Newbie to DA polisher: help to decide which pads to use?

[szjalo]

Hi all, I've been here for long. I a college student and also detailing amateur. Take detailing business as my part time job. detailed few cars over the months, charge a little, just try to earn some gas money . I truly love this business, and enjoy every minute in autogeekonline, seeing people who do this for a living.

I've been working with my hands only. For long I feel they are just enough to finish my work. Recently a customer came to me and ask to remove the etching water spots on the entire hood. I applied all the rubbing compound by hand, and that really worked my arm and ass off(thank god the result was pretty good). Then I figure out I may need to put some money buy a DA polisher.

NOTE I have a very limited budget(roughly $200, including machine), colleges nowadays are never good at being generous in scholarship. on the other hand my girlfriend will freak out because I buy myself a $200+ "crap (in her eyes)" instead of giving her a gucci..

Now after some search I 90% sure my first DA would be GG 6''. the life time warranty is just too charming. However I am totally lost in choosing pads.

My first thought is Meguiar's MF pads. But they seems like 5.5'' and I dont know if they fit the GG 6''. Also I've no idea whether those pads can use M105/ 205, and other customer line polishers(all I have :-( sad..). BTW they are also more expensive, seems a cutting pad + a finishing pad already meet my limit (sad)

Then CCS pads look certainly good. but they have so many and I really dont know what to choose so I can get the result I want and dont surpass my poor budget.

I am also open to any other choices.

I understand I can also use different backing plates, different pads, different premium polishing products, try myself out all these different combinations to achieve the professional effects. Just like most of you are doing here. I simply cannot, which is truly upsetting.

So what will you recommend me to buy? what combination do you think I can get decent result from(never expect to be perfect, just hope can do little surface correction easily......I dont need waxing pads, enjoying hand waxing always), without spending too much money?


Thanks all a lot in advance!

[Flash Gordon]

Look at the thread right below this one

[Mike Phillips]

I just posted this to a similar thread but the information is just as appropriate here,


If you want to remove swirls you really want to get a 5.5" backing plate and 5.5" pads. You can do it with 6.5" pads but the larger diameter and thicker design dissipates the energy coming out of the tool and this shows up as reduced ability to rotate under pressure.

When you remove swirls, you're applying downward pressure to the head of the polisher, 15 to 20 pounds and you want to see the pad rotating.

Here's a couple of threads on backing plates and pads...

5 1/2 inch and 6 inch Buffing Pads on Autogeek's Online Store

5 Inch Backing Plates for DA Polishers - Pictures and Links


This covers everything you're going to want to do from start to finish...

E-book
(Displayed on iPad - iPad not included)


Paperback


Mike Phillips' Principles of Machine Polishing