What would be your recommendation for DA kit for a weekend warrior?

C

cptzippy

New member
Pretty sure I won't get a consensus but want to see what would be a recommendation for a non-professional getting into maintaining there car(s) to the level of DA polishing?



What machine?

What polishe(s)?

What pads(s)?

What other tools?



Along with that:

Would the kind of paint they have make a major impact on your recommendation?

What other things would you like to know before making a suggestion?



TIA,

Tony
 
Meguiars G110 v2

Meguiars DA microfiber pads/polishes

Air compressor



Easy stuff to use and it'll give you

good results. But yes, the type of

paint you have will make a difference.



What kind of cars?
 
cptzippy said:
Pretty sure I won't get a consensus...
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Heh heh, that's for sure :D

but want to see what would be a recommendation for a non-professional getting into maintaining there car(s) to the level of DA polishing?



What machine?
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Griot's Garage 6" Random Orbital, the "heavy duty" version with the longer cord.

What polishe(s)?
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Depends on the paint, but I'd lean towards Optimum Hyper Compound and maybe a Menzeran finishing polish.

What pads(s)?
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Lake Country or Meguiar's (yeah I know, that's awfully general :o ).
What other tools?
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Small backing plate and some small (3" or 4" pads).

Along with that:

Would the kind of paint they have make a major impact on your recommendation?
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Only with regard to pads and polishes. I'd still get the Griot's polisher no matter what.

What other things would you like to know before making a suggestion?
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Some people prefer diminishing/non-diminishing abrasives; some people prefer long/short work times; some people make a big deal out of water/oil-based polishes.
 
You will not find a more effective and user friendly system then the new Meguiar's DA MF Correction system. Gotta try it as no other system will give you these types of results via DA.
 
David Fermani said:
You will not find a more effective and user friendly system then the new Meguiar's DA MF Correction system. Gotta try it as no other system will give you these types of results via DA.
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There you go again with the stuff we all gotta try :chuckle: My VISA card quivers every time you post something like that! You sure were right about all your other recommendations though, so I bet you're correctd about this stuff too. (Notice I'm still recommending that OHC you convinced me to try.)



I kinda wish the second step of the Meg's MF system didn't have the LSP mixed in with the polish...
 
Accumulator said:
T

I kinda wish the second step of the Meg's MF system didn't have the LSP mixed in with the polish...
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I used it for the first time this weekend, and it is indeed awesome. Just order the compound and cutting pads, and finish with whatever you like. :thumb:
 
mikenap said:
I used it for the first time this weekend, and it is indeed awesome. Just order the compound and cutting pads, and finish with whatever you like. :thumb:
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Yeah, that's what I'd do. But I might just use the MF cutting pads with my M105 or even OHC :think:



But then I don't plan to be doing any correction of that severity for a good long time either ;) Would've loved those MF cutting pads when I did the beater-Tahoe though, and they might've turned the Crown Vic into a one-day job. Sigh...just bad timing.
 
Griots Garage 6" DA with 25' cord

Lake Country or Buff and Shine pads 5.5" I have heard great things about the new Meg MF system I just ordered cutting pads and compound

5" Backing plate

I like Meguiars M105, Prima Swirl, Menzerna SIP, Power Finish, 85rd
 
Asked this in a general way as to see what's out there and partly to see what I might need to upgrade or add to my current arsenal. Here's what I have:



PC 7242

Prima Pads (black, white, orange) 5.5in

OPT Hyperpolish (haven't used yet)

Prima Swirl, Finish, Cut, and Amigo (got a package when I first started, only used the Amigo and Swirl)

Have LC Hydrotech Cyan and Tangerine Pads on the way (5.5in) - sounded like they'd work good with the Hyper polish.



BTW, my paint = Lexus Ultrasonic Blue Mica on a 2010 IS C and Acura Nimbus Gray on a 2007 MDX



Hoping my back will let me detail them soon and do a good job of it. I am ashamed to admit that I still have my dealer installed swirls over a year into owning my car :(
 
captzippy- If you want to keep the PC (as opposed to buying a Griot's, which I don't think you'd regret ;) ), then I'd get a smaller backing plate and some 4" pads. Yeah, even if your clear isn't all that hard.



Whenever something like back issues is involved, I'd sure be all about using something that's time/effort-efficient. And for me, that would *NOT* be the PC. I know, it's easy for me to spend your money, huh?
 
cptzippy said:
Well as long as your spending my money Accumulator, how does the griot's compare with the Cyclo and the Flex?
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Heh heh, if I spent your $ the way I spend mine, I'd recommend buying them all :D



The Cyclo is probably the best of the bunch for user-friendliness and for the ultimate burnishing/jeweling of the finish. I simply love mine. Maybe not the best for *serious* correction unless you use just the right pad/product combo (which I've never found).



The Flex is my choice for serious correction (when I'm not using a rotary) but not my fave with regard to user-friendliness or final finishing (but that last bit is *really* splitting hairs, not like it finishes out badly or anything).



I usually do the heavy correction via Flex, switch to the Griot's for the follow-up, and then do the final work with the Cyclo (if I'm gonna bother with that last step at all).



If you're only buying one, I'd say to get the Griot's.
 
Accumulator said:
There you go again with the stuff we all gotta try :chuckle: My VISA card quivers every time you post something like that! You sure were right about all your other recommendations though, so I bet you're correctd about this stuff too. (Notice I'm still recommending that OHC you convinced me to try.)
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OHC works great with the DAMF pads too! Gotta try it!



Accumulator said:
I kinda wish the second step of the Meg's MF system didn't have the LSP mixed in with the polish...
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Take baby steps and try this>>>



mikenap said:
Just order the compound and cutting pads, and finish with whatever you like. :thumb:
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This is mostly what I do. Although the MF finishing pads work great most of the time. Especially with 85rd.
 
DAvid Fermani- Hm....I was planning to just use some of my many foam finishing pads with the 85RD :think: When it comes to the MF cutting pads, I was gonna beg some off one of our mutual pals ;) who already has a bunch of 'em.



Fortunately, the TBSS is in incredible shape for a "bought-used" vehicle; I might be able to avoid any serious correction altogether :bounce: Well, at least until one of the dogs gets careless....



I just wish the MF pads had been out, say....last September, for my "FLA vehicle" corrections!
 
cptzippy said:
If I decide to get a new one, I'm leaning heavily towards the Griots. How does the flex compare to it?
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I think the Flex is typically $320 before shipping. So... quite a bit more. I am no pro or anything, but this is what I've been told. Flex + MF pads/polishes doesn't work as well. Something about it being directly driven (like Rotary) and not producing the same effect like a random orbital like a PC or GG. Also something about Flex going through Surbuf's and mf pads quicker. Something like that...



But the main thing was that a GG or PCXP with a MF kit would be much more price effective than a Flex, yet would have similar results. Maybe similar results isn't the right wording. I was told that Surbuf/M105 on DA would cut just as fast, if not faster than a Flex with an orange pad...



Mainly for me, I couldn't justify the $320 price tag for the machine only.
 
cptzippy said:
If I decide to get a new one, I'm leaning heavily towards the Griots. How does the flex compare to it?
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darkonion covered the downsides of the Flex with regard to Surbuf and MF pads...interesting info!



With foam pads, the Flex 3401 does much better serious correction for me than the Griot's and I use it for the intitial cutting when I'm not using a rotary.



If I were dealing with major correction on hard clear, I'm not sure which way I'd want to jump if starting from scratch :confused: I just don't seem to get the same aggressive correction via "regular RO/DA machines" that others do, but I sure get it with the Flex. But then it's not as user-friendly as the Griot's and it doesn't finish out quite as well (not that most people could ever notice a diff).
 
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