How do these pads and products look?

S

SmoothAsGlass

New member
Just purchased my Porter Cable 7336 and looking to order the following through www.properautocare.

  • 6 inch Flexible Backing Plate for DA
  • 6 Inch, C.P. Orange Power Pad to use 3M Finesse-It Machine Polish, then
  • 6 Inch C.P. White Polishing Pad to use 3M Swirlmark Remover, and finish with
  • 6 Inch C.P. Red Finishing Pad with Meguairs NXT

Do the products and pad types look right? I have some minor scratch and swirls I am looking to get out of a black 2002 Honda CRV. Don't think there is much need in using a cleaner on it given the condition.
 
SmoothAsGlass said:
Just purchased my Porter Cable 7336 and looking to order the following through www.properautocare.

  • 6 inch Flexible Backing Plate for DA
  • 6 Inch, C.P. Orange Power Pad to use 3M Finesse-It Machine Polish, then
  • 6 Inch C.P. White Polishing Pad to use 3M Swirlmark Remover, and finish with
  • 6 Inch C.P. Red Finishing Pad with Meguairs NXT

Do the products and pad types look right? I have some minor scratch and swirls I am looking to get out of a black 2002 Honda CRV. Don't think there is much need in using a cleaner on it given the condition.
Click to expand...

I don't like a 6" backing plate with 6" pads. Leaves the plate too close to the edge in my opinion. Plus, I like the 7.5" Lake Country pads much better anyway.
 
I agree w/ 2001civicex, I like everything you got but I prefer using the 7 1/2 in. pads . More coverage and I can use more leverage on the PC, especially on black.
 
SmoothAsGlass said:
  • 6 inch Flexible Backing Plate for DA
  • 6 Inch, C.P. Orange Power Pad to use 3M Finesse-It Machine Polish, then
  • 6 Inch C.P. White Polishing Pad to use 3M Swirlmark Remover, and finish with
  • 6 Inch C.P. Red Finishing Pad with Meguairs NXT

Do the products and pad types look right?
Click to expand...

I don't use 3M products, but the combination looks right. If you have no experience with a PC, then the 6" LC pads might work better for you. (Except for the risk of using a 6" Backing Plate with a 6" pad.)

I started out with the 6" LC pads + 6" backing plate + PC 7336. It worked out well, but I was careful how I buffed. But it quickly became evident that the 7.5" pads would work better for me. So I ordered and started using them. I like them much better that the 6" pads.

If you feel even a little comfortable with a buffer of any kinds, you could probably handle 7.5" pads pretty easily. Just follow the usage suggestions provided by the vendor.

Good luck,

Dan.
 
So it sounds like I have the correct Lake Country pads in mind with each product, but now as for the size.

With the 7336, it is better to go with a 5" backing plate and 6" pads or a 6" packing plate and 7 1/2" pads?
 
It is personal preference. Personally, I'm liking smaller 6"-6.5" pads on the PC and save the 7.5" for the rotary.
 
I have a PC 7336 & I use a 6" backing plate with LC 6.5" pads & 7.5" pads.

The LC 6" pads are concave & I'm not crazy about the surface texture. The velcro attachment also leaves much to be desired.

The 6.5" LC pads are flat & they're bigger than the backing plate so I'm not concerned about the backing plate coming into contact with a mirror or spoiler. The 6.5" pads also seem denser & have a better quality velcro attachment.

The 7.5" variable contact LC pads are my favorite. The surface texture is good & the velcro attachment is the best of all the LC pads that I've tried. The back of this pad is also concave so the 6" backing plate is automatically centered.

I'm not familiar with 3m products so I can't comment further.
 
NYV6Coupe, so you have used the 3 pads I mentioned on www.properautocare.com?

Sounds like the 6" backing pad with the 7.5 pads is the way to go.

When you use the black or red pad with liquid wax? And it would be better to use the orange pad than the yellow pad, correct?

Thanks!


NYV6Coupe said:
I have a PC 7336 & I use a 6" backing plate with LC 6.5" pads & 7.5" pads.

The LC 6" pads are concave & I'm not crazy about the surface texture. The velcro attachment also leaves much to be desired.

The 6.5" LC pads are flat & they're bigger than the backing plate so I'm not concerned about the backing plate coming into contact with a mirror or spoiler. The 6.5" pads also seem denser & have a better quality velcro attachment.

The 7.5" variable contact LC pads are my favorite. The surface texture is good & the velcro attachment is the best of all the LC pads that I've tried. The back of this pad is also concave so the 6" backing plate is automatically centered.

I'm not familiar with 3m products so I can't comment further.
Click to expand...
 
SmoothAsGlass said:
NYV6Coupe, so you have used the 3 pads I mentioned on www.properautocare.com?

Sounds like the 6" backing pad with the 7.5 pads is the way to go.

When you use the black or red pad with liquid wax? And it would be better to use the orange pad than the yellow pad, correct?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Well, I like the combo of 6" backing plate plus 7.5" pads. Just start a bit slow to get used to them.

Regarding the black or red pad for wax, I'd suggest the red.

Regarding the orange vs yellow LC pad, it's a matter of need. The yellow is more aggressive than the orange. If you have major swirls and moderate scratches, use a yellow pad and an aggressive polish. For minor swirls and scratches, try the orange pad with a less aggressive polish.

When I bought my pads, I just decided to simplify the issue and buy them all. I.e. I bought a pad kit with 1 orange, 2 white and 1 red pads. Then, I added a yellow and a black pad.

Here's a link that explains the yellow, white, black and red:
http://www.properautocare.com/ad712inhipa.html

And here's a link that explains the orange pad:
http://www.properautocare.com/coprorpopa.html

I've very happy with the orange pad for the tougher stuff. It works very well. Good bite and minimal dullness. Nevertheless, I use standard practice and go with the least agressive pad. For example...

For my wife's new car (an '05 red Subie Forester), I just used a white pad and Menzerna FPII followed by a red pad and Menzerna FMJ.

When I detailed her old Rav4, I used the orange pad and Menzerna Intensive Polish because the paint was only in fair condition. After that, it looked very nice, so I just did a little work with the white pad and Menzerna FPII. Finally, I used the red pad to apply Zaino Z5+ZFX.

I just got my Audi from an autobody shop (Queen City Auto Body in Redmond, WA) where they fixed the bumpers. While there, they buffed out the entire body with a rotary buffer but put no wax on. So the paint's in very good condition now. This weekend, I'm plan to give the Audi a once over with a white pad and Menzerna FPII, followed by a red pad and Zaino Z5+ZFX, and then another red pad (I'll use my 6") and Zaino Z2+ZFX.

One gentleman suggested buffing off wax residue by hand, but then use an MF bonnet on a PC to give the car a final buffing. I'll try that next time.

I'm still a newbie at this, but I've gotten very good results combining LC pads, Menzerna polishes and Zaino protectants. Of course... YMMV.

I hope this helps.

Regards,

Dan.
 
smoothasglass:

I agree with everything bookem said.

In addition, here's a link to a Lake County chart that may help sort out the pads 'n products issue by way of conditions you're encountering:

http://www.lakecountrymfg.com/padappguide.html

don't know if properautocare has an archive you can access, but if you can take a look at newsletter #27 which came out Aug. 9th. It has an article about the new LC pads.

bookem:

is it coincidence that the Constant Pressure LC pad is red & you're using it with FMJ ..... no pad staining.
 
NYV6Coupe, thanks for the excellent link.



NYV6Coupe said:
smoothasglass:

I agree with everything bookem said.

In addition, here's a link to a Lake County chart that may help sort out the pads 'n products issue by way of conditions you're encountering:

http://www.lakecountrymfg.com/padappguide.html

don't know if properautocare has an archive you can access, but if you can take a look at newsletter #27 which came out Aug. 9th. It has an article about the new LC pads.

bookem:

is it coincidence that the Constant Pressure LC pad is red & you're using it with FMJ ..... no pad staining.
Click to expand...
 
I was talking with a friend of mine today and he had two alternative suggestions instead of the following:

- 6 Inch, C.P. Orange Power Pad to use 3M Finesse-It Machine Polish, then
- 6 Inch C.P. White Polishing Pad to use 3M Swirlmark Remover, and finish with
- 6 Inch C.P. Red Finishing Pad with Meguairs NXT

go with:

- 6 Inch, C.P. White Polishing Pad to use Menzerna Final Polish II, then
- 6 Inch C.P. Black Pad to use Meguiar’s No. 7 Show Car Glaze, and finish with
- 6 Inch C.P. Red Finishing Pad with Meguairs NXT

or

- 6 Inch, C.P. White Polishing Pad to use Meguiar's No. 9 Swirl Remover, then
- 6 Inch C.P. Red Finishing Pad with Meguairs NXT

Suggestions?
 
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