Buying UDM - what pads/bonnets...color...sizes?

T

tCspool

New member
Per my other thread regarding my first time detail job - I've decided to get the UDM since it is friendly to newbies such as myself.



My car has slight swirl marks that are only noticeable in direct sunlight, and an area that looks like it was scratched by bushes - light surface scratches.



The plan is to use 1Z metallic polish with the UDM.



I've read things about 5" or 6" pads, yellow or orange...etc. Even after reading, I'm confused.



So buying from Autopia (to make it easier) - what are the correct pads/bonnets that I should get (size - color - etc?) for the UDM for my specific job? I have heard that my paint is factory thin - so not sure if that needs to be taken into consideration while choosing the pads. I'd like to put my order in ASAP to get my detailing job started - so any advice and reasoning why that choice of pad would be much appreciated. :bigups
 
Different pad manufacturers have slightly different pad color schemes. This is the lake country sceme which other loosly follow



Yellow pad is for defect removel. Use it wil a heavy to medium cut polish to remove deaper swirl marks and scratches. This generate some holograming, microparing itself that will need to be taken out by finer polishing steps.



Orange pad is for mild swirl removal with a meduim to fine cut polish



White pad is for cleaner wax and AIO type products.



The blue and grey pads are for applying last step products.



Bonnets can be used over any of these pads to remove any of the above products after application.



The general recomendation is to start with the orange pad and a fine cut polish to see if that gets the swirls out with several passes. If not successful, move up to a meduim cut polish with the orange pad. Only go to the yellow pad and higher cut polishes if the defects are very stubbern.



Once the swirls are polished out, use the white pad with a cleaner wax or AIO to clean the polish residues/oils off the paint and provide some fine polishing. Then cover with you're last step product of chioce.



The pad size also makes a difference in how efective the polisning will be. Smaller pads (4"-5") allow you to put more pressure on the surface of the paint to "work" the polish harder given the same downward force.



As a start I'd go with 5" orange and white pads and apply the last step products by hand.



You can use bonnets to remove products if you want but I use a mircofiber towel by hand.
 
Autopia sells the DAS pads that are specifically designed for the UDM. Another option is to by everything from Danase and get his 5" LC CCS Pads. I have personally used this setup and was very happy with the results. The stock backing plate can be used with both types of pads. The reason I went with the 5" pads is because they are much cheaper, $40 for 6 pads and Danases offers a 10% off coupon code which is 'autopia'.



-Frank
 
I purchased the UDM with the DAS foam pads from Autopia and this combination worked out very well for me (a newbie), I was able to remove swirl marks and scratches from my 2002 Jeeps paint and acheive a shine that looks like new with no more paint defects.
 
VTechFan02 said:
Autopia sells the DAS pads that are specifically designed for the UDM. Another option is to by everything from Danase and get his 5" LC CCS Pads. I have personally used this setup and was very happy with the results. The stock backing plate can be used with both types of pads. The reason I went with the 5" pads is because they are much cheaper, $40 for 6 pads and Danases offers a 10% off coupon code which is 'autopia'.



-Frank
Click to expand...



On Danase's website under the description of the 3.5" backing plate, it suggests this should be used for 5" CCS pads. Is that correct? What would you use for a 4" pad?



Thanks!
 
csimian said:
What would you use for a 4" pad?
Click to expand...



The 3.5" backing plate. I just ordered one with some 4" CCS pads from http:\\www.pakshak.com



I have use a Sonus SFX 6" and a Meg's 6" pad so far with my PC and felt they was too difficult to use with a speed setting of 6, so I ended up using them at 5. I did reduce from a 6" backing plate to a 5.5" and that helped a little.



But after reading the forums here for a while and talking with people it seems like 4" or 5" pads are recommended. I have some 5" DAS pads, which I haven't used yet and I have an order out on some CCS 4" pads. I am looking forward to getting these 4" pads and running them with the 1Z polishes.



chris
 
VTechFan02 said:
Autopia sells the DAS pads that are specifically designed for the UDM. Another option is to by everything from Danase and get his 5" LC CCS Pads. I have personally used this setup and was very happy with the results. The stock backing plate can be used with both types of pads. The reason I went with the 5" pads is because they are much cheaper, $40 for 6 pads and Danases offers a 10% off coupon code which is 'autopia'.



-Frank
Click to expand...



frank,



i just purchased the UDM and the pad set. the question is - what speed is optium with these pads? i know that it depends on the defects but generally speaking.......



thanks!
 
Jimmie Jam - I did all of my defect removal on speed 6, and I recommend polishing on 5-6. Wax application is usually done on 2-3.



csimian - I used the OEM backing plate that came with the UDM. I believe it measures 4.75". I also own a 3.5" that I use with 4" LC CCS pads



-tCspool - a backing plate (BP) is what holds the pad on the machine. They use hook and loop (Velcro) to hold the two surfaces (pad and BP) together. That makes it easy to change pads during a job. A BP definitely required to do anything with a machine and the UDM comes with one.
 
VTechFan02 said:
-tCspool - a backing plate (BP) is what holds the pad on the machine. They use hook and loop (Velcro) to hold the two surfaces (pad and BP) together. That makes it easy to change pads during a job. A BP definitely required to do anything with a machine and the UDM comes with one.
Click to expand...





Thanks - one less thing to buy!!!
 
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