Making first purchase

[Rydis]

Appreciate it everyone. One question I have those with the pads..which I am seeing the trend lol. Why 2 orange ones? I am still looking how-tos and videos..and from my understanding orange is really only used for minor type repairs/swirls. So why would you need too of them for 1 car if im using only 1 compound?? Thats how I was dictating the pads..by the compound/polish/sealent/wax being used so I didn't mix any.

I went with the 5.5 pads because I have a smaller car..and figured i would work in smaller areas..just seem easier to go with 5.5.

[Irish]

Pads tend to gum up a bit when compounding and polishing and lose their cutting power.

Not bad at all for a first purchase. I would definately look into some quality microfiber though. AG sells a few kits that you may want to look into.

[turbos17]

Originally Posted by trichard

[Quote: I]Pad size makes no difference - user error does! [/I]

IMO this is a very bold statement and is wrong. I guarantee that pad diameter does come into play with both the 1st gen pc and the pcxp. Yes you are correct that the pc and pcxp both have enough power to keep the pad rotating, but as you have eluded to yourself, your ability to add varied pressure is decreaased with the use of a 6.5" pad. Aslo with the 5.5" pad there is more pressure from the backing plate applied directly to the pad surface. You are correct that both pads will adequately correct paint, it is just my opinion that simple physics dictate that a 5.5" pad will do it quicker and more efficently

P.S. True the pad cleaner is really not necessary, it just makes it a lot easier to clean pads and is a very efficent product that works very well to remove polish residue and leave pads like new...

Bold statement or not I am right as I have used both and their WAS no difference in pad rotation, correction time, etc. I am sure others will chime in "Asphalt Rocket"

[DARK HORSE]

Originally Posted by Rydis

Appreciate it everyone. One question I have those with the pads..which I am seeing the trend lol. Why 2 orange ones? I am still looking how-tos and videos..and from my understanding orange is really only used for minor type repairs/swirls. So why would you need too of them for 1 car if im using only 1 compound?? Thats how I was dictating the pads..by the compound/polish/sealent/wax being used so I didn't mix any.

I went with the 5.5 pads because I have a smaller car..and figured i would work in smaller areas..just seem easier to go with 5.5.

In order of most to least aggressive:

Orange = cutting pad
White = polishing pad
Grey/Blue = finishing pad
Red = too soft

Always try the least aggressive combo first (i.e. try the white pad/light polish first to see if you can achieve the desired results). Chances are unless you have a new car or an already reasonably very good finish you will need the orange pads. You need at least 2 because they become ineffective after they become to saturated with polish. At this point you will need to change to a new clean dry pad. You then need to follow the orange pad up with a white one to polish out any haze left behind from the orange pad. Many do a three step correction. As an example many would use something like either: (example purposes of a starting point only/you need to experiment to see what works best for you)

M105 (or) WG TSR - Orange or white pads
M205 (or) WG FG - Gray or blue pads
Menz85rd(da) - Blue pads

I recommend applying waxes and sealants by hand, you will use a lot less product and many find it very rewarding to apply the LSP by hand.

Tad

[DARK HORSE]

Originally Posted by turbos17

Bold statement or not I am right as I have used both and their WAS no difference in pad rotation, correction time, etc. I am sure others will chime in "Asphalt Rocket"

This "Asphalt Rocket"

ASPHALT ROCKET
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 2,202 Re: Taping before polishing...
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Quote:ASPHALT ROCKET

Stick with 5.5 foam pads on your da, wool really doesn't work well with your da, unless you step up to the surbuff wool pads.
If you are going the rotary route I use the 3M Superbuff III wool pads, kompressor pads and some lc pads. The wool is 9 inch I believe and the foam pads are 6.5 and 5.5.
If you need anything more than an orange pad use wool, it is easier to use, cuts/levels the paint better and in the ebd the finish will look better if you cut with a foam pad to start with.
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Last edited by ASPHALT ROCKET; 01-04-2010 at 10:19 PM.

[Rydis]

Originally Posted by trichard

In order of most to least aggressive:

Orange = cutting pad
White = polishing pad
Grey/Blue = finishing pad
Red = too soft

Always try the least aggressive combo first (i.e. try the white pad first to see if you can achieve the desired results). Chances are unless you have a new car or an already reasonably very good finish you will need the orange pads. You need at least 2 because they become ineffective after they become to saturated with polish. At this point you will need to change to a new clean dry pad. You then need to follow the orange pad up with a white one to polish out any haze left behind from the orange pad. I didn't realize you were planning on only using a one step polish, many of us do at least a 2 step, if not a 3 step. As an example many would use something like either:

M105 (or) WG TSR - Orange pads
M205 (or) WG FG - White pads
Ultrafina(rotary) (or) Menz85rd(da) Blue pads

I recommend applying waxes and sealants by hand, you will use a lot less product and many find it very rewarding to apply the LSP by hand.

Tad

Isn't the 105 for compound and 205 for polish? Is that any different then optimums compund and then polish? That seemed like to steps but I could be wrong??

[DARK HORSE]

Originally Posted by Rydis

Isn't the 105 for compound and 205 for polish? Is that any different then optimums compund and then polish? That seemed like to steps but I could be wrong??

Yes it is two steps.
105 is a fast cutting compound and 205 is a finishing polish to restore gloss after using the 105. Some people (myself included) even do a 3rd step final polish (like Menzerna 85rd) to jewell or bring out even more gloss in the paint. Yes Optimum also makes a compound and polish as well. The main difference is Optimum uses diminishing abrasives and M105/205 uses SMAT technology that utilize non-diminishing abrasives. (cuts faster). I have never used Optimum. Rydis, it would help to know what kind of cars you are working on, what shape the paints are in, and what do you want to accomplish (finish wise). Then we can probably supply better feedback as to what polishes and pads would truly benefit you.

[DARK HORSE]

Originally Posted by turbos17

Bold statement or not I am right as I have used both and their WAS no difference in pad rotation, correction time, etc. I am sure others will chime in "Asphalt Rocket"

Looks like others have and continue to chime in...

5.5 vs. 6 inch pads

Mike.Phillips@Autogeek
Director of Training
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,980 Re: 5.5 vs. 6 inch pads

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Quote:
Originally Posted by bodavenport
With respect to the Griotts machine are the 6 inch pads too big to do moderate correction?

No. At least not from my experience and I've used this tool quite a bit and usually pushing it to it's limits. It's not a rotary buffer but it can keep a 6" and even a 6.5" pad rotating under normal pressures and that's what a rotary buffer does.

I will also rotate a 7" pad like the Meguiar's Softbuff pads but for any correction work smaller diameters will always rotate better.

Smaller pads and thinner pads rotate better than thicker pads and larger diameter pads on tools with Free Rotating Spindle Assemblies.

__________________
Mike Phillips
Director of Training
1-800-869-3011 x206
Mike.Phillips@Autogeek.net

"Find something you like and use it often"

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[Rydis]

I have a Chevy cobalt ss. Its an 06 with minor swirl marks and scratches. Im just looking to try and achieve like new/better then showroom shine. Red btw.

[DARK HORSE]

Originally Posted by Rydis

I have a Chevy cobalt ss. Its an 06 with minor swirl marks and scratches. Im just looking to try and achieve like new/better then showroom shine. Red btw.

You said in your first post that you were going to purchase Optimum Compound II 32 oz. & Optimum Polish II 32 oz; like I said above, I have never used Optimum compound/polish, but I have used m105/m205, Menzerna, and Wolfgang compounds/polishes and can tell you that any of these three will accomplish what you want to do. If you really do want a better than new/showroom finish, than what ever 2 step correction you choose I would recommend a final 3rd "jewelling" step using Menzerna PO85rd and a blue pad. As I stated earlier if you are only going to purchase 6 pads; at the very least get (5.5" pads) in the following colors:
2-orange
2-white
2-blue

A grey would also be nice (You can use a grey to do minor clean-up with a finishing polish occasionaly)

More are always better. I use at least 3, and usually 4 of each/ average size car. That way when they gum up you can change them and clean and dry them when your'e done.