Sold all my polishes/pads. Starting Fresh. What's the latest n greatest?

R

Rez90

New member
Joined
Jun 13, 2010
Messages
466
Reaction score
0
I have a Flex 3401 with the standard 6" backing plate and a PC7424XP with a few different smaller backing plates.

I need all new pads and polishes. I don't want to make the same mistake and buy a million pads and polishes. I'm not a pro detailer but i do vehicles for family and friends here and there.

Do i want Microfiber? LC Hybrid Pads? I want to use a universal system with both polishers...

M101? Menz FQ400?

Basically i want one Serious compound, something in the middle, and one finishing polish.

Looking forward to the suggestions! Thanks.:xyxthumbs:
 
I'd highly recommend the changeable backing plate system for your Flex, with LC 5.5" hybrid pads. Can't go wrong with this combination and Menz FG400, then 4000 / 4500 for awesome results.

Kind of depends on what you're working on but based on your information that's where I'd start! Good luck! :xyxthumbs:
 
if I had to start over again I would probably stay with 1 company-megs or wolfgang
 
I've asked the same question before and what always seems to come up as suggested is Menzerna FG400 with FG4000 or Meguiar's M105 with M205. Lake Country Pads in yellow, orange, and white. Black or blue if applying wax with machine. You can combo the yellow, orange, and white pads with the compound or polish to get varying levels of correction, or just a finishing polish step. If you need more cut than yellow pad and a compound produce, my understanding is that you would need to go to a wool pad.

Also, the Meguiar's microfiber correction system comes up frequently. Thats what I went with and am extrmely satified with the results of the 2 step process. I think it would be an excellent choice for someone doing personal family cars. If you can't correct paint with the D300 compound and mf cutting pad, it probably means the defects are too severe and you'd have to remove a lot of paint to get them out. I'd rather leave them be on family daily drivers if they're that bad. The results will still amaze.
 
FWIW, I've also decided to add some orange and white foam pads to my arsenal for use with cleaner wax. A one step cleaner wax is the ticket for making an amazing turnaround on a family member's daily driver in the shortest amount of time. A 2 step is nice, but just takes entirely too long to not be getting paid. :)
 
I went through the same process and am still working on it. I have a flex 3401 as well. The only pads I will buy now are the hybrid lake country. Nothing else is even close in my experience. I have tortured a light blue cutting pad on my boat and have not been able to hurt it. My other pads would have fallen apart early on and this one took the abuse and kept going. I switched over to Menzerna fg400 after trying megs 105, blackfire, wolfgang tsr and I also have uber. Uber is just as good but more money. I like megs 205 polish but am not replacing it as I am going all menzerna and get awesome results. I used meguiars and 3m for 15 years. I spent the last 3 years trying everything new I could get my hands on and now know what works best for me. I have used this combo on many different types of paint and never a problem. I think I have the best tool, pad, compound with the flex, hybrid pad, and fg400.
 
BrandonS said:
I went through the same process and am still working on it. I have a flex 3401 as well. The only pads I will buy now are the hybrid lake country. Nothing else is even close in my experience. I have tortured a light blue cutting pad on my boat and have not been able to hurt it. My other pads would have fallen apart early on and this one took the abuse and kept going. I switched over to Menzerna fg400 after trying megs 105, blackfire, wolfgang tsr and I also have uber. Uber is just as good but more money. I like megs 205 polish but am not replacing it as I am going all menzerna and get awesome results. I used meguiars and 3m for 15 years. I spent the last 3 years trying everything new I could get my hands on and now know what works best for me. I have used this combo on many different types of paint and never a problem. I think I have the best tool, pad, compound with the flex, hybrid pad, and fg400.
Click to expand...

Good post and thanks for the info. Question...which hybrid pads do you think are mandotory? I ask because there are usually something like 6 options but only 2 or 3 are really mandatory to have.

Thanks.
 
sparkism13 said:
FWIW, I've also decided to add some orange and white foam pads to my arsenal for use with cleaner wax. A one step cleaner wax is the ticket for making an amazing turnaround on a family member's daily driver in the shortest amount of time. A 2 step is nice, but just takes entirely too long to not be getting paid. :)
Click to expand...

:iagree:

Although I'm guilty of this more often than not. Over-delivering to family and best friends isn't a sin. :)
 
Same thing with me Rez.

so here is what I bought

Meguiars
M100
M205
D151
Ultimate Paste Wax

Pads for my
Rupes 21 6" bp,
Harbor Freight 5" bp
Porter Cable 3" bp

Meguiar's Microfiber cutting pad 3", 5", 6"
Buff N Shine green foam polishing pad 3",5",6"
Buff N shine orange medium cut pad 3", 5", 6"

I have Red waxing pads too.

So now I don't have to be going around searching through colors trying to remember what is what.

Trying to keep it simpler
 
I'll stick with my Meg's and Menzerna polishes for now but I've heard some great things about Scholl polishes
 
sparkism13 said:
FWIW, I've also decided to add some orange and white foam pads to my arsenal for use with cleaner wax. A one step cleaner wax is the ticket for making an amazing turnaround on a family member's daily driver in the shortest amount of time. A 2 step is nice, but just takes entirely too long to not be getting paid. :)
Click to expand...

Here is a 1 step for a family members car.

used an orange medium cut pad both 6" and 3" in just 1 step.

IMG_52232.JPG


IMG_52181.JPG


IMG_5210.JPG


IMG_52341.JPG


IMG_5236.JPG


These were white polishing pad

IMG_29262.JPG


IMG_29181.JPG


IMG_29001.JPG


I've been wanting to try a 1 step, on a jet black car using an orange pad, to get that extra cut and see how it finishes, even though paints will react differently, but just to see. Just haven't wanted to tests on customers cars.

Anyone have a jet black car that will let me do a 1 step with an orange medium cut pad? :)
 
Amazing job, Art. My plan is to use the Orange pad with cleaner wax on silver and white, and a white pad on dark to black. Is that your approach?
It would be interesting to see how an orange pad finishes on black. Have you ever considered using the Chemical Guys green pad which is in between orange and white, and geared for use with AIOs. Looks like a good compromise.
 
That D151 keeps calling my name. lol. I don't think it's sold in anything but the gallon though. It would take me years to use that much. So I picked up some Meg's White Wax today, which I have a sneaking suspicion, is a very close formulation to D151. Can't wait to try it next week.
 
hernandez.art13 said:
I've been wanting to try a 1 step, on a jet black car using an orange pad, to get that extra cut and see how it finishes, even though paints will react differently, but just to see. Just haven't wanted to tests on customers cars.

Anyone have a jet black car that will let me do a 1 step with an orange medium cut pad? :)
Click to expand...

Art here is a before and after of a very swirled up black car that I did a one step on with xmt360 and orange pad.

4u2ebapy.jpg


nejuny4u.jpg


Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk
 
dsg03gt said:
Art here is a before and after of a very swirled up black car that I did a one step on with xmt360 and orange pad.

4u2ebapy.jpg


nejuny4u.jpg


Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Not sure if that's glare or haze. Did you have to go back over it with a finer pad or did it finish down nicely?
 
john b said:
if I had to start over again I would probably stay with 1 company-megs or wolfgang
Click to expand...

I agree. Right now I am looking at polishes, cleaners and waxes from Meguiar's, Wolfgang, XMT, Collinite, DP, Mothers, Chemical Guys and a few more off in another room.

They are all excellent products. If I had to pick one it would be between Meguiar's and Wolfgang. I can't tell any difference in the final results except for Wolfgang Fusion.

Fusion has to be the finest car wax I have ever used. It goes on like butter, smells great, wipes off as easy as it goes on and lasts a long time. I will never be without it unless they stop making it. The gloss is amazing. I always use it as my second and final top coat.

Meguiar's and Wolfgang compounds and polishes pretty much yield the same results as far as cut and gloss and they work about the same with my Flex 3401. I purchased the new LC 6" pads made for the Rupes machine to use on my Flex. There are only three pads total which makes things very simple. Three pads and you are covered, like the Hydro-Tech pads. But the Rupes pads appear to be much denser, haven't tried them yet but I'm sure, after inspecting them, they are going to work great.

That's my opinion and I made it as simple as I can.
 
What is that, a Magentis? Around here nobody driving a Magentis could afford what I'd charge even for a one-step. Heck, my office wife's husband drives an '09 M3 with just-ok paint and he laughed in my face when I offered him a friends & family price for a wash-clay-AIO.
 
sparkism13 said:
Not sure if that's glare or haze. Did you have to go back over it with a finer pad or did it finish down nicely?
Click to expand...

No haze. Those pictures are with my phone and are not the best. There was a good amount of swirls left but an overall huge improvement with just a one step. Budget wasn't there to do more.

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk
 
Rez90 said:
I have a Flex 3401 with the standard 6" backing plate and a PC7424XP with a few different smaller backing plates.

I need all new pads and polishes. I don't want to make the same mistake and buy a million pads and polishes. I'm not a pro detailer but i do vehicles for family and friends here and there.

Do i want Microfiber? LC Hybrid Pads? I want to use a universal system with both polishers...

M101? Menz FQ400?

Basically i want one Serious compound, something in the middle, and one finishing polish.

Looking forward to the suggestions! Thanks.:xyxthumbs:
Click to expand...

With the 3401, the best way to equip it is with the LC Hybrid pads and Menzerna compounds. Starting off I recommend going with the smaller 4" plate included with the LC plate system and outfit it with the 5" Hybrid pads. Paired with Menzerna is the bee's knee's.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...rning-3401-menzerna-products-hybrid-pads.html

For the PC, dedicate this to small area repair fitted with 3" pads such as the Hydro tech pads. The closed cell construction of these pads excel with Menzerna polishes.

For Menzerna compounds grab FG400, PF2500, and SF4000. This will ensure all necessary areas are covered.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top