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Old 09-08-2008, 08:04 PM
CaliColin CaliColin is offline
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Location: Los Angeles
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I can't vouch for the turtle wax rubbing compound as I have never personally used it. Anecdotally, I have had conversations with some casual users who liked it, and have read threads from others who didn't like it at all. FWIW, I've never heard from anyone who raved about it. In the detailing world, you will get strong opinions on all kinds of products. "Zaino is the best." "No, Zaino sucks, 3M is the best." "No, Zymol works better..." I am a firm believer in the philosophy, "Find something you like and use it often." I can personally vouch for the M105, as I have used it myself. My only complaint is that it's expensive (~$30/qt!!), and only comes in a quart sized bottle, as it is intended for production oriented body shops and detailers, rather than the avg. consumer like you and me. It's also a pain to acquire because it is not as easy as dropping by your local Pep Boys. I wish they made a 16 oz bottle and sold it for $6 bucks at Walmart, but oh well. This is the way they chose to market the product. You can get it at a local auto paint supply store that carries the Meguiars professional line of products, OR order it online at meguiars.com.

Keep in mind, fine swirl marks and cobwebbing can be hidden (filled in) by a wax, so the application of a polishing compound that doesn't finish well, immediately followed by a wax application, can get a "thumbs up" to most observers. But once the wax wears off, the swirl marks and cobwebs mysteriously come back into view. So take everyone's advice with a grain of salt. Including mine

Try your turtle compound on a test spot in an inconspicuous area. Shine a bright light over the area and look for swirl marks/cobwebs/holograms. How does it look in the sun? If it looks good to you, by all means continue with the rest of the car. But be aware that some compounds may include some carnauba wax mixed in, which is designed to hide/fill in the swirl marks left behind by the product. This is expecially true among consumer line products that are designed to be easy, one-step wonders. Observe the finish after several washes. Are the swirl marks back again? As I said, if you like the results, use it. But don't be afraid to try something that may work better. You are the ultimate judge.

I have also used the Meg's quick detail mist and clay bar kit with great results. But it is my opinion that clay bars and quick mist products are something that most other brands couldn't screw up either. I have used the Mother's clay and mist too. Both products yield similar results.

As for Meg's NXT tech wax, this is their newest wax product, and they are pushing it heavily. The difference with this wax is that it is fully synthetic. Traditional "carnauba" comes from a tree. NXT tech wax is all man made. I suppose that's why it's so expensive, like the difference between conventional dino oil vs. synthetic oil. I have tried the NXT tech wax, side by side with their Gold Class wax and noticed no appreciable difference. The Gold Class was much cheaper at Walmart so I personally could not justify the additional cost for the NXT.
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