Buying Meguiars DA polisher, What do I need?

[sasson]

Hello, I am going to buy a Meguiars DA polisher today or tomorrow.
Now I am not an expert with Machines that's why I need you guys!
I understand there are Many different pads for every single thing used on the car... I want to buy all the pads I need in order that I will be Able to make a perfect Detail on my car.

What Pads/Rotary and Extra Items I need when I am buying this Machine? I got Nothing yet.
Please help me and even Include the Smallest things needed like Foam pad CLEANERS... ( and polish pads... finishing... Bonets for removal... I am just naming stuff I just saw... ).

Thank you all for your help! Hope to be a Great detailer Soon AND how I get it soon!

*Please Note That I have nothing for any type of machine, means I need to BUY everything from scratch.

[BobbyG]

I've found that the 5 1/2" pads work best with these machines so make sure you have the correct backing plate.


A perfect match!



Lake Country Backing Plate (http://www.autogeek.net/lc43125.html)
Lake Country Flat Pads (http://www.autogeek.net/lake-country-beveled-pad-kit.html)



Foam Polishing Pads (http://www.autogeek.net/lake-country-beveled-edge-pads.html)


Yellow Low Profile Cutting 5.5 inch Foam Pad - Use this pad to apply compounds or polishes to remove severe oxidation, swirls, and scratches. It is the most aggressive and should only be used on oxidized and older finishes. Always follow this pad with an orange or white pad and a fine polish to refine the paint until it is smooth.

Orange Low Profile Light Cutting 5.5 inch Foam Pad - Firm, high density foam for scratch and defect removal. Use this pad with polishes and swirl removers. It’s an all around pad that will work on most light to moderate imperfections.

White Low Profile Polishing 5.5 inch Foam Pad - Less dense foam formula for the application of waxes, micro-fine polishes and sealants. This pad has very light cutting power so its perfect for pre-wax cleaners.

Gray Low Profile Finishing 5.5 inch Foam Pad - Composition is firm enough to withstand added pressure during final finishing to remove buffer swirls. It has no cut and will apply thin, even coats of waxes, sealants, and glazes.

Blue Low Profile Finessing 5.5 inch Foam Pad – Flat pad has soft composition for applying glaze, finishing polish, sealants, and liquid waxes. Flat pad provides full contact with paint surface to minimize the pressure applied by the user.

I've also found BlackFire's pad cleaner to be one of the best pretreatment sprays om the market.


Blackfire Advanced Pad Cleaner (http://www.autogeek.net/blackfire-advanced-pad-cleaner.html)



Since you're new to dual action polishers, here's some great information by Mike Phillips that will help you.



Sectional Pass With a DA Polisher (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-car-garage-how-videos/24074-show-car-garage-video-how-do-section-pass-when-machine-polishing-da-polisher.html)
Removing Swirls (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/tricks-tips-techniques/20021-definitive-how-article-removing-swirls-scratches-water-spots-using-porter-cable-7424xp-g110v2-griot-s-garage-polisher.html)
DA Trouble Shooting Guide (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/37769-da-polisher-trouble-shooting-guide.html)
Waxing With a DA Polisher (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/pinnacle-wax/28651-how-machine-apply-wax-using-da-polisher.html)
How to prime a foam pad when using a DA Polisher (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/35292-how-prime-foam-pad-when-using-da-polisher.html)
DA Polisher Articles - Help for Newbies to Machine Polishing (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/questions-about-porter-cable-7424xp-7424-7336-griot-s-meguiar-s-dual-action-polishers/38399-da-polisher-articles-help-newbies-machine-polishing.html)
How to MAXIMIZE your DA Polisher (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/27166-how-maximize-your-da-polisher.html)

[cartman57]

Meguiars G110v2 Dual Action Complete Kit FREE BONUS (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-da-foam-pad-kit.html)

Good starting point, AGO has a lot of package deals.

[Setec Astronomy]

I'm not sure there are really a lot of different pads for everything on the car, but there sure are a lot of brands of pads and different series within those brands. To just take one series of one brand, the LC flats Bobby G posted, if your cars aren't trashed, you should only need the orange, white, and either the gray or blue. Yellow pads are ok but you usually only need them on the worst vehicles. I never really understood why there are so many finishing pads, black, blue, red, gold, etc.

I think the more important thing to understand about pads, is you have various grades of aggressiveness...just like with polishes. The overall aggressiveness of your machine polishing is a combination of the pad, the liquid, and the machine speed.

Just to make it more complicated, there are also the Surbuf and microfiber pads. The Meg's and Optimum have cutting and polishing grades, while the Lake Country is a single grade. I really like these pads (mostly used the Meg's and the LC not at all), but the technique/process is a little different from foam pads.

So my advice is to pick a series of pads, get a small number of heavy cutting pads, a larger number of light cutting (usually orange) and polishing, and a smaller number of finishing (I don't really like to machine apply LSP's so I don't use many).

[TH3M B0N3Z]

Hello, I am going to buy a Meguiars DA polisher today or tomorrow.
Now I am not an expert with Machines that's why I need you guys!
I understand there are Many different pads for every single thing used on the car... I want to buy all the pads I need in order that I will be Able to make a perfect Detail on my car.

What Pads/Rotary and Extra Items I need when I am buying this Machine? I got Nothing yet.
Please help me and even Include the Smallest things needed like Foam pad CLEANERS... ( and polish pads... finishing... Bonets for removal... I am just naming stuff I just saw... ).

Thank you all for your help! Hope to be a Great detailer Soon AND how I get it soon!

*Please Note That I have nothing for any type of machine, means I need to BUY everything from scratch.

I'll list everything I bought when I first did a true detail on my car.

1. Porter Cable 7424XP
2. Lake Country Hydro Tech cyan (cutting) & tangerine (polishing) pads (6.5")
3. Meguiar's Ultimate Compound (works amazingly well for maintained paint that has minor to moderate defects... worked really well on my paint)
4. Meguiar's Ultimate Polish
5. Lake Country 6" backing plate

That's what I started out with and I have no complaints with the results I got. The LC pads are great for water-based polishes because they don't soak up a lot of product unless you're using way too much. And if the pads become saturated, just soak them in water and squeeze them out gently, all the polish will come out easily.

I also use a Lake Country Hydro Tech crimson finishing pad when I seal the paint. Makes waxing effortless and you get a nice thin coat that is easy to buff off by hand.

Hope this helps you. It can be overwhelming because you want to get the right stuff the first time. I somehow decided on getting all the mentioned products when I first started and they all worked out really well with no issues.

Also, I know you want to get the Meguiar's DA polisher, but the Porter Cable 7424XP is a great choice, as well. I've read nothing but great reviews on it, have used it myself many times, and it's a damn solid polisher. Plus it's cheaper than the Meg's polisher, lol. It's all your choice, though. When I first bought my PC, I considered getting the Meg's and even the Griot's DA, but after researching all 3, I finally chose the PC and it was a really good choice. I'd buy that thing again in a heartbeat.

[sasson]

I've found that the 5 1/2" pads work best with these machines so make sure you have the correct backing plate.


A perfect match!



Lake Country Backing Plate (http://www.autogeek.net/lc43125.html)
Lake Country Flat Pads (http://www.autogeek.net/lake-country-beveled-pad-kit.html)



Foam Polishing Pads (http://www.autogeek.net/lake-country-beveled-edge-pads.html)


Yellow Low Profile Cutting 5.5 inch Foam Pad - Use this pad to apply compounds or polishes to remove severe oxidation, swirls, and scratches. It is the most aggressive and should only be used on oxidized and older finishes. Always follow this pad with an orange or white pad and a fine polish to refine the paint until it is smooth.

Orange Low Profile Light Cutting 5.5 inch Foam Pad - Firm, high density foam for scratch and defect removal. Use this pad with polishes and swirl removers. It’s an all around pad that will work on most light to moderate imperfections.

White Low Profile Polishing 5.5 inch Foam Pad - Less dense foam formula for the application of waxes, micro-fine polishes and sealants. This pad has very light cutting power so its perfect for pre-wax cleaners.

Gray Low Profile Finishing 5.5 inch Foam Pad - Composition is firm enough to withstand added pressure during final finishing to remove buffer swirls. It has no cut and will apply thin, even coats of waxes, sealants, and glazes.

Blue Low Profile Finessing 5.5 inch Foam Pad – Flat pad has soft composition for applying glaze, finishing polish, sealants, and liquid waxes. Flat pad provides full contact with paint surface to minimize the pressure applied by the user.

I've also found BlackFire's pad cleaner to be one of the best pretreatment sprays om the market.


Blackfire Advanced Pad Cleaner (http://www.autogeek.net/blackfire-advanced-pad-cleaner.html)



Since you're new to dual action polishers, here's some great information by Mike Phillips that will help you.



Sectional Pass With a DA Polisher (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-car-garage-how-videos/24074-show-car-garage-video-how-do-section-pass-when-machine-polishing-da-polisher.html)
Removing Swirls (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/tricks-tips-techniques/20021-definitive-how-article-removing-swirls-scratches-water-spots-using-porter-cable-7424xp-g110v2-griot-s-garage-polisher.html)
DA Trouble Shooting Guide (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/37769-da-polisher-trouble-shooting-guide.html)
Waxing With a DA Polisher (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/pinnacle-wax/28651-how-machine-apply-wax-using-da-polisher.html)
How to prime a foam pad when using a DA Polisher (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/35292-how-prime-foam-pad-when-using-da-polisher.html)
DA Polisher Articles - Help for Newbies to Machine Polishing (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/questions-about-porter-cable-7424xp-7424-7336-griot-s-meguiar-s-dual-action-polishers/38399-da-polisher-articles-help-newbies-machine-polishing.html)
How to MAXIMIZE your DA Polisher (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/27166-how-maximize-your-da-polisher.html)


That's GREAT! Thank you! and thank you all for your answers.
May I ask, What's the different and what's better ?:
Lake Country CCS or the Regular Lake Country Flat Pads?
Is the CCS better in everything? or should I get some colors on CCS and some regular Lake Country? or just all CCS?
Thank you again! I want to buy this right now!:dblthumb2:

[DaveT435]

I would order a 3" plate and small pads to get the smaller tighter areas.
As some one else mentioned the PC seems to be the most durable machine...the Griot's has a little more power and a lifetime warranty. My first Megs machine quit half way through the second car. Now I have a PC and another Meg. The Meg is rarely used and is showing signs of dieing...

[sasson]

Please Answer me Guys, Before the Deal ends.
What's different and what's better ?:
Lake Country CCS or the Regular Lake Country Flat Pads?
Is the CCS better in everything? or should I get some colors on CCS and some regular Lake Country? or just all CCS?
Thank you again! I want to buy this right now!

[BobbyG]

Please Answer me Guys, Before the Deal ends.
What's different and what's better ?:
Lake Country CCS or the Regular Lake Country Flat Pads?
Is the CCS better in everything? or should I get some colors on CCS and some regular Lake Country? or just all CCS?
Thank you again! I want to buy this right now!

Personally, I'm fond of the 5 1/2" Lake Country Flat (http://www.autogeek.net/lake-country-beveled-pad-kit.html) and Lake Country Hydro-Tech (http://www.autogeek.net/hydrotech-low-profile-3pack.html) foam pads above CCS pads...

Also, take a good look at Meguiar's DA Microfiber Correction Kit (http://www.autogeek.net/da-microfiber-starter-kit-5in.html). This is an incredibly effective tool and the results are amazing...

[ihaveacamaro]

Please Answer me Guys, Before the Deal ends.
What's different and what's better ?:
Lake Country CCS or the Regular Lake Country Flat Pads?
Is the CCS better in everything? or should I get some colors on CCS and some regular Lake Country? or just all CCS?
Thank you again! I want to buy this right now!

I definitely like flat better. Not that I get better results, but it annoys me when product fills up into the holes on the CCS pad and in my experience, that attribute has not been helpful.

Also, for some reason, my CCS pads will deflate in the middle, while the flat ones stay the same shape.

[Johny B]

I definitely like flat better. Not that I get better results, but it annoys me when product fills up into the holes on the CCS pad and in my experience, that attribute has not been helpful.

Also, for some reason, my CCS pads will deflate in the middle, while the flat ones stay the same shape.
+1