VintageRestore
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Thread Title: Menzerna vs. Griot’s vs. Scholl Concepts — Detailing Wars [Part 1]
Let me take you on a detailing journey you probably didn’t see coming...
Most of us here are obsessed with paint depth, orange peel, and mirror gloss — but how often do you get to detail a WWII-era tube tester? That’s right. My mission wasn’t a Corvette fender or Porsche hood — it was metal-clad military relics: 1940s–1950s tube testers. Units that lived in bunkers, aircraft hangars, and forgotten warehouses. Each scar tells a story — and my job is to respect it, revive it, and in some cases, glorify it.
The key is not to wipe out all the defects - as they add character and in come cases value to the unit - but instead to clean and improve to a point.
Griot’s? Their pads seem better than average — but in my hands, they just don’t feel dialed in. Good for general-purpose correction, maybe even excellent for some people — but in my hands, gear and technique they were anywhere from lackluster to frustrating.
Next up: Adding was gloss layers and trying Scholl Concepts and their pads. My Euro detailer friends have been raving about Scholl’s and every one I know moved on from Menzerna to Scholl's. Now it’s time to see if their compounds can stand up to my personal wants and needs.
Stay tuned!
[Picture of my little cart with some of the products and gear I use. Note the products are stacked several deep with similar types (not brands) lined up depth wise]
Let me take you on a detailing journey you probably didn’t see coming...
Most of us here are obsessed with paint depth, orange peel, and mirror gloss — but how often do you get to detail a WWII-era tube tester? That’s right. My mission wasn’t a Corvette fender or Porsche hood — it was metal-clad military relics: 1940s–1950s tube testers. Units that lived in bunkers, aircraft hangars, and forgotten warehouses. Each scar tells a story — and my job is to respect it, revive it, and in some cases, glorify it.
The key is not to wipe out all the defects - as they add character and in come cases value to the unit - but instead to clean and improve to a point.
Test Subjects:
- I-177-B: Dull, oxidized, stained — but with an original red ink "approved" stamp I had to preserve.
- TV-2: Deep gouges, oxidized top coat, heavy tape residue.
- TV-7: Faded gloss, embedded grit, painted legends I had to protect.
- TV-10: Uncoated, oxidized, but clean of markings — perfect for aggressive testing.
Tools Used:
- FLEX Kompact 3 rotary w/ 1” pads (interior panel work, inside lids).
- Griot’s GG8 DA polisher (3") — lacked torque, felt underpowered on deep oxidation.
- Swapped for GG13 DA — significantly more torque; better pad rotation under pressure.
- FLEX XFE 7-12 3" DA — en route. I need its compact footprint as I find the Griots much too long of a body for a unit being used in compact settings. The Flex appears (on paper and in pictures) more proportional.
Polish & Pad Breakdown
Griot’s Garage FCC (Fast Correcting Cream) and CC (Correcting Cream)
- With Griot’s orange BOSS pad:
- Initial impression: Not enough bite. Barely made any difference at all.
- Struggled to break down oxidation layers and clean up the paint.
- Fairly easy wipe off to reveal….little improvement.
Menzerna FG400 (Heavy Cut Compound)
- With Griot’s orange first and then Menzerna red:
- Faster correction with the Griots pad, though still not great
- Cut into haze and mild scratches, but struggled on gouges and deeply embedded grime.
- Changing to the Menzerna red pad (matched for this product) offered in improvement in cut and performance
- Wipe-off much cleaner than other Menzerna products I’ve used.
Menzerna Cut Force Pro
- This is where it clicked.
- With Menzerna red pad:
- Sharp, defined cut with less heat buildup.
- Good working time and super easy wipe-off.
- Little hazing or micro-marring — even on older paint.
- Griot’s pad? Softer feel, less stability, more product soak-in. These Griots pad are absolutely just mediocre. Better than much of the junk pads on the market, but not among the best.
Finishing Gloss with Menzerna Finish Plus 3800:
- With Menzerna green pad (pad recommended by Menzerna):
- Smooth glide, long buffing cycle.
- Wipe-off was effortless — left a nice, clear and analytical shine.
- With Griot’s black pad:
- Felt floppy by comparison. Less even pressure.
- Decent gloss but the user experience made me not want to use them. Takes more effort and concentration to control the pad than the Menzerna green pad.
Sealant Phase with Menzerna Power Lock Ultimate:
- With Menzerna blue pad:
- Outstanding spreadability.
- Left a slick, even layer and boosted visual depth and was relatively easy to wipe off.
- With Griot’s black foam pad:
- Too soft. Twisted on itself under slight DA pressure.
- Unstable layer. Pad feels more suited for hand use, not machine use.
Summary — Part 1:
Menzerna wins this round hands down — not just with superior product behavior, but with better-engineered pad synergy. Their system feels more intentional and stupid-easy to use for anyone at any level. The pad density, cell structure, and rebound characteristics offer better control and transfer of motion under load and I feel it is working with me to achieve results, not in spite of me.Griot’s? Their pads seem better than average — but in my hands, they just don’t feel dialed in. Good for general-purpose correction, maybe even excellent for some people — but in my hands, gear and technique they were anywhere from lackluster to frustrating.
Next up: Adding was gloss layers and trying Scholl Concepts and their pads. My Euro detailer friends have been raving about Scholl’s and every one I know moved on from Menzerna to Scholl's. Now it’s time to see if their compounds can stand up to my personal wants and needs.
Stay tuned!
[Picture of my little cart with some of the products and gear I use. Note the products are stacked several deep with similar types (not brands) lined up depth wise]
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