I'm getting leery of Optimum Polish--should I be?

'Less-is-more' when using Optimum polishes. They seem to have an almost 'oily' consistency, which allows for a longer working time in high temps / direct sunlight and seems to reduce dusting, but can prevent the abrasives from working effectively at the paint surface if too much is used. Very forgiving for novices (like myself) and yet, from what I read here, effective enough for pro users with less time. Great product. :)
 
Prime with the polish itself. Water (or QD) can dilute the lubrication and ultimately shorten its working time. With diluted lubricants, you are increasing the cutting power of the polish marginally. The effect is not that harsh, but it is the best when you prime the pad with the polish. Just a nice circle around the perimeter of the pad and that's it.
 
Give Menzerna a try, I think it's more forgiving (as far as amount) then other compounds, and breaks down and takes the swirls real fast! You can use a finishing compound if you want but 90% of the time you don't need to, unless it's a black car. The nice thing about IP is that you have a surface that will give you better durabilty than a compound that uses oils. Menzerna IP leaves the surface squeeky clean, and it doesn't matter what you top it with, you will get longer protection. Oily compounds are easy to use and leave a nice finish, but if you use them you'll be detailing 4 times years versus twice a year. No big deal for most people here.
 
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