Color X verses Ultimate Polish

[Blueline]

Went to my local store today and they were out of ColorX. They did have Ultimate Polish. While I put off buying it, I did read the directions and it says "Do not allow to dry, wipe off.......". This got me thinking that this might be an easier product to use than ColorX, since it is just wiped off when wet, rather then using "elbow grease" to polish off ColorX, and without any dust. So could I use UP instead of ColorX and top it with M16 and achieve the same results? Is it more aggressive than ColorX? I would use it on a random orbital as I do with ColorX.
BTW, I washed all the salt off my black beauty today; first wash since November. It just sparkled. I love M16.

[Murr1525]

Re: Color X verses Ultimate Polish

They are two different products.

ColorX is a cleaner/wax, while Ult. Polish is a cleaner/polish.

A wax needs to dry before being removed, while a polish would be removed while still wet.

Ult. Polish will look very good. Just will want two coats of #16, to get your two coats of wax if not using the ColorX.

[ChevyNick]

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but would you see Ultimate Polish as a good "replacement" for Color X for a car that is washed on a regular basis, spray waxed after each wash, and waxed nearly every month? Or would I notice a difference if I did Color X. I polish after winter and again right before. So twice a year.

[Murr1525]

Re: Color X verses Ultimate Polish

Different products for different goals really.

The Ult. Polish may look a little better in the end, but if you were going to try to cover the "complete detail" steps, the process would look like this:

1. Wash
2. Clay if needed
3. ColorX
4. Wax

1. Wash
2. Clay if needed
3. Clean/Polish - Ult Polish
4. Wax
5. Wax

So, an extra step, extra time, possibly better looks. So kind of up to you.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Color X verses Ultimate Polish

I think the OP understands they are very different, but he is wondering if in this instance they could be swappable since he is going to follow it with a wax anyway. In other words, he is planning to use the ColorX more as a cleaner/light polish than as a wax - so using UP instead wouldn't be a bad idea.

I really can't say which is more aggressive in cut, but I would imagine they are close enough that you won't really notice much of a difference in terms of cut.

Blueline - If you are having any struggles removing ColorX and/or dusting, you are probably working it a little too long and/or using too much. I find ColorX to be really similar to a polish when used with the best technique.

[FX4619]

They are two different products.

ColorX is a cleaner/wax, while Ult. Polish is a cleaner/polish.

UP is not a cleaner, it's a pure polish with polishing oils. It has almost no abrasives for cutting.

[GhOsT1321]

Re: Color X verses Ultimate Polish

Murr is correct. Ultimate Polish is a cleaner/polish. There is a small amount of abrasive material in it, and it will correct light swirls or scratches.
A true polish would have no abrasive qualities at all and would only fill in scratches as opposed to removing them.

[Marc08EX]

Re: Color X verses Ultimate Polish

UP is not a cleaner, it's a pure polish with polishing oils. It has almost no abrasives for cutting.

UP has mild abrasives in it. This is why it is used to correct hazing or micro marring from initial compounding steps.

A pure polish will be M81 hand polish, M07 show car glaze and deep crystal polish.

[Blueline]

Re: Color X verses Ultimate Polish

I think the OP understands they are very different, but he is wondering if in this instance they could be swappable since he is going to follow it with a wax anyway. In other words, he is planning to use the ColorX more as a cleaner/light polish than as a wax - so using UP instead wouldn't be a bad idea.

I really can't say which is more aggressive in cut, but I would imagine they are close enough that you won't really notice much of a difference in terms of cut.

Blueline - If you are having any struggles removing ColorX and/or dusting, you are probably working it a little too long and/or using too much. I find ColorX to be really similar to a polish when used with the best technique.

Thanks, Mark, for understanding my question. I think I will try UP instead of ColorX, since it seems my local store may not have any by the weekend, and I would like to get on with it.

I really don't find ColorX to be a struggle to remove, in fact it is relatively easy. I do get a little dusting so I may be over using the product. It is just that removing it, and then removing my top coat of M16 is double the wear and tear on my elbows, whereas if I use UP with my random orbital, and wipe it off, my elbows will only be 'abused' once with the M16. I do know to apply IT very thinly, and it actually comes off nicely.
Thanks, Mark. and thanks to the others who replied.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Color X verses Ultimate Polish

No problem - glad I could help

[Blueline]

Re: Color X verses Ultimate Polish

Sorry that this thread is a little old, but last Friday I finally got around to using Ultimate Polish (that everyone recommended to replace ColorX) since the store I go to, no longer stocks ColorX. I don't know fellows, but that UP stuff S.U.C.KS. That stuff drys so quickly, and is not fun to take off when dry. Yes, I did the 2 x 2 section, and not the whole car. I ended up using an old bottle of Mothers Cleaner Wax somebody gave me, and then top the car with M16. Looks absolutely marvelous. I am going back to the store and beg him to stock ColorX. Alternatively, I know he stocks Mother's Cleaner Wax.
Now stuck with a bottle of UP. Any other uses for it? Fly repellent? Drywall repair? Or just a pretty bottle?

[1994Gen1L]

Re: Color X verses Ultimate Polish

Sorry that this thread is a little old, but last Friday I finally got around to using Ultimate Polish (that everyone recommended to replace ColorX) since the store I go to, no longer stocks ColorX. I don't know fellows, but that UP stuff S.U.C.KS. That stuff drys so quickly, and is not fun to take off when dry. Yes, I did the 2 x 2 section, and not the whole car. I ended up using an old bottle of Mothers Cleaner Wax somebody gave me, and then top the car with M16. Looks absolutely marvelous. I am going back to the store and beg him to stock ColorX. Alternatively, I know he stocks Mother's Cleaner Wax.
Now stuck with a bottle of UP. Any other uses for it? Fly repellent? Drywall repair? Or just a pretty bottle?

I performed a full detail on my wife's Bordeaux Reserve Metallic 2011 Fusion two weekends ago.

The steps were:
Wash, clay bar, Color X (Meg's DA/yellow polishing pad), wipe down, UQW an hour later, tires/wheel's, interior.

I had some very minor swirl's on the hood, trunk and top of car that were visible by me. There were also some minor water spot's on the trunk where the water collects in front of the third brake light.

The Color X removed most of the water spots, only a very faint remainder was left on one spot. I had plans to remove the remainder of the water spot in a few week's.

I washed the Fusion after church yesterday evening. I washed with Turtle Wax ICE, dried with a Water Magnet and applied a good, thorough coat of UP with my DA/yellow polishing pad. I started with the hood, then the trunk. I worked the UP on a 3x3' section, 5-7 minutes, making 5 passes in 85* F, sunny weather. Then, I performed a wipedown with a clean MF. The UP came off with ease.

Then, I applied an even coat of ULW to the polished areas. I let dry for 30 minutes and then proceeded to remove the ULW.

Previous/current observation's. When using Color X as a cleaner/polish, ULW goes on and removes with ease. With UP applied, the ULW comes off with medium to somewhat heavy effort.

I have had the same occur on my 2011 Race Red F150 on two occasion's. I can apply Color X or UP to my 1994 F150 and follow with ULW and the ULW comes off like butter. The UP does a better job at removing fine swirl mark's compared to the Color X.

The point to this long answer is? I have found that each vehicle responds differently to certain products. I think the UP is a great product when followed up with NXT 2.0 or ULW. You just need to find the exact balance on your vehicles paint surface.

I am still hoping that Meg's will offer an Ultimate AIO one day soon that is as easy to apply and remove as Color X. It would truly be the "Ultimate Cleaner Wax".

James

[wifpd4]

Re: Color X verses Ultimate Polish

Blueline,

I agree with some of your observations, except those of Ultimate Polish. I love ColorX and use it often on my delicate black paint (technically delicate clear coat) prior to applying Ultimate Wax. However this weekend, I did ColorX and Gold Class on mine and Ultimate Polish and Gold Class on the wife's. I used a Meguiar's yellow pad with both ColorX and Ultimate Polish and a PC set at speed 4. Nothing, repeat nothing, goes on and comes off as easily as ColorX. ColorX goes on and comes off faster than SwirlX comes out of the bottle, but for me UP works great. Long working time and "fairly" easy removal. It is a polish that is slightly oily, therefore a little more effort required than ColorX a cleaner wax.

How many passes are you doing, how hot is the paint surface, what is the humidity where you work? Sunday it was 80 degrees and I suppose 60 per cent humidity where I work indoors and UP worked great in maximum 3x3 areas, or like 1/2 of the hood or a full door maximum. When removing, I rotate the sides/folds of microfiber frequently. Using three different towels as I wipe off. With ColorX on the other hand, not a lot of microfiber cloth needed.

[Blueline]

Re: Color X verses Ultimate Polish

Blueline,


How many passes are you doing, how hot is the paint surface, what is the humidity where you work?

The car was parked in the garage, and cool to the touch. It was about 70 degrees, and humidity??? Not high, not low. I used a rotary buffer to apply it, as I do with ColorX. My car has no defects that I would need a DA. Anyway, I did half the trunk, three, four passes, then 3 or 4 at right angles. Turned off the buffer, picked up a micro fiber, and in that short time, half the stuff was dry. Maybe the stuff is good, but for wiping off, nothing beats Color X, although that Mothers concoction was okay.

[wifpd4]

Re: Color X verses Ultimate Polish

Meguiars Ultimate Polish eliminates fine swirls, perfecting the paint prior to waxing.

• [*=left]Follow Ultimate Compound with Ultimate Polish for a flawless paint finish
  [*=left]Rich polishing oils add a deep, rich, wet look to paint.
  [*=left]For hand, orbital or DA Polisher application.

I don't see rotary mentioned. (from ADS website)