Variable contour Lake Country pads, swirls, dodge, lots of ?'s

A

Asmodaus

New member
I've used Lake Country Variable Contour 7.5" pads exclusively because I'm new to the PC and this is what I bought. Any opinions post them here. I need more info.



I have a 2004 dodge durango. Black. it has cobwebs and swirls in the direct sunlight, otherwise it looks great.

I used the white at first with Meg #7. 7 didn't break down well and didn't do anything. Greasy. Love it my hand, didn't like it with the PC. Just went on forever.

I used a white pad with Meg #9 2.0 swirl remover. Really nice polish. Didn't do much but shine it up.



I then used a white pad with #83. At first I stated it removed about 50% of the swirls, but this was overstated. Maybe 15 to 20%. And I have some scratches I've never seen before pop up. Maybe, I've just never looked that hard. But, It shined it up like a diamond in a cat's ***.



So I then go to #83 with an orange pad. I started early today. I thought this was really going to solve my swirl problem. I had no success. I really worked it too. I spent 3 hours just on one portion of the truck. I felt like I was going to damage the paint and finally backed off. I start out at speed 2 coat with product, then move up to 5. I worked it hard. I let it work under its own weight, I applied pressure, i even used the edge of the pad because the contour pads don't hit it as evenly. So then I start thinking, maybe its my pad! I need a regular old flat pad. I finally gave up and just finished off the job.



Like I said I used #83 with an orange. It really didn't leave any micromaring, but I went over it with a white pad and #9 anyway. It really shined it up. 9 seemed to work better with the swirls anyway. Maybe it's just an illusion. But like I said, it's only a year old. It shines well anyway. Finished it off with Klasse using the pc and a black pad. Had the hang of Klasse about a 1/4 of the way through the job. Thin layer, rub it off quickly. Produced the best results.



I'm at a loss. I'm guessing the Dodge clear coat is really hard. I didn't budge it. Advice on anything is welcome gurus of polish and paint. :bow
 
dodge clear can be pretty hard. I ended up using 3m rubbing compound to take out swirls cause the menzerna didnt budge em either.
 
I would go to a bit smaller pad. The one time I used a PC with a 7.5" pad on it, I felt like the machine was bogging down much more than it does with the 6.5" meguiars pads I usually use. Also for spot repairs maybe look into some 4" pads also. I'm going to order some along with the new Lake Country Constant Pressure Pads to try on both my PC and my new rotary which should be arriving soon :D
 
A 7.5 on a PC is not going to give you any power. If you switch to a 4" pad, you will see a night and day difference in speed and efficiency. Also, don't bother to polish on less than 6, you're just wasting time. Switch to a 6" or 4" (preferably) pad and crank it up to 6, and your faith will be rewarded :). 7.5" pads are really made only for an experienced user + a rotary.
 
FYI:



Megs #7 has no abrasives, just oils and fillers. It's useful after you've got all the swirls out.



Megs #9 has mild abrasives, oils, and fillers. Despite the name, it won't remove swirls.



They are alternatives; you wouldn't use both of them.
 
The VC pads from LC are made for rotary buffers to control splatter, not for the PC. Also, it's way too big of a pad, use 4" or 6" like mentioned before. #7 is just a glaze to use between polishing and waxing for a deeper shine. If #83 isn't doing it, try a more aggresive small pad, if that doesn't do it, a rotary buffer is the way to go. Also, try Malco's Rejuvenator or Foam Pad Polish, is more aggresive than the #83 and doesn't break down as quick and I get the small bottles for about $5 so it's cost effective.
 
I know 7 is just a polish, but I had it so I used it. I loved #9's polishing ability but it is not a swirl remover. #83 is even better, it polishes just as good as 9 or better. Minor swirls were removed.

How about the other meg products more aggressive than 83. Are they a no no with a pc?



Thanks for all your help. I'll try the 4"pad. I sould sell all these VC pads I have.



That dodge clear coat is hard!
 
#7 is not a polish by any stretch of the imagination, #9 is very, very mild, closer to #82 neither of which I would ever use, too mild to do much. Both are milder than #80 and #83 is the most aggresive product I would use with a PC. If you enjoy adding swirls to your car, try #84 or #85 as they are their most aggresive products, although they are for rotary only, the PC will do a good job of adding more swirls ;)



It could just be that besides improper pad and product selection, you don't know how to use the PC, are you adding enough pressure (4-5 lbs is recomended by Meguiars), are you going slow enough (unlike the rotary, the PC has to be worked extremely slow). If #83, the proper pad and the proper technique doesn't work, save that 7" VC pad and buy a rotary buffer and learn how to use that.
 
It doesn't help matters that Meg's uses terms like "polish" and "cleaners" differently from how most of us would...#7 is a "pure polish" (i.e., nonabrasive), while #83 has "cleaners", meaning "abrasives". [Sigh] As if this weren't complicated enough.



[quote name='Asmodaus']

How about the other meg products more aggressive than 83. Are they a no no with a pc?

... I'll try the 4"pad...QUOTE]



An alternative you might try is the *new*, *reformulated* #2. This is more aggressive than #83 and, *unlike the familiar, old #2* it can be used by hand/PC. To make sure you get the new version, I'd call Meg's and specifically ask for it when you talk with the rep. Other than that, I wouldn't use anything more aggressive from the Meg's line with a PC.



The 4" pads will help quite a bit, but unless you want to try a different line (Hi-Temp comes to mind), I'd get some of the *NEW* #2.
 
#2 is not a diminishing abbrasive like #83 so you have to be more careful using it, but #2 is rated as being less aggresive on Meguiar's scale (printed on the front label) than #83. The next step up in their scale is #84 which is more of a traditional rubbing compound used with a wool pad on a rotary to remove sanding marks and then followed up with a less aggresive product. My guess is that if you used something so aggresive with a PC will leave swirl marks in the shape of it's orbit pattern. Personally, when #83 doesn't cut it, I go with Malco Foam Pad polish or their Rejuvenator but I use a rotary.
 
Is a diminishing abbrasive pretty much what it sounds like? I'm guessing its abrasive ability diminishes the longer you work it.



I'll try the 4" pads closer to the fall. I'm wore out and it's been high 90's here. Maybe I'll get the itch sooner.



I must say the Klasse AIO is awesome. I see less swirls in direct sunlight than ever before. It did more with one application to hide the swirls then all my pc work. Some cobwebbing is still there but, I went over the hood a second time just to ensure even coating and it looks wet. A+ product there. I want to try the p21 with it.



As for my technique, yeah I think it's good. I've been practicing a lot! I used advice from these forums and my own experience. Some people say let the wieght of the PC work, you say apply 4 pounds of pressure. I've done both.



As for a rotory, I don't think so. I could really mess up my paint with that. I don't trust myself.
 
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