Help me finalize a PC order

B

BMW335i

New member
OK so I know what I want, just am confused as to the direction I should go, i.e. packages, individual ordering, etc.



I have two cars to do, both have one repainted panel (front bumper, other car has rear bumper). So I don't want a too aggressive polish.



I want/need:



PC 7424 (with everything I need to run it)

CCS pads,

Menzerna Polishes (preferably PO106FF, FPII, etc...you know, the popular ones). I will be ordering from Autogeek (they seem to have everything I need). Menzerna seems to produce the best gloss.



Also, do I need some sort of pad cleaner/pad conditioner like XMT's?



The work will be moderate swirls on my brothers car (its black), and lighter swirls on my car (its silver so I can't even tell how bad they are, lol), my car is almost a year old.



**My budget is around $250, I am somewhat flexible.**



Can someone configure up a nice order for me for my scenario? I would appreciate it so much.
 
optimusp517 said:
Why not go with the UDM?
Click to expand...



That's another thing I am debating. The UDM has been out for a short while and may have a few kinks, so I thought I'd go with the tried and true PC. I am not sure what to do...the 7424 has the reputation, the UDM has the innovation.
 
Let me offer this.



I have a 7336 and have used it now for quite a few years. If I were to replace it I would definately be getting the UDM. I am now almost 100% rotary and don't use my PC that much. The occasional light correction or LSP application is about all I use it for. Before I switched to the rotary it was my only buffing machine. The reason I changed over to the rotary is for 1.) speed and 2.) more aggressive cutting ability for some of the more severe paint correction jobs I get occasionally. From what I've read about the UDM it offers a little more than the PC but not quite the agressive nature of the rotary i.e. still safe for someone just starting to get used to machine buffing. What you'll find is once you get used to the PC type characteristics of the UDM you'll yearn for just a little more cut for maybe your brother's swirls or maybe more swirls in your car as it ages. I also think (as mentioned by optimus above) that DavidB is motivated to get good end user market acceptance and will support any issues that may arise.



I guess I'm taking the long way to say I wouldn't think twice about getting the UDM if I were in the market for a safe buffing machine to correct some paint issues.



As far as polishes and pads, I absoloutely love the Menzerna line and the Lake Country pads. For swirls and a PC type approach I would maybe attack them with a yellow pad and Menz IP. Without seeing what you are trying to correct I'll be careful and caution you to start easy and get more agressive but I love IP/yellow or orange pad followed by 106FF on a white or black LC pad to bring out some final luster and brightness.



If you can bump up to about $300 you'll be all set to try some different combos of polish and pads to work on what works best for you. I would definately recommend at least a couple to a few pads of each color - 2/3 yellow, 2/3 orange, 2/3 white, 2/3 black and/or blue etc. That way you can change out to a fresh pad as your working along without having to stop and clean the only yellow/orange/white pad you may have. There are some great packages out there with basic starter kits and the UDM but you may want to add a few more pads and some MF towels and polishes. Add shipping costs and you're at about $300. You shoudn't need anything more for a while and the $300 is an investment considering you'd probably pay someone else at least that much for maybe only one car. This way you can do them yourself - over and over and over and over ...
 
Thanks. I am just confused. On Autogeeks site, there is Intensive Polish, Super Intensive Polish, Final Polish, Nano Polish, PO106FF....the most I hear about here is FPII and PO106FF. Can I have a clarification on what polishes are equivalent to each other and so on? I think a lot of them are just renamed different but are exactly the same thing.



Just another question, say I start with an orange pad, how many will I go through polishing an average sized car?
 
I would suggest that all you would need to start would be the SIP and Nano (106FF) however the SIP is back ordered on AutoGeek (I think). If I understand the Menz line they are in fact all different (but slightly in some cases) to address certain conditions. If you are in a rush and can't wait for a backordered product you'd do great with the IP and the 106FF. For an equivalent to 106FF but cheaper due to a smaler quantity you could substitute 106FF with the Blackfire SRC. As I understand it - same product as 106FF in a smaller bottle. I just built out an order for you on Autogeek with the $199 UDM starter kit and some extra pads and polishes. Total with shipping would be about $322.



As far as how many pads you need depends on product build up as you prgress around the car. You could technically only use 1 pad but after about 1/3 to 1/2 the car it would be so full of product, dust that you'd need to clean it out completely and start again with it clean. In my experience I like to simply grab a freash, clean pad and keep rockin' and rollin'. Even then I'm cleaning it out after almost every panel by running a toothbrush along the pad while it's spinning to clean out any buildup. It's amazing how mush dust comes flying off the perimeter of the pad after only one panel! Some more real world experience has taught me that some areas take several passes over the same area to effectively remove swirls and cut down the clear to remove them. This is true even with my rotary so product build up happens. In my opinion it just helps to have several pads to frequently change out to a fresh one. I believe the polish works more effectively with a clean pad as well. I have probaly 50 pads and actually want more! If I were starting over with my experience I would have at least 2 or 3 of each color.
 
Thank Puck! So I am guessing I will get around 2 of each. I'm only doing one car at a time after all and I am not running a mobile detailing business.



BTW: are the XMT pad conditioners and cleaners worth it? Should I just spritz my pads with QD?
 
To be honest I don't use anything but polish to "prime" my pads before first use. I know others here like to use them but I don't and have never felt the need to try them.



As far as cleaning, I use my regular car wash soap in a bucket of water and take my dirty pad off the machine and throw it in the bucket to soak while I finish the car. I then take them all out when I'm done and exert a little more effort in cleaning and rinsing them out. Sometimes after really dirty jobs or single stage paint jobs I will spray some APC on them and really work to clean them out. I then spin them dry with the machine held in an empty bucket (to avoid splattering water everywhere) and let them air dry overnight. Again, I've not tried any of the specialty pad "cleaners" and haven't felt the need for these either. Saves some expense and I'm happy with the results of my method. Others may extoll the virtues of these pad cleaners though.
 
I find the pad conditioner useful because I have it, but thats not to say you couldn't just use a spray of water or QD to do the same job. I personally don't like to start buffing with a dry pad. I find the pad cleaner useless though, and I think simple green works a lot better, and if you don't have that dawn soap works fine too.



I'm also going to put in a vote for Menzerna SIP and 106FF. The orange pads that come with them at autogeek are also really good and work a bit faster than the 6.5" pads. If you want to get everything you need at once (which makes sense because of shipping), I would also recommend you get a few 4" pads and the small backing plate. These are extremely useful for correction that would go too slowly with a larger pad, and are also really convenient for working on headlights, small areas, whatever. I've read on here SIP is sold out at autogeek, but you can get it at detailers domain still I think.



With those polishes I don't have trouble going around a whole car without a pad change, but you need more than one pad anyway just in case you drop one on the ground, or whatever reason, you don't want to have to stop in your tracks.



So I'd get:

7424/UDM

5" backing plate

2 orange 2 white 6.5" pads

little backing plate

2 orange 2 white 4" pads

SIP, 106FF
 
UDM Kit - 199.00 (includes UDM, white,blk,blue pads, xmt cond/cleaner, and XMT180)

XMT360 - 15.00

LC CCS - 26.00 (1green polishing, 1orange lt cutting)



That should be all you need to start. For swirls, 360 should be enough to get them out and finish with a very nice gloss. Top it off with the new XMT180. Sub-total without shipping: 240.96. Nice clean car and satisfied customer...priceless! :grinno:



106 might be overkill, but you could substitute the 106 for the XMT360 and maybe the green pad. 106 will give a nice gloss finish as well, but will take you over the 250 budget, unless you only get the UDM kit + Menz 106FF. White pad might not be enough to get rid of the swirls, but that's up to you.



Good luck. I"m sure this will not be your last order! :LOLOL
 
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