First time DA'ing. Have a question!!!

**GLOCKer** · 05-09-2016, 08:42 AM

So I have a Harbor Freight DA; I've bought a backer plate for it and I've changed out the internal gear lube to get it ready to put to my car. I've got a Orange, a yellow, and a black Buff and Shine brand pads for it too. I'll be using a Mequire's Ultimate Compound, Ultimate Polish, and Ultimate Liquid Wax on my black car. What speeds should I be using on the Harbor Freight unit for each of the stages? Thank you!

**refreshauto** · 05-09-2016, 09:25 AM

Full speed for cutting and around 3-4 for the rest

**brettS4** · 05-09-2016, 09:39 AM

Whatever speed keeps the backing plate spinning with your given pressure. But refreshauto probably has it about right.

If the Harbor Freight DA is similar to my old school PC7424 (non-XP) there isn't much difference in speeds below 5. It's sort of a 'high/medium/low' speed machine.

**bugeye** · 05-09-2016, 09:47 AM

Put a black line on the backing plate so you can verify the pad is rotating during buffing. If not rotating, lighten the pressure or increase speed or both.

**Paul A.** · 05-09-2016, 02:43 PM

I like to exert a good deal of pressure for the initial few passes when cutting. That is coupled with full speed (speed 6 on my PC) and slow arm motion as well. A "good deal of pressure" is that which is the maximum to continue my little black line on the BP to rotate as well. I then lighten up if using a diminishing abrasive for maybe another 3-4 passes. For middle polishing and fine polishing i still use some initial pressure but not nearly as much as i crush the pad for cutting. Then the weight of the machine ONLY for the last few-couple of passes.

When i use a SMAT abrasive (M105/205) I use initial but consistent medium pressure throughout all 4-6,7 passes. I sometimes spritz with distilled water after about 4 passes and then do another 3-4 passes.

**ski2** · 05-09-2016, 04:49 PM

If you only have one of each pad you're setting yourself up for failure. Here's an article from Mike Phillips regarding the number of pads you need for each step: http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...ut-my-car.html

**GLOCKer** · 05-10-2016, 08:05 AM

Originally Posted by ski2

If you only have one of each pad you're setting yourself up for failure. Here's an article from Mike Phillips regarding the number of pads you need for each step: http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...ut-my-car.html

Actually I have 3 orange pads, 2 white pads, and one black pad. When I wrote my initial post, I was working from memory. I went through yesterday and organized all of my gear. My car is in really good shape and wont need too much correction. My wife's car on the other hand...
Yeah, I'd need a bunch more pads for it. Her car is black and daily driven and my car is black but is a garage queen!

**brettS4** · 05-10-2016, 08:18 AM

While I agree that having a lot of pads is always a good idea, for over 10 years I detailed a black Audi with only one orange pad and one white pad. But the car had pretty soft paint for an Audi. I didn't need to apply much pressure so I only needed to keep cleaning the pad as I went along.

However, now I have a silver Audi with paint that you is harder than granite. I can barely see any correction with a yellow pad and full pressure. I have to switch pads every 5 minutes so they don't overheat. Three pads are my bare minimum now.