This is it guys, I need help choosing my products

[Buffer_Wannabe]

I'm buying my DA tomorrow, and will need some compounds, polishes/glazes, sealants and waxes. Also, help with car soap, chrome cleaners, wheel cleaners, interior cleaners, and any tools/brushes I may need.

Sorry for asking so much, but I have a lot of faith in you guys to steer me straight.

What's a good light cutting compound?

Medium cut?

Polish?

Sealant?

CCS pads vs. flat?

Feel free to address as little or as much as you want. I am not demanding answers, and will be grateful for any and all help. Thanks ahead of time, you guys rock.

Btw, I will have questions regarding other aspects of starting up a detailing business, but first things first. And before anyone tells me to "practice" first, yes, I plan on doing a number of vehicles (8+?) before charging someone. Cheers.

[Thomas Dekany]

You can make this simple. Very simple. HD UNO, HD POLISH HD POXY. Cut, Polish, Finish, Protect.

All the pads you would need are also available from Autopia. So are 3D Pink car soap,3D Green APC, 3D Yellow degreaser, 3D deep blue polish (metal), 3D liquid Leather.

You will get very good prices, saves on shipping charges as well, and you will get easy to use products that perform very well. And in the process, you support this wonderful site.

USE COUPON CODE TD5.

I can provide direct links to all the products. Just let me know. Follow the link

3D Car Care - Car Wash, Car Wax, Auto Detailing supplies, Car Polishers, Car Buffers & accessories store

[Buffer_Wannabe]

Thanks, I'll look into those things.

What's a good substitute for foam pad conditioners? I don't want to pay $12 for a small bottle. Can a quick detail spray be used?

And what about HD Speed? I'm sure some people might not need a concours level job done. Would it be good for quicker jobs where swirls are not a huge issue?

[Nth Degree]

As a foam pad conditioner I usually use H2O. Any quick detailer should work fine.

As for pads, each has their place. I use a variety of pads on every detail, but if I had to pick one it would probably be flat pads; very predictable. But a variety of sizes is necessary.

Compounds and polishes: My staples are: M105, D300, Menzerna Power Finish, Menzernal 85rd. I might use something different by choice, but these can accommodate 90+% of what I do.

I like Blackfire BFWD/AFPP. If I need speed I like Optimum Opti-Seal or BFCS, depending on color.

[MCA]

As a foam pad conditioner I usually use H2O. Any quick detailer should work fine...

I have noticed that some quick-detailers have a negative impact on polish performance when used as a foam pad conditioner. The ingredients (whatever they are) causes smearing, uneven polish breakdown times and subsequent gumming, increased difficulty in removing from paint surface, etc. A very fine mist of water will work well, but in my opinion, Meg's #34 is the best for foam pad priming. #34 also happens to be quite frankly the most versatile QD out there (IMO)...it is a shame that it gets forgotten quite easily on every forum.

[Thomas Dekany]

Speed is of course a great choice for quick jobs. I personally don't use a pad "conditioner. Don't need it with the HD polishes.

Thanks, I'll look into those things.

What's a good substitute for foam pad conditioners? I don't want to pay $12 for a small bottle. Can a quick detail spray be used?

And what about HD Speed? I'm sure some people might not need a concours level job done. Would it be good for quicker jobs where swirls are not a huge issue?

[Buffer_Wannabe]

Thanks for all the great answers. On top of trying to get opinions, I'm studying like a man posessed. I'm reading every article I can, and watching a ton of videos. I know they're no replacement for actual experience, but the more I know going into it, the more comfortable I'll be once I pick up that machine for the first time.

I just ordered Meg's G110 DA, and 6 various Lake Country CCS pads from AutoGeek.

As far as Uno, is it considered a medium cut abrasive? But I realize that what pad is used and time taken will also affect amount of correction. There's only so much info on the product page.

[Buffer_Wannabe]

Also, what's a good OTC compound I can use for "practicing" until I get enough money to buy some serious supplies?

[Accumulator]

I personally don't use a pad "conditioner. Don't need it ...

Same here, at least not with RO/DA machines.

As far as Uno, is it considered a medium cut abrasive?

That's an OK assessment; IMO there are a whole lotta variables that make it kinda tough to pigeonhole products into categories. That said, another "medium cut" product that's also very user-friendly is Optimum's Hyper Spray Compound. But you could probably do *VERY* well just sticking with the 3D/HD approach with only two abrasives (and multiple pads).

I just ordered Meg's G110 DA, and 6 various Lake Country CCS pads from AutoGeek.

OK on the polisher, but I think you made a mistake buying those CCS pads. The "dimpled" type of pads are one of the few types that I utterly *hate*. When they prove unsatisfactory and you're ready to get some decent ones, look into MF cutting pads and flat/"regular" foam polishing and finishing ones. Like the ones 3D/HD sell to compliment their Uno and Polish

[Buffer_Wannabe]

I think you made a mistake buying those CCS pads. The "dimpled" type of pads are one of the few types that I utterly *hate*.

Could you elaborate a bit more?

[Buffer_Wannabe]

You can't go wrong with Megs Ultimate compound and polish. Available at Walmart and everywhere else really.

Yeah, I've already tried Ultimate Polish and like it. I've also heard Ultimate Compound is a decent product. I just need to watch my $$$ carefully right now, and some of the high end products are a bit pricey. Plus, Meg's is available everywhere these days.

[Accumulator]

Could you elaborate a bit more?

I have only limited experience with them as it was immediately apparent to me that the dimples were a bad idea. I want a more uniform surface, holding a uniform amount of product, when I polish. And I don't want "dimples"/etc. retaining either product (and Q: will it be "dried out" product or "fresh" product anyway?...who knows... perhaps a mixture of the two? ) or cut-off paint.

I think of the dimples as a marketing gimmick at best, but IMO they could actually lead to performance/result issues if the dimples retain stuff.

Repeating- MF cutting pads, smooth polishing/finishing pads. Period. I myself don't even recommend SurBuffs, at least not for somebody who doesn't already have a lot of experience with this stuff. And with the MF cutting pads, I don't see any compelling reason to recommend wool pads either. Yeah, yeah...I know, I *do* use 'em but again, it's in that "if you have to ask..." category.