What polishing pads to use?

R

reyo

New member
Hi, I am a complete noob at detailing (not very new to the forum though since I've been reading stuff for months now).



Since I'm only a student so financially, I'm not in the best shape.



Therefore, I bought a not very expensive polisher from CT:

Simoniz Palm Grip Polisher, 8-in. | Canadian Tire



I really don't like the pad, how it's not a real pad and you have to cover it with the polisher/terrycloth cover.



Anyone recommend a good pad for applying wax? (I am using Mothers FX SynWax and Collinite 845)



Thanks a bunch.
 
reyo- Lots of views but no suggestions, probably because nobody uses that machine. I did a quick look-see, and I couldn't find any pads/covers/etc. for it :nixweiss Well a google did turn up this: Amazon.com: Carrand 40407 Microfiber 7-8" Polishing Bonnet: Automotive



Honestly, I'd just do the wax application by hand instead of using it (and I simply *hate* doing stuff by hand if a machine can possibly do the job). I know this isn't what you want to hear, but maybe you could use that MF bonnet to buff the wax off. Guess you could use it to apply too...



Besides the bonnet I linked to, you could try using it to buff the wax *off* using the old trick of laying a plenty-big MF on the panel and pressing the polisher against the MF before turningit on. But of course if something goes haywire you might trash your paint :nervous:
 
Accumulator said:
reyo- Lots of views but no suggestions, probably because nobody uses that machine. I did a quick look-see, and I couldn't find any pads/covers/etc. for it :nixweiss Well a google did turn up this: Amazon.com: Carrand 40407 Microfiber 7-8" Polishing Bonnet: Automotive



Thanks! I realized that too. I think I'm just going to do this the old fashioned way with a hand applicator.



Honestly, I'd just do the wax application by hand instead of using it (and I simply *hate* doing stuff by hand if a machine can possibly do the job). I know this isn't what you want to hear, but maybe you could use that MF bonnet to buff the wax off. Guess you could use it to apply too...



Besides the bonnet I linked to, you could try using it to buff the wax *off* using the old trick of laying a plenty-big MF on the panel and pressing the polisher against the MF before turningit on. But of course if something goes haywire you might trash your paint :nervous:
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Thanks! I realized that too. I think I'm just going to use a hand applicator and do this the old fashioned way. This way I can get the edges and corners better too. I guess this machine is going to sit there and dust for a few years ;D
 
reyo said:
Thanks! I realized that too. I think I'm just going to use a hand applicator and do this the old fashioned way. This way I can get the edges and corners better too. I guess this machine is going to sit there and dust for a few years ;D
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That's probably a good idea (doing it by hand instead) and yeah...sigh...that's sorta the way it goes with machines like that. Eventually they end up in yard sales and then they sit around somebody else's garage for a few years.
 
What type of bonnets are appropriate for each step, such as cleaning/cutting, polishing, waxing and removing wax? How also after cleaning, cutting and or polishing do you remove from the car? Do you do that by hand or switch bonnets constantly because some of the products labels warn not to let it dry on the vehicle. I am thinking of getting the meguires dual action polisher but am new to the entire machine experience. I always did everything by hand with microfiber or terrycloth. Thanks!
 
Once you make the switch to machine polishing with a dual action polisher you'll kick yourself for not having done it sooner.



When using a dual action polisher you don't use bonnets, but different pads for different results. Yellow and Orange pads are more aggressive for use usually with a compound like HD Cut for heavy defect removal, White and green for polishing with something like HD Polish for moderate swirls and black and blue for finish work then red to apply waxes and sealants. Some do use a bonnet over a thick pad to remove wax or sealant after it hazes, but most just remove it by hand with a microfiber towel.



You might want to take a look at the HD Polisher kit offered here by our sponsor--reasonalbly priced and it includes a 5" backing plate, some pads (but you'll need more), a case, some towels and HD Speed. Also, consider their polishing products as they are very beginner friendly with excellent results. 3D International, LLC



Another polisher to look at is the Griots Garage 6" polisher--it is the most powerful of all the standard DAs (which you will appreciate) and it has a lifetime warranty.



I would suggest you watch some instructional videos--do a search on Youtube for Junkman videos as a good place to start.
 
To the OP. If your simoniz machine has a 'scratch loop' then any LSP specific pad will do I think (like Lake Country blue/black/gold. If you dont find 8-inch ones, even smaller ones will do the trick (with proper attention) in the straight surfaces at least.



Alternatively you might want to try asking the same question in the Q&A part of the page you have linked in your post.



Sooner or later though probably you will start thinking about a proper polisher. At least any pad you buy now probably will be usable then as well.
 
agtjamesb007 said:
What type of bonnets are appropriate for each step, such as cleaning/cutting, polishing, waxing and removing wax? How also after cleaning, cutting and or polishing do you remove from the car?
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Generally, IMO bonnets have little use these days. Rather best to use foam or MF pads to apply/work the product and then buff off by hand.



I'll *sometimes* use MF bonnets to remove LSP residue, but that still requires a by-hand follow up to get things just right.



Do you do that by hand or switch bonnets constantly because some of the products labels warn not to let it dry on the vehicle.
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Right, polishes/compounds and some other products should be buffed off before they dry. Best to just do it by hand with a MF cloth (and have plenty of them handy so you're never stuck using a dirty/product-loaded one).



I am thinking of getting the meguires dual action polisher but am new to the entire machine experience. I always did everything by hand with microfiber or terrycloth. Thanks!
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You really oughta get the polisher; you won't believe how much better this stuff goes when the machine is doing a lion's share of the work.



And FWIW, there are *VERY* few situations where I'd ever let terrycloth touch my car's paint. Generally, I'll only do that in cases where I also at least contemplated aggressive measures like, say....wetsanding.
 
You really oughta get the polisher; you won't believe how much better this stuff goes when the machine is doing a lion's share of the work.
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I was looking at the HD one recommended above as well. Now are polishing pads universal or do you need specific ones for a specific machine? My fear is that if they are specific to a machine that they will become obsolete.



And FWIW, there are *VERY* few situations where I'd ever let terrycloth touch my car's paint. Generally, I'll only do that in cases where I also at least contemplated aggressive measures like, say....wetsanding.
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I have heard that before, but then I also see wool polishing pads, foam pads and cotton pads that are a lot more rough feeling than terrycloth. So that confuses me further on what not to touch to your vehicle and what is just marketing. Wool pads? I wouldn't ever think to use that on my car.
 
agtjamesb007 said:
I was looking at the HD one recommended above as well. Now are polishing pads universal or do you need specific ones for a specific machine? My fear is that if they are specific to a machine that they will become obsolete.







I have heard that before, but then I also see wool polishing pads, foam pads and cotton pads that are a lot more rough feeling than terrycloth. So that confuses me further on what not to touch to your vehicle and what is just marketing. Wool pads? I wouldn't ever think to use that on my car.
Click to expand...



The pads are universal-- 5.5"pads on 5" backing plate, 6.5" pads on 6" backing plate etc etc.



The pads are rougher as they are used in the step when you are correcting defects--towels are used after the correction is complete so you need them to be soft.
 
agtjamesb007 said:
I have heard...[about what should/shouldn't touch paint]... before, but then I also see wool polishing pads, foam pads and cotton pads that are a lot more rough feeling than terrycloth. So that confuses me further on what not to touch to your vehicle and what is just marketing. Wool pads? I wouldn't ever think to use that on my car.
Click to expand...



As pwaug suggested, the polishing media that's used to "work" an abrasive product when leveling paint is a different case from any other "touching" of the paint. You sometimes need this media to be aggressive to "cut" the paint down in order to "sand away" defects.



Once that abrasive/mechanical work is done, you want to only touch the paint with much softer stuff, and this includes the pads used for final polishing and waxing.



While terry can seem very soft, note that gently touching most auto paint with a very soft piece of cotton terry will often result in marred paint. Maybe not anything really awful, but not acceptable to many of us nonetheless.
 
agtjamesb007 said:
So a DA polisher not only does a better job than by hand, but makes the work easier also?
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Right. Nothing to worry about, it's merely a "fast hand that doesn't get fatigued".
 
Well, I went ahead and purchased the Griots 6" DA. I hope I am happy with it. The only thing throwing me of now is my decision on the pads. I purchased several lake country 6.5" pads: Orange, for some light cutting/paint cleaning, white for polish and black for wax. There are so many pads, i think four different colors for wax application alone. I hope I made the right decision and it would do me a disservice down the road. Do they make microfiber pads? shouldn't those be used for wax application?
 
Well, I went ahead and purchased the Griots 6" DA. I hope I am happy with it. The only thing throwing me of now is my decision on the pads. I purchased several lake country 6.5" pads: Orange, for some light cutting/paint cleaning, white for polish and black for wax. There are so many pads, i think four different colors for wax application alone. I hope I made the right decision and it would do me a disservice down the road. Do they make microfiber pads? shouldn't those be used for wax application?
 
Well, I went ahead and purchased the Griots 6" DA. I hope I am happy with it. The only thing throwing me of now is my decision on the pads. I purchased several lake country 6.5" pads: Orange, for some light cutting/paint cleaning, white for polish and black for wax. There are so many pads, i think four different colors for wax application alone. I hope I made the right decision and it would do me a disservice down the road. Do they make microfiber pads? shouldn't those be used for wax application?
 
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