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M05/M07 A subjective analysis...
I've used #7 with great success even in Florida's Equatorial summer humidity. I was, however, anxious to compare the results I might get with the more humidity friendly #5.
The history of the test panel is as follows:
Factory new Mazda True Red non metallic clear coat
A few very minor random scratches when critically examined and really looked for
Several manually applied applications of Scratch X 2.0, and then finishing up the gloss enhancement with two applications of Swirl X.
Two coats of NXT 2.0 paste
After the thrill of no scratch marks wore off, I found myself questioning the corrected area's gloss and clarity as compared to the virgin paint on adjacent panels.
I applied four coats of #7 and again finished things up with two coats of NXT 2.0 paste. I was very pleased with my results. However it just bothered me that I had perhaps created a monster in that the #7 was necessary to bring the gloss and depth back to virgin factory standards.
After weeks of debate, I returned to the panel and this time only with Swirl X. I applied, as best as I can recall, c. six additional applications and for each subsequent application of Swirl X I gradually decreased the rubbing pressure of the yellow foam pad to mimic a diminishing abrasive.
I found the gradual lightening of pressure on the Swirl X had now brought the panel back to a gloss comparable to what the virgin factory panel displayed. A finish which I had previously required #7 to attain.
I was now elated that it wasn't any longer necessary to add the extra addition of a polish to get a factory pristine finish.
However, last month in a moment of weakness and while in the throws of M.A.D. (Meguiar's Acquisition Disorder), I ordered a bottle of #5. I found myself this morning with a bottle of #5 in my hands and a bit of spare time.
I applied #5 to one half of the panel. I then applied #7 to the other half of the same panel. Examining the results under fluorescent, incandescent and daylight I found no discernible differences between the two products with regards to gloss enhancement, depth and clarity.
Now having applied c. $20 of polish to my panel, my brain thought it may have seen a 1 to 2% improvement in the aforementioned qualities. I suspect it was more a result of being conditioned to actually seeing, or wanting to see, some major improvement for my investment in time, cost of product and the anticipation of waiting a week or two for the #5 to arrive at my doorstep.
My observations were confirmed by my wife and three of my neighbors. At one point the left side of the panel, the #5 side, appeared slightly better. Flipping the car around in the garage to alter the direction of my light source provided the opposite results, so any differential was clearly a result of the angle of light striking the surface.
Feeling quite certain that the panel now demonstrated equal characteristics on both sides, I then applied my first coat of NXT 2.0 paste. Again, my brain thought it saw a minuscule increase in clarity.
My personal and therefore subjective observations, questions and conclusions are as follows.
Why did #5 and also #7 exhibit identical results? Perhaps my original four coats of #7 were still showing their results, however, I'd think after c. six applications of Swirl X that the oils contained in the #7 would have been abraded away. I personally don't know the answer to this.
Why was today's application of both polishing oils yielding barely any improvement? My only possible explanation is that once the substrate is finally burnished to it's highest pristine gloss, that it doesn't make much difference what is applied to the surface. It just won't get any better. I believe Meguiar's calls it "hitting the wall".
Strictly as a product comparison I offer these observations.
#7 is reminiscent of Grey Poupon mustard; both in color and consistency. Having applied it in today's 51% humidity and previously in much higher humidity, I found it was pleasant and easy to use, apply and remove. It must be applied as thinly as possible and removed before it dries. If these very simple parameters are followed, it's a snap to use. After an entire afternoon with my initial try at manually correcting my paint with Scratch X 2.0 and Swirl X, I found it offered an amazing increase in gloss, depth and clarity. Again however, after today's experimentation, I surmise that a properly burnished surface will yield very limited improvement after it's use.
#5 seemed to me to be ever so slightly thinner in consistency. As with #7 it carries a wonderful aroma that reminded me of the old school waxes of the 50's and 60's. Must be the oils I'm guessing. In it's liquid form, #5 was identical in color to Dad's green '49 Ford. I liked this probably best of all! It also glides on and off very easily. Applying it as thinly as I was able, letting it dry to a haze as instructed on the product label, I experienced no white chalky residue and it removed much more like an LSP. My personal results give a significant nod to #5 for it's highly user friendly properties, and in my limited experience, results as equal to #7 as any two products can be. Again, and here's the subjective part again, strictly based upon my own personal experimentation and results.
So where does this find us? Probably totally confused and befuddled and quite bored by this protracted thread, however I highly recommend that you try at least one of these polishes if you're into searching for that extra elusive degree of total perfection.
I'd post photos, but my results today were imperceptible even to the naked eye, and being a computer challenged "boomer", I'm still working on managing attachments.
The history of the test panel is as follows:
Factory new Mazda True Red non metallic clear coat
A few very minor random scratches when critically examined and really looked for
Several manually applied applications of Scratch X 2.0, and then finishing up the gloss enhancement with two applications of Swirl X.
Two coats of NXT 2.0 paste
After the thrill of no scratch marks wore off, I found myself questioning the corrected area's gloss and clarity as compared to the virgin paint on adjacent panels.
I applied four coats of #7 and again finished things up with two coats of NXT 2.0 paste. I was very pleased with my results. However it just bothered me that I had perhaps created a monster in that the #7 was necessary to bring the gloss and depth back to virgin factory standards.
After weeks of debate, I returned to the panel and this time only with Swirl X. I applied, as best as I can recall, c. six additional applications and for each subsequent application of Swirl X I gradually decreased the rubbing pressure of the yellow foam pad to mimic a diminishing abrasive.
I found the gradual lightening of pressure on the Swirl X had now brought the panel back to a gloss comparable to what the virgin factory panel displayed. A finish which I had previously required #7 to attain.
I was now elated that it wasn't any longer necessary to add the extra addition of a polish to get a factory pristine finish.
However, last month in a moment of weakness and while in the throws of M.A.D. (Meguiar's Acquisition Disorder), I ordered a bottle of #5. I found myself this morning with a bottle of #5 in my hands and a bit of spare time.
I applied #5 to one half of the panel. I then applied #7 to the other half of the same panel. Examining the results under fluorescent, incandescent and daylight I found no discernible differences between the two products with regards to gloss enhancement, depth and clarity.
Now having applied c. $20 of polish to my panel, my brain thought it may have seen a 1 to 2% improvement in the aforementioned qualities. I suspect it was more a result of being conditioned to actually seeing, or wanting to see, some major improvement for my investment in time, cost of product and the anticipation of waiting a week or two for the #5 to arrive at my doorstep.
My observations were confirmed by my wife and three of my neighbors. At one point the left side of the panel, the #5 side, appeared slightly better. Flipping the car around in the garage to alter the direction of my light source provided the opposite results, so any differential was clearly a result of the angle of light striking the surface.
Feeling quite certain that the panel now demonstrated equal characteristics on both sides, I then applied my first coat of NXT 2.0 paste. Again, my brain thought it saw a minuscule increase in clarity.
My personal and therefore subjective observations, questions and conclusions are as follows.
Why did #5 and also #7 exhibit identical results? Perhaps my original four coats of #7 were still showing their results, however, I'd think after c. six applications of Swirl X that the oils contained in the #7 would have been abraded away. I personally don't know the answer to this.
Why was today's application of both polishing oils yielding barely any improvement? My only possible explanation is that once the substrate is finally burnished to it's highest pristine gloss, that it doesn't make much difference what is applied to the surface. It just won't get any better. I believe Meguiar's calls it "hitting the wall".
Strictly as a product comparison I offer these observations.
#7 is reminiscent of Grey Poupon mustard; both in color and consistency. Having applied it in today's 51% humidity and previously in much higher humidity, I found it was pleasant and easy to use, apply and remove. It must be applied as thinly as possible and removed before it dries. If these very simple parameters are followed, it's a snap to use. After an entire afternoon with my initial try at manually correcting my paint with Scratch X 2.0 and Swirl X, I found it offered an amazing increase in gloss, depth and clarity. Again however, after today's experimentation, I surmise that a properly burnished surface will yield very limited improvement after it's use.
#5 seemed to me to be ever so slightly thinner in consistency. As with #7 it carries a wonderful aroma that reminded me of the old school waxes of the 50's and 60's. Must be the oils I'm guessing. In it's liquid form, #5 was identical in color to Dad's green '49 Ford. I liked this probably best of all! It also glides on and off very easily. Applying it as thinly as I was able, letting it dry to a haze as instructed on the product label, I experienced no white chalky residue and it removed much more like an LSP. My personal results give a significant nod to #5 for it's highly user friendly properties, and in my limited experience, results as equal to #7 as any two products can be. Again, and here's the subjective part again, strictly based upon my own personal experimentation and results.
So where does this find us? Probably totally confused and befuddled and quite bored by this protracted thread, however I highly recommend that you try at least one of these polishes if you're into searching for that extra elusive degree of total perfection.
I'd post photos, but my results today were imperceptible even to the naked eye, and being a computer challenged "boomer", I'm still working on managing attachments.
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