Menzerna Process Info

B

BlackSunshine

2005 Chev Cavalier, Black
Hi guys,
I just ordered my PC as well as:
(2) Hi-Gloss Constant Pressure (C.P.) white polishing pads
(2) C.P. black glazing/Finessing pads
Menzerna Intensive polish (IP)
Menzerna final polish II (FP II)
Menzerna finishing touch glaze (FT glaze)

My question is of the process...I was thinking
IP with polishing pad
FP II with polishing pad
FT glaze with finessing pad
LSP....possibly FK 2180 + #425 and maybe some pink wax

Haven't used Menzerna before but have heard lots of great things. A couple of questions though...
1. Do you generally get a long working time with these polishes
2. How 'sun-friendly' are they? (i'll be working outside)
3. Should I prime the pads with QD?

P.S. My car is non-metallic black with light to moderate swirling (daily driver + hard winters). Sorry no close up pics of paint...crappy weather right now, it's grey due to the salt. :wacko:

Any other comments, tips or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thats all i can think of right now....thanks.
 
You will LOVE THEM!

Wash
Clay
IP with polishing pad @ 5-6
FPII @ 3-5 with finishing pad
FTG @ 1 with finishing pad
#2180 @ 1 with finihsing pad (clean one btw)
pink wax by hand
425

Like i said above it will look amazing. With menzerna I like to apply 2 dime size beads of polish to the panel and then work in, and buff off. I foudn that with meznerna I wouldnt use as much polish as I would with other products. The products have a decent working time, not as much as optimum but still very good. I cant comment to much on sun friendliness. I know sean (gsrstilez) uses them with succuss in the sun with a rotary so I think with a pc you will be fine.

Good luck and take pics.

Greg
 
Greg,
Thanks for the reply....so you think FPII with a polishing pad would be overkill?
2 dime sized beads? Wow, sounds like their products can go a long way!

One more question if you don't mind. How long should i expect for a first time run with the PC doing this process....with the learning curve and all. Thanks again for the quick reply.

Can any others comment on work-ability in the sun?
 
BlackSunshine said:
Greg,
Thanks for the reply....so you think FPII with a polishing pad would be overkill?
Click to expand...

Honestly yes, IP will remove swirls and once your happy with the swirls removal FPII will just finish off the finish, IE remove any haze or other very very small defects.

2 dime sized beads? Wow, sounds like their products can go a long way!
Click to expand...

Yup, if it doesnt seem like alot then add more. I just remember myself pouring out a nice circle on my buffing pad, and that was definatly huge overkill, and a waste of a nice product.

One more question if you don't mind. How long should i expect for a first time run with the PC doing this process....with the learning curve and all. Thanks again for the quick reply.

Can any others comment on work-ability in the sun?
Click to expand...

Plan a whole day to do it. Probably no less than 5 or 6 hour for your first time. Really take your time working though, it will pay off in the end.

Greg
 
thanks again greg, I know that some manufacturers suggest priming your pads and some recommend starting with a dry pad.....how about menzerna?

p.s. there's nothing worst that having your products and machine on the way and it's sooooo long till spring and minus 18 Celcius with salt covered roads!!!!!!! It's killing me here!!!!!
 
Yes, Menzerna recommends priming your pad with some water. On occasion I forget to do this and the polish dries up much faster. Hopefully, the IP will get out all the defects you want with a polishing pad. However, depending on how bad the marring in your paint is and how hard the paint is you may need a more aggressive pad like a light cutting pad or a cutting pad.
 
BlkYukon has a great tutorial for menzerna polishes with the PC. Refer to this to get a look at what you need to see with this link.
http://www.melncal.com/detailing/

This will give you an idea of what to look for. I know that it has helped me immeasureably.
 
Thanks guys i really appreciate all the info.....any others, feel free to chime in.

I was reluctant to get a cutting pad because i thought that the IP would be aggressive enough. Also, it is going to be my first time so i didn't want to get too aggressive first off. I figure that even if i have to spend a little more time removing swirls, it will give me the experience i need to decide if i need something more. My car has some deeper swirls and fine scratches, but nothing major.

Again, has anyone used these products in the sun successfully?

thanks again for the replies
 
I do almost all of my work in the driveway. I try to to the roof and hood before the sun gets to high here in texas. Meaning that I am done with those before 10 a.m.. The rest of the truck is done in the shade of the sun supplied by the truck itself. I have to turn the truck around as the sun moves during the day.

Some times I do back into the garage and do the tonneau cover if I do not get started early enough. Usually I do most of my work in the driveway under the sun. It can be done.
 
Thanks cwcad....Thats what i do as well...so, same as by hand.haha. Hopefully the PC will speed things up for me. The neighboors think i'm crazy now...wait till they hear the PC winding out at 8am...haha...can't wait, they'll think i lost it.

The funny thing is...they probably look at me and think...'that guy needs a hobby!'
 
cwcad said:
BlkYukon has a great tutorial for menzerna polishes with the PC. Refer to this to get a look at what you need to see with this link.
http://www.melncal.com/detailing/

This will give you an idea of what to look for. I know that it has helped me immeasureably.
Click to expand...
cwcad, this was some good info thanks for the link. i'm gonna bookmark it for future refference..

joe
 
My question is of the process...I was thinking
IP with polishing pad
FP II with polishing pad
FT glaze with finessing pad
LSP....possibly FK 2180 + #425 and maybe some pink wax

Haven't used Menzerna before but have heard lots of great things. A couple of questions though...
1. Do you generally get a long working time with these polishes
2. How 'sun-friendly' are they? (i'll be working outside)
3. Should I prime the pads with QD?
Click to expand...

Menzerna polishes are great and IMO are the best finishing polishes for black. The thing to remember though, is everyone has their own technique and style and it's figuring out the one that works best for you. The pictures and pages on my website shows what works best for me.

I'd recommend, especially since you've never used these polishes before, starting with one section, work the polish in stopping periodically as the polish breaksdown and checking an area for progress. This will help you determine how long you have to work it, and what speed/product/pad/pressure works best for you paint.

By also doing this it will let you now how aggressive and what product/pad you need to start on the next section.

I use FP/PO85RD with a polishing pad

I don't mist my pads, for me the polishes tend to gum and stick to the paint if I mist the pad first.


Good luck!


joe.p said:
cwcad, this was some good info thanks for the link. i'm gonna bookmark it for future refference..

joe
Click to expand...

Thanks!
 
I don't use any water or QD with them as these two things can affect the product's working time, cutting power etc (my experience and what I've been told by members)
Yep find what works for you
 
Powergloss and FPII can be used in
sunlight, but discretion is very key.
I work small areas, and continue to
check the temp of the paint especially
if the paint is black or a dark color.
When checking paint temp, use the
back of your hand. If the surface is
very warm, cool it down with ISO/ water
mix,or a QD like Final Inspection.

BTW, I use rotary is used most of the time
when working with PG and FPII.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top