hey DB. im a bit confused with the product because im still new to detailing and ive been practicing with m105, which i got pretty good at lately. i know that m105 and menz 203 are both very different products because of how fast they break down. with m105, i usually get 2-3 passes of it and its already broken down. with the menz 203, after 4 passes, it still doesnt seem to dust yet with a DA at 3 speed, so i know ur help and advice guys on how to notice when does the 203 start breaking down. 1min? 2min? 3min? hit it with fast speed then stop and slow down a bit and finish off the polish??? thx :shead:
Menz 203 has a decent working time. You need to work at higher speeds (5 or 6) though. The breakdown process has many variables, but from personal experience Menz 203 tends to break down at the 2-3 minute mark.
Menzerna's PO203S has a long working time, and will take a while to break down, especially if you're working by PC/DA. Meguiar's M105 on the other hand doesn't really break down (the abrasives at least don't.) What you are experiencing with M105 is the rather short working time, that is the time before the polish/ compound begins to dry. M105 was created with a rather short working time because of it's high level of cut. Consider the short work time a safety cushion of sorts, it is short so that users don't over correct the finish they are working on, and remove too much clear coat. The short working time forces users to inspect the paint more frequently between section passes. Menzerna's polishes on the other hand, have finely milled abrasives that will break down over time. You'll begin to note when it's time to stop polishing and remove when you see the polish go from some what opaque to a clearer smeary look. Here is a good video that will illustrate some working times with Menzerna Polishes. YouTube - Flex XC 3401 VRG vs. Porter Cable 7424
As stated above, the Menz 203 has a much longer working time but you do need to bump your speed up to at least 4 or 5. I usually run mine at 5 as its the "smoothest" speed. 2-3 minutes is fairly normal for it to break down. Use two pea sized drops so not to over load your pad. Too much product will result in longer times needed to break it down.
