Ultimate Compound vs M105

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs M105

We would normally recommend using UC on our yellow W8xxx series pads with the DA set to speed 5, moderate pressure, and slow arm movements making overlapping strokes over an area no larger than 2' x 2'.

Lake Country's white polishing pad is pretty close to our yellow pad in aggressiveness, with their orange (tangerine) pad being a bit more aggressive. Their cyan pad is another step up yet on many paints it still leaves a nice finish. We would suggest starting with either the white or orange pad on your car, doing a test spot first, of course.

You may find this thread a useful resource for comparison purposes in the future.

[dtuna42]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs M105

I love Ultimate Compound. I just did a fairly beat up black Hyundai and it came out great. I took some before pics, but it rained here in South Jersey (again...), which delayed me from finishing until dark, so I never got any after pics. If I can get to the car again for some pictures, I think they will really show how great UC works...

[CamarosRus]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs M105

OK, so I bought a 15oz bottle of U.C. from my local Wal-Mart in Renton,WA.

Already read through an older U.C. thread elsewhere on this site. Can't yet find a recomendation
for what color Lakes Country Pad to use (2006 MAZDA 6i) with my P.C.7424XP.

I'll continue reading, but education on pad color and U.C. application would be appreciated

Chuck Sharin
Renton,WA

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs M105

People have this natural tendency to reach for the biggest hammer they can find because they believe it will get the job done faster. M105 is the single most aggressive product we make - it is designed primarily for use with a rotary buffer and either a wool pad or very aggressive foam pad to remove sanding marks as heavy as 1000 grit in fresh paint. It was slightly tweaked in order to make it a bit more user friendly, and that was in response to so many people requesting that we do so. But we could only go so far with that and still keep M105 performing properly for it's intended use.

If you're using M205 or something with similar cutting ability, the next logical step up is not necessarily M105 - there are plenty of products between these two. If you're a novice to DA buffing, even with all the great things that have been written about it (and it really is pretty fantastic stuff), M105 is probably not the best choice. M105 can be kind of finicky on a DA and it's learning curve can be fairly steep when used on that tool. If you've read all the basic intro to DA articles, watched a bunch of YouTube videos of people using a DA, etc and then jump in with M105 you may end up being a bit frustrated. If you have older paint that's a bit dried out, M105 can become even trickier to deal with (although that does not sound like the case here).

Ultimate Compound is derived from M105 and is waaaaay more user friendly on a DA - much longer buffing cycle, much less dust, and generally a far easier wipe off. Add to that the fact that you can pick it up almost anywhere for around $10 (WalMart, practically any auto parts store, Target, etc) instead of seeking out a PBE store or ordering it online, and we don't see why people shy away from it. It's also more aggressive than M80 and M83, which so very many people used to use to great effect for routine swirl removal.

Too often people seem to looking for a product that will get the job done for them rather than really concentrating on refining their technique. We've seen many comments about how it's almost impossible to keep a pad rotating on the DA when encountering tight body contours on a vehicle, but with a bit of a technique adjustment this really shouldn't be a problem. And technique on the DA is critical to achieving the desired result. The "best pad", the "best liquid" can't and won't get the job done on their own.

[Murr1525]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs M105

It is really just a matter of UC being a bit more user friendly with a DA.

[jaymz]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs M105

New forum member here. Amatuer detailer working on my own driver, 2006 MAZDA 6i, Glacier Silver.

I have previously Clay Bar'd and polished with Menzerna Super Finish and Lakes Country Blue 6.5" Pad on a P.C.
7424XP

Under artificial light I am still seeing fine scratch lines, even after repeated passes (with the Menzerna Super Finish)

[BTW....all my products have been purchased from www.detailedimage.com]

Upon the recommendation from DI, I purchased M105 and a L.C. Orange 6.5 pad. (which I havent used yet)

After reading this thread and others in the Meg's forum, I'm now fearful the M105 might be too agressive ????

I evidently need to learn how to prime the new orange pad and limit the amount of M105. My goal was to eliminate all of the fine scratch lines I was still seeing in this Silver paint, or is that expecting too much from daily driver MAZDA 6 ????

As I already own the product I am planning to use the MENZERNA Super Finish and White pad (similar to M205) after the M105

And to make things worse I already pulled the trigger on BLACKFIRE Wet Diamond PolyCharger Sealer......

Yes the Detailed Image does have a great web site and markets well to us inept amatuers !!!!!

Chuck Sharin
Chuck's Automotive
Renton,WA

I doubt you'll have any "overagressiveness" issues with #105 and the orange pad if you watch the down-pressure you apply to the DA and frequently check your work. Now, a yellow pad might be too much, but I think the orange will work just fine.

Jim

[CamarosRus]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs M105

New forum member here. Amatuer detailer working on my own driver, 2006 MAZDA 6i, Glacier Silver.

I have previously Clay Bar'd and polished with Menzerna Super Finish and Lakes Country Blue 6.5" Pad on a P.C.
7424XP

Under artificial light I am still seeing fine scratch lines, even after repeated passes (with the Menzerna Super Finish)

[BTW....all my products have been purchased from www.detailedimage.com]

Upon the recommendation from DI, I purchased M105 and a L.C. Orange 6.5 pad. (which I havent used yet)

After reading this thread and others in the Meg's forum, I'm now fearful the M105 might be too agressive ????

I evidently need to learn how to prime the new orange pad and limit the amount of M105. My goal was to eliminate all of the fine scratch lines I was still seeing in this Silver paint, or is that expecting too much from daily driver MAZDA 6 ????

As I already own the product I am planning to use the MENZERNA Super Finish and White pad (similar to M205) after the M105

And to make things worse I already pulled the trigger on BLACKFIRE Wet Diamond PolyCharger Sealer......

Yes the Detailed Image does have a great web site and markets well to us inept amatuers !!!!!

Chuck Sharin
Chuck's Automotive
Renton,WA

[kkarasch]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs M105

i apologize. i was kinda in desperate need of a quick answer and didn't realize i posted it so much. Thanks though for the great responses. Picked up some M105 on the way home from work in case more pressure doesn't do the trick.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs M105

I'm using UC on a PC setting 5 for 4 passes with moderate pressure and am still leaving maybe 10-15% of swirls using a yellow LC pad. Should i switch to the M105? or apply more pressure or work slower? I just don't want to spend a lot of time on this vehicle. I'm still learning how to Troubleshoot various paints and methods to use.

Sheesh, how many places did you post this same question??? Seems to be the day for this today! Don't get us wrong, we're not busting your chops on this, but you don't really need to ask the same question in multiple posts - it's best to keep the discussion going in one location so as not to confuse people.

But as we said in another post, if your technique is good and it's taking that many passes to remove defects, it may well be time to step up to something more aggressive. In this case, that's probably M105 or even the DA Microfiber Correction System.

[kkarasch]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs M105

I'm using UC on a PC setting 5 for 4 passes with moderate pressure and am still leaving maybe 10-15% of swirls using a yellow LC pad. Should i switch to the M105? or apply more pressure or work slower? I just don't want to spend a lot of time on this vehicle. I'm still learning how to Troubleshoot various paints and methods to use.

[greg0303]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs M105

Well, to prevent fast drying, you can just mist with water, right?

z

That would be Kevin Brown method: pad priming and water mist to extend polishing times. Here's the link:

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46044&highlight=kevin+brown+method

[Zardiw]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs M105

M105 dries pretty quickly and therefore it has pretty short buffing times.

Well, to prevent fast drying, you can just mist with water, right?

z

[Zardiw]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs M105

Yes. I can't get 105 at my local industrial supply store. And I'm assuming that UC breaks down too fast in a rotary.....tried it by hand and it seems to work good........Bought some 3M Ultra Compound.......that should do the trick........Tired of screwing around......z

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs M105

PS. Just noticed that the last 2 also have a bar chart, so it's the middle 3 that need an agressiveness indicator.........z

The reason being the products are from different lines and use different technologies and application methods. They were never intended to be compared, but the chart was created to provide a rough idea of cut levels.

[greg0303]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs M105

Zardiw, did I get it right? You said that you used Ultimate Compound with rotary buffer? It's not formulated for that. UC should be strictly used with dual action polishers and hand applications. No wonder it took extremely long time to correct those defects.
If you primarily work with rotary buffer M105 is the right compound. You can easily remove serious defects including 1200 grit sanding marks. However M105 dries pretty quickly and therefore it has pretty short buffing times. But its cutting ability is powerful.
If you plan to work with DA polisher you could use both compounds (just make sure you get DA approved version of M105). As Mike said, working with random orbit machine and having good technique would enable you to get almost identical results with both products: M105 and UC. UC would extend your buffing times.