Meg Rubbing Compound vs Ultimate Compound

[mmk92]

I just bought Meguiar's Rubbing compound, I was looking forward to buying the Ultimate Compound but sadly the store was out of stock.


I'm very impressed by the Ultimate compound's results I have seen around this forum, and after a quick read of the rubbing compound's box i found that they have very similar descriptions.


My question is, what is the difference between the 2 products? Do they achieve similar results?

I looked around the forum and google for before and after shots of the rubbing compound but sadly i found nothing



PS: I drive a 2006 honda civic coupe

[ChevyNick]

Ultimate Compound uses SMAT technology, which I suppose is more effective and also the latest and greatest.

Rubbing compound uses diminishing abrasive technology. Cheaper to use this technology I think.

Rubbing compound isn't recommended to be used with a DA while Ultimate Compound can be used with a DA no problem. Rubbing compound is hand only application.

Also a price difference between the two haha.

[mmk92]

Ultimate Compound uses SMAT technology, which I suppose is more effective and also the latest and greatest.

Rubbing compound uses diminishing abrasive technology. Cheaper to use this technology I think.

Rubbing compound isn't recommended to be used with a DA while Ultimate Compound can be used with a DA no problem. Rubbing compound is hand only application.

Also a price difference between the two haha.

Thanks for the reply!
Its barely a 2$ difference in price so it doesn't matter to me that much price wise :P

I was just wondering if although having different "technologies" it might have a similar effect. I'm worried that the rubbing compound is gonna ruin my paint because after literary hours of research I found no thread video(not even youtube!) or pictures of anyone even trying to use this product on their cars. I was hoping to find someone who used this product on their cars and achieved desirable results.

[ChevyNick]

No problem!

Well like always, try a small test area and see what happens. I would bet it wouldn't do anything negative if used as directed. Just don't rub like a mad man the first time.

[Michael Stoops]

Ultimate Compound uses SMAT technology, which I suppose is more effective and also the latest and greatest.

Rubbing compound uses diminishing abrasive technology. Cheaper to use this technology I think.

Rubbing compound isn't recommended to be used with a DA while Ultimate Compound can be used with a DA no problem. Rubbing compound is hand only application.

Also a price difference between the two haha.

This pretty well sums it all up - nicely done, Nick!


The best review of our Rubbing Compound (and Polishing Compound) is at Meguiar's Rubbing and Polishing Compound review!, but unfortunately the images were not hosted on our gallery and have since disappeared. But the description is well done, and everyone's responses are overwhelmingly positive. From memory we can tell you that the car in question, a black BMW, was truly a mess but it cleaned up incredibly well with these two products.

Remember, though, that this is for hand application ONLY and that means you're going to have some passion into it. This is not a wipe on, wipe off product like a wax would be. Use it that way and you just won't get any results. But it shouldn't mar the paint, or create any fine swirls, like old school rubbing compounds will. What's really important, however, is your technique when using it. If you put a lot of pressure with your fingertips through an applicator pad, you can create pressure points that make application overly aggressive. Just make sure to spread lay your fingers flat across the applicator pad and you'll avoid that problem.

[mmk92]

This pretty well sums it all up - nicely done, Nick!


The best review of our Rubbing Compound (and Polishing Compound) is at Meguiar's Rubbing and Polishing Compound review!, but unfortunately the images were not hosted on our gallery and have since disappeared. But the description is well done, and everyone's responses are overwhelmingly positive. From memory we can tell you that the car in question, a black BMW, was truly a mess but it cleaned up incredibly well with these two products.

Remember, though, that this is for hand application ONLY and that means you're going to have some passion into it. This is not a wipe on, wipe off product like a wax would be. Use it that way and you just won't get any results. But it shouldn't mar the paint, or create any fine swirls, like old school rubbing compounds will. What's really important, however, is your technique when using it. If you put a lot of pressure with your fingertips through an applicator pad, you can create pressure points that make application overly aggressive. Just make sure to spread lay your fingers flat across the applicator pad and you'll avoid that problem.

That's sadly the only picture review I found but the picture links were down :P
Anyway thank you, and one more question.

Are the Ultimate Compound and the Rubbing compound similar in GENERAL, specifically do they do the same job(my car's paint is a little dull and I have swirls all around my paint), and do you recommend me to use it on a civic which is known to have relatively weak paint? and finally do you recommend I use it on the whole car(with a test spot first of-course)?

Thanks in advance! Appreciate it.

[Murr1525]

If you are ok with the higher price, I would tend to go UC. I think it is more a case of the people who use the Rubbing Compound arent the ones excited to go online and post pic, reviews, etc. Same as not seeing a lot of Deep Crystal Car wash reviews, and that sort of thing.

They both would be ok for a Civic, and ok for the whole car, if that is what is needed. You maye want to try a milder product like SwirlX first, or have SwirLX on hand (or at least in mind) to follow up with after if any marring is left behind.

And be sure to use smooth foam applicators, and you can start off gentle, and add a little more passion as needed.