What would you say is the current best Jeweling/Finishing Polish?

mystickid

New member
Yes perhaps, its been asked before.



Years ago my research led me to 85rd and thats what I bought. When as I used it as my final polish on a black finishing pad, it really blew me away and made me perpetually grin upon seeing the gloss on my black soft paint. Remarkable gloss. I still have 85rd. (My bottle is from 2006...yep that old)



Nonetheless, I'm always looking for the next best thing. Looking for the next level of insane, deep, reflective gloss.



Is there any jeweling/finishing polish better than 85rd in the current technology -driven product market?



What is it and why?
 
Final finishing – (sometimes called burnishing or jewelling) a finishing polish (Menzerna SF 4500 – Super Finish Cut:3.5/5.0 – Gloss; 5/5.0) should be thoroughly worked in at around 1500-2000 RPM using the Zenith method until only a very thin, opaque film remains. This film should then be buffed off carefully using a clean, soft buffing towel. This process leaves a very refined, almost flawless gloss. Reducing speed not pressure; is the key to final polishing, constant pressure keeps the pad uniformly compressed (50%) and ensures even contact with the surface, efficiently transferring correct machine movement to the pad



A wipe down process should always be used to ensure all scratches have been removed, as opposed to being covered up with lubrication oil / waxes or the fillers (Kaolin or china clay) used in polishes
 
I currently prefer HD Polish, but I hear really good things about Sonax Perfect Finish. Both are worth a look, imo.
 
Thanks for the input Tom, TOGWT, Chris.



I get the notion, from reading a lot of current posts, that HD Polish is the new King. Just in terms of gloss, depth, clarity and reflectivity between 85rd and HD polish, who'd you say wins?



Again the standard of comparison is with 85rd cuz its the best that "I've" ever used and experienced.



85rd vs HD??
 
I used 85rd for 10 years something like that. I've always been more than impressed by it but certainly experiment with others
 
I have a bottle of Sonax Perfect Finish. I'd say it is pretty finicky at times, at least for me, hard to remove. Sometimes it works but not consistently. For close to $60 a bottle, it should perform better. It collects dust. For me, 85rd never looked wet - more of a shiny finish, but it could just be my eyes. One thing with HD POLISH, is that if the previous step hid imperfections, instead of removing them, HD POLISH will let you know.



Listen, it is your $$$... try any of these and you should be happy. As they say, the best camera is what you have with you. I'd most definitely get the HD POLISH. I mean why do I want to do additional work to make sure I wasn't hiding.



Let us know what you will get, and how it worked for you.



mystickid said:
Thanks for the input Tom, TOGWT, Chris.



I get the notion, from reading a lot of current posts, that HD Polish is the new King. Just in terms of gloss, depth, clarity and reflectivity between 85rd and HD polish, who'd you say wins?



Again the standard of comparison is with 85rd cuz its the best that "I've" ever used and experienced.



85rd vs HD??
 
I personally like HD POLISH because it's so easy to wipe off. I have worked on some paint that was so soft, I'd occasionally mar it if I wiped the residue too hard. POLISH also makes the paint look really wet. I don't think it cuts quite as hard as M205 which is what I reach for when doing a 1-step, but POLISH easily handles haze left over from a compounding step and wipes off so clean and easy that I use it 2x as often as M205. I go straight from M101 or HD CUT on a wool or MF pad to POLISH on a green foam polishing pad and get absolutely beautiful finishes.



I just detailed a client's black '69 Chevelle SS for the 4th time in a year and a half and the reflections coming off of that big hood nearly blind you when you're driving it.



I haven't tried 85rd so I can't compare the two.
 
I'd get HD Polish and not worry about "jeweling". You can use it as a polish and a finishing polish and with an Optimum MF pad, it finishes down amazing on Audi/BMW jet black clear coats, plus you get more cut than any finishing polish I know of.
 
So HD seems like the current prize pick. I'll have to try a sample myself. Great info and thanks for your thoughts guys.



You know what's interesting, Menzerna has 2 finishing polishes both with a gloss of 10/10 but different cuts.



Superfinish 4000 Cut 4/10... Gloss 10/10



Superfinish 4500 (The new name of P085RD) Cut 2/10... Gloss 10/10.



I would think they'd discontinue 85rd but autogeek has it under the new name & design. I wonder if the formula as changed or evolved to be better or the same stuff in a newly designed bottle.
 
Thanks Bryan.



Everyone is saying HD wins on the ease of use/removal criterion. But just wanted to compare the gloss factor between the two; is it comparable or one better than the other.



I never knew the power of 85rd until I used it on a black, no cut soft foam finishing pad. Gave it the ZING!, that ZIP! Perhaps HD on a similar pad can provide even greater ZAPOW!
 
Not to mess it all up, but I like 85RD (SF 4500); but I also use Optimum Finish Polish as well. Optimum is a SMAT polish, its easy to use. You use it very sparingly and wipe off is as easy as a sealant. You use too much, and it's a mess to wipe off. Best part is it's like 10 bucks for a small bottle. I haven't tried the HD stuff because I'm stocked with these two.
 
Optimum Finish is excellent, but like you pointed out, too much and its tough to remove. Takes some trial and error to get it right.
 
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