SONAX PROFILINE CutMax "6/4" Abrasive Polish (up to P1000) 250ml

Remove deep scratches and sanding marks with SONAX CutMax polishing compound

What can SONAX CutMax do? Polishing compound with maximum abrasive performance (6/4), which removes sanding marks from P1000 grit, deep scratches and paint overspray — low dust thanks to Low Dust Technology, optimized for rotary polishing machines.

When the paint is so severely damaged that a normal polish is no longer sufficient, SONAX CutMax comes into play. With an abrasive performance of 6 on the SONAX scale, it is the most aggressive polish in the PROFILINE range — developed for situations where maximum material removal is required: deep scratches, sanding marks from P1000 sandpaper, orange peel, paint mist and heavily weathered paint surfaces. Despite this high abrasive performance, CutMax works almost dust-free thanks to Low Dust Technology and leaves a gloss level of 4/5, which in most cases only requires a short finishing step. For paint shops and professional detailers, CutMax is the tool of choice when efficiency in defect removal is paramount.

• Maximum abrasive performance for severe defects. The abrasive combination of CutMax is designed for fast, deep removal. It removes sanding marks from P1000 in a single polishing pass — an area that lighter polishes can no longer reach. Baked-on insect residues, deep scratches and weathering neglected for years are also effectively removed. This abrasive performance measurably saves time in the workshop because fewer passes are needed than with less aggressive products.
• Low Dust Technology for clean work. High abrasive performance often means a lot of polishing dust with many polishes — a problem that spreads into joints, seals and across the entire workplace, requiring extensive cleaning. CutMax solves this with its special Low Dust formulation: the polish remains on the pad and on the surface throughout the polishing process without dusting. This saves subsequent cleaning and prevents polishing dust from getting into freshly painted areas — a critical point in paint shops.
• Good gloss development despite high abrasion. The gloss level of 4/5 is remarkable for an abrasive polish of this aggressiveness. Many competing products with comparable abrasive performance leave a dull, cloudy finish that absolutely requires a finishing step. CutMax comes much closer to the final result — on many paints, a short pass with a finishing polish like SONAX PerfectFinish is enough to achieve showroom gloss.

Practical tip from Detailing1: Use CutMax on a rotary machine with a hard foam pad (white) or a lamb's wool pad for maximum removal. Start at 1000 rpm to spread the polish, and increase to 1500 to 1800 rpm for the actual sanding process. Work in overlapping passes of 50 percent and apply even, moderate pressure — the abrasives need friction, but not excessive pressure. After each pass, check with an LED lamp whether the defects are completely removed before moving on to the finishing step.

Abrasive performance 6/4 — how CutMax can remove severe paint defects in one pass

The SONAX CutMax achieves its high abrasive performance through a combination of specially sized abrasive particles and a formulation that maintains consistent removal throughout the polishing pass. Unlike simple abrasive polishes, whose abrasive performance significantly decreases after the first thirty seconds because the abrasives break down too quickly, CutMax maintains its cutting performance over the entire work cycle. In practice, this means that one pass of two to three minutes per section is sufficient to completely remove even deep sanding marks — instead of three or four passes that would be necessary with a weaker polish.

The gloss level of 4/5 shows that CutMax is not a pure sanding paste, but an abrasive polish with controlled particle breakdown. The abrasives start with high aggressiveness and break down into finer particles during the pass, which already take over part of the finish. The result is a surface that is significantly smoother and shinier than after a pure sanding paste — but not yet at the level of a dedicated finishing polish. For workshops that need to achieve a presentable result quickly after wet sanding, this intermediate state is often sufficient if concours quality is not required.

An important difference to SONAX Cut+Finish (5/5): CutMax has a higher abrasive performance and is used where Cut+Finish no longer provides sufficient removal — i.e., for P1000 sanding marks, deep scratches and severe weathering. Cut+Finish is the one-step solution from P1500, CutMax is the heavy hammer for everything below. In many workshops, both products are used side by side: Cut+Finish for most everyday work, CutMax for the tough cases.

Correct application of abrasive polish — machine, pad and technique for maximum removal

The SONAX CutMax unfolds its full potential on a rotary polishing machine. The pure rotational movement generates more friction and heat than an eccentric machine — precisely the energy that an abrasive polish of this level requires to deliver maximum removal. CutMax also works on an eccentric machine, but with significantly reduced abrasive performance: you need more passes and more time for the same result. If you regularly perform heavy defect correction, a rotary machine is the right investment.

The pad selection significantly influences the result. For maximum removal, a hard foam pad (white in the SONAX color system) or a lamb's wool pad is recommended. The lamb's wool pad offers the highest abrasive performance of all pad types, but also leaves the coarsest surface — ideal for the first pass on severe defects, followed by a foam pad for fine sanding. A medium-hard pad reduces abrasion and is suitable for paints that require less correction, or for sensitive areas such as edges and sills, where overly aggressive abrasion could sand through the clear coat.

For application, apply three to four pea-sized dots to the pad and spread the polish over the component at low speed. Then increase to working speed and polish in passes with fifty percent overlap. Work in sections of about forty by forty centimeters — small enough to maintain control, large enough to make efficient progress. Pay attention to the sound of the machine: a steady hum indicates that the pad is working cleanly on the surface. A rattling or vibrating sound indicates too much pressure or a dirty pad.

After the sanding pass, wipe off the polish residue with a clean microfiber cloth and check the result under an LED lamp. If the defects are completely removed, the finishing step follows. If scratches are still visible, repeat the pass — it is better to do a second controlled pass than a single one with too much pressure, which can cause holograms or heat spots.

A common beginner's mistake when working with CutMax: too much product on the pad. An abrasive polish requires less product than a finishing polish, because the removal is done by the abrasives, not by the volume of the paste. Three to four small dots are sufficient for a section of forty by forty centimeters. Too much product dilutes the abrasive effect, prolongs the polishing pass and makes wiping difficult. In professional workshops, experienced polishers sometimes work with even less product — they compensate for the smaller amount by precise machine guidance that optimally utilizes the available abrasive.

A crucial note on temperature control: The rotary machine generates considerable heat when working with an abrasive polish. On dark paints, the surface temperature can rise to over seventy degrees in a few seconds — a temperature that can damage the clear coat. Check the temperature regularly by running the back of your hand over the surface. If it gets uncomfortably warm, let the section cool down briefly before continuing. On edges, sills and raised lines, heat development is particularly critical because the paint layer is thinner there than on flat surfaces.

Correcting severe paint defects — the ideal application scenarios for CutMax

The main application area of CutMax is defect correction after wet sanding with grits from P1000 to P1200. In paint shops, this is the most common application: After a blending or spot repair, the transition between new and old paint is wet sanded, and CutMax then removes the sanding marks in one pass. The silicone-free nature of the polish is crucial here — in a workshop environment where painting is done daily, there must be no risk of silicone contamination.

When detailing heavily neglected vehicles, CutMax also shows its strength. Paints that have been exposed to sun, bird droppings, tree sap and industrial dust for years form an oxidized layer that cannot be penetrated with light polishes. CutMax efficiently removes this layer and exposes the undamaged paint underneath. The result is often astonishing: colors that appeared dull and faded show the full depth and brilliance of the original paint again after correction.

CutMax is also used in new car detailing if the factory paint shows severe orange peel. Wet sanding with P1000 evens out the surface, and CutMax restores the gloss. This intervention requires experience because the clear coat layer on new vehicles is often thinner than on older paint systems — a layer thickness measurement before sanding is mandatory to avoid breaking through the clear coat.

For partial wrapping with PPF on front sections, CutMax is sometimes used indirectly: The paint under the film is polished before wrapping to remove any defects that would be visible under the transparent film. CutMax quickly and effectively removes scratches and swirls, and the subsequent finishing polish leaves a perfectly smooth surface for film application.

Where CutMax reaches its limits: For scratches that extend into the base coat or primer, no polish will help — repainting the affected area is necessary here. CutMax also cannot replace clear coat that has already peeled off extensively. In such cases, it is better to honestly explain the limitations of the polish to the customer than to promise a result that cannot be achieved. Honest communication strengthens customer trust much more in the long run than a cosmetic compromise that becomes visible again after a few weeks.

Abrasive polish comparison — CutMax vs. UltimateCut vs. EX 05-05

In the SONAX PROFILINE range, there are three products that are suitable for heavy defect removal: CutMax, UltimateCut and EX 05-05.

The UltimateCut (6+/3) has the highest abrasive performance in the entire range — even higher than CutMax. It is reserved for the most extreme cases: severe weathering, sanding marks from P800, massive orange peel. The gloss level of 3/5 shows that a finishing step is definitely necessary after UltimateCut — often even a two-step finish. UltimateCut is a tool for specialists, not for everyday use.

The EX 05-05 (5/5) is on the other side of the spectrum: same abrasive performance and same gloss as Cut+Finish, but with a different formulation that works better on certain paint systems. It is the alternative for users who do not achieve the desired result with Cut+Finish — for example, on particularly hard ceramic clear coats, on which the EX series is traditionally strong.

The CutMax (6/4) positions itself between these extremes: more removal than EX 05-05, but a significantly better gloss than UltimateCut. For the majority of heavy defect correction work — wet sanding from P1000, deep scratches, severe weathering — CutMax is the optimal choice because it handles defect removal in one step and keeps the subsequent finishing step short.

Buying CutMax — container sizes and workflow recommendation

The SONAX CutMax is available in 250 ml, 1000 ml and 5 liter sizes. The 250 ml bottle is sufficient for several complete vehicle corrections and is the ideal entry for private users and smaller businesses. The 1000 ml bottle is the standard size for workshops with regular polishing needs. The 5 liter container is aimed at businesses with high throughput — the price per liter is cheapest here, and the large opening makes it easier to dispense with a dosing bottle.

For an optimal polishing workflow, we recommend the combination: CutMax as an abrasive polish on the rotary polisher, followed by SONAX PerfectFinish as a finishing step on the eccentric machine, and finally SONAX Prepare for degreasing and result control. This three-part combination covers the entire defect correction process — from heavy removal to a sealant-ready finish. If you want to apply a long-term sealant afterwards, Prepare has already created the perfect basis.

Regarding shelf life and storage: Like all abrasive polishes, CutMax can separate slightly after prolonged storage. Shake the bottle thoroughly before each application until the consistency is homogeneous and creamy again. Store the product frost-free and sealed — frozen polish loses its abrasive structure and is no longer usable. When stored correctly, CutMax retains its full performance over its entire shelf life.

A final practical note for economic use in the workshop: CutMax has a higher price per liter than consumer polishes from hardware stores, but the product consumption per vehicle is significantly lower. The concentrated formulation means that you only need three to four dabs per section — a 250 ml bottle is sufficient for several complete vehicle corrections. In terms of results per euro invested, CutMax is therefore more economical than cheaper alternatives that require double or triple product use and still need more passes.