Polish Cutting Ability Guide (1/10 high to low)
PO 34A Power Gloss (9/10)
PO 85 RD 3.01- Super Intensive Polish (6/10)
PO 203 S - Power Finish (5/10)
PO 106 FA - Final Finish Polish / Super Finish) (3/10)
Menzerna Professional Polishes:
Key - Name / Reference Number / Formula / Polish Type (H) Heavy, (M) Medium, (L) light, (F) Finishing / Cut / Gloss
1. Power Gloss (POS 34A) 22984 Compound (H) will remove 1000 grit, cut 5.0 - gloss 1.5, 1500 – 1800 RPM - LC Purple Foamed Wool, Yellow (A hard / dense foam composition (40 PPI) abrasive cutting action) or Orange (mid range, high density foam (60 PPI) medium abrasive cutting action) CCS foam pads
2. Final Polish (PO85RE) Finishing 22923 (M) will remove 3500 grit, cut 2.0 - gloss 5.0, 1200 RPM -White (softer less dense foam (70 PPI) with a light abrasive cutting action) or a Blue (finessing) LC CCS foam pad
3. Super Intensive Polish (PO83Q) Polish 22923 (F) - will remove 2000 grit, cut 3.5 – gloss 3.0, 1300 RPM - primed Orange (mid range, high density foam (60 PPI) medium abrasive cutting action LC CCS foam pads SIP followed by 106FFP then 85FP for an amazing finish on a black car
4. Power Finish (PO203S) - (M) this is a one-step scratch remover polish that will remove 2500 grit, cut 3.0-gloss 3.5, is formulated as a quick way to polish out light flaws and amplify the paint’s gloss. Designed for European, OEM automakers using scratch-resistant clear coats, but as other automakers begin their switch to high-solid-content clear coats (Mercedes-Benz, Maybach, Audi, VW and Porsche plants in Germany, Volvo in Sweden, Renault in France, Fiat in Italy and here in the US at Daimler-Chrysler and General Motors Corvette its an ideal one-step polish for all ‘hard’ clear coat paint.
While technically a final or finishing polish in the same category as PO106FA, PO203S Power Finish offers substantially more cutting power, In fact, it is just below Menzerna PO83 Super Intensive Polish in its ability to remove moderate to mild swirls, water spots, and light scratches, then it burnishes the paint to an ultra high gloss.
Like you’d expect from Nano Polish (for black or dark coloured paint surfaces use as part of a duel level foam pad / polish system PO 85 RD 3.01 Super Intensive Polish) 1500 RPM - primed LC Green (mid range, high density foam (60 PPI) medium abrasive cutting action) and a White primed (softer less dense foam (70 PPI) with a light abrasive cutting action) to finesse the finish
6. Final Finish Polish / Super Finish (PO106FA) 22911 (F) features a slight modification to the lubrication (compared to 106FF) that slightly decrease the abrasives working time to meet the specific requirements BMW, this polish is formulated with very finely milled micro diminishing abrasives that don’t require much to ‘breakdown’ and won’t ‘dust’ or cause surface marring. It will remove 2500 - 3000 grit, for surface finishing, cut: 2.5 – gloss 5.0 contains very finely milled micro diminishing abrasives that have a sharp edge that can cut ceramic clear coats as well as the more conventional clear coats, for LSP ready use a primed White (softer less dense foam (70 PPI) with a light abrasive cutting action) followed by a Blue finishing LC CCS foam pad - 1100 RPM
7. Finishing Touch Glaze (PO115CQ) - is a water-based emulsion comprising glycerine, mineral oils and kaolin (China clay). The mineral oils enhance the wetness and depth of the finish, particularly on darker coloured cars, while the kaolin fills and masks minor swirl marks and other flaws. It does not contain any abrasives or cleaning agents. It is designed to improve the brilliance and clarity of painted surfaces, and mask or visually reduce the extent of any imperfections for use in the event that by removing very deep scratches, or when a paint gauge indicates a very thin clear coat paint surface, further use of abrasives would compromise the clear coat
8. Top Inspection (PP95) – use to inspect your work, use this water-based cleaner that removes dust left by compounding and any lubricating oils so you can see the real results of your work. There are no silicones or fillers, just gentle cleaning agents to uncover the real condition of your vehicle’s paint. However this is not the product you want to clay with or use to wipe down the car with after a wash, or use as a quick detailer (QD) as it will remove your wax / sealant (See also Silicone Removal, Surface Preparation)
9. These 5" Menzerna Polishing Pads offer amazing performance and fantastic value. These pads are approved by Menzerna the manufacturer of undoubtedly the world’s finest polishes. That means you get a pad that is guaranteed to finish with a brilliant high gloss and a pad that offers superior performance.
* (Orange) polishing pad - used at OEM levels by many major automotive manufacturers offers a softer less dense structure over that of the compounding pad. What that means is you have a pad that has enough cut to remove surface oxidisation and swirls whilst at the same time allowing polishes to break down perfectly to a bright glossy finish. It is therefore the ideal pad for use with finishing polishes and one step products to remove less severe surface defects and restore amazing levels of clarity and gloss
* (White) compounding pad - is very firm and has a aggressive cutting action which will remove even deep scratches and severe oxidisation. It is the most aggressive pad we stock so you need to use this with caution and will likely need following up with the lighter polishing pad.
Notes - Menzerna’s polishes can be used on any isocyanate polyurethane (conventional clear coats) these polishes are very intolerant of silicone oils as they will cause surface smearing. (I use Optimum- Hyper Compound, and Hi Temp - Heavy when in sun (but not direct sunlight) (See also Surface Preparation)
The non-CeramiClear polishes abrasives breakdown relatively easily, but should not be subjected to too much downward pressure as this will decrease the abrasiveness (less cutting ability) on the plus side it will increase the surface burnishing (shine)
Conversely the CeramiClear polishes work more efficiently with medium downward pressure as this helps the abrasives breakdown
Super Intensive Polish (SIP), Power Finish (PO203S) and Nano Polish (106FF) these polishes are formulated for scratch resistant clear coats (i.e. CeramiClear, etc) , which contain nano ceramic particles, these micro diminishing abrasives are milled finer and much harder, and also contain a higher abrasive content, 7% were as the other polishes contain 3% abrasives. Menzerna Nano Polish is currently used in Mercedes plants in Germany and in auto plants throughout the U. S. to create the reflective gloss on brand new scratch resistant paint finishes
Menzerna Intensive Polish may eliminate the need for a compound. This polish is safe and effective enough that you can remove paint flaws with little or no loss of surface gloss. Normally, you would have to compound, and then follow up with a swirl remover, and then a finishing polish to remove 2000 grit sanding scratches. It would take at least three steps.
But with Menzerna Intensive Polish, you can often use it as a single step and go straight to wax application after polishing.
Specific Paint types / Polish and Foam Pad Combinations:
a) Dark or Soft Paint Finishes - PO 85 RD 3.01 Super Intensive Polish (F) black or dark coloured paint surfaces, and 'soft' paint - 1200 RPM -White primary (softer less dense foam (70 PPI) with a light abrasive cutting action ) LC CCS foam pad followed by a secondary Blue finishing (very soft 100 PPI) LC CCS foam pad - 1100 RPM
b) Light / Medium Paint Correction - Power Finish (PO203S) and PO 85 D3.01 polishes (LC CCS Green / LC Blue foam or Micro Mesh TufBuf ® black lamb’s wool pads 1500 - 2000 RPM) should be all you need.
c) Paint Renovation - PO S34A Power Gloss (LC Purple wool pad 1500 – 1800 RPM) it has a short work time slow cut but tends to ‘dust’