Your current top compounds?

Does the AAT cut significantly more than M101?

I`ve never used M101. The 3D works well with a wool pad it seems. I prefer foam because it doesn`t sling product and shed. I`ve used the 3D wool pads and like them but honestly after a wash or two I`ve found they need to be replaced. I`ve been using the surebuff yellow pad and it does pretty good. The only thing is that with my halogens I can see defects being removed as I go but not all are actually gone. They`ve been filled. Maybe I just need to get some more wool pads and keep using AAT. It finishes out really nice because I can use a less aggressive green pad and not have to polish. I`ve found that with a foam pad cutting sanding scratches it fills just like 3M and the Meguiars M105 that I`ve used.
 
3d AAT compound cuts a bit more than HD cut+ but not even close to m101. In my experience m101 cuts more than any compound that isn`t a matting compound which is remarkable considering the finish it provides. I honestly feel like if you work 501 for it`s full buffing cycle (2 passes) it`s about the same amount of cut you will get from working hd cut+ for it`s full buffing cycle (3-5 passes depending on paint). Neither has the ability to remove significant defects with foam like m101 or even m100 does. But if you enjoy using wool on rotary they both cut pretty well. I`ve been experimenting with 501 and 502 since it was released and I honestly just haven`t been impressed with their cutting ability and much like Griot`s FCC they can be a nightmare to remove from soft sticky paint. The benefit of these products is that they are virtually dust free! I also really like Menzerna SHC 300. It will leave a haze even with foam but it cuts nearly as heavy as M101 and has a longer working time. M101 really is just in a league of it`s own in my opinion although m100 is a great value alternative.
 
Since we are talking compounds, what about Menz 400 vs. Menz 300? Autopia has Menz 300 on sale for half price. I bought a bottle to try out during the 25% off sale. Hard to beat $12.95 minus 25% off. I`m hoping it just cuts a tad better than 400, though I`m not sure why. FG 400 with a Meg`s microfiber cutting disc has been my go to pair for tough paint for a long time.
 
Since we are talking compounds, what about Menz 400 vs. Menz 300? Autopia has Menz 300 on sale for half price. I bought a bottle to try out during the 25% off sale. Hard to beat $12.95 minus 25% off. I`m hoping it just cuts a tad better than 400, though I`m not sure why. FG 400 with a Meg`s microfiber cutting disc has been my go to pair for tough paint for a long time.

In my opinion it definitely cuts way more and even if you work it through it`s entire buffing cycle it will still leave a noticeable haze. Unlike FG400 which can and is used by many as a one-step compound due to it`s diminishing abrasives that cut well initially but diminish down enough to remove any haze created during the first few passes. In my experience, SCH300 is a fantastic Heavy Compound that is specifically designed to cut more and diminish less. For me, I only use it for two step paint corrections and love that it provides the maximum amount of cut that despite it`s poor finish, the noticeable DA haze can easily be removed with a finishing polish like HD Polish+ or better yet HD Speed.
 
Mine are:

Griots Fast Correcting Cream
Shine Supply Flat Top
Menzerna FG400

Samples I`m anxious to try:
HD CUT+
Meguiars M100


Shine Suppy Flat Top ? More INFO Please !! What is it you like about this compound ??
Would it compare in cut to Menz FG400 ? Are you using a Rotary, 8mm or Longthrow

:howdy
 
I ordered a qt of m101 so I will let you know how it does on fresh paint. Also got a new wool pad for the aat.

Ah, yeah...I`ve never used M101 on a fresh repaint, only on stuff that`d already cured/hardened. I bet it`ll cut fresh paint like nobody`s business but might also leave some pretty significant scouring. Eh, that last part probably depends on the paint..I`ve had some that wouldn`t finish out well at all until it was a few months old.
 
On a 151K Fleet vehicle, M101 + Flex 3401 on speed 5 + gray LC Force Hybrid + 4 passes = Good enough to LSP. Note use of phrase `Good Enough`. Went over the hood after with HD Speed and White Force Hybrid, really couldn`t see much improvement. Combo now moves to top of things to try on really beat vehicles. Low effort, good results. Too bad M101 is on the upper end of cost scale but for time it saves...definitely worth it depending on paint type. Would I ever take the same combo to a black Subaru with soft paint...not if it was a car I cared about but who knows...
 
BudgetPlan1- No visible micro-marring in natural lighting conditions? I see it something awful under specialized lighting, but not so much in normal conditions...still there if I really *LOOK* for it though (and/but yeah, I get the lowered acceptance threshold for a fleet vehicle, just wondering..).
 
BudgetPlan1- No visible micro-marring in natural lighting conditions? I see it something awful under specialized lighting, but not so much in normal conditions...still there if I really *LOOK* for it though (and/but yeah, I get the lowered acceptance threshold for a fleet vehicle, just wondering..).
I`ll haul the SCANGRIP Multimatch light to work next week and give it a closer look. Truck paint was totally gooned, even worse than the below from our plow truck so the improvement with just 4 passes was quite dramatic in and of itself.
97842b17b86fd3a1c10d11187c574048.jpg


Similar results to using D300 with 6+ slooooooowwww passes using gg6 and megs microfiber cutting, which usually leaves a pretty good (but not perfect for `paint I care about` jobs) finish.

I`m eyeing one of our other older vans to try a Flex/M101/Force Gray vs. Rupes 15 Mk 2/Griot FCC/BOSS white FC foam pad on the hood (Ford E250 hoods make for a nice test area; big enough but not too big) per a PM request I recd so I can pay more attention to finer details when I do that.

Probably also gonna do a 2016 Red Ford Transit van in a bit so I can try out Cquartz UK (snagged at a 25% off sale today) and see how that goes in a 50 degree warehouse. Probably Rupes 15/yellow Rupes pad/Menz 2400 or WG TSR should handle that as its not too beat. Could probably sneak in a hidden area like an interior panel or door jamb area with m101 on gray force on some pretty untouched paint to see how it finishes out.

Fleet vehicles certainly have their uses. Have about 20 from 2008 thru 2016 in all conditions to try stuff on and no matter what, they come out way better looking than they did before I got `em.
 
BudgetPlan1- That hood reminds me how boring my silver vehicles get by comparison :D

Yeah, I hear you on the Fleet Vehicle jobs where less-than-Autopian results are still *plenty* good enough and downright satisfying in their way. I`ve done quickies on Work Vehicles in exchange for stuff the guys did while I was detailing `em...whole different world doing a complete "detail" (scare-quotes intentional ;) ) in less time than I usually spend on a wash.
 
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