SONAX PROFILINE EX "05-05" Grinding Polish (Heavy-Cut) 250ml

Removing deep scratches on the eccentric machine with SONAX EX 05-05 abrasive polish

What can SONAX EX 05-05 do? Heavy-Cut abrasive polish for eccentric polishing machines with an abrasive performance of 5/5 and gloss level 5/5 — removes deep scratches, sanding marks up to P1500 and heavy weathering, achieves rotary-level results with the hybrid wool pad.

Eccentric polishing machines were long considered safe but weak tools — good for finishing work, but unsuitable for heavy defect correction. Deep scratches, sanding marks, and heavy weathering were the domain of rotary machines, because only they generated enough friction energy for the necessary material removal. The SONAX EX 05-05 breaks with this limitation. In combination with a hybrid wool pad, this abrasive polish on an eccentric machine achieves results previously reserved for rotary machines: sanding marks up to P1500 disappear in one pass, deep scratches and etching are reliably removed, and the gloss level of 5/5 delivers a finish that often requires no additional polishing step. For detailers who want to work exclusively with an eccentric machine — or have to, because a rotary machine is too risky on certain paints — the EX 05-05 is the abrasive polish of choice.

• Heavy-Cut on the eccentric machine. With an abrasive performance of 5/5, the EX 05-05 is the most aggressive polish in the SONAX EX series. Its abrasive combination is formulated to generate enough removal even with the lower friction energy of eccentric motion to remove deep scratches and sanding marks up to P1500. In combination with the hybrid wool pad — a pad that combines foam and lamb's wool fibers — the removal performance is noticeably increased again, because the wool fibers generate additional friction that pure foam pads cannot offer.
• High gloss at the same time. The gloss level of 5/5 shows that the EX 05-05 not only cuts, but also polishes. The abrasives progressively break down during the polishing pass — from coarse to fine — leaving a surface that, on many paints, already represents the desired final result. For the highest demands on the finish, a short pass with the EX 04-06 follows, but for everyday needs, the EX 05-05 is often sufficient as a one-step solution.
• Silicone-free and low-dust. The formulation is free of silicones and works almost dust-free thanks to its optimized consistency. In paint shops, the silicone-free nature eliminates the risk of contamination, and the low-dust processing saves time during post-cleaning. Especially with heavy defect correction, which requires several passes and a lot of polishing work, the low-dust formulation makes a noticeable difference in working comfort and workplace cleanliness.

Practical tip from Detailing1: For maximum removal on the eccentric machine, combine the EX 05-05 with the SONAX hybrid wool pad and work at level 5 to 6 (depending on the machine). Apply moderate pressure and move the machine across the surface at two to three centimeters per second — significantly slower than for finish polishing. The trick: Let the machine do the work and use the weight of the device as natural contact pressure. Avoid forcing the machine into the surface — this slows down the eccentric movement and reduces removal instead of increasing it.

Abrasive polish for eccentric — how the EX 05-05 achieves rotary results on the eccentric

The key to the performance of the SONAX EX 05-05 lies in the coordination between abrasive and pad. The abrasive particles are dimensioned to work optimally with the specific friction energy of an eccentric machine: large enough for effective removal, small enough for controlled particle breakdown. On a rotary machine, these particles would break down too quickly and lose their cutting performance — the EX 05-05 is therefore not a universal polish, but a specialist for eccentric motion.

The hybrid wool pad enhances this effect: the lamb's wool fibers generate additional micro-friction on the surface, which increases material removal, while the foam core controls heat. The result: removal on the eccentric machine that approaches the level of a rotary machine with a medium-hard foam pad — without the risks of rotation (holograms, heat spots, burning through at edges).

However, the EX 05-05 plus hybrid wool pad combination also has limitations: sanding marks from P1000 and coarser cannot be completely removed on an eccentric machine even with this aggressive combination in one pass. Here, the rotary machine with a polish like the CutMax remains superior. The EX 05-05 covers the range P1500 to light P1200 marks — and in this range, it delivers a result on the eccentric machine that makes switching to a rotary machine unnecessary.

For users who rarely use their eccentric machine for heavy-cut, an important note: the performance of the EX 05-05 depends heavily on the quality of the eccentric machine. Inexpensive entry-level eccentrics with low throw (8 mm) and weak motors quickly reach their limits with heavy defects. Machines with a long throw (15 to 21 mm) like the common professional models deliver significantly more friction energy and make better use of the EX 05-05's potential. If you plan to regularly perform heavy-cut work on an eccentric machine, investing in a long-throw machine is worthwhile.

Applying EX 05-05 correctly — pad selection, speed, and working method

The EX 05-05 unfolds its full potential in combination with the hybrid wool pad. For less aggressive applications — for example, on new paint with only light scratches — a hard foam pad (orange) also works, delivering slightly less removal with slightly higher gloss. On a soft finishing pad, the polish loses too much cutting performance — for pure finishing polishing, the EX 04-06 is the better choice.

Apply three to four pea-sized dots to the pad and spread the polish at a low setting on the component. Increase to level 5 to 6 and work in slow, overlapping passes over the section. A typical section — about half a fender — takes three to four minutes on the eccentric machine. The polish should be clear and thin on the surface at the end of the pass — a sign that the abrasives have completely broken down.

The machine guidance differs with the EX 05-05 from a finishing polish: For heavy-cut, you can apply slightly more pressure than for finishing polishing, but always only so much that the eccentric movement does not stop. If you notice that the machine is stalling or vibrating, immediately reduce pressure. A stalling pad creates localized heat, which can cause thermal damage on sensitive paints — recognizable as slight discoloration or dullness that cannot be fully corrected even by repolishing.

When working on edges and raised lines, particular caution is required: the clear coat layer there is often only half as thick as on the flat surfaces. Significantly reduce pressure in these areas and prefer an additional pass with low pressure rather than a single pass with too much removal. A paint thickness gauge before polishing gives you certainty about the available leeway.

After the pass, wipe off the residue with a clean microfiber cloth and check under LED light. If defects are still visible, repeat the pass on the same section. With the EX 05-05, two to three passes per component are not uncommon on hard European paints — on softer Japanese or Korean paints, a single pass is often sufficient. Adjust your expectations to the paint type and allow enough time instead of giving up after one pass if the result is not yet right.

Then degrease the polished surface with SONAX PROFILINE Prepare to see the true result. Polishing oils can optically mask residual defects — with Prepare, it becomes visible whether all scratches have really disappeared or whether another pass is necessary.

Heavy-Cut on the eccentric machine — typical application scenarios

The main application area of the SONAX EX 05-05 is defect correction on paints that are too sensitive for rotary machines or where the user prefers the safety of an eccentric machine. In practice, this concerns several scenarios:

For detailing dark paints (black, dark blue, dark grey), the eccentric machine is the safer choice because it generates fewer holograms than the rotary machine. The EX 05-05 provides enough removal on these demanding colors to remove scratches and swirls, and the gloss level of 5/5 minimizes the need for post-processing. On black paint, a short finishing pass with the EX 04-06 is often useful to bring out the last bit of deep gloss.

For vehicles with a thin clear coat layer — measured with a paint thickness gauge — the eccentric machine offers more control over material removal. The EX 05-05 removes defects efficiently, but more controlled than a rotary polish, because the eccentric movement generates less removal per unit of time. This gives you the opportunity to check progress after each pass and stop in time before the clear coat layer becomes too thin.

For scratch removal in hard-to-reach areas — door handle recesses, swages, transitions between components — the compact eccentric machine with a small pad (75 mm or 125 mm) is better suited than the large rotary machine. The EX 05-05 works on all common pad sizes and adapts flexibly to the component geometry.

Another scenario that professional detailers appreciate: the correction of transport damage and car wash scratches on new vehicles. Many new cars arrive at the dealer with fine to medium scratches — caused by film removal, transport securing, or improper cleaning in the yard. The EX 05-05 removes these defects on the safe eccentric machine without endangering the thin factory paint. In combination with a final ceramic sealant, the vehicle is better protected than when delivered.

Abrasive polish comparison — EX 05-05 vs. CutMax vs. Cut+Finish

The three most important abrasive polishes in the SONAX PROFILINE range cover different machine types and requirements:

The CutMax (6/4) is the abrasive polish for rotary machines — maximum removal (6/5), moderate gloss (4/5), optimized for the high friction energy of rotation. It is the first choice for heavy defects from P1000 on rotary machines.

The Cut+Finish (5/5) is the one-step solution for rotary machines — same abrasive value as the EX 05-05, but with simultaneous high-gloss finish. It covers the range from P1500 and combines sanding and finishing in one pass.

The EX 05-05 (5/5) is the counterpart to Cut+Finish for the eccentric machine: same performance values, but a formulation optimized for the kinematics of the eccentric. Whoever owns an eccentric machine and wants to do heavy defect correction uses the EX 05-05. Whoever has a rotary machine uses the Cut+Finish or CutMax. There is no universal polish that works equally well on both machine types — the physical requirements of the two types of movement are too different. That's why SONAX deliberately developed separate product lines for rotary and eccentric with the PROFILINE series, instead of offering compromise products that do not unfold their full performance on any machine.

Buying EX 05-05 — container sizes and recommendation

The SONAX EX 05-05 is available in 250 ml and 1000 ml. For occasional use in detailing your own vehicle, the 250 ml bottle is sufficient — a complete defect correction consumes between 50 and 100 ml depending on vehicle size and severity of defects. The 1000 ml bottle is the more economical option for detailing businesses and ambitious enthusiasts.

In the optimal workflow for the eccentric machine, the EX 05-05 forms the first step (Heavy-Cut), followed by the EX 04-06 as the finishing step and SONAX Prepare for degreasing and results control. This two-step process on the eccentric machine delivers results that come close to a three-step process on the rotary machine — with significantly lower risk of holograms and burning through.

Whoever has both polishes of the EX series on the shelf — the EX 05-05 for Heavy-Cut and the EX 04-06 for finish — is equipped for all eccentric tasks. The two products complement each other perfectly: the EX 05-05 removes heavy defects, the EX 04-06 brings out the last bit of gloss. Together they replace a three-product system (cutting compound, abrasive polish, finishing polish), as is common with rotary machines — fewer products, fewer pad changes, fewer sources of error.

For economical use: the product consumption of EX 05-05 is slightly higher for heavy-cut work than for a finishing polish, because you need more passes per component. Calculate approximately 80 to 120 ml per vehicle for a complete defect correction with the eccentric machine — depending on vehicle size and severity of defects. The 250 ml bottle is therefore sufficient for two to three vehicles, the 1000 ml bottle for eight to twelve vehicles.

A tip for pad care: The hybrid wool pad should be thoroughly cleaned after each vehicle — polish residues in the wool fibers harden and reduce abrasive performance for the next use. Rinse the pad with warm water after use and let it dry completely before using it again. You can tell a worn hybrid wool pad by the fact that the wool fibers are flattened and no longer spring back — then it's time for a new pad. Invest in a fresh pad rather than an additional polishing pass: the material removal of a new pad is noticeably higher than that of a worn one, and the result is more even. Professional businesses change the hybrid wool pad after five to eight vehicles at the latest — after that, the wool structure is so compressed that the removal noticeably decreases and the efficiency of the EX 05-05 is no longer fully exploited.