Ultimate compund and scratch X

[pauloliverduggan]

Guys and girls......

Ive recently bought some ultimate compound, but thus far have only polished using Menzerna products with my rotary polisher. My questions are as follows:

1, Ultimate compound claims to remove below the surface marks and finishes ready for waxing......Under what circumstances and why then would you need to use scratch X?

2, All the videos show Megs products being applied by DA obital polishers. Can you achieve the same results using a rotary polisher on a slow speed between 900 and 1500rpm with a finishing pad or are they a bit harsh?

Thanks
Vince

[Murr1525]

Re: Ultimate compund and scratch X

1. The progression goes SwirlX, ScratchX, Ultimate Compound as far as strength. Really, if you had SwirlX & UC on your shelf, you really wouldnt need ScratchX. ScratchX is marketed more for a person that only wants to work on one spot.

2. It is the rotary that is going to make things harsh. Also, most of the videos show Consumer Line products... none of the Consumer Products are meant for rotary application.

[pauloliverduggan]

Re: Ultimate compund and scratch X

Ok thanks Murr....i presume then that the Megs products are somewhat redundant with a rotary? Thats not good...

I think ill find a way for them to work

[Murr1525]

Re: Ultimate compund and scratch X

Well, the rotary products will be similar, but different amounts of oils, lubrication, etc for the speeds, torque, etc of a rotary.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Ultimate compund and scratch X

Hi Vince, welcome to MOL.

Comparing our consumer line of products to Menzerna products might lead to a bit of confusion. Our consumer products like Ultimate Compound, ScratchX, SwirlX etc are not designed for rotary use, which explains why you always see these being used with a DA. Menzerna's product line is really a professional line of products (used in OEM factories, body shops, etc) and therefore more directly compares to our Mirror Glaze Professional Line. These products, from compounds to cleaner polishes and pure polishes (or glazes as they're commonly known) are not only designed for rotary use but are also safe for use in a body shop environment where fresh paint is being sprayed.

That said, much of our consumer line is derived from our pro line. Ultimate Compound, for example, is based on M105 Ultra Cut Compound and Ultimate Polish is based on M205 Ultra Finishing Polish. The consumer products are more user friendly, especially when used on a DA. We have seen several users report excellent results with Ultimate Compound used via rotary, but you're mileage may vary here.

As for Ultimate Compound vs ScratchX 2.0 - to be completely candid with you, there's a bit of marketing go on here, and we've never been shy about discussing this. While they are most definitely NOT the same product in different bottles, when dealing with the general consumer there are certain concessions that need to be made. If that general consumer finds a small isolated scratch on their car they go to the store looking for a product that specifically states it is designed for removal of such defects. They don't know that a fine scratch, etchings from bird droppings, swirls, etc are all basically the same thing; below surface defects. All they know is "I have a scratch, I don't need a compound that will fix oxidation and car wash induced swirls".

So if you're familiar with Menzerna Powergloss or Super Intensive Polish, look to M105 as an alternative. Ultimate Compound, if you choose to experiment with it on a rotary, would be more along the lines of Menzerna Intensive Polish or Final Polish, while our M205 Ultra Finishing Polish is a direct rival to PO85rd. If you like their Finishing Glaze, try our M07 Show Car Glaze of M03 Machine Glaze, and if you like their Sealing Wax try our M21 Synthetic Sealant. Pad choices for each will be similar to the Menzerna counterparts.

[benjoesteban]

Re: Ultimate compund and scratch X

wowweee... what a great explanation...

[ImpossibleDream]

Re: Ultimate compund and scratch X

I am just getting started w the line of Meg's products, though I have used it on my bike for many years. I picked up the Meguiar’s Complete Car Care Kit which came w a bottle of ScratchX. After reading Michael's post, I wonder if I can effectively use that, instead of SwirlX, w the G110v2? I gathered from M's post that there may be little difference among the SwirlX, ScratchX, UC line...

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Ultimate compund and scratch X

I am just getting started w the line of Meg's products, though I have used it on my bike for many years. I picked up the Meguiar’s Complete Car Care Kit which came w a bottle of ScratchX. After reading Michael's post, I wonder if I can effectively use that, instead of SwirlX, w the G110v2? I gathered from M's post that there may be little difference among the SwirlX, ScratchX, UC line...

While you certainly can use ScratchX 2.0 with a DA buffer, don't think that the three products you mentioned are all the same thing. While we did state that there is a commonality among them, and that there is some marketing behind the three (that whole "it has to say "scratch" on the bottle or I'm not buying it" thing, for example), they most definitely are NOT the same product.

Use all three and you'll see. SwirlX is very thick in viscosity and offers nowhere near the cutting ability of Ultimate Compound - try them back to back and the differences are apparent even to a complete novice. ScratchX 2.0 fall squarely between the two but still won't cut as aggressively as UC.

[inspector710]

Re: Ultimate compund and scratch X

1. The progression goes SwirlX, ScratchX, Ultimate Compound as far as strength. Really, if you had SwirlX & UC on your shelf, you really wouldnt need ScratchX. ScratchX is marketed more for a person that only wants to work on one spot.

2. It is the rotary that is going to make things harsh. Also, most of the videos show Consumer Line products... none of the Consumer Products are meant for rotary application.

Where does Ultimate Polish fit in here??

[ImpossibleDream]

Re: Ultimate compund and scratch X

While you certainly can use ScratchX 2.0 with a DA buffer, don't think that the three products you mentioned are all the same thing. While we did state that there is a commonality among them, and that there is some marketing behind the three (that whole "it has to say "scratch" on the bottle or I'm not buying it" thing, for example), they most definitely are NOT the same product.

Use all three and you'll see. SwirlX is very thick in viscosity and offers nowhere near the cutting ability of Ultimate Compound - try them back to back and the differences are apparent even to a complete novice. ScratchX 2.0 fall squarely between the two but still won't cut as aggressively as UC.

Well, I prolly should have been clearer about my question, even though I understand what you have written. I have been pretty busy for some time getting my BS degree, and I "neglected" my car in that I'd give it a quick wash at home to loosen the dirt, dash off to the touchless car wash, run it through the more expensive wash cycle and get back to studies.

The other day, I began by polishing the headlight lenses. The mop head on a drill bit that came w the package was so linty that it made a mess at first and needed several wash cycles before I could use it effectively, but the end result was very nice.

Then I turned to the body. I figured that I'd start w a the hood and see what the products do. I washed and clayed the hood. Then I used my finger nail to remove the tiny bits of sap that seemed to remain (grateful that it all came of so easily), and clayed once more. The clay didn't seem to get as much, so I turned to the Gold Class Liquid Wax that came w the starter kit. But the applicator began getting a dark gray color as I waxed, so I figured that I needed to do some cleaning / polishing before I went on. All that I have is the ScratchX 2.0, and I don't want to use it if it is not the right product...OTOH, it seems that there are posts and YuoTube vids showing the use of ScratchX 2.0 as a whole body cleaning /polishing product...I don't mind running down and getting the SwirlX, but if the ScratchX will be OK, then I might as well use it because I have it already...?

~R~

[Murr1525]

Re: Ultimate compund and scratch X

Where does Ultimate Polish fit in here??

Ult. Polish, SwirlX, ScratchX 2.0, UC.

[Murr1525]

Re: Ultimate compund and scratch X

You can use ScratchX 2.0 for the whole car. If you have the original ScratchX, it is more equivalent to SwirlX or milder anyway. So you cna certainly use it up, no reason not to.

What color is your car?

[ImpossibleDream]

Re: Ultimate compund and scratch X

You can use ScratchX 2.0 for the whole car. If you have the original ScratchX, it is more equivalent to SwirlX or milder anyway. So you cna certainly use it up, no reason not to.

What color is your car?

Thanks for the note. The car is a sort of maroon with tiny metallic flecks. I'm actually surprised that the finish is as good as it is, because I have neglected it for so long. I used to keep it washed and waxed regularly because I felt that the wax kept junk from sticking to the finish.

~R~

[Murr1525]

Re: Ultimate compund and scratch X

Well, point being it isnt single stage black or gray, as that could make your pads dark.

[sensi09]

Re: Ultimate compund and scratch X

So if you're familiar with Menzerna Powergloss or Super Intensive Polish, look to M105 as an alternative. Ultimate Compound, if you choose to experiment with it on a rotary, would be more along the lines of Menzerna Intensive Polish or Final Polish, while our M205 Ultra Finishing Polish is a direct rival to PO85rd. If you like their Finishing Glaze, try our M07 Show Car Glaze of M03 Machine Glaze, and if you like their Sealing Wax try our M21 Synthetic Sealant. Pad choices for each will be similar to the Menzerna counterparts.

Good info, but I do believe UC to be stronger than super intensive polish.