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Ultimately the job of a 1-step polish is to improve the appearance of the paint. They must be abrasive enough to remove gloss-hindering paint defects, yet remain fine enough to avoid instilling visible defects of their own. They must strike a delicate balance between aggression and finishing ability. The art of making paint looking better is very dynamic which is why we present four very different 1-step polishes, as well as two “wild cards” which might just work as a 1-step polish.

Because 1-step polishes are required to balance the ability to smooth away paint defects as well as leave the surface defect free and glossy, this test is composed of two separate steps: Cutting and Finishing. In addition each polish would be judged on Ease-of-Use, Filling, and Wipe Off.


Scoring:

Each product will be scored in the following categories: Cutting Amount, Finishing Ability, Ease-Of-Use (subjective), and Wipe-Off. Since cutting action and finishing ability are the two most important factors, they carry the most weight. Each has a potential of 40 points. Since Ease-Of-Use and Wipe-Off are less important, each is given a weight of 10 points.

The best in each subject will be given the maximum point total per category. The remainder will receive points based on performance relative to the best performing product.

An additional category, Filling, carries works in an opposite fashion. The product with the highest degree of filling will receive -10 points, with the remainder receiving less points (and less negative impact) based on how much less they fill.


The Test Track:



A large hood, divided into six equal sections will serve as our test track. The paint finish on the this paint hood is very soft, which really places a stress on each of these 1-step polishes' finishing ability. Don't be discouraged if you see your favorite finishing polish leave behind a less than perfect finish, as many pure finishing pads struggle on this paint.

To test for cutting, the panel was sanded with 1500-grade sand paper (Meguiar's 1500 Grit Finishing Discs). The goal with this test is to stress each product beyond its normal intended use so that accurate comparisons can be made. This is the same reason Motor Trend Magazine runs minivans through their figure 8 and slalom courses. Not because you need to know how the family hauler would do if you meandered your way down to Laguna Seca, but because it gives better feed back on how the van performs at the limits.

To test for finishing, the hood was polished with Meguiar's M105 and a Purple Foamed Wool Pad to inflict a very fine, yet prominent, swirl patter that each 1-step would have no problem removing. This would allow for the true finishing potential of each product to be inspected accurately. The finish was inspected after wipe-off as well as after a several wipe downs with Gtechniq Panel Wipe, to test for finishing.







The Test Driver:

Much like your favorite auto magazine uses the same driver when hustling the latest generation of compact cars down the drag strip or around a race course, we applied each product with the same person (me), using the same machine and polishing pad. Technique was altered according to manufacturer's recommendations or user experience for best results.

For a machine, I chose the ultimate 1-step machine: The FLEX 3401 Dual Action Polisher. This machine combines both an orbital action and a rotary action for impressive cutting power while eliminating buffer swirls and holograms. With the FLEX 3401 you can typically use a more aggressive polish than you can with with a rotary polisher while maintaining a swirl-free finish.

For a polishing pad, I used the Lake Country Hybrid Power Finishing 6.5-inch White Polishing Pad. This pad is constructed for a very dense foam that offers impressive polishing power whilst still delivering the potential for a swirl-free finish. A total of 12 pads were used in testing, none were harmed...




Menzerna PF2500 Power Finishing Polish (PO203)



Since Menzerna PF2500 burst on the scene about 5 years ago, it has been considered one one of the best 1-step polishes. By using Menzerna's fine (yet aggressive) abrasive technology, Menzerna set the standard in finishing ability for a 1-step polish. How would it stack up against today's 1-step polishes?

Not surprisingly, it did great! Menzerna cut well, restoring gloss to the sanded panel. PF2500 offered a very smooth polishing action although the thick, lubricated formula was somewhat difficult to wipe off completely (preferring to smear slightly around the surface, in fact it was the only product that required a second towel for complete wipe off) and did exhibit the highest degree of filling.

Ultimately, Menzerna proved it's worth. It offered the fourth most cutting power as well as the third best finish. While newer products have been introduced, Menzerna continues their fine tradition of excellent polishing compounds.


Menzerna offered good polishing power, restoring gloss to the panel all though the deeper sand marks are clearly visible.


The finish left by Menzerna PF2500 was clearly the third best. It did create a slight haze on this ultra-soft paint finish (likely a perfect finish on most factory paint systems) although it did have some filling.)


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Poorboy's World Pro Polish 2




Easily winning the award for the most unique polish in this comparison, Poorboy's World Pro Polish 2 also held its one on the performance front as well. While Pro Polish 2 did finish third in the cutting department, check the scores, as it was just behind BLACKFIRE SRC Compound in terms of correction. Like all Poorboy's Products, Pro Polish 2 offers an outstanding value as well.

As Pro Polish 2 is worked against the paint, it appears to get wetter! It was a really cool, really unique effect. Poorboy's Pro Polish 2 offered a smooth buffing action that was near the top of the list, although not quite as smooth as Wolf's Chemicals Medium (which was like buffing with butter). It scored highly in Ease-Of-Use and had zero filling.

Were Poorboy's World Pro Polish 2 did struggle a bit was with finishing the ultra-soft paint. It left a noticeable haze on delicate paint surface. Would Poorboy's impressive cutting power and extreme ease of use be enough to make up for the somewhat hazy finish? Read on to find out.



Poorboy's World Pro Polish 2 had little problem removing all but the deepest scratches marks. It fully restored gloss to the Test Track body panel.



Pro Polish 2 did leave behind a noticeable haze on the soft paint finish.


Sonax Profiline Perfect Finish



Sonax Profiline Perfect Finish is right behind Poorboy's in terms of uniqueness. This ultra-thin polish runs out of the bottle and absorbs into the pad quickly, almost like water. One of the newest polishes on the market, would Sonax uphold the tradition of German polish manufacturers creating superior products? Of course and not quite.

Perfect Finish lived up to its name as it was the only product tested to elicit a completely haze-free finish on our soft Test Track paint. It was easy to apply and offered a good buffing feel. Wipe off was fairly easy although it was slightly prone to smearing.

Sonax Profiline Perfect Finish offered a light cutting action that struggled against the 1500-grade sand marks in the paint panel. Ultimately, Sonax proved to be the best product, in terms of creating gloss, and would be ideally suited as a 1-step on new or like-new paint finishes where the highest-gloss finish is paramount.


Sonax Profiline Perfect Finish did struggle a little in the cutting department, leaving behind the highest volume of sanding marks.



As the name implies, Perfect Finish left behind a high-gloss finish with no swirl marks, haze, and a rich black color.


Scholl Concepts S3 Gold High Performance Compound




Scholl Concepts S3 Gold High Performance Compound, along with BLACKFIRE SRC Compound, are two products which are not typically considered 1-step polishes as they are designed for heavy-duty paint correction. However, S3 is noted for its excellent finishing ability (for a compound) which made it an ideal “wild card” in this competition.

Right off the bat. S3 combined a smooth polishing action with an immense amount of cut. It was the only product in this test to fully eliminate all traces of the 1500-grade sanding marks. It did heat the panel more than the other products, likely a result of the increased polishing friction. S3 Gold was a little stubborn to remove from the paint.

Given the high-levels of cut, S3 Gold produced an outstanding finish as well, tying with Menzerna PF2500. High-performance compounds require substantial lubricants to keep everything together. S3 was no exception as the heavy-duty lubricants did provide the highest level of defect masking. Scholl Concepts S3 Gold ultimately fit right in with this comparison and exceeded all expectations. Would the huge levels of cut and beyond respectable finish overcome the highest-degree of filling and somewhat stubborn wipe off?


Scholl Concepts S3 Gold fully removed the 1500 grit sand scratches from the finish. The light “rainbow” swirl marks are actually from the towel as S3 proved slightly stubborn to remove.



Once the surface was stripped, S3 exhibited a slightly haze on the finish, although it still retained a better finish then many of the dedicated 1-step polishes.


BLACKFIRE SRC Compound



BLACKFIRE SRC Compound is a consumer grade compound designed to offer good levels of correction without creating a hazy surface. These attributes made it an ideal selection as the second “wild card” in this test. BLACKFIRE products have a reputation of delivering high-level results while remaining easy to use.

BLACKFIRE SRC Compound came in a solid second place in both the correction test and the finishing test. It ran cool when applied with the FLEX 3401 and Hybrid White Pad in this test. The panel stayed cool to the touch and SRC Compound wiped away easily. While not marketed as such, SRC Compound performed admirably well in this comparison.

While SRC Compound amazed with both the correction power and finishing ability, it did have some filling as well. Additionally, SRC Compound tended to spread and smear across the surface, requiring a little patience when wiping away. How will these draw backs effect the overall outcome?


SRC Compound delivered the second most highest level of cut, just above Poorboy's World Pro Polish 2. All but the deepest defects were removed.


The ultra-fine abrasives in SRC Compound left behind a nearly flawless finish. The picture is slightly out of focus, as there was some (very little) haze visible when inspected close up.

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Wolf's Chemicals “The Medium” One-Step Polish



Wolf's Chemicals “The Medium” One-Step Polish is Hungary's take on a high-gloss, single-step polishing compound. A relative new comer to the U.S., how would the pride and joy of Budapest stack up?

Wolf's Chemical's “The Medium” offered the smoothest buffing cycle. The pad felt like it was gliding over the paint on a thin layer of melted margarine. Additionally, “The Medium” offered effortless wipe off and nary a degree rise in buffing temperature. Absolutely no filling was found.

Wolf's Chemicals did fail to impress in terms of paint correction and finish as it struggled on the soft paint finish to create a high-gloss finish and left behind a large number of sanding scratches. By far the easiest to use product in this group, Wolf's Chemical's “The Medium” is a good middle step polish for people new to polishing paint.


Wolf's Chemical's “The Medium” One-Step Polish struggled against the coarse 1500-grade sanding marks.


Would the effortless application, ease of use, and removal offset the hazy finish?


The Results:

In terms of cutting action, Scholl Concepts was the clear winner and received a maximum of 40 points. BLACKFIRE and Poorboy's were very close receiving a 32 and 30 respectfully.

In the finishing test, Sonax blazed to the top by creating a swirl-free, haze-free finish on this “impossible” to finish paint. Surprisingly SRC Compound came in with a strong second place, followed closely by Power Finish.

In terms of wipe off, it doesn't get any easier then Wolf's, unless you are Poorboy's. Wolf's once again stole the show in terms of Ease-Of-Use with a low surface temperature and extremely smooth buffing cycle, trailed by closely by Poorboy's.

Menzerna had the highest amount of filling, which is not always the case.


And The Winner Is:






While I originally developed the parameters and judging for this contest to determine the ultimate 1-step, I was amazed at how closely the scores were. Only 10 points separates the number 1 polish from the number 6 polish. What was even more interesting, is that while many of these products offered similar scores, the way they performed was remarkably different.

BLACKFIRE SRC Compound & Sonax Profiline Perfect Finish both received a total of 70 points out of 100. BLACKFIRE SRC Compound delivered the second highest cutting power and finishing ability, making it the workman's choice. However it was a little difficult to remove (relative to other products in this test, it still wiped away easily) and did have a little filling.

Sonax on the other hand received high praise for its amazing finish quality and awesome ease-of-use. So good was Sonax's finish that it left a perfectly clear finish on this extremely difficult-to-finish paint.

Tied for second place, a scant 1 point behind Sonax and BLACKFIRE, are Poorboy's World Pro Polish 2 and Scholl Concepts S3 Gold High-Performance Compound. Scholl Concepts gets huge points for its immense cut as is the clear winner when working on more neglected finishes.

Poorboy's World Pro Polish 2 received the bulk of its points from a good cutting action combined with extreme ease-of-use. It may not be the best finishing choice on soft finishes, but on harder and light paints will deliver a good finish while making paint defects a thing of the past.

Menzerna Power Finish didn't quite live up to expectations, considering its reputation for delivering an excellent finish. It could have been one of those rare cases were the paint and pad just didn't work well with Menzerna's 1-step. Even still it performed solidly in all areas, although was a little prone to filling on this soft paint.

Which brings us to Wolf's Chemicals “The Medium” One-Step Polish. Wolf's redefines ease-of-use, remaining cool and buffing smoothly. The cutting power and finishing ability were not quite on track with the rest of these excellent product, but the smooth polishing cycle would make this product ideal when used by new polishers. Wolf's seemed to be very pad dependent, it is possible that using a softer pad would have significantly increased the finishing ability without sacrificing too much cut.

Conclusion:

This test certainately pointed out that there "are many ways to skin a cat". When you compare high-quality products a common theme emerges: They are all really really good. That is the benefit in trusting a manufacturer who has staked their reputation on the bottle with their name on it. While Poorboy's, Menzerna, BLACKFIRE, Scholl, Wolf's Chemicals, and Sonax may not have the same recognition, each name is known to stand behind premium brands.

A second theme emerges: Each product will reach its destination differently. Since much of the scoring in this test is subjective, we are left with the above truth. Since each product did its job differently, the best product for you will be the ones that have the attributes that you value.

If you value extreme ease of use, Wolf's Chemicals "The Medium" One-Step Polish is for you.

If you value great cutting and very good ease of use, Poorboy's World Pro Polish 2 is your obvious choice.

If you work on a lot of neglected finishes and weigh correction ability higher, Scholl Concepts S3 Gold High Performance Compound is for you.

If solid performance from a brand you trust is the most important, then Menzerna PF2500 is the clear winner.

If you work on a wide variety of paint systems and require consistent performance, take the plunge and use BLACKFIRE SRC Compound.

If you need your 1-step polish to double as your finishing polish or require perfect, swirl-free finishes Sonax Profiline Perfect Finish lives up to it's name.

In this case, we have a clear winner: The best product for you!

Blownbayou

iTrader: (7)

GREAT POST!!!!! Have to look up Sonax

j88l98irocz

iTrader: (44)

Great write up!