Megs Ultimate Compound - Perfect Finish?

[Accumulator]

My5ABaby- OK, didn't mean to give offense. Glad you're happy with your results.

 

[NSXTASY]

This talk about people *not* seeing micromarring has me thinking of a recent discussion I had with Mike Phillips where he was kinda (in a friendly way) about how yours truly cares so much about how paint looks in unnaturally demanding lighting (i.e., my SunGun inspections).



If you don't see a problem, do you *have* a problem? And how hard should you go looking for a problem...look hard enough and you'll almost always find *something* you're not happy about

I suppose this is the 'perception is reality' effect. If micro-marring is present under any light source, natural/unnatural, I would posit that the finish would improve were it to be polished out. Though the finish may be improved marginally, this is Autopia. This is somewhat similar to the occasion when someone says, "you need the couple extra polish sets on dark colors, but not light colors". The micro-marring is likely there on the light color, though harder to see and would likely make a nice improvement to the overall finish if it were addressed.

:nixweiss

Loosen up a bit, it helps.

I suggest you read more carefully.

 

[Accumulator]

I suppose this is the 'perception is reality' effect. If micro-marring is present under any light source, natural/unnatural, I would posit that the finish would improve were it to be polished out. Though the finish may be improved marginally..

That's the way I figure it. No, I wouldn't bother in every case though, and if somebody else is happy with a given level then who am I to cast stones...But I gotta say that whenever I *do* go the extra I'm glad I did, and I thought I might offer some advice that could result in a "hey, that really *did* make a nice difference!" type of outcome.



Heh heh, I know for certain that I'm not nearly as stringent about this stuff as a lot of people here at Autopia.

..I suggest you read more carefully...

Eh, I knew I might come across badly but I posted it anyhow My intentions were good, but you know what they say about good intentions...

 

[Jason M]

I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that a final polishing would make them look even better.

I have used a lot of both M105 and UC. UC finishes out nicer every time I have compared them side to side. M105 obviously has more cut. On almost every occasion UC on an orange pad is LSP ready for most people. That being said, I have always, every single time, had the finish look nicer when UC is followed with M205 and a black pad.



Of all the Meg's products I've tried (which is almost the entire line) I can't think of a better product for a one step polish to LSP. What I mean is the balance of what it removes, to the finish it leaves, with one pad on one machine. But yes, a finer polish will always bring up the gloss and leave a more clear finish following UC IME.



For me UC has taken the place of M105 as my middle step most of the time in a 3 step polishing process. M105-UC-M205.



Lastly, as far as ColorX leaving a flawless finish. You have to remember that it has the least amount of cut of any of the Meg's diminishing products (except Cleaner Wax if I remember right). So it removes very little. Since it is a cleaner/wax itself it does have a "wax" in it which by it's nature is designed to fill to a certain extent. ColorX is usually what you go to when paint is so soft that you can't seem to find anything that doesn't leave micro marring with a DA.



I actually saw Mike Phillips use this at an open garage one night on a black Hot Rod (don't remember what exact car it was) that absolutely would not finish out nicely with anything else.

 

[imported_grease]

If you don't see a problem, do you *have* a problem? And how hard should you go looking for a problem...look hard enough and you'll almost always find *something* you're not happy about

Incredible how true this is. The lengths a person will take 'detailing' to increase every time they detail, if theyre anal about it. I polished the mesh grill on my CTS with q-tips and a liquid metal polish yesterday for the first time. Previously, ive never given the grill more then a wipe with a soft MF and a mild APC. Ive even picked up foam applicators meant for makeup application, to polish the emblems. It amazes me how many 'tools' I have for detailing that can fit in the palm of my hand.

 

[Accumulator]

Jason M- Thanks for posting that about the UC. And yeah, it sounds like a great intermediate step (I've been using M205 or a somewhat aggressive pad for this).



I just don't see *anything* finishing out OK via orange pad :nixweiss I'm almost always working on hard clear too...eh...might just be different people being different. Now a *Griot's* orane pad, that I can see one-stepping with.



Guess I do my one-steps differently; I go for less correction but a clearer finish. And I could argue it either way



And yeah, Mike has had a few cases where he had to use either #66 or Color-X. There was a blue Audi with inexplicably soft clear that he had to do that with.



grease- Heh heh, yeah...many of my vehicles have dozens of slots in their grilles, and I get every surface of every one. Big PIA but the alternative isn't how I want things to look. No I don't get 'em perfect



I've been happiest using a spit-in-half wooden clothespin (remember those?) for this, wrapped with a MF and whittled down a bit if needed to fit the grille in question. I'll sometimes wrap the "handle end" with something if I'm gonna lean on it, makes things more comfortable. I have one of those "pimp stix" sets too, but I use my collection of whittled clothespins a lot more.

 

[Jason M]

Yeah, orange doesn't leave the best finish. But with a one step it's always a balance of defect removal vs. finish. I tend to assume that most cars I do I will see again. So I like to go a little more aggressive the first time knowing that I can refine it more next time I one step it. If you go finer on one steps then you don't really have a better starting point next time you see the car. That's how I see it anyway.

 

[My5ABaby]

Eh, I knew I might come across badly but I posted it anyhow My intentions were good, but you know what they say about good intentions...

I suggest you read more carefully.

My comment was meant to be generalized and not directed towards Accumulator. I guess I came across wrong. I also wrote it on my iPhone while distracted.

 

[byalegend]

Glad you're happy with how they turned out, and I don't want to sound like a [jerk], but I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that a final polishing would make them look even better.



I mean...even when a vehicle is basically *perfect* after numerous polishing steps, a final burnishing will improve it a little bit. I used to think that stuff like #80, 1Z PP, and 3M PI-III MG 05937 finished out OK too

You're probably right. I have to admit that I wasn't really going for perfection.

 

[imported_Larry A]

I did a medium blue pick up truck that was in very bad shape. I used UC with a wool pad on a rotary and was very suprised on how good it came out. I followed with Color X by hand and then NXT2 by hand , and it looked like a mirror. The owner was more then happy.

 

[Accumulator]

.. with a one step it's always a balance of defect removal vs. finish. I tend to assume that most cars I do I will see again..

Ah, OK...yeah, this might just be a differing-perspectives thing; I only do one-steps on vehicles I'll never see again (loaners, etc.).

I guess I came across wrong...

No worries, it's hard to know how you'll come across over the 'net sometimes.

 

[CocheseUGA]

Crap, I had no idea that UC was in any way, shape or form comparable to M105 (even if it's a bit different). I might have to pick it up to try, because shipping from ADS kills my want to try a sampler size.

 

[LightningTeg]

Used it last weekend on my integra and wow this stuff is great. You could go straight to an LSP no problem.



All the little dots in the paint are rock chips, nothing i can do =/

 

[nonsensez9]

Of course now I see people talking that some UC is thick. Mine is very watery and may be the reason why it didn't work well. I am hoping to find out whats what in the UC thread in the product discusion section.

that's curious that people would say it is thick. I've purchased UC twice about 1 year apart and they are both quite thin. I also purchased Swirl-X at the same time, and it is very thick - both times.



I like using UC with orange LC pad on my factory paint followed by Swirl-X on white LC pad. On the repainted areas, UC on a white pad followed by Swirl-X on black does the job quite nicely. My experience is that I can work UC for a very long time while SwirlX dries up quite quickly.

 

[LightningTeg]

Just worked an evo with this and Im in love it with.

 

[jaynick808]

to those that didnt read the autogeek abrasives chart UC registers a 9 while m105 registers a 12 on cut. so u can pretty much judge from there that its a few notches down in cut but *should* on paper, finish a few notches nicer. although since its the consumer line its hard to tell without testing. kinda like how speed cut doesnt finish down as nice as m105 even though they both are a 12 on the cutting scale.



with that being said i can finish down daily driver lsp ready using a tangerine pad with UC no problem. of course m205 on a black pad will gloss it more but this product finishes well enough for most customers. with the price point and time it saves its my favorite 1step. cant beat 5.99 shipped all day from amazon. its perfect for certain situations where something like an aio like megs PRC isnt aggressive enough.

 

[LightningTeg]

Def. agreed. For most cars this is a great choice. I can go straight from this to my LSP of choice and the finish is fantastic. Also works quickly and stays "wet" even workin in the sun. I've only used an orange pad with it but there is barely any micro marring, or anything that cant be finished off.

 

[wannafbody]

UC is a great OTC product but I'd always finish with a finishing polish for the best gloss.

 

[VanityDetailing]

Almost all of my clients' cars get the Ultimate Compound/Meguiar's W7006 or W8006 foam (cutting or polishing, respectively) pads, followed by SwirlX and a W8006 or W9006 (polishing or finishing, respectively) pad. With as many clients as I have lately, I can't justify the cost of going to M105/M205 over UC/SwirlX. I blast through a bottle of UC in a week, and a bottle of SwirlX lasts 2 weeks. Also, I've had some clients that aren't exactly "punctual," and when I need product at 2am, I know I can always get it at The Antichrist, aka Wal-Mart, as a last resort.

 

[LICamaro85]

What I do to get a perfect finish from UC is if the car does not have that deep of scratches I will use the UC on a Lake Country White polishing pad and that gets rid of all swirls and light scratches but yet it finishes pretty much perfect.



I have done a 50/50 with the UC with a white pad and the other side did the same thing than followed it with Zaino Z-PC, Optimum Final Polish on a green LC pad and did not notice an increase in gloss or clarity that would make it worth doing it.



- LI 85