Which is more aggressive?

termigator

termigator

New member
Which is more aggressive? 3M Medium Cut Rubbing Compound, or Menzerna Intensive Polish? I have some water spot etchings on my car and I already tried the 3M with an Orange pad. Didn't seem to do anything. I have since purchased a yellow pad to try to get rid of the etchings. Wondering if the IP will be any better.
 
I think the 3M is more agressive than IP.



If you do a search on "abrasive" or "agressive", there are a few threads on the different levels. I don't think a list was finalized, but they give you a good base ground to start with.
 
3M Medium Cut is much more aggressive than IP. In fact 3M has several polishes more aggressive than IP that are less aggressive than Medium Cut. They rank like this



3M Medium Cut

3M Perfect It II Fine Cut RC

3M Perfect It III Rubbing Compound

3M Finesse It II Finishing Material Machine Polish

Menzerna IP



IP isn't much more abrasive than Perfect it III Machine Glaze.

If you can't correct your problem with Medium Cut than IP isn't going to do it either.
 
IP isn't much more abrasive than Perfect it III Machine Glaze.

If you can't correct your problem with Medium Cut than IP isn't going to do it either. [/B][/QUOTE]



I asked the same question at CMA and they suggest I make three passes at the etchings with the orange pad & IP. Should I go straight to the yellow pad & 3M?
 
termigator said:
I asked the same question at CMA and they suggest I make three passes at the etchings with the orange pad & IP. Should I go straight to the yellow pad & 3M? [/B]
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3M Medium Cut on an orange pad is much more abrasive than IP and an orange pad. 3M Medium Cut on an orange pad is pretty aggressive. The next step up is a yellow cutting pad but Medium Cut and a cutting pad is more than I would use with a PC. Your etching probably needs a rotary to correct and even that might not do it. Sometimes you just have to live with it to preserve your clear coat.
 
Axe said:
Not wantinng to highjack this thread but I noticed 1z Extra Paint Cleaner is not in this list, anyone care to suggest where it should be on the abrasive thread ?
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They changed the name of 1Z Ultra PP to Extra PP, and it's listed as a 7 on that chart (under the old name of 1Z Ultra PP).
 
3M is discontinuing it's Perfect-It III Rubbing Compound.... it is now being sold as Perfect-It 3000 Rubbing Compound to comply with VOC regulations. The reason I know is that I bought some a couple of days ago. You may still find some old product on the shelves though.
 
Sometimes you just have to live with it to preserve your clear coat. [/B][/QUOTE]



That's exactly what I was hoping not to hear!:p
 
termigator- Yeah, I sympathize with you. But when you consider that you can often clearly see how deep the etching is, but you *can't* really see something like the .0003" that you can safely remove (over the *life* of your clearcoat), well, etching often *is* something you just have to live with.



One of the rare instances where a manufacturer actually discusses the safety of their product (clearcoat-wise) is AutoInt with their Paint Correction Creme. IIRC, it will remove most etching, but once you've used it for something like that you really don't have much clear left to work with any more; I forget just how much clear it cuts off, but it's a lot. And stuff like that is always rotary-only.
 
I've come across that product here and there over time. Another, probably even more severe one, is 3m Super Duty RC--that stuff is literally liquid sandpaper :nervous: You can see the abrasives in it. I don't see too much clear left using something like this via rotary also.
 
on my 2002 Honda, I did 3 passes with my PC + Yellow Pad + Menzerna PG and it did not touch the spots. So I gave up. Like previously said, I will live with them until I trade my car in for a new 2006. But it certainly was worth the try.
 
a body shop guy and painter i know told me that it isn't worth the risk to remove water etching-smooth and fill would be a safer scenario
 
Any opinion on Sonus's SFX system, in particular #2 and #3? I am venturing on them this year and a heads up would be good.
 
The etchings aren't too bad. I can see it at certain angles. That's about it. It could be worse. My wife's car is outside 24/7. The etchings were a lot worse on her vehicle. I was actually able to smooth out the finish, but some etchings still remain. I used the cheap Turtle Wax rubbing compound by hand and it actually was very effective. I was afraid to use it more than once because I used a lot of elbow grease and took a lot off. I have since used 3M medium cut twice and fine cut three times along with some polishing with FI II and IHG. You can still see a lot of etching, but boy does her car gleam!:D
 
jmsc said:
on my 2002 Honda, I did 3 passes with my PC + Yellow Pad + Menzerna PG and it did not touch the spots. So I gave up. Like previously said, I will live with them until I trade my car in for a new 2006. But it certainly was worth the try.
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I have a 2002 Acura TL-S. Love the car and just got new rims, so trading in is not an option. If CMA's suggestion does not work, I'll try maybe one pass with 3M Medium Cut & yellow pad and then leave it at that. :nixweiss
 
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