Newbie wanting Pad advice

[Crossfire]

I am presently building my arsenal of pads and polish. I would like advice on what I may want to add. So far I have:

Griot's 6 inch DA
Griot's 3 inch DA
Buff and Shine 5 inch DA Backing Plate
Buff and Shine 3.5 inch DA Backing Plate
2 7/8 Rotary Backing Plate with DA adapter

Menzerna PO106FA
Menzerna SIP PO83
Meguiar's 105
Meguiar's 205
Griot's Pre-wax Cleaner
Griot Polishes 1-4

4 Inch Pads
2 LC CCS Orange
1 LC CCS Yellow
2 LC CCS Green
1 LC CCS Blue
1 LC CCS White
1 LC CCS Black

3 inch Pads
3 Griot's Orange

5.5 inch
2 LC CCS Orange
2 LC CCS Green
1 LC CCS Red
1 LC CCS White

6 inch
3 Griot's Orange
1 Griot's Red

6.5 inch
3 LC CCS Green
3 LC CCS Orange
1 LC CCS White

 

[Old Pirate]

I would start looking into the Lake Country Hydro Tech 5 1/2 x 7/8 Inch Foam Pads and/or the Meguiars DA Microfiber Correction System. Looks like you have a great product selection there Crossfire.

 

[dtuna42]

I am presently building my arsenal of pads and polish. I would like advice on what I may want to add. So far I have:

Griot's 6 inch DA
Griot's 3 inch DA
Buff and Shine 5 inch DA Backing Plate
Buff and Shine 3.5 inch DA Backing Plate
2 7/8 Rotary Backing Plate with DA adapter

Menzerna PO106FA
Menzerna SIP PO83
Meguiar's 105
Meguiar's 205
Griot's Pre-wax Cleaner
Griot Polishes 1-4

4 Inch Pads
2 LC CCS Orange
1 LC CCS Yellow
2 LC CCS Green
1 LC CCS Blue
1 LC CCS White
1 LC CCS Black

3 inch Pads
3 Griot's Orange

5.5 inch
2 LC CCS Orange
2 LC CCS Green
1 LC CCS Red
1 LC CCS White

6 inch
3 Griot's Orange
1 Griot's Red

6.5 inch
3 LC CCS Green
3 LC CCS Orange
1 LC CCS White

Wow. If you have that many pads, and are even buying more, let me know if you want to get of any of your older pads! I really can't imagine you need much more than you already have unless you're doing several cars per day and can't clean and dry them fast enough between jobs.

 

[TLMitchell]

I would start looking into the Lake Country Hydro Tech 5 1/2 x 7/8 Inch Foam Pads and/or the Meguiars DA Microfiber Correction System. Looks like you have a great product selection there Crossfire.

+1, took the words right outta my mouth.

It's obviously true that great minds think alike! :lmfao

TL

 

[Crossfire]

Thank you. I wanted a range of sizes because we have six different vehicles plus a Harley. I am planning on starting some projects for friends etc, but these are mostly for me. Also I forgot to mention that I apply most of my wax and sealants by hand right now so these are chosen for mostly for correction/polishing. I wanted to make sure that I didn't do anything dumb here. My only concern is that I may have wasted money buying the 6.5 inch since many individuals use the 5.5 and claim they work better with a DA.

 

[TLMitchell]

I wanted a range of sizes because we have six different vehicles plus a Harley.

If the H-D is Vivid Black you could be in for some fun. (NOT!) It's softer than anything I've ever polished and is frequently difficult to finish without marring. Plus it swirls if you walk by it too fast. Now that I've found some techniques that work to produce a flawless finish mine's getting Opti Coat to improve hardness and swirl resistence.

My only concern is that I may have wasted money buying the 6.5 inch since many individuals use the 5.5 and claim they work better with a DA.

You aren't wasting money, you're paying for a learning experience. Been there, done that. After trying 5.5 I peddled most of my 6.5" pads except for a few for jobs with really large areas. I usually pass on unused or unneeded stuff on Meguiar's Online Forum in their For Sale section, sometimes via eBay. Most Forums aren't keen on inviting users to peddle stuff because they exist to support their sales. Inviting Forum users to compete with them is understandably less than welcome most places.

TL

 

[Crossfire]

If the H-D is Vivid Black you could be in for some fun. (NOT!) It's softer than anything I've ever polished and is frequently difficult to finish without marring. Plus it swirls if you walk by it too fast. Now that I've found some techniques that work to produce a flawless finish mine's getting Opti Coat to improve hardness and swirl resistence.


You aren't wasting money, you're paying for a learning experience. Been there, done that. After trying 5.5 I peddled most of my 6.5" pads except for a few for jobs with really large areas. I usually pass on unused or unneeded stuff on Meguiar's Online Forum in their For Sale section, sometimes via eBay. Most Forums aren't keen on inviting users to peddle stuff because they exist to support their sales. Inviting Forum users to compete with them is understandably less than welcome most places.
TL

The paint is a very dark blue but looks black. Most people think its black. Its a nightmare to keep swirl free. I tried the Meguiar 105 with a orange pad on Sunday(3 inch Griot) and after buffing it twice (about 5 minutes each time) it looks about the best it has ever looked. I put Klasse on it immediately. Looks to be about 90%.


Thank you. Most of the pads I got on sale(group of six). I thought initially that the 6.5 inch was the way to go since the Griot 6 inch pads do not have enough cut to them. I will still use them, most likely on my wife's jeeps. I will use the 5.5 inch on my Jet Black BMW(worst paint to work on ever) and my Crossfire. Right now I am just going through a learning curve. I think I did well on my choice of polishes and like the the option of going to 4 inch pads on bumpers etc.

 

[opie_7afe]

what i would do is get some more pads of the ones you use alot, from reading on these forums seems to me most use the foamed wool,orange,white,black/grey, for correction work for waxing im sure you dont need any more pads, if you like the pads you're using then just order more of them, or just try different styles of the pads say use flats if you use the ccs or get some hydrotech pads, remember the non flat pads offer alittle less cutting ability due to less surface area but everyone has their own style of pads they like to use. best thing to do is as mike phillips says "find what you like and use it often". but i would just order enough pads so you dont need to wash a pad 1/4 way through removing swirls from your/a clients vehicle. i really need more pads also, but im waiting to get a D/A so i can use pads for the rotary and DA might even just get a rotary BP with the rotary to D/A adapter. im thinking of getting some DA to rotary adapters machined up.

 

[TLMitchell]

The paint is a very dark blue but looks black. Most people think its black. Its a nightmare to keep swirl free. I tried the Meguiar 105 with a orange pad on Sunday(3 inch Griot) and after buffing it twice (about 5 minutes each time) it looks about the best it has ever looked. I put Klasse on it immediately. Looks to be about 90%.

I feel your pain. I found 105/orange to finish pretty well on that soft crap as well. Couldn't get 205 to finish without micromarring no way, no how regardless of what pad I tried. 105 with a finishing pad works well for a final step. Both 85RD and Ultrafina finish great with... of all things... a polishing pad. Seems like you have to work backwards with this soft paint... a compound with a finishing pad or a finishing polish with a polishing pad. Avoiding swirls when wiping off polish or wax/sealant residue is another story entirely.

I've found high quality WW spritzed with M34 or a QD works well for removing residue. Any other MF I used with any nap at all, regardless of plushness or quality, left swirls. Next time I get it just right it's getting Opti Coat. Worked real well on the front fairing. As an experiment I cleaned bugs off the Opti Coated front fairing with a bug sponge and a QD... something that was guaranteed to leave marks before. Came out perfect.

I noticed tanks and most tin to be more problematic than the fiberglass. On baggers and softails the metal comes from York and the fiberglass from Tomahawk, WI. I know the tanks get a clear powdercoat vs traditional clearcoat, figured it might have something to do with holding up to fuel spillage better. I'm thinking the fiberglass gets something stouter because I don't have finishing problems with it.

I will use the 5.5 inch on my Jet Black BMW(worst paint to work on ever) and my Crossfire.

You may want to give Sonax Paint Cleaner a try on that. Reviews have people raving about it's finishing capabilites on soft finishes. Todd Cooperider has an extensive review on DI's site and IIRC Mark used it and gave it his seal of approval as well. It's more of an AIO with wax in it but if it works as well on soft as reports indicate you can always top with something else if that's your preference.

TL

SONAX Paint Cleaner

 

[Crossfire]

I noticed tanks and most tin to be more problematic than the fiberglass. On baggers and softails the metal comes from York and the fiberglass from Tomahawk, WI. I know the tanks get a clear powdercoat vs traditional clearcoat, figured it might have something to do with holding up to fuel spillage better. I'm thinking the fiberglass gets something stouter because I don't have finishing problems with it.



I have the same experience with my 2007 Sportster. The fiberglass finishes like a dream. Do you have a stainless(I think) strip down the center of your tank? Mine is really scratched up and I'm wondering what to use on it. I'm not sure how to remove it since I see no fasteners.

 

[TLMitchell]

Do you have a stainless(I think) strip down the center of your tank? Mine is really scratched up and I'm wondering what to use on it. I'm not sure how to remove it since I see no fasteners.

Dresser with the full chrome console and fuel door pod. The '86 FXR console is chrome too. What do you have with a strip down the middle.. Dyna? Probably polished aluminum. P21S Polishing Soap works well for removing grunge from aluminum. Standard polish and compounding steps by hand may remove some scratches if they're not too deep.

TL