Need help getting started with my kit!

M

MBPhotos

New member
Hey there everyone, hopefully this is the appropriate section for this, and I'm sorry if it's not!



I just bought the PC 7424XP kit from 3D (the kit for $180)



It came with:



7424XP DA polisher (duh..)

backplate to attach the foam pads

2 pads (one blue and one orange, both are the flat 5.5" ones)

HD Uno (9oz)

HD Poxy (9oz)



Now here are my questions:

#1: I read that the orange pad is for cutting, correct? to remove swirls?

#2: what's the blue pad for? I don't see it on their site. It's "squishier" than the orange one and not as coarse, is this just for the wax?

#3: how should I go about this? (I'll elaborate)



Just to be clear, this is what I THINK your supposed to do:



#1: obviously wash, dry, clay the car first.

#2: apply HD Uno to orange pad and start buffing out swirls?

#3: apply HD Poxy to blue pad and apply then wipe off?



I'm fairly new to this, I've swirl treated our car before, but it was just with an orbital buffer and cotton terry pad covers, this method sucked, therefore I went with this kit.



Please let me know if my steps are wrong and what I should do instead!



I would greatly appreciate any help,

Thanks!

-Mike
 
Mike, before you do anything, you want to start with a test area. I'm not sure about the pads, the orange is probably for cutting and the one you want to use first. You will want to cut/polish the test area, wipe with IPA then inspect with a halogen light or outdoors to make sure you are satisfied with the results, then continue on to polishing with the lighter pad. Whatever you do, don't do the whole car at once without a tested plan.
 
the blue pad is a polishing pad from the hd line (didn't know the still sold them). orange for cutting, blue for polishing. you can use uno with the blue (you may need to).
 
orange pad to cut/polish

blue to apply poxy, but you can use it with uno as well to finish down as well as possible. You'll need something to apply poxy with.
 
Thanks everyone. I did a test panel last night, it looks much better but I still have very fine swirls left that I can't seem to get out, but the major stuff is coming out great. After waxing and everything was done it felt great to the touch, very very smooth, I love it!



Any ideas on getting the smaller swirls out? Should I get another pad? Different polish?



Thanks!

-Mike
 
for more detailed answers you will have to provide more details like what type of paint (color, make, model), what have you done to get where your at (pads and products used). did you use only the orange? how many passes?
 
Dan said:
Mike, before you do anything, you want to start with a test area.
Click to expand...



Like your neighbors '87 Buick. :) Actually, I have learned a lot from working on some pretty hopeless cases. And the owners are thrilled to get something back that is better than they started with.



Once I buffed out exactly half of a friends BMW. Right down the middle. Then I told him I didn't have time for the rest. After a week he bought me dinner and begged a lot. It was a fun week. (evil!)
 
LOL nice one Brad.



As far as info, here you go!:



2009 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 Tored (custom paintjob though) I believe it's tripple clear coated. Mainly red with black striping and silver pin striping. Here's photos of the car for you to check out:

Our new 2009 Challenger SRT-8 - M-B-Photos--Michael Barry | SmugMug



Products are all in the OP. Here was how I went about things:

1. washed/dried car as I do weekly

2. sprayed work area with Mothers detail spray

3. clay barred work area

4. wiped clean with microfiber

5. used HD Uno on orange cutting on speed "6" of the 7424XP

6. wipe off with microfiber

7. used HD Poxy on blue finishing pad at speed "3" of the 7424XP

8. wipe off with microfiber



As far as passes, with the Uno and cutting pad, I did an average of 5-7 going up/down and left/right and about 3 passes the same way with the Poxy and finishing pad.





Hopefully this is enough info, let me know if it's not!



BTW I did the whole hood this way today, it looks fantastic in the sun (can't see even the minor swirls very much and none of the big swirls that were there) I don't have a halogen light, but I used my LED flashlight and that's when I can really see all the very minor swirls. I'll post up some photos when I get a chance.



Thanks again for all the help so far!

-Mike
 
Thanks! I love this beast to death, which is why I'm getting into detailing it more than I did with past cars. I've always done a lot more than the average person but I'm just getting into correctly treating the paint as far as polishing and such goes.



Wouldn't it be bad for me to use the blue pad with the Uno seeing as I have/do use it with the Poxy? Or is it ok if those two get mixed? Would it be better to buy a Polishing pad as well as another Finishing pad and do the following?: Orange cutting pad with uno -> Green Polishing pad with Uno -> Red finishing pad with Uno -> Blue finishing pad with Poxy.



Or maybe just forget about the red pad with Uno and go straight to blue with Poxy?



I'm fairly new to this so I'm somewhat swinging in the dark and going by what I've read on this forum.
 
Alright, here's those before/after shots:



BEFORE:

LL5B9060-XL.jpg




AFTER:

LL5B9059-XL.jpg
 
was just try to work with what you already have on hand. it would fine to use the blue and uno. if you want buying the green and red pads would be a nice addition to you growing collection. i think 3d has a sale going on for the pads. 2 or 3 of each pad would be ideal if your going to do the whole car at one time.
 
Hey Mike,



I don’t have any experience with HD products so I’ll let the others provide the advice. I really just wanted to say hi and welcome you to the forum. I didn’t know you were on here (I’m a local on CT under the same user name). If you would have caught me a couple of months ago I would have had you come over to the house to see if we could work this out together (using some of my tools/products as well if needed). As it is right now, 99% of my time is devoted to our newborn.



Anyhow, one bit of advice I would provide is to really examine your wash/maintenance routine. There is no sense going to all of this trouble to correct blemishes when something particular in your technique, tools and/or products are the main source. I hope you get everything sorted out.



- Kean
 
Hi there,

Well, you seem to be getting some results, but besides using the right pad and polish combination, you would also have to be using the right technique - the right speed of the machine, force, the way you make your passes over the area. A video showing all this would be helpful and should be possible from soneone. I should have one somewhere and can see if I come up with it to pass on.



And btw, it would be good to ensure that you are adopting the necessary precaution as to how to avoid getting swirl marks and "spiders" on the vehicle. You probably know that most such swirls etc. are induced at the washing and drying stages of a vehicle. Right? For example, are you using the "two bucket" system to wash?

Just my two-cents worth



MBPhotos said:
Thanks everyone. I did a test panel last night, it looks much better but I still have very fine swirls left that I can't seem to get out, but the major stuff is coming out great. After waxing and everything was done it felt great to the touch, very very smooth, I love it!



Any ideas on getting the smaller swirls out? Should I get another pad? Different polish?



Thanks!

-Mike
Click to expand...
 
Hey Kean! Of course I remember you from CT, nice to run into you here and congrats on the newborn!!



Show-look, thanks for the input! Unfortunately I haven't started the 2-bucket system or even gotten a grit gaurd. And yes I know this is where the swirls and such are coming from because I don't wipe the car down with detail spray anymore, just a daily dusting with a California Duster at the end of the day when it's in the garage and then wash once a week. I'll take and pick up a couple buckets and grit gaurds, I've been meaning to for quite some time now.



Videos are always helpful, I found a few a while back that helped me get the results I did, trying to imitate their technique best I could.



P.S. Today is my 20th birthday and I'm spending it claying/buffing/waxing the car, is this a sign of developing a problem? LOL
 
Should of answered soon, but been sick with an ear infection.



Just wanted to clarify, the kt you ordered included the older HD Pad. They should still work great though. The Orange is for Polishing and Blue for finishing. As others mentioned, used The Orange with the Uno and Blue for the Poxy. If you have micro marring with the orange, finish with Uno and the Blue pad. Then clean the blue pad and switch to poxy.





Oh and wlecome to the forums.
 
Ear infections are never fun, I feel your pain, get well soon!



Thank you for the input! I'm going to go ahead and get another finishing pad to use with the Uno, that way I can keep using the blue one with the Poxy.



Thanks for the welcome as well!
 
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