Advice needed...

[AutoDLR]

I have a small dealership and am working on a simple, quick detailing process for our used vehicles.

Right now I am using a PC 7424 with white pads and MEGS #66. I can go over a vehicle once and do a pretty good job as far as polish/glazing/wax and don’t have a lot of time involved.

My question is sometimes we get vehicles that have some heavier scratches/swirls that the MEGS #66 w/white pad just can’t get out.

I would like some advice on which:

Pad, yellow or orange

Product, Being it’s for business, it needs to be fairly inexpenseive. It also must work well with MEGS #66 afterwards.

PC speed, can I still keep it set at 3.5 or would I need to change the speed?

Again it doesn't have to be show car perfect.

Thanks in advance.

[Setec Astronomy]

Well, addressing the pad issue, generally speaking I find the orange pads to be phenomenal, in terms of better cutting than a "white" pad while still not leaving marring. I would have no hesitation using that for what you are doing. As far as the polish, this is in the same vein as the #66, not sure if it is as "waxy", but I have had excellent results using a similar product with an orange pad even on black cars.

EDIT: It seems that #66 is only a 4 on the cut scale...if you use that Laser Buff I linked with an orange pad, IMO you will be able to acheive much better defect removal than you are getting now. Run the PC on 5-6 and make sure you have a good backing plate.

[paradigm]

pad...orange LC for most moderate swirls and minor scratches. i haven't used a yellow LC yet, but have been 85-95% successful so far w/out it.

speed...minimum 5 when doing corrections...otherwise you will need too much pressure, too aggressive of a pad...or have to do too many passes and waste time.

after the orange LC you'll have to step back down to the the white pad and a finishing polish

.02

[AutoDLR]

If I went over a vehicle with an orange pad and the lazer buff, would I then do another pass with MEGS #66 and white pad?

[paradigm]

i haven't used #66...but when i use an orange pad w/ DACP (#83) or SSR-2.5 i always need to go back with a white pad and lighter product (SSR-1 or OP)

[Setec Astronomy]

I wouldn't...but I'm sure you'll have some other opinions.

[Accumulator]

I'd get a 4" backing plate/pad setup for those deeper scratches. No point wasting time when doing it commercially and that's the most efficient (and most effective too) way to do correction with the PC.

Noting that everyone has their favorites and there are few *bad* products out there these days, I'd look into Hi-Temp's Heavy Cut for your aggressive product AVAILABLE HERE . We used lots of Hi-Temp stuff (via Cyclo, not too different from a PC w/4") when I had our dealership. This oughta finish down nicely enough that the #66 will be an OK follow up.

[Setec Astronomy]

i haven't used #66...but when i use an orange pad w/ DACP (#83) or SSR-2.5 i always need to go back with a white pad and lighter product (SSR-1 or OP)

Maybe I've just been lucky, or I don't know what I'm doing, but I thought other people have said that SSR2.5 finishes down fine enough to not need a followup. I used SSR2.5/LC orange on a black Altima and it came out fine (enough...there was significant bird etch pits that I knew weren't going to come out...but I didn't feel the need to follow up for gloss).

[paradigm]

SA- it could also be my inexperience and/or wanting it to be "too perfect"...i've had the two products finish down and look really good...i just thought it's better to "finalize" the process. i'm probably being too picky and making more work for myself sometimes.