Meguiar's DA Power System

[PPLd]

Hi there everybody,

I purchased the DA Power System some time ago and finally got time to take it out for a test drive last night.
I wasnt really expecting much but that little thing was able to remove 3000 grit hand sanding marks with orange LC pad, D300, and a cordless drill easily!!
I am writing a review of the DAPS but cant wait to share this good news to you all!

 

[PPLd]

Short Term Review: http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotive/products/g3500-da-power-system/

Introduction
First of all, hats off to Corey for providing the review format. It is the best review format I have ever seen. Second, I would like to thanks Todd of Autopia-carcare to send me the Pinnacle Signature Series II carnauba paste wax as a Xmas gift! Thanks!

Back in late 2011, Meguiar's announced an innovative concept of using a drill adapting unit to SAFELY polish a car. The unit is called DA Power System [DA Pwr Sys]. It is called a system because this is not the same adapter you used to have - The rotary action of a drill is converted into a Forced Rotation dual action movement so the chance of burning through the paint is basically eliminated. The DA Pwr Sys was introduced to the market until the end of 2012 as a 2013 product.

In this short term review we shall take it out for a test drive and see how well it can handle polishing tasks.



Product description (adapted from Michael Stoops, Meguiar's):

Product Attributes:
•Superior, patented engineering
•Heavy duty & multi-function
•For corded 3/8 - 1/2" drills with 1,500 - 2,500 rpms range
•Power System tool w/yellow polishing pad
•A versatile, expandable, paint care platform
•Multi-tasker, not a single-function tool

With this tool, "DA" means both "drill applied" and "dual action", but the dual action is in the form of a forced rotation rather than the free rotating spindle action you might be used to on a polisher like our G110v2. The backing plate is not interchangeable, but the pads are. In fact, the DA Power System makes use of our current line of 4" Soft Buff pads. Drill recommendations are for a corded drill with max speed in the 1500 to 2500 rpm range. The gear reduction ratio in the tool prevents it from spinning at equally high speeds for safety reasons. We also recommend if you have a reversible drill that you use it in the "forward" direction (ie, the setting you would normally use for drilling a hole) rather than "reverse" setting. Most drills run at a slower maximum speed when set to reverse and this will compromise the ability to remove defects from the paint.

The tool is sold with a yellow polishing pad, but no liquid of any kind.
Part Number: G3500
MSRP: $59.99 (tool and one yellow pad)

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Solutions: DA Power Packs
At launch, 3 solution-based kits
•Paint correction (compound & cutting pad)
•Paint polishing (polish & polishing pad)
•Wax application (wax & finishing pad)
•More applications to follow

DA Power Packs are solutions to common situations and include both a liquid and pad specific to the need. Each Power Pack contains one pad and one 4 ounce bottle of product.

1. DA Power Pack - Compound
Cutting pad/Ultimate Compound
Part Number: G3501
MSRP: $11.99

2. DA Power Pack - Polishing
Polishing Pad/Ultimate Polish
Part Number: G3502
MSRP: $11.99

3. DA Power Pack - Waxing
Polishing Pad/Ultimate Wax
Part Number: G3503
MSRP: $11.99

------------------------------------------------------------

Refills: DA Power Pads
Replacement 2-pack of pads
•Cutting (paint correction)
•Polishing (paint polishing)
•Finishing (wax application)
•Interior (carpet & upholstery cleaning)

Additionally, the pads will also be available separately, without their associated liquids, in two packs. Again, these pads are our current 4" Soft Buff cutting, polishing and finishing pads.

1. DA Power Pads - Cutting Pad
Part Number: G3507
MSRP: $13.99

2. DA Power Pads - Polishing Pad
Part Number: G3508
MSRP: $13.99

3. DA Power Pads - Finishing Pad
Part Number: G3509
MSRP: $13.99

The DA Power Pad group includes a pack designed for interior cleaning with the DA Power System tool. Used with products such as our new Multi-Purpose Cleaner, Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner, or with existing products such as APC and APC+ or any of our leather cleaners and conditioners, this pack will help you speed through carpet and upholstery cleaning. The carpet pad is a large cell foam pad while the upholstery/leather pad is a microfiber disc.

4. DA Power Pads - Interior
1 carpet pad, 1 upholstery/leather pad
Part Number: G3504
MSRP: $13.99


For anyone who has shied away from purchasing a buffer either due to fear of using a power tool on their paint, or even just the cost of acquiring a buffer, this is a great alternative to hand applying these products in order to achieve paint correction. For those of you who already have a buffer but find use of a 4" pad to be a bit unwieldy, this system can be a great addition to your detailing arsenal. You might think that using such a tool on a typical power drill might be a bit unwieldy, too, but it is surprisingly ergonomic. The handle is free to rotate to make accessibility easy, and to be able to move it away from mirrors, antennae, etc when buffing, and it's equally accessible to left handed users and right handed users alike. The forced rotation movement of the tool means vibration is also kept very low, adding to the comfort level when used for extended periods of time.

Check out our Quik Tips Video on this system.
Polishing and Waxing With Meguiar's® DA Power System - YouTube

[iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ev4XCdQS4Ss" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen][/iframe]

*In my opinion, if extra cutting is needed, you may use the 3" Meguiar's DA MF cutting pad and D300 MF Cutting Compound with the DA Pwr Sys.

<The system says my post is too long so I have to cut it into a few parts>

 

[PPLd]

Claim (found on Meguiar's product description):
- Start getting pro results at home, with the revolutionary DA Power System
- Dual-action, rotation provides faster and safer results.
- Produces far superior results than mere hand application
- More Shine, Less Time!



Details:
1. Packaging: One drill adapter tool with yellow Meguiar's polishing pad already attached.
2. Directions: I only have the photo with me now. I will copy the text out later.

3. Construction: Hard plastic surface with a rubbery grip. Metal gears.
4. Color: black / yellow
5. Size: Less than 9-inch. Feel very well in hand.

6. Price: USD$59.99
7. Cost: As long as the unit is well maintained, I think this will easily last a decade?
8: Manufacturer: Meguiar's
9: Made in: China



Additional Products used:
1. 2 generic water buckets
2. 2 Grit Guards
3. Chemical Guys Citrus Wash & Gloss, Meguiar's APC+.
4. 1 Lowes Pro Line Grout Sponge
5. 1 Meguiar's Water Magnet
6. 3M Blue Clay & PPLdetailing Spray V3 - Polycharged
7. Meguiar's Swirl X
8. Meguiar's Ultimate Polish
9. Pinnacle Signature Series II Carnauba Wax and Americana HEX applicator



Environmental Conditions:
8-16*C / 46-60F (used in different places)
~50-70% RH
Last wax section: The BMW is garage kept and was Opti-Sealed 2 months ago. Total mileage is around 1000km / 620 mile. The PS3 and musical instrument have never been washed or waxed before, but they have never been driven on road either lol.



A photo is worth a thousand words. We shall see some photos first and rejoin for the pros, cons and verdict.



The DA Power System come in a clear plastic packaging.

Back of the packaging. Hope you can read the words:

The PS3 cover I was going to polish.

Let's take a closer look:

Mixing shampoo. CG CWG was used. It was only 8*C / 46.4F outside and the shampoo is not dissolving well... 25ml of APC+ concentrate was also added.

This is the suds from CG CWG and APC+.

The PS3 cover was foam pre-soaked, strip washed with the Proline Grout Sponge, and dried with Water Magnet.

I clayed the PS3 with warm PPLd V3 lube and genuine 3M mild blue clay. Now let's see how much swirls are revealed after claying under tungsten garage lighting:

Take it out to fluorescent lighting:

The backing plate has a diameter of just under 3 inch. Should work well with most 3-4 inch pads on the market.

It was getting late that night so I came back another day for polishing the PS3. We played with the BMW first. The owner backed into a wall and someone touched it up and sanded it. My mission is to buff it to shiny surface. Not up to my standard but whatever... Here is how it look before:

Ta-da! This is after 1 pass of DA Pwr Sys, cordless drill, orange pad, D300.

This is after 2 passes. DA Pwr Sys took care of the sanding haze easily.

 

[PPLd]

We went back to the PS3 another day. Over view of tools to be used.

Install the DA Pwr Sys as instructed. You need to insert the whole head into your drill. When attaching the foam pad to the backing plate, make sure you have it centered.

Prep-ing the pad.

Prime the pad well with Swirl X.

Spread it on PS3.

DA Pwr Sys in action. Can you see the foam pad moving / motion blur?

Ultimate Polish was used for further refining. It leave a noticeably deeper look and better finish than Swirl X on black.

Again, spread it well.

PS3 to be waxed using Pinnacle Signature Series II paste wax. As you can see, the PS3 at the backgroud is nicely polished.

Results:

 

[PPLd]

My friend helping me asked if I can polish his musical instrument. I have absolutely no idea about music stuff but was told this "thing" is made of wood. I have never worked on wood paint before so I started with UP + black pad. Spread the polish on.

I polished it 2 times and it turned out nice. Waxed it with Pinnacle SSII wax and here are the results:

Another angle:

Afterwards, I cleaned all the pads properly. The stains are removed and they feel / look like brand new!

Pros:
+1 Powerful enough to remove sanding marks.
+2 Handy, light weight but solidly built and ergonomically designed
+3 Far less vibration than a full size DA
+4 Quiet operation

Cons:
-1 None I can think of.

???:
1. Is there any maintenance needed for the system? Do we need to grease it like bicycle chain or other mechanical gear? If yes, how do we do that?
2. The 3" backing plate cannot be changed so this might cause a problem for some. Not for me because you should not change it.
3. You can use it with a cordless drill, but the battery will be drained fast so you need a few battery packs in hand.


Conclusion:
Before using the DA Power System I actually asked myself "what can you expect from such a small thing?". Take it out for a test drive and I was amazed by the outcome. This DA Pwr Sys is a very nice car detailing tool.

In terms of power, DA Pwr Sys is able to remove 3000 grit sanding marks with an underspeed cordless drill easily. The level of correction is much higher when MF cutting pads and corded drill are used.

Ergonomically, DA Pwr Sys is a joy to use and very effective. This tool is handy, light weight but solidly built and ergonomically designed. The side grip makes applying downward pressure so natural. You really need to hold it in hand and use it to experience this. This is what all tools in the world should be eh?
And if you have ever used a traditional DA, you know they are noisy and vibrate like no tomorrow. Your arms will begin to fatique in 3 hours. This is not the case for DA Pwr Sys. Its gear unit virtually makes no sound. All you have is the motor sound of your drill and vibration from paint surface.

There is no direct competition on the market. The closest tool is probably the Griot Garage 3" DA polisher. Being cheaper ($95 vs $60) and so versatile (recommended but not necessary for a electricity supply), I will go for the DA Pwr Sys.

Meguiar's hit a home run with this product IMO. I will not hesitate to buy this if I were to choose again, and I will definitely recommend this to friends. The power, size and flexibility make it an attractive package! I will not be polishing without the DA Power System in my arsenal.

Score: 9/10
Highly Recommended.
Questions and comments welcomed.





Side track 1:
You may have probably notice that I used a new wash media to wash the BMW and the PS3 this time. It is the famous Grout Sponge. My initial impression with this wash media has been good. It is very soft when soaked in water, rinses clean and release dirt when dipped in rinse bucket due to the large pores, create a tons of suds as you wash as air is mixed with soap water. Squeeze it on your car and a lot of soapy water will come out, allowing you to do a pre-soak. I heard people still on their first sponge after washing 100 dirty cars and not found a grout sponge-induced scratch.

Side track 2:
The Pinnacle Signature Series II paste wax is one of my all time favourite paste waxes. It has a soft and buttery texture. It smell so good you want to eat it instead of spreading on your car. Application wise this is so easy and removal is even easier it almost come off in the wind! As you can see, the look is wet, deep, but also classy and sexy. It is so smooth to touch after a few hours.

--- THE END ---

 

[Orinda Auto Detail]

Nice review! I was hoping for something a little more in depth though:lol2:

 

[Custom Care]

I saw this on the shelf the other day and wondered what it was. I think this could be an awesome addition to the tool collection. The only machine I have is the G110v2 and it looks like I could get this for not too much more than it would cost to find a 3-4" backing plate. I'm thinking it would do wonders for polishing glass and headlight restorations if they make the right pads in the corresponding sizes.

 

[Pats300zx]

Great review. Thanks for sharing. I love the Pro Line Grout Sponges. I have been using them for years as well. They are an awesome wash media.

 

[Todd@RUPES]

WOW that is how a review is done! Excellent!!!!!

The Meguiar's DA Power System seems like such a cool idea (kudos Meguiars) and gives anybody the power to correct paint.

That is the best looking PS3 I have seen!

:bigups:bigups:bigups

 

[BobbyG]

This has to be one of the most exhaustive well written and documented reviews I've seen.....:bigups

Very nice work and results!! :yourrock

This is how manufacturers target various segments of the population. By focusing on cost vs performance, Meguiar's brings "machine" detailing to the consumer at an affordable price. Nearly everyone owns an electric drill but may not have the extra funds to invest in a dedicated polisher. This system allows nearly anyone who's interested in making their ride look better without breaking the bank....

Nicely done Meguiar's!!

 

[Bunky]

This has to be one of the most exhaustive well written and documented reviews I've seen.....:bigups

Agreed on the write up. It helps to have a helper to assist with the photography. Was there a third person involved? I see four hands in one shot.

 

[PPLd]

Nice review! I was hoping for something a little more in depth though:lol2:

Thank you Jsmooth. What details do you need? I will try my best to add that for you.

I saw this on the shelf the other day and wondered what it was. I think this could be an awesome addition to the tool collection. The only machine I have is the G110v2 and it looks like I could get this for not too much more than it would cost to find a 3-4" backing plate. I'm thinking it would do wonders for polishing glass and headlight restorations if they make the right pads in the corresponding sizes.

Hi Custom Care, I believe this DA Power System is not meant to be a replacement of a full size DA, rather it complement it. Sometimes you cant use your DA in tight area such as pillar or mirror, or sometimes you dont want to take it out. The DA Power System will come in handy!

Great review. Thanks for sharing. I love the Pro Line Grout Sponges. I have been using them for years as well. They are an awesome wash media.

Thank you Pats300zx. I found that the Pro Line Grout Sponges are no longer available on Lowes web site. Are they discontinued or what?!

WOW that is how a review is done! Excellent!!!!!

The Meguiar's DA Power System seems like such a cool idea (kudos Meguiars) and gives anybody the power to correct paint.

That is the best looking PS3 I have seen!

:bigups:bigups:bigups

Thank you Todd for your kind words and the Pinnacle SSII wax, it is one of the best wax in the market.

This has to be one of the most exhaustive well written and documented reviews I've seen.....:bigups

Very nice work and results!! :yourrock

This is how manufacturers target various segments of the population. By focusing on cost vs performance, Meguiar's brings "machine" detailing to the consumer at an affordable price. Nearly everyone owns an electric drill but may not have the extra funds to invest in a dedicated polisher. This system allows nearly anyone who's interested in making their ride look better without breaking the bank....

Nicely done Meguiar's!!

Thanks Bobby. I know 5 of my friends already bought a DA Power System!

Agreed on the write up. It helps to have a helper to assist with the photography. Was there a third person involved? I see four hands in one shot.

Thanks Al, a total of 4 people was involved (myself included).

 

[Custom Care]

Short Term Review: http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotive/products/g3500-da-power-system/


*In my opinion, if extra cutting is needed, you may use the 3" Meguiar's DA MF cutting pad and D300 MF Cutting Compound with the DA Pwr Sys.

<The system says my post is too long so I have to cut it into a few parts>

Did you try using 3" pads with the system yet? I picked up the sytem but don't have any 3" pads to try before going out and buying some.