Okay, Dave... I ran the HD Uno Advanced Cut through its paces. Last time I tried HD Uno, I was comparing version 2.0 to 3.0. This time, the bottle came from Ben at 3D, so I know it's the latest stuff.
To start with, I sanded one of my test panels. Test panels offer very good
test-control, as the panels are flat and were sprayed at the same time (so there's no variance to have to account for).
To compare HD Uno Advanced Cut's abilities, I used Meguiar's
M105 Ultra-Cut Compound on the other side of the panel.
Sanding was accomplished using Meguiar's Professional
Unigrit 6" Sanding Discs (1500 and 3000 grades). I used my
Mirka CEROS for sanding duties, which is a
wonderful machine. Lightweight, and MAN does it rotate the plate..!
I also used the CEROS for polishing using a Meguiar's
DMC6 6" DA Microfiber Disc, but then switched to a Meguiar's
G110v2 outfitted with a Meguiar's
DMC5 5" DA Microfiber Disc mounted to an
Xact-Fit plate.
Just for kicks (and to see how well the CEROS handled polishing duties), I mounted an Xact-Fit plate to the CEROS. I used the DA Microfiber Discs, as well as a 5-1/2" diameter, 1/2" tall Lake Country black foam pad (I actually used a different plate than the one shown below, but it was cut to the same diameter):
I really like the fit & polishing ability of this machine & pad combo.
Bottom line on the HD Uno Advanced Cut:
In my opinion, it is a very nice product. It has good cutting capability, and finishes down rather nicely.
Price makes it a
deal, and as claimed, it does not dust, and it can be used for a long time.
That being said... it does not cut or finish as well as Meguiar's M105. I tried the HD Uno in several ways; non-primed, only a few drops, then primed, then primed & minimized (I first prime, then immediately remove excess product by running the disc against a microfiber towel for 15-20 seconds), and then a few drops, etc. I tried various speeds, with and without an Xact-Fit plate (Xact-Fit for the WIN by a LARGE margin). I applied HD Uno via CEROS and G100 and G10v2 (an old, gutsy prototype model). I used microfiber discs, and the black foam pad.
To be frank and without exaggeration... M105 cut 3 to 4 times quicker than HD Uno.
It also surpassed HD Uno in terms of finishing.
In terms of leveling ability... it did not have the leveling capability of M105.
Now, I know that I don't have a lot of experience using HD Uno, whereas guys like Thomas Dekany and Barry Theal have tons more experience. But, I hope you'll believe that I used HD Uno without bias, and used it as if it was the only product I was going to be able to use from now on (it's how I use any product when I'm running it through its paces).
It is a nice product and seems to be pretty capable, but its got a way to go to match M105.
I really hope that Tunch doesn't erase my number from his contact info after reading this... I'm not bashing HD Uno in any way. I believe it needs a bit more work before it equals what I consider to be one of the benchmarks of compounds, M105.
Before anyone chimes in saying,
"Hey, M105 is a compound, whereas HD Uno is a one-step do-all product.", realize that I used M105 to cut and finish, with microfiber and foam pads. In other words... if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck... it's likely a duck!
If neither buffing liquid had a label, and I used them without user instructions... I would figure that both could be used for cutting and finishing. Considering that HD Uno is in its 4th or 5th update, I doubt Tunch is done tweaking the formula just yet.
lane:
