Using DA vs Circular buffer to buff paint job

[Bwingard]

First time poster, and have enjoyed the expertise and passion on the forum! I purchased a Porter Cable 7424XP DA, and have been polishing on my car collection ever since. The most aggresive cleaner/polish I have used so far has been the Meguires 105, and have been very successful in removing swirl marks and other defects with it. However, I have a car that was painted 4 years ago that looks really good, but the clear coat has what I call 'micro bubbles' in it. Professional shops would probably buff these out with a circular buffer, but I have never used one, and I have been warned that it is very easy for a novice to ruin a paint job with one of these type buffers. So, I got the PC out and the 105 and attacked the rear deck. After 10 or 12 apply, buff off, and repeat attempts with an orange LC pad, I figure I am halfway there! Is there a product that I can use with the DA buffer that will get me to the promised land quicker?

Many thanks,

Barry

[Mike Phillips]

First time poster, and have enjoyed the expertise and passion on the forum!

I purchased a Porter Cable 7424XP DA, and have been polishing on my car collection ever since. The most aggresive cleaner/polish I have used so far has been the Meguires 105, and have been very successful in removing swirl marks and other defects with it.

However, I have a car that was painted 4 years ago that looks really good, but the clear coat has what I call 'micro bubbles' in it. Professional shops would probably buff these out with a circular buffer, but I have never used one, and I have been warned that it is very easy for a novice to ruin a paint job with one of these type buffers.

So, I got the PC out and the 105 and attacked the rear deck. After 10 or 12 apply, buff off, and repeat attempts with an orange LC pad, I figure I am halfway there!

Is there a product that I can use with the DA buffer that will get me to the promised land quicker?

Many thanks,

Barry




Hi Barry,

Since this is your first post - welcome to AGO! :welcome:

M105 is a quality compound and what is considered an aggressive compound. When using the Porter Cable 7424XP to get more cut without changing compounds or without changing tools you're next option is to change pads.

The Lake Country Orange foam pads are good for compounding but there are more aggressive pads you could try. If this was a Griot's Garage 6" DA polisher I'd recommend different pads, pads that are more aggressive but at the same time thicker than the pads I'm going to recommend below.

When it comes to these types of free-spinning tool, pad rotation (and oscillation) is a must in order to effectively remove defects, (remove paint). No pad rotation and the pad is virtually vibrating against the paint and that's not going to do anything, at least in your lifetime.

So with the PC you want to stay with thinner pads versus thicker pads. Below are a line of thin foam pads that rotate like a son-of-a-gun and have very aggressive foam formulas.


Foam pads

Here is a list of foam pad options available on Autogeek.com that will fit the above listed 5" backing plates



Lake Country Pad Manufacturing



Lake Country ThinPro Foam Pad System 5.5 Inch (http://www.autogeek.net/lake-country-thinpro-5-inch.html) <--Get the grey pads

Meguiars 5 Inch DA Foam Discs (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-da-foam-discs.html) <-- get the maroon pads





Microfiber pads

Here is a list of microfiber pad options available on Autogeek.com that will fit the above listed 5" backing plates


Lake Country

5 1/4 Inch Microfiber Cutting Pads - 2 Pack (http://www.autogeek.net/414inulmipad.html)



Buff and Shine

5 inch Buff and Shine Uro-Fiber Pads (http://www.autogeek.net/uro-fiber-5-inch.html)



Meguiar's

Meguiars DMC5 DA Microfiber Cutting Discs - 5 inches (http://www.autogeek.net/5in-microfiber-cutting-discs.html)



Griot's

Griots Garage 5 inch Micro Fiber FAST Cutting Pad (http://www.autogeek.net/griots-mf-pad.html)


If you start with microfiber then make you second step using foam to avoid any micro-marring issues.

Also note that more pads are better. In a perfect world, one-pad-per-panel. As pads get wet, especially foam cutting pads - they lose their aggressive cutting characteristics.

With microfiber pads - the individual fibers are a form of abrasive and there's less ability for the pads to be come saturated or soggy with liquid so they don't lose their cutting ability like foam. They do load up with residue so you will need to clean them often.


:)

[Mike Phillips]

Also...

The above pad info was taken from this article I wrote just a few months ago...

Here's what you need to get into machine polishing - Recommendations for a beginner by Mike Phillips (http://tinyurl.com/y736nudd)


AS you scroll down the article there is a TON of information that will help you PLUS links to even more information that will help you.

So take a gander... and if you have not watched the video in post #2 then please do watch the video and note the tip about placing a black mark on your backing plate.



:)

[Mike Phillips]

I purchased a Porter Cable 7424XP DA




Do you have the 5" backing plate or the 6" backing plate?

It makes a HUGE difference as to the useable power available from this tool.



:)

[Bwingard]

Not sure-out of town till Sunday, but it is the Velcro backing plate. And, I did not apply very much pressure, but certainly can and will if that is the key!


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[Bwingard]

Wow, Mike, that was a lot of information! But it was all exactly on point and what I needed, and thank you. I am ordering a mixed bag of the various thin foam and micro fiber pads so I can get the job done and form my own opinions of whose product I want to use going forward. I am fired up and ready to get started!

Barry


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