



BTW, how's that Metabo treating you?
 
DSVWGLI said:
I understand. I guess i've never tried just one pass to see what a product will do. One of the reasons I like ssr's is the work time it gives you it won't flash to quick, especially ssr 3 which finishes to a nice shine as well.

Funny, that's the complete opposite of my experience with SSRs. I find them to flash much quicker than other polishes, especially 2.5. I was amazed when I first tried OCP. Its working time just seemed to last and last.

:nixweiss
 
With Optimum Polish, does anyone run into swirl "coming back to life" phenomenon also? Just curious since I am thinking about ordering some OCP and thought I should find out more about the product first. Thanks.
 
Maybe it's the temperature and humidity in your area. ;)



FujiFast said:
Funny, that's the complete opposite of my experience with SSRs. I find them to flash much quicker than other polishes, especially 2.5. I was amazed when I first tried OCP. Its working time just seemed to last and last.

:nixweiss
 
I used SSR2.5 as my main cleanup polish on my extreme detailing entry a couple months ago and have indeed noticed swirling "coming back to life" even though I know the car doesn't see a lot of harsh washes.



I must politely but strongly disagree. SSR line does NOT have any fillers and I have used 1,2,2.3, and 3 extensively and they permanently remove swirl marks. The line uses diminishing abrasives that finely polish the clearcoat.
 
BillyBarou said:
I must politely but strongly disagree. SSR line does NOT have any fillers and I have used 1,2,2.3, and 3 extensively and they permanently remove swirl marks. The line uses diminishing abrasives that finely polish the clearcoat.



The pictures are made up? I have polished black cars with 2.5 and was more than satisfied with the results and finished with paste wax. I'm so glad that all three cars were in the family cause when the wax went away, the hazing and swirls returned. While I may have been able to continue polishing and actually removed all the swirls the visual feedback(the finish) showed that I didn't need to. What that says to me is that there are fillers in 2.5. I don't know about the other SSR's and haven't had the same experience with any of them.
 
The pictures are made up? I have polished black cars with 2.5 and was more than satisfied with the results and finished with paste wax. I'm so glad that all three cars were in the family cause when the wax went away, the hazing and swirls returned.



Something must be wrong...I have NEVER had swirls return with Poorboys SSRs. They can't there is no fillers in these products. The whole point of swirl mark removers is to remove the scratch by polishing it down with abrasives.
 
Billy,

I don't dispute that the polishes actually will remove swirls, just that you must check your work thoroughly to make sure you've removed what you were trying to remove. I know the comments about fillers and the SSR line has come up before, as well as the claim that they have no fillers, but if that's the case, I don't know how to explain what I've seen and photographed.



Personally, I didn't much care for the way 2.5 worked by machine, especially rotary. I've got a bunch of other stuff to go through, too so I wasn't planning on ordering more any time soon. I do still use it for hand polishing as I find it quite good for this purpose when evaluating a customer or friend's finish or for spot hand touch-up (which may have been sitting in the sun for a while).



If it works for you, that's great. Since my experiment's results have been echoed by so many others, there's got to be something we're all doing wrong :)
 
The only SSR that I know of that has been called into question has been 2.5. I think it was "quamen" that put it out there and was accused of being a liar and spreader of filth. Several people jumped in to defend 2.5 BUT no one had used the polish and then done a 50:50 wipe down to show the TRUE surface condition. Have you? Have you used 2.5 on dark paint? I have 3 cars to redo as a result (lack thereof).



Find a nice dark swirled surface and test it out yourself. What you see isn't made up. Again I will say that it may be possible to get the surface swirl free with 2.5 but there is no way to tell until you do a wipe down and it shouldn't be that way.
 
Very good write up I appreciate your objectivity. Once you try menzerna with a rotary it is hard to think about using a different polish IMO, the stuff rocks. Menzerna polishes are the finest of German workmanship that has been fine tuned over the years and many other polishes aren't made with this attention to detail for the best result. Some other polishes are made for ease of use and with fillers so the results are there after the polishing but don't leave the surface as nice as menzerna does. I personally haven't found a better polish to date. Chemical Guys swirl removers, 83, 3m, pinacle advanced, and many other pro liones don't compare to Menzerna with a rotary IMO.
 
Personally, I didn't much care for the way 2.5 worked by machine, especially rotary.



It's really best used with a PC.



I don't dispute that the polishes actually will remove swirls, just that you must check your work thoroughly to make sure you've removed what you were trying to remove.



I'm very experienced in polishing cars and I have never seen swirl marks reappear after a SSR2.5 polishing.



Perhaps you guys are micromarring your finish and the swirls reappearing are new???



You can even feel the abrasives in SSRs. Another problem with the Menzernas is that they don't work in the sun as well as Poorboys. If they worked as well as SSR then I would gladly pay the premium but I have tried to use them on several occasions and they simply don't work for me.
 
I might add in re-examining the pictures that the clearest picture in my mind is the SSR2.5 one (which is what I originally posted).



Also, is this the best test procedure? As far as I can tell you are using SSR2.5 in combination with IP or FP. Maybe you should photograph simply SSR2.5 alone. In my experience the surface of 2.5 polishing can go right to a carnauba wax. At the very least do 2.5 followed by one to be closer in abrasive steps to IP then FP.



Also, again SSRs are really made for PC usage primarily since that is what the enthusiast market has.
 
Several people jumped in to defend 2.5 BUT no one had used the polish and then done a 50:50 wipe down to show the TRUE surface condition. Have you? Have you used 2.5 on dark paint? I have 3 cars to redo as a result (lack thereof).



Of course I have. I have even done wipe downs but there is no change. The surface remains slick and smooth and the swirl marks are gone.



Again I will say that it may be possible to get the surface swirl free with 2.5 but there is no way to tell until you do a wipe down and it shouldn't be that way.



Well I politely disagree. It's obvious when the swirls are being eliminated. You wipe off the surface with Patrick's buffing towel and the swirls are gone. You don't need a wipedown. I think some here are not being objective and are making unsupportable claims frankly.
 
animes2k said:
Now for the fun part:

ISO 50/50 Wipe Down

Menzerna IP / Rotary

ip2.jpg




SSR 2.5 / Rotary

sr2.jpg



Billy, are you serious?????
 
Look how clear the second or third photo is...



[quote name='animes2k']After RMG + Souveran - Gloss/Reflection Shots

IP/FP2/Rotary -- slight camera shake! doh!

re1.jpg




SSR2.5/FP2/Rotary

re2.jpg




SSR2.5/FP2/PC

re3.jpg




IP/FP2/PC

re4.jpg
 
BillyBarou said:
I am refering to the 2.5 PC pics with the Metabo box...it is much more clear.





Oh, after the surface has been glazed and waxed. That once again means that when the wax and glaze have gone away that the hazing you see in the wipe down pictures will return. That's not a good result.
 
It's all about final results no?



I'm not sure I understand your post though...there is no wipe down in these pics right? Wasn't it followed by RMG plus the wax?



The smoother surface should be more clear then.
 
Sigh,

Newsflash objective results give way to product loyalty yet again. It isn't a big deal man it was just this dudes findings, if you find your reslults are different just say so, but Animes clearly put a lot of effort into this and his results are his results, and it seams many folks agree with him.
 
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