AIO Polish & Sealants: Something doesn't make sense (I think)...

S

SwedishRider

New member
While researching info about what pads to use with KAIO, I had a thought that I can't seem to wrap my head around. Klasse seems to be a bit of an exception with respect to the lack of grit it contains as an AIO product. It's much more of a paint cleaner than used for serious correction. As an AIO, I would think it could be used again, and again, and again, as long as an owner had the time and elbow grease to do so, without wearing down the clear coat.

However, it appears not all AIO products are like KAIO. Take CG V4 AIO Polish & Sealant. It has corrective capabilities with some grit build into the product. And paired with a white hex logic polishing pad, would have some very slight cutting capability. I've read that a typical application of V4 can last about 4-6 months. So that's 2-3 applications needed a year. I can use the Klasse over and over and over because it lacks "cut", but doesn't the V4 cut the clear cut a bit with each application (unlike the Klasse)? How many times can an AIO be used before it wears the clear coat too much? Is this a flaw of AIO systems? Or am I thinking about this wrongly and the polish manufacturers have figured this out already?

I'm very interested in an AIO product to fit my needs. Right now, I'm thinking about buying a GG6 and pairing it with a 5" CG backing plate. Then use white CG hex logic pads to apply KAIO... but also possibly try CG V4 AIO as a go-to AIO product. The difference is the V4 has some cut, but the KAIO does not. I would think in the short run, the V4 might give better results because of it's corrective abilities. But how about the long run with AIO products (V4 or otherwise)?

Or maybe I'm way off base here... :wacko:
 
The pad would give a little corrective ability, water spots, bugs, tar, etc. I don't think it's going to work for correction though. I use menzerna sf 4500 with a blue pad for spotting/mild correction. It also leaves a nice finish to top with your LSP of choice.
 
I think of an "AIO" as containing an abrasive, cleaners and a LSP while a "Cleaner Wax" just contains chemical cleaners and a LSP. A great AIO (especially for beginners to machine polishing) is HD Speed. As a matter of fact all thier polishing products are great for beginners--long working time, little to no dust, easy removal. You might want to consider FLAT pads like Buff & Shine or the new Megs THIN Flat pads--more effective as more pad is on the paint and no chance of spent product and removed clear messing up you next section.

Good choice on the GG6--great power and a lifetime warranty.
 
Are there any concerns with how many times you use the blue pad on your vehicle(s) with your product choice?

My understanding is that once the LSP is applied, the goal is to preserve the sealant/wax as best as possible to minimize the number of times you have to correct problems.

If one were to use an AIO with a white or blue pad every 4-6 months over a whole vehicle, would that end up creating issues with the clear coat?
 
Thanks for the product recommendation! HD Speed AIO is exactly the type of product I am looking for. Same question with it as I have with the CG V4 though. Will the abrasiveness of the HD AIO be acceptable to the paint and clearcoat over a longer time frame with 2-3 machine applications per year?
 
SwedishRider said:
Thanks for the product recommendation! HD Speed AIO is exactly the type of product I am looking for. Same question with it as I have with the CG V4 though. Will the abrasiveness of the HD AIO be acceptable to the paint and clearcoat over a longer time frame with 2-3 machine applications per year?
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The only way to really know would be to buy a paint measuring tool, I don't remember what they are called though. If you are that worried about the clear, why not just use a coating?
 
The one thing I can't figure out is how you can have an abrasive in a AIO and not remove a fair amount of the LSP when you buff it off.
 
wannafbody said:
The one thing I can't figure out is how you can have an abrasive in a AIO and not remove a fair amount of the LSP when you buff it off.
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You probably do, but it leaves enough behind to offer protection, I will say however that I've never had Klasse AIO last me a very long time 1-2 months by itself.
 
SwedishRider said:
Thanks for the product recommendation! HD Speed AIO is exactly the type of product I am looking for. Same question with it as I have with the CG V4 though. Will the abrasiveness of the HD AIO be acceptable to the paint and clearcoat over a longer time frame with 2-3 machine applications per year?
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On an aggressiveness scale of 1-10 most AIOs are a 2 and with a blue pad there probably wouldn't be issues with removing too much clear, but I doubt a blue pad will remove anything much more than fine swirls depending on the hardness of the paint. As an example I use an orange light cutting pad with HD Speed on my VWs. You shouldn't have to use an AIO that often though. Once you get the paint to the condition you like you can just maintain with a pure LSP like HD Poxy--most AIOs will only give you a couple of months protection while some LSPs will last 4-6 months. Whatever pad you decide to use make sure you have enough of them--4 a minimum for an entire car. Trying to do an entire car with one or two pads most often leads to poor results and damaged pads.

BTW--get a 5" backing plate and 5.5" FLAT pads for the GG6
 
Thanks for the advice. Nobody here seems to be a fan of the hex logic pads. I've read they are pretty much the standard in Europe. Any reason everyone keeps pushing me away from them? Someone must be buying and using them..
 
For the most part - pads are pads. If they are clean and used correctly - it won't affect the outcome much.

IMHO, AIOs are for production detailing. If your going to spend the time going around your own car with a buffer - use a dedicated polish. You can use a real LSP after that in like no time.
 
Swanicyouth said:
For the most part - pads are pads. If they are clean and used correctly - it won't affect the outcome much.

IMHO, AIOs are for production detailing. If your going to spend the time going around your own car with a buffer - use a dedicated polish. You can use a real LSP after that in like no time.
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Agreed. I'd rather correct once and then focus on maintaining with good wash technique and a good sealant/coating/wax

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
Noting that I'm the guy who's always ranting about "Don't thin your clearcoat! Quit abrading it so much!", the abrasives in the most abrasive AIO I've used (ZAIO) are so mild that I wouldn't worry about them taking off an appreciable amont of clear unless used with an overly harsh pad.

That said, I'd use KAIO or something else that's functionally non-abrasive unless I actually had a reason to abrade the paint.

Nobody ever mentions AutoGlym Super Resin Polish or the 1Z products that (at least sorta) fit into the AIO category...I still like the SRP and 1Z stuff enough to keep them on the shelf beside the KAIO and ZAIO. As a non-Pro I find I use such stuff quite a bit, more often than my Finishing Polishes.

And yeah...IME you need to top any AIO just as you'd top a Cleaner Wax; the combo of a Cleaner Wax topped with a Straight Wax works quite well actually..fine line between a "Cleaner Wax" and an "AIO"...maybe no real diff between them at all IMO.
 
Swanicyouth said:
For the most part - pads are pads. If they are clean and used correctly - it won't affect the outcome much.
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I always thought that pads with dimples, grooves etc had the chance of spent product and removed clear clogging in the grooves/dimples which could cause marring as you're trying to remove swirls etc. and would be more difficult to clean on the fly (especially if you didn't have an aircompressor) Isn't this the case???
 
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