Newbie looking for first polisher

[Angus]

Angus, thanks for this post. I have a PC, but still sitting in the box. Researching pads, polishes, etc., and I think you just simplified it perfect for me.

Thanks!

Glad to hear it! From my own experience, picking out a DA was the easy part. But figuring out what pads > compound > polish > LSP was overwhelming.

[SilverVRoom]

Wellcome to Autopia!

How that you`ve settled on a polisher, I would highly recommend picking up:

BP: 5" (Dual Action Flexible 5 inch Backing Plate)
Pads: 3 Orange and 3 White 5.5" Lake Country flat pads (Lake Country 5.5 Inch Flat Pads 6 Pack - Mix and Match to create your own 6 pack!)
Compound/Polish/Wax: HD SPEED (3D HD Speed 32 oz.)

The results of using the above combo will put a nice big smile on your face

Why would you reccomend this all-in-1 product instead of having separate products? Also, if I do get this one step product, why get all of the pads? Sorry, I have VERY limited knowledge about detailing. Thanks for the recommendation and help.

Also, what about the quality of the mothers polish that I can just pick up from Walmart?

[04blkpearlcoupe]

Why would you reccomend this all-in-1 product instead of having separate products? Also, if I do get this one step product, why get all of the pads? Sorry, I have VERY limited knowledge about detailing. Thanks for the recommendation and help.

Also, what about the quality of the mothers polish that I can just pick up from Walmart?

There are basically 3 types of pads: Cutting (most aggressive, hardest foam, or wool), Polishing (mildly aggressive), and Finishing (non-aggressive, softest foam).

If you will only be removing swirls and light scratches, then you probably won`t need a cutting pad. Cutting pads are for heavy paint correction like taking out sanding marks. That`s why I had to use my rotary at full speed with rubbing compound on my freshly painted car panels - to take out the colorsanding marks. I then followed up with a polishing pad and polish. The paint came out great without the need for a finishing pad. A finishing pad is also good for applying wax. All my pads are the $7 HF 5.5" pads.

I`m not familiar with the Mother`s polish, but if you only buy one polish, I recommend Meguiar`s 105. It corrects 1500 grit sanding marks and also finishes well, but just like all medium-duty polishes, if you want a truly flawless showcar finish you will have to follow up with something like Meguairs Ultimate Compound or Show Glaze #7 (which really isn`t a glaze) to get out every trace of swirls. Those are both light/"final" polishes. But with Meg`s 105 alone you can get to where you might see some fine swirls in the sun`s direct reflection at 4 feet away.

And once you`re done polishing, you`ll need to apply a wax or sealant because the paint will be completely bare. There are some All-In-One polishes available that have wax or sealant in them so you can save yourself that final step. Examples: HD Speed polish from 3D, McKee`s 360.

My freshly painted hood after colorsanding, compounding and polishing:

hood-after.jpg

[nickclark08]

Not to mention, I don`t do this for a living. Having 30 different polishes, etc is too expensive to try out when they will just be used on 1 or 2 vehicles (mine and my wife`s).

I know it`s autopian heresy, but I`m honestly not looking for perfection. Just better than 12 year-old swirled up paint. No garage queens in this house

HD speed to clean things up, throw on some FK1000p to protect everything, call it a day. I`m liking where this is going....

Glad to hear it! From my own experience, picking out a DA was the easy part. But figuring out what pads > compound > polish > LSP was overwhelming.

[nickclark08]

Megs Ultimate Compound and Ultimate Polish would be better bets for something you can find from Walmart, etc. In addition to HD speed mentioned by Angus, I might pick these up too.

While polishing, your pads will get filled up with polish residue and gunk. Having more than one pad of each type (cutting, polishing, etc.) can help speed things up, as you wont be cleaning and reusing that one pad over and over as you go around the car (waiting for it to dry, etc.) Just chuck the used pad in your cleaning bucket, grab a new one, and keep rolling around the car. more time efficient.

Why would you reccomend this all-in-1 product instead of having separate products? Also, if I do get this one step product, why get all of the pads? Sorry, I have VERY limited knowledge about detailing. Thanks for the recommendation and help.

Also, what about the quality of the mothers polish that I can just pick up from Walmart?

[Angus]

Why would you reccomend this all-in-1 product instead of having separate products? Also, if I do get this one step product, why get all of the pads? Sorry, I have VERY limited knowledge about detailing. Thanks for the recommendation and help.

Also, what about the quality of the mothers polish that I can just pick up from Walmart?

All good questions!

For starting out, using a AIO like HD Speed will give you the best bang for your $. It`s a dead simple product that yields amazing results. The reason you want a bunch of pads is simple: residue control. By having at least 3 pads (of two different cut types) allows you to rotate them while you go around the vehicle: ready to use > in use > washed. Clean pads will yield the best results in the shortest amount of time.

Additionally overloaded pads can explode on you! I`ve had it happen once - when I was starting out. Thankfully nothing was damaged other then my nerves...

I can`t comment on using Mother`s polishes - but I`m sure someone else can?

[Angus]

I know it`s autopian heresy, but I`m honestly not looking for perfection. Just better than 12 year-old swirled up paint. No garage queens in this house

I don`t know man.... detailing is addicting... before you know it you will have 30 different polishes!! Ask me how I know...

HD speed to clean things up, throw on some FK1000p to protect everything, call it a day. I`m liking where this is going....

Perfect! Nice and simple.

[Angus]

Megs Ultimate Compound and Ultimate Polish would be better bets for something you can find from Walmart, etc. In addition to HD speed mentioned by Angus, I might pick these up too.

Megs Ultimate Compound and Polish are great OTC products for sure. Heck most of Megs products is awesome. However keep in mind by going to a 2 step:

• You`ll more than doubling the time involved (vs using an AIO)
• You`ll need additional microfiber towels to wipe off 2X as much spent product
• Megs UC and UP will create dust and are oily = You may need to wash your car prior to applying your LSP to make 100% sure you`ve removed all of the oil and dust left behind by UC and UP.

[Accumulator]

I know it`s autopian heresy, but...

Heh heh, now you`re starting to sound like me, even if we are on different sides of the Daily Driver fence

HD speed to clean things up, throw on some FK1000p to protect everything, call it a day. I`m liking where this is going....

That is one *VERY* sensible approach and a *GREAT* way for somebody to ease into the whole "detailing with a polisher" thing.

[Accumulator]

And yeah...every person starting out with this stuff oughta probably buy more pads than they think they need. Having a clean pad, and a spare or three because [stuff] happens, really is that important.

[Accumulator]

Accumulator, your right on the spelling on what I wrote, ( I think I`m more dense then ever )..

Heh heh, I`ve sure BTDT enough times!

[nickclark08]

It was on your recommendation that I got FK1000p, so your preaching about its virtues worked

Truly is pretty awesome stuff if protection, durability, and ease of cleaning are top priorities (for a DD, these should be IMO).

Heh heh, now you`re starting to sound like me, even if we are on different sides of the Daily Driver fence



That is one *VERY* sensible approach and a *GREAT* way for somebody to ease into the whole "detailing with a polisher" thing.

[Accumulator]

nickclark08- Glad, but not surprised to hear it`s working for you. And I do appreciate feedback, even when it turns out I was wrong.

[danlc95]

I`m always coming across old Porter-Cable 7424, and 7424xp type tools locally on Craigslist. I just picked one up for $50.00!

I`ve always enjoyed using Meguiar Ultimate line. I pair it with green, blue, and red Buff and Shine pads. I also keep a few microfiber pads with me, just in case the green pad struggles.

Another option is the PC, and Meguiar`s D/A microfiber correction system. It`s simple two step process.

Step 1 - Remove damage
Step 2 - Refine the finish/lay down wax protection.

It includes:
two microfiber cutting pads
two microfiber finishing pads
D300 Correction Compound
D301 Finishing Wax

And I believe a 5" back plate, and pad conditioning brush.

There really isn`t much these two set ups can`t address. Ultimate Compound and Polish also work great with microfiber pads. I even use Ultimate with my Rupes tools and pads.

[Mary B]

Think you guys have finally sold me on HD Speed and FK1000