Help using Menzerna PO85RD Finishing Polish

W

Wyle E. Coyote

New member
A couple of professional detailers suggested using this finishing polish along with a Blue Lake Country Pad since I was working on a soft black paint vehicle, which is a 2010 Honda Pilot.



I hope one or more of you can get me out of this dilemma.



By applying the above combination with a Porter Cable 7424 XP set to a speed 3-4 for about 5 minutes a panel, I would see a new dimension and gloss never before seen from using other products. Wow, I loved this wet look and couldn’t wait to get tackling on the rest of the vehicle. If it weren’t for the translucent look and the circular marks present from using the PC, I would just leave it alone and head to the next stage.



Here’s the sad part to my story: When I would buff off the polish with my microfiber towel, not only did the excess residue come off, but it seemed like the entire polish came off also. In other words, when I compared the first panel with an adjacent unpolished panel, they practically looked identical. I wanted that Menzerna look back, but would lose it every time I would wipe it off. It may seem that the product is not bonding itself fully into the paint.



What could the remedy possible be?



• A pad with more/less cutting power?

• Using a higher or lower speed on the PC?

• Work on the panel much longer? (And if so, until when?)

• Use more force on the PC, thus requiring a higher rate of speed to a 5 or possible 6 to keep the pad rotating?

• Something I omitted on the pre-polishing process?

• A different type of micro-fiber

• A different user?





Any advice you or other members of the blog would be greatly appreciated. I know the finishing polish is not a leave on product, but it looks so good, I’m tempted to just leave it on without buffing it off, but I know this would only do the paint more harm than good.



Thanks all and have a fabulous Memorial Day weekend!
 
Here we go...I find this polish to be finicky compared to my years of using FPII. I still prefer FPII for now but will say I can get slight cut from 85rd and finish off nicely as you stated. I had problems with wipedowns and required several IPA wipes to remove all residue. Treat this as other diminishing polishes and work till it becomes translucent. Bring your speed up and use a zero bite pad. Sounds like your on the right path.



One thing I'm picking up from your post is what was the condition before 85rd? What did you use before? I usually use 205/white polish pad and if I want extra gloss then use 85rd/gray pad to finish. What you may be seeing is you need a step above like 205 to finish or prep the finish before using something like 85rd.



Hope that helps a bit-
 
The Blue Lake Country pad has ZERO cutting ability. I recommend using a white pad with 85rd. and you may need to press a little harder when polishing.





John
 
MC:All I used was some Meguiars Swirl Remover with an orange pad to get out some swirls since the paint in new condition. Was using the finishing polish to get that extra gloss. What zero bite pad would you suggest?



Legacy: I started out using one-half the hood, which is a little bigger than the dimensions you stated.



J Kleven: I was under the impression that the intent of this polish was to give more depth to the paint and not for any cutting action as is their other stronger polishes.



Thanks for all your responses.
 
Wyle E. Coyote said:
MC:All I used was some Meguiars Swirl Remover with an orange pad to get out some swirls since the paint in new condition. Was using the finishing polish to get that extra gloss. What zero bite pad would you suggest?



Legacy: I started out using one-half the hood, which is a little bigger than the dimensions you stated.



J Kleven: I was under the impression that the intent of this polish was to give more depth to the paint and not for any cutting action as is their other stronger polishes.



Thanks for all your responses.
Click to expand...



Sounds like you are doing to large of an area and the polish is not breaking down. Try working an 18"X18" area and work the polish until almost clear or transparent.
 
Wyle E. Coyote said:
MC:All I used was some Meguiars Swirl Remover with an orange pad to get out some swirls since the paint in new condition. Was using the finishing polish to get that extra gloss. What zero bite pad would you suggest?



Legacy: I started out using one-half the hood, which is a little bigger than the dimensions you stated.



J Kleven: I was under the impression that the intent of this polish was to give more depth to the paint and not for any cutting action as is their other stronger polishes.



Thanks for all your responses.
Click to expand...



Well the intent of all polish is to cut some portion of the clear coat off, thus leveling it to produce a mirror like reflection. P085RD has the lowest cut of all menzerna polishes. You will get a very high gloss from using it, as seen by the pros.



Now something that would give more depth and gloss while not cutting would be a glaze like Chemical Guys EZ Creme Glaze.
 
85rd is suppose to come off when you wipe down. Many go to great lengths (alcohol wipe) to get rid of it entirely.



It's a polish, not a wax/sealant/glaze that you want to stay behind. Any 'filling' by its carrier oils is purely coincidental and not intended.



If your expectations are not met after wipe down, you'll have to back up and get more aggressive as others have said.
 
[Note that I know *NOTHING* about PO85RD, never used it..]



Are you supposed to let the residue dry completely before buffing it off (that's what it sounds like Wyle E. Coyote is doing, please correct me if I'm wrong) or are you supposed to buff the residue off while it's still a little damp?



Or are you supposed to "work it until it's gone", which has worked well for me with a (very) few products?



The user-friendliness (or rather the apparent lack thereof!) of this product has sorta made me leery of trying it.
 
I buff until the polish turns clearish looking and then remove the residue while it is still wet. Then pending on LSP may do a Prep-Sol or Alchohol wipe and apply my LSP. If using a nuba product I skip the wipe inbetween.
 
mc01ta said:
Here we go...I find this polish to be finicky compared to my years of using FPII. I still prefer FPII for now but will say I can get slight cut from 85rd and finish off nicely as you stated. I had problems with wipedowns and required several IPA wipes to remove all residue. Treat this as other diminishing polishes and work till it becomes translucent. Bring your speed up and use a zero bite pad. Sounds like your on the right path.



One thing I'm picking up from your post is what was the condition before 85rd? What did you use before? I usually use 205/white polish pad and if I want extra gloss then use 85rd/gray pad to finish. What you may be seeing is you need a step above like 205 to finish or prep the finish before using something like 85rd.



Hope that helps a bit-
Click to expand...



I love PO85RD, but only for hard paints. I loooooove FPII on soft paints like the honda. PO85RD has given me nothing but grief on soft black paint.
 
85RD works great on my Integra that has rather soft paint. Doesn't matter the application method either. Rotary, DA, FLEX or Cyclo. FPII also works just fine.
 
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