Pad(s) for KAIO

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SwedishRider

New member
I've been doing quite a bit of research about polishing pads in general (and specifically those that are best for KAIO). I really like the hex logic pads by CG, but I'm a little unsure of which is best. Given that KAIO is an AIO, CG recommends their green pad for AIO products. It has more cut than their white polishing pads. My understanding is that their pads go in this order from most aggressive to softest:

Yellow -> Orange-> Green-> White-> Blue-> Black-> Red

Assuming no correction is done before the KAIO (like a Meg's Ultimate Compound or something like that) would their Green pad be the best for KAIO? Or is there a case to be made for the orange or white pad. My thought is that a straight use of KAIO would be with a green pad. But if I need more correction, use Meg's Ultimate (or equivalent) with orange cutting pads first, and then follow with KAIO by hand (or with white polishing pads) and then a hand application of KSG. Does that sound right?

Here's CG's explanation of their pads:

 
The other way to look at this is to use either the orange, green, or white pads with KAIO depending on how much correction the paint needs. Lighter correction would call for white, heavier correction use green or orange.

CG V4 AIO looks pretty interesting as well. Seems to be CG's version of KAIO. Anyone have any experience with it?
 
I don't think you can just generically compare AIO's like that--KAIO is basically a non-abrasive, it's more of a cleaner...it's not like most other products. I personally wouldn't go any coarser than a white pad (in the LC lineup) although the green may be ok.

PS You don't want to get too far off-nominal with your pad/product selection...you don't want to be using a compound with a finishing pad, and you don't want to be using a fine polish with a cutting pad. If the "nominal" pad for KAIO is white, you can go up/down one pad...but not 2 or 3. My 2 cents.
 
SwedishRider said:
Here's CG's explanation of their pads:
Click to expand...

Very straight forward video.

Interestingly. Greg calls the red pad a sealant (or fine waxes) pad and states he dedicates the black for waxes. It sounds more like to prevent cross contamination than the foam difference (soft vs super spot) having a real functional difference.
 
I think white it is. The videos of Greg from CG using white for their V4 AIO are primarily white pads as well. I guess this is a case of going with the softest polish/pad that will get the job done.
 
KAIO won't do any correction unless the pad is so aggressive that the foam does the cutting.

I like the firmest, most open-pored pad that is still gentle enough to have zero cut in-and-of itself. So a "regular polishing pad" instead of a light cutting pad or a finishing pad.

Why something firm?!? I just like them better for KAIO and they stay OK when saturated with product (well, up to a point, there's a limit..).

Basically, it's a personal-preference thing once you ascertain that the pad is gentle enough to not cause any micromarring. I've done fine with all sorts of pads with KAIO, just have my favorites and my also-rans.
 
Accumulator said:
I like the firmest, most open-pored pad that is still gentle enough to have zero cut in-and-of itself. So a "regular polishing pad" instead of a light cutting pad or a finishing pad.
Click to expand...

So are you in the blue pad camp then (of the CG hex logic pads)? That pad has essentially no cut when used on a DA, and is the firmest of the Blue-> Black-> Red spectrum.
 
SwedishRider- Based on your description, yeah it sounds like I'd use their Blue pad for the KAIO. Eh, IMO it's a personal preference thing so you might have a different take on it. Shouldn't be a deal-breaker in the functional sense either way though so see what you think.
 
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