Paint Cleaner vs Kitten Cutting Compound

[Wilco]

Hi guys,

This is a review of meguiars paint cleaner compared to another locally made cutting compound.

This is NOT an apples for apples comparison, rather an apple for orange comparison. I am fully aware that this is not a proper review of 2 products that are within the same product category, but they are suited specifically for my needs in terms of bringing back a heavily neglected, heavily oxidative and heavily contaminated surface back to life - or so i hope so.


Firstly, this is the surface in which i need to revive.




After washing the surface with NXT Gen Wash Solution and Meg's Lambswool Mitt, I decided to use Meg's classic lineup of Painter Cleaner.





The results of what the paint cleaner produced this:


The surface looks red, however, its far from finished. It still has bonded contaminates, cloudlyness and hazyiness strongly apparent

Because the surface was still unclayable, i need to bring back the smoothness and clarity to the surface and the finish. So i decided to use Scratch X.



Then followed up by claying the damn thing. Man, working by hand is hard...i wished i had enough doosh to get me a dual action polisher. However, in Australia, its sold out for now and its quite the $$$.



Lastly i followed up the surface with Deep Crystal Wet Look, or Cleaner Wax, primarily because it was the only line up in meg's (aside from color x) that polished and waxed the finish in 1 step.



Evaluation:
The surface is FAR FROM PERFECT. To acheive that, i would need to follow it up by meg's professional line and the G220. However, i thought i'd let everyone know what the "best" possible result was via detailing by hand. The picture below displays the final finish with 2 even coats of Cleaner Wax. The surface still has reminants of cloudyness and haziness. The clarity of the surface is around 75%.



In the next post, i'll compare the other product i used in comparison.

[Wilco]

Paint Cleaner vs Kitten Cutting Compound

Ok, so for the other side of the bonnet, i used what we have in Australia called the "Kitten" brand.
"Kitten" brand is made in New Zealand and imported to Australia.

This is the Kitten Cutting compound. It is the ONLY one in their line up that does what Paint Cleaner does, however, it is labelled "Cutting Compound" for specific reasons!

It was and will never be what Paint Cleaner is set up to do. If you use this "Cutting Compound" on a new surface, YOU will damage it, thus, it does not serve the purpose of paint cleaner, but rather as it says, cutting the surface.

However, just thought I'd let people know, this Kitten Cutting Compound is only $7.5AUD compared to $19.99AUD for Meg's Paint Cleaner. I really wanted to give it a go seeing it was so...cheap.





The contents seems to be a heavily abrasive ingredient, thus for safe for clear coats at all. It's very very sandy texture means it will be "cutting through" the compound with ease. This is something i reckon that should have a better warning system for novices out there. It will screw your new car paint work up real bad.




I applied the product to the whole section.



The applicator is VERY VERY heavy with red paint.



After cutting in2 the compound, i clayed it using the mild clay kit.



Then applied scratch x again.





Now, after using the cutting compound, the clarity of the surface, the smoothness of the surface was just soo much more...well, cleaner and clearer than what the paint cleaner could ever produce. It was by no means perfect, and after the scratch x application, existing scratches could be seen, and you could really assess the neglected surface with alot of fine to deep scratches.

After this, i then applied cleaner wax as per as time.



And finally the results after the stages of:
1. Kitten Cutting Compound
2. Clay
3. Scratch X
4. Cleaner Wax








This time, the clarity was defintely improved with the kitten product. Clarity was at around 80%-85%.

Conclusion:

For me to fine anything close to the ingredients of what this Kitten product as to offer, i would need to look at the meg's professional line, and well, in all honestly, it would cost an arm and a leg. For the price and value, i think i will be using the Kitten Cutting Compound just for specifically reviving back singe stage finishes.

i would stick to paint cleaner for metalic finishes, as nothing can come close to the complexity of that product.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Paint Cleaner vs Kitten Cutting Compound

Nice write up, thanks for that.

While you are certainly correct in stating that Meguiar's Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner and Kitten Cutting Compound are not direct competitors, it is nice to see that something as mild as DC1 and ScratchX can do as good a job as they did on such a badly oxidized finish. One would expect on such a finish that a moderate to heavy abrasive product like KCC would outperform a non abrasive product like DC1 and an extremely mild abrasive like ScratchX. Here in the States we commonly find Turtle Wax Rubbing Compound on the shelves - it certainly has more cutting ability than DC1 or ScratchX.

Having said that, when selecting products for use on a modern clear coat finish, you'd probably be better suited with the DC1/ScratchX combo than a moderate to heavy abrasive. All too often people call us and ask how to restore their finish after using something that strong by hand. It's a simple case of choosing the right product for the surface, and the surface condition.

It is unfortunate that the cost of Meguiar's products is so high in your area.

[ColonelCash]

Re: Paint Cleaner vs Kitten Cutting Compound

Nice writeup and photos. I have to say, Kitten Cutting Compound is a horrible name. Sounds like something from SAW 5 rather than a paint cleaner.

[Ryan L.]

Re: Paint Cleaner vs Kitten Cutting Compound

Nice write-up. Any body else notice the different wax? Deep Crystal Wet Look Cleaner Wax..don't have that in the US. Cleaner Wax from the classic line is probably the same thing.

Ryan

[ColonelCash]

Re: Paint Cleaner vs Kitten Cutting Compound

Nice write-up. Any body else notice the different wax? Deep Crystal Wet Look Cleaner Wax..don't have that in the US. Cleaner Wax from the classic line is probably the same thing.

Ryan

Could this be in one of your test bottles by any chance?

[Ryan L.]

Re: Paint Cleaner vs Kitten Cutting Compound

No...

[Wilco]

Re: Paint Cleaner vs Kitten Cutting Compound

Could this be in one of your test bottles by any chance?

lol
no, over here in the oceania/asia area, the cleaner wax is called DC WetLook cleaner wax. i guess they wanted to stress wetlook because its something that polishes and protects in one go.

other cheaper products here usually called the cleaner wax comparison as "Cut and Polish". i really do dislike products that are labelled as "Polish" when all they are referring to is a wax compound.

Some stores have the normal Cleaner Wax in Paste form, but thats rare to see.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Paint Cleaner vs Kitten Cutting Compound

Nice pics and write up. They should change the name of that kitten compound. Thought it was cat litter. lol.

[Wilco]

Re: Paint Cleaner vs Kitten Cutting Compound

Now that theres New Meguiars Ultimate compound, i need not rely on the cheapo Kitten products we have here in Australia.

So, which means, i'll need to wait quite a while to revive the rest of my mums red car HEHE

[angeloabbattista]

Re: Paint Cleaner vs Kitten Cutting Compound

You know we can get #105 Ultra Cut Compound in Australia so you may to give that a go.

[Wilco]

Re: Paint Cleaner vs Kitten Cutting Compound

You know we can get #105 Ultra Cut Compound in Australia so you may to give that a go.

yea but i'd need a g220 first though.

[angeloabbattista]

Re: Paint Cleaner vs Kitten Cutting Compound

No not neally, M105 can be worked by hand also.

[JamieR]

Re: Paint Cleaner vs Kitten Cutting Compound

The current 105 is not recommended for use by DA (some have success using it, but not all).
I have a bottle of it, and no DA, so use it by hand. I have been blown away at how well it works on very neglected paint!

Jamie

[akimel]

Re: Paint Cleaner vs Kitten Cutting Compound

Wilco, the hand application of #105 has been discussed in a couple of threads. Here are two of them:

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25038

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25638

So if you are working by hand, you won't need to wait for either SwirlX or Ultimate Compound. In M105 you have the most powerful hand polish Meguiars offers.