Comparison Table of all Polishes/Compounds

[CJOttawa]

Hey all!

Not sure if this has come up on the forum before but the folks over at Autopia created a table of all polishes and compounds comparing aggressiveness, including what looks to be a fairly comprehensive line for Meguiar's products!

Here's a link to it:

http://www.autopia.org/forums/paint-correction-and-gloss-enhancement/181138-updated-5-2015-autopia-polish-comparison-chart.html

I've actually created a "Meguiar's only" mini-table for my own reference; I am pretty much only buying Meguiar's products these days as they're the most widely available and best understood, and they cover the widest array of issues. Here's a link to that:

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Comparison Table of all Polishes/Compounds

While that's a nice looking chart over at AG, we highly recommend it be taken with at least a grain of salt. They list, for example, our D300, M85 and M100 together and that's just not accurate. It's also a bit misleading since these are very different products: D300 was specifically designed for use as part of the DA Microfiber Correction System, M85 is an old school rotary only diminishing abrasive, water based compound that we would never recommend for use on a DA, and M100 is a solvent based SMAT abrasive compound that was originally intended for use on a rotary with a wool pad but it works fantastically on the microfiber discs with a DA. And it will definitely out cut D300 in that situation.

If that jumped out at us immediately, we can only guess at other, similar such discrepancies in the chart. Now, that's not a dig at the folks who obviously put in a ton of time to compile the chart as we can only guess at the hours needed to do so. The problem with such a chart, and the primary reason we've never really put one together, is that none of this takes into account how the paint might respond to any of these compounds, how they're actually used, etc. This article explains a bit how you can alter the cut of any product, sometimes dramatically, just by altering the applicator, tool, and technique. To complicate things even more, not all products behave acceptably on different tools - M85 noted above - even though you can still dramatically impact it's performance by changing pad and or technique even staying on the same tool.

Of course, all this is a double edged sword in our world, isn't it? For a novice who is hungry for information it's easily overwhelming. But for a seasoned pro it opens up almost limitless possibilities to correct a huge variety of paint systems with a huge variety of tools. It truly is a blend of art and science when we polish paint.

[CJOttawa]

Re: Comparison Table of all Polishes/Compounds

Excellent! Thanks for that Mr. Stoops.

See, I figured there was more to it than just a sliding scale of abrasiveness. D101 versus D105 for example, which Garry Dean demonstrated in a video as having very different properties.

Mirror Glaze #02 is one that got me recently; if I only referred to the table I'd have put it "between SwirlX and ScatchX 2.0" but this forum gave me a lot more info (M02 being old school) and had me looking at other Meguiar's products. (M101, M105, Ultimate Compound, M205, Ultimate Polish).

[The Guz]

Re: Comparison Table of all Polishes/Compounds

I have to agree about that table on autopia. It may be a good reference but I don't find it to be 100% accurate.

[Top Gear]

Re: Comparison Table of all Polishes/Compounds

I agree, even from my more limited perspective having used fewer of the products. For example, for me, UC is more aggressive than D300 on the MF pads.

Still, it begs the question. Just what is the official correct up-to-date order of Meguiar's abrasiveness, pad for pad? A definitive list or grouping would help with a lot of repeated questions on the forum. There is an old "order of aggressiveness" list around MOL, but it's outdated, predating DAMF and I think even M101 and M100. Maybe a webpage on the main website, which Mequiar's could keep updated might work nicely? In fact, that, along with a carnauba list, "hydrophobic" list, or others, might be catnip to many of us Let us know how we can help, Mike, if we can.

[CJOttawa]

Re: Comparison Table of all Polishes/Compounds

"Date of introduction" and "intended use" or a link to a page/thread with more details would be really useful too.

I suspect a lot of products have been superceded but are kept around for very specialized users and applications - or just a few curmudgeons who don't want to change.