What pads to use...

WuNgUn

WuNgUn

New member
Gonna grab a Porter Cable this spring in preperation of doing a complete exterior finishing on my SVT Focus. Right now, the finish is in pretty good shape, but there are some minor swirls visible in direct sunlight, which I want to remove (probably caused by the winter washing).
I don't know what polish to buy (I have Mothers Glaze, but this is for 'hidding' swirls, right? I want to eliminate them). Any reccomendations for a REAL polish for light swirling?
As for sealing, I use Meguires Gold Class (1 or 2 coats) followed by Mothers Pure Carnuba wax paste, and I'm satisfied with these results (applied by hand, with MF clothes).
For the PC, what is the common recommendation for pads? I've seen some nice microfiber cloth pads...I like the results these clothes give by hand, but is a foam pad better for application, then follow up with the dried polish removal with a MF cloth by hand?
I want to use the PC for both the polishing stage, as well as for the Gold Class sealer stage (and apply the carnuba by hand).
What pads should I use, and should I use the PC for the initial application AND for removing the polish/wax after it dries?
 
A quick search will yield you the results you're looking for.

What I use:
Sonus and ExcelDetail pads (Don't forget a backing plate

and SSR1/SSR2.5 or Megs #83/#80

You can't go wrong with any of these
 
i havd used and am using pads made by lake country. i have their orange, yellow, green, white, blue, and black. all are 7.5 in. size. i have mf covers and terry cloth covers for use over a wool pad. i do not use them any more because i feel they clog up to fast.

i bought my pc thinking that i could apply and remove with it. have found application a real pleasure. i also have concluded that the pc is not what i like to use when buffing off the wax or polish. i use a high quality mf towel to take off procuct.

i use the white pad the most since it is a general purpose pad. the yellow for a little more bite with a cleaner polish. i also have use the green pad for swirl removal. the blue and black pds i use for glaze and LSP. have not used the orange pad because i do not have a boat or any oxidized paint on my vehicle's.

i have and use the complete menzerna line. FMJ, FTG, FPII, FP, AND IP. the results that i obtain with these is commensurate to my experience. i recently added the poorboy's ssr line to use in the texas sun. i have heard good reports but as of yet have not any experience with them.

i beleive that this information is accurate. i know the results on my vehicle's have created a much better surface than anything that i have done by hand
 
As for pads I use Lake Country all of the time, although I just bought a few Edge pads from Dwayne last week and am yet to try them. The pads range from: Yellow - the highest cutting action, Orange - light cutting, Green - more aggressive polishing, White - general polishing, Gray - finessing (application of liquid wax/sealants), and Blue - finishing pad. Buy the 7.5" VC pads, they tend to more durable and more functional.
I think cwcad was mistaken in that from reading his post he has the cutting level confused between the yellow and orange pads? Yellow is more aggressive than Orange.
A general polish for light swirls would be something like Poorboys SSR2 (2.5 for heavier swirls), or Megs #80 (#83 for heavier). Although Menzerna polishes were made for use with rotary buffers many people here produce really great results by PC, their IP/FPII would work great. You can then go right to a glaze, like VM or Brilliance, and then to your LSP carnaubas.
Finally remove all of the products with a quality MF. Removal with a PC, which I have nver tried, would definately take longer and be more work.
 
MS22 said:
As for pads I use Lake Country all of the time, although I just bought a few Edge pads from Dwayne last week and am yet to try them. The pads range from: Yellow - the highest cutting action, Orange - light cutting, Green - more aggressive polishing, White - general polishing, Gray - finessing (application of liquid wax/sealants), and Blue - finishing pad. Buy the 7.5" VC pads, they tend to more durable and more functional.
I think cwcad was mistaken in that from reading his post he has the cutting level confused between the yellow and orange pads? Yellow is more aggressive than Orange.
A general polish for light swirls would be something like Poorboys SSR2 (2.5 for heavier swirls), or Megs #80 (#83 for heavier). Although Menzerna polishes were made for use with rotary buffers many people here produce really great results by PC, their IP/FPII would work great. You can then go right to a glaze, like VM or Brilliance, and then to your LSP carnaubas.
Finally remove all of the products with a quality MF. Removal with a PC, which I have nver tried, would definately take longer and be more work.
Click to expand...

i stand corrected. confused...very possibly. personally have never used the orange pad. for i thought it was to be used on boats and highly oxidized surfaces. luckily, my vehicle's have never got that far gone.
 
So, generally speaking, the cutting and aggressiveness of the colour of the pad, is all the same between manufacturers? i.e. if I used an orange pad from company 'A', company 'B' orange pad is also designed for the same purpose?
Products are probably pretty limited where I live...I might be able to find the Meguires pads...maybe...
Thanks for the replies
:)
 
WuNgUn said:
So, generally speaking, the cutting and aggressiveness of the colour of the pad, is all the same between manufacturers? i.e. if I used an orange pad from company 'A', company 'B' orange pad is also designed for the same purpose?
Products are probably pretty limited where I live...I might be able to find the Meguires pads...maybe...
Thanks for the replies
:)
Click to expand...
:wait :wait :wait
No!
Different manufacturers may/do have different colors for the types of pads.

Forget the pad color and use the pad according to its intended use.

Charles
 
FWIW, a few basic guidelines.
Swirl removers - Polishing pad
Cleaners/polishes - Polishing pad
Wax/Sealant - Finishing pad

I don't own a cutting pad and I don't think Meguiar's recommends using cutting pads with their random orbital polisher which is a PC.

Charles
 
Okay....now...lol
Foam or lambs wool? From what I understand, the foam app's are
easier on the finish than the wool, right?
Should I just stick with foam for all the processes, as my cars finish
is in good shape, and I won't go any coarser than a light swirl remover?

And MF app's bung up too much with the polish/wax...
I was thinking, for the sealant stage, applied with a PC using MF, this would probably be a good idea, as basically the only thing really touching the paint surface would be just the sealant...and seeing as the idea is to just apply the product (as opposed to cutting into the finish)
What'cha think?
 
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