For the Pros... Post your effective combos!

[The Driver]

This just a very general corrective chart, nothing fancy. Assuming this is a very generic boxy vehicle where tighter more technical spots won`t come into play.

Cutting ~ (Anything deeper than a single pass)

Matters most
Time - Megs 205, MF Pad, Rupes 21/Flex Pe
Cost - HD Uno, Rupes Blue, Rupes 21
Clarity - Fg400, Rupes Cutter, Rupes 21

Finishing ~ (Anything within a single pass)

Time - FG400/FF2500, Rupes Green, Flex 3401/Rupes 21
Cost - Megs 205, Rupes green/CCS Orange, Flex 3401/Rupes 21/Rupes 15
Clarity - Sonax 3/6,FF2500, Rupes Green/Yellow. Flex 3401/Rupes 15

[Mike lambert]

Rupes zephir on any rupes polishing pad
Rupes diamond or carpro reflect on white rupes pad,or yellow pad

[mrclean81]

I`ve not used much this year other than HD Adapt. I pair it up with a variety of pads from Megs or B&S microfiber pads, to foamed wool, to B&S foam ranging from blue all the way up to orange. I can get the cut of a heavy compound, and the finish of a good polish from the same product just by changing the pad. Its also the best 1 step product I`ve ever used in my life. As for machines, the DeWalt 849x and GG6 get the job done for me.

[bswombaugh]

I`ve not used much this year other than HD Adapt. I pair it up with a variety of pads from Megs or B&S microfiber pads, to foamed wool, to B&S foam ranging from blue all the way up to orange. I can get the cut of a heavy compound, and the finish of a good polish from the same product just by changing the pad. Its also the best 1 step product I`ve ever used in my life. As for machines, the DeWalt 849x and GG6 get the job done for me.

Spot on with the HD Adapt. Flex 3401with B&S microfiber pads. The Adapt works and finishes so well I don`t spend a lot of time trying other combinations. On lighter colored vehicles I would say this combo works over 90% of the time without having to use any additional polishing steps. The HD Adapt and the B&S microfiber pads have been major game changers for me this year. I have yet to find a paint that I could not finish with Adapt and the right pad.

[The Driver]

I`ve heard ALOT about adapt. It`s definitely a must try for me especially being a whole new layout, AAA vs Smat an Dat.

[PPLd]

I dont detail for money.
I am a Meguiar`s guy when it come to paint correction:
Cutting:
M100, D300, or UC combined with different pads like orange or MF

Polishing:
Swirl X, M205 or UP combined with different pads like white or black

By using different pads and products, I can cater the need for hard or soft clear.
That being said, I have PO85RD and Ultrafina with me.
use them on constant pressure black pad gives good result.
SwX is similar to 205, but much cheaper /oz so I use it regularly.

[Concours.John]

Meg`s 205 with the latest MFFD followed by LC crimson just to clean up because of sticky paint. 2 pic before LSP. Hood with emblem shot Americoat

[wendell jarvis]

I`m going with my go to Polishes
MENZERNA FG400 and SF4500.

[Troy@Protekt]

cutting

Wolfgang Uber Compound ( easier to work with than M-105 )
Meguiar`s M-105 ( a bit more aggressive than Uber on hard finishes)

I change the pad according to how hard the finish is-

Car Pro Flash Pads for hard finishes
Meguiar`s MF Finishing Pads for medium finishes and
Lake Country CCS Orange Foam Cutting Pads for soft finishes

finishing

Optimum Hyper Polish. Again, I use different pads depending on the hardness of the finish (all foam)

LC CCS Orange Cutting Pad (Broken in) for hard finishes
LC CCS Black Finishing Pads on all other finishes

I really am impressed with Car Pro`s New Flash Pads. They give you the best cut without comprimising the finishing ability of your compound.

I switched to the Flash Pads for Headlight Restoration too. Speeds up the polishing process quite a bit.

[VetteMan]

How does the Car pro flash pad compare to say the LC hybrid Orange cutting pad on hard clear coats?

cutting

Wolfgang Uber Compound ( easier to work with than M-105 )
Meguiar`s M-105 ( a bit more aggressive than Uber on hard finishes)

I change the pad according to how hard the finish is-

Car Pro Flash Pads for hard finishes
Meguiar`s MF Finishing Pads for medium finishes and
Lake Country CCS Orange Foam Cutting Pads for soft finishes

finishing

Optimum Hyper Polish. Again, I use different pads depending on the hardness of the finish (all foam)

LC CCS Orange Cutting Pad (Broken in) for hard finishes
LC CCS Black Finishing Pads on all other finishes

I really am impressed with Car Pro`s New Flash Pads. They give you the best cut without comprimising the finishing ability of your compound.

I switched to the Flash Pads for Headlight Restoration too. Speeds up the polishing process quite a bit.

[Justins00ss]

Menzerna PF2500 with a white CCS pad. Great one step with cutting a finishing ability.
FG400 with a Orange CCS pad followed by SF4000 on a blue or black CCS pad.
Once and while I use IP2000. Great cutting/finishing but does dust some.

All of these work great with my 3401.

[RaysWay]

FG400 + Hybrid Power Finish (Blue or Orange) Pads + FLEX 3401 on most paint systems.

[Troy@Protekt]

How does the Car pro flash pad compare to say the LC hybrid Orange cutting pad on hard clear coats?

It`s been a while since I`ve used one of the LC hybrids but I remember them not cutting as well as microfiber. These Flash pads cut better than microfiber pads.

[chuck2417]

Not a pro, weekend warrior.

Two Step:
Cutting: FG400 or M105 with mf cutting pad from meg and Rupes 15 or GG 6 inch
Polishing: HD Polish, M205 (foam pad, depending on hardness will change the color)

One step:
HD Adapt, it is my go to with a mf cutting pad from meg or B&S
I really can`t say enough about HD adapt, for the price and performance I haven`t found anything better. For cutting you can`t beat M105 of FG400. For polishing, on most paints you don`t need another step after HD Adapt evne with a mf cutting pad

note: not doing show cars, daily drivers!

[zerix]

Also not a pro but HD Adapt is AWESOME stuff, I`ve now used it on 3 different vehicles, even on glass and everything has come out wonderful.