What Pads To Buy

**The Critic** · 03-25-2010, 01:59 AM

Let's say you were going to purchase six or seven LC FLAT pads to use with your new Flex 3401XRG and M105/M205.

Right now, I am thinking:

2 orange-- cutting
3 white-- light polsihing, use most of?
2 grey/black-- for jeweling and LSP

Thoughts? Or should I consider a different "combination?"

Thanks.

**rwright** · 03-25-2010, 05:45 AM

I wouldn't limit myself to just one pad style until I have sampled many. If you already know that just the flat pads work perfect for you, maybe add more of each color. If you have the means to buy say 4 orange, 4 white, 4 gray, etc. Maybe add a couple green and a couple blue pads too. It's always nice to have a variety! Just my thoughts.

Richard

**PAR Detailing** · 03-25-2010, 07:12 AM

^ Like he said, dont limit yourself. I personally love the hydrotechs but I also really like the flats as well. I am officially addicted to pads, you can never have enough of them... lol I find different pads work better in different situations. If you are going for showcar finishes you may want to consider picking up a finishing polish such as menz 85rd

To really answer your question everyone needs more information on you
1. Is this for your personal car or for an up and coming business?
2. What vehicles are you working on?
3. Would you be open to picking up more than just 6-7 pads?

Jon

**The Critic** · 03-26-2010, 12:06 AM

Originally Posted by PAR Detailing

To really answer your question everyone needs more information on you
1. Is this for your personal car or for an up and coming business?
2. What vehicles are you working on?
3. Would you be open to picking up more than just 6-7 pads?

Jon

1) Personal car, maybe a friend's car or two.

2) older Saturn, older Toyota, one newer Honda Fit. All basecoat/clearcoat cars with presumably very soft to medium paint.

3) In the future, yes. But for now, I'm just trying to learn as I have never machine polished before, so I want to "start small" if possible.

Thanks!

**Rsurfer** · 03-26-2010, 01:22 AM

Originally Posted by The Critic

1) Personal car, maybe a friend's car or two.

2) older Saturn, older Toyota, one newer Honda Fit. All basecoat/clearcoat cars with presumably very soft to medium paint.

3) In the future, yes. But for now, I'm just trying to learn as I have never machine polished before, so I want to "start small" if possible.

Thanks!

That's a good start, now go and start detailing.

**Nappers** · 03-26-2010, 03:35 AM

That's a good start, but I use up to 6-8 pads on our Neon and it's a little car and when I was pad poor, it was fun to say the least. I would use up to 3 pads dialing in my process (don't want to cross contaminate products) then use another 4-5 depending on products used. I would wash the first few, get them drying in the sun so I don't run out. It was a pain in the hind end when I only had 4-5 pads.....

If you can get more pads of what you already mentioned, then you would be better off. I tend to have more polishing pads than the others. I think I have 4-6 cutting pads (LC/Meg's) 10-12 polishing pads (LC/Meg's) and a few finishing pads (same) as I wax by hand and don't really car for DA waxing all that much.

I have the LC CCS pads and Meguiar's Soft Buff and Soft Buff 2.0's. currently and not pad poor which makes it handy when detailing a car.

You'll want to double that at least, you won't be sorry......

**Rhudeboye** · 03-26-2010, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by Nappers

I would use up to 3 pads dialing in my process (don't want to cross contaminate products) then use another 4-5 depending on products used.

You'll want to double that at least, you won't be sorry......

Good point on the cross contamination. What do you mean dialing in your process?

**RTexasF** · 03-26-2010, 08:31 AM

I agree that you will need considerably more pads than that. Going with what you requested my choice would be 4 orange & 3 white. Orange is the workhorse for me with white close behind.

**Nappers** · 03-26-2010, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by Rhudeboye

Good point on the cross contamination. What do you mean dialing in your process?

Use a test spot, use a product (start least aggressive first mind you) then move up if needed and get a process dialed up.

My typical dialing in process on our Neon say, M105 followed by M205 and I finish with M66 for giggles then Do Do Wax Banana Armour.....