Product & pad combo - need verification

rtcat

New member
Hello all,



I received a PC and an assortment of pads (white, yellow and grey) from CMA for Christmas. Based on info sent with the pads and what I’ve seen on this site my plan is to use the following pad and product combos for my first attempt with the PC this holiday weekend.



1. Dawn wash

2. Meg Medallion Paint Cleaner with a White pad

3. 3M SMR (for dark cars) with a White pad

4. #7 Show Car Glaze with a White pad

5. #26 with a Grey pad



Am I using the correct pad for the product, described above?



Thanks in advance for any input/advice.



David
 
rtcat- Welcome to Autopia. Yep, you have your pad/product combos right. If you feel your Medallion needs more "oomph", you might try the yellow pad with it.
 
I wouldn't use anything on the Porter Cable for polishing expect for the yellow pads. I feel the rest are a waste of time and money, just a marketing gimmick to get customers to stock all different types of pads.



For the Glaze and any other type of protectant I would use the drak grey/black pads. The white pad if a mild cutting verison (not strong but cutting pads and glaze are designed for each other).
 
I've used the yellow pad with the Meg. Paint Cleaner on a 96 white civic that had never been touched (let alone washed).



Incredible results. It chomped through everything and left the paint primed for glaze and wax.
 
joed1228 said:
I wouldn't use anything on the Porter Cable for polishing expect for the yellow pads. I feel the rest are a waste of time and money, just a marketing gimmick to get customers to stock all different types of pads.



For the Glaze and any other type of protectant I would use the drak grey/black pads. The white pad if a mild cutting verison (not strong but cutting pads and glaze are designed for each other).



Um ... call me pedantic but the first part of your post says you would only ever use the yellow pad then you go on to say you would use the gray and white pads too.



Now im confused.



:confused: :confused:



Myself I use a purple Megs cutting pad with compounds and the yellow polishing pad with glazes or AIO.



Theyre the only 2 i use.
 
I'd worry about the #7 loading up the finishing pad, though I'll admit it's been a while since I've used it. No biggie either way, as long as you have spares handy. Yeah, the yellow pads do polish a LOT better than the white ones, but I figure someone just starting out might want to be extra careful, even with the "fool-proof" PC. FWIW, I use FCRC/WOOL on mine when need be, but I sure don't recommend it to others very often :D



OH..and note/remember that CMA/Lake mfg. use different color coding than Meg's. Meg maroon=CMA yellow; Meg yellow=CMA white; Meg beige=CMA black (as I recall)
 
Smoker - Nice to know people keep me on my toes.



Let me re-type this for the ball busters ;)



I only use the yellow pads with my PC. Everything else is done by hand (application of wax, glaze, ploymers).



IF you were to use a pad to layer glazes, waxes or polymers I would use the black/grey (whatever you call it). Do NOT.......... use the white pad, it is designed for cutting, not for finishing.



I don't use anything but the yellow pads, if you want to use a finishing pad use the black/grey.



Did I miss something Smoker?
 
Well I was confused .. and I knew what you were talking about :P



I'm virtually the same as regards only using cutting pads.



The others, especially the Megs 'Beige' is virtually worthless.

It doesnt seem to remove anything, just moves it around the paintwork.



I can buff off twice as fast by hand with an MF towel.



If I have a big truck to do I do use an oversize (7.5") Megs yellow polishing pad on the PC to get the AIO worked in faster.



Seems to do the trick, and no it doesnt vibrate much at all.



:xyxthumbs
 
I'm new to using the PC and I wanted to confirm what I learned from this thread...white is for cutting while yellow is for polishing? I have the white PC pad that came with the PC, can i use this to apply #9 or should I use meg's yellow pad instead? Thanks!
 
You need to clay before polishing. You want the surface to be clean and smooth.



From Geekysteve Most agressive to least

1. Wool Pad + DACP or FI-II

2. Wool pad + SMR

3.Yellow pad + DACP or FI-II

4.Yellow pad+ SMR

5.White pad + DACP or FI-II

6.White pad + SMR

7.White pad + Glaze

8. Grey/black pad + wax or glaze



good luck
 
Porterhouse said:
I'm new to using the PC and I wanted to confirm what I learned from this thread...white is for cutting while yellow is for polishing? I have the white PC pad that came with the PC, can i use this to apply #9 or should I use meg's yellow pad instead? Thanks!



Actually, you have it backwards:



Yellow (from CMA) = cutting

White (from CMA) = polishing



When referring to the colors, we are speaking about the pads that are available from CMA. Meguiars also sells pads and they have their own color combinations.



We are not referring to the white pad that comes with the PC. Some do use the white pad that comes with the PC for #9. However, many of use it for a beer coaster while detailing. :D
 
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