New To Detailing and need Helpwith pads.

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cobracarlo

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OK I'm new to the detailing world and Ive recently purchased a package here with some pads, GG DA and M205/105. Here is my question.

What do I use the different pads for? Not the color I realize that that's the lever of cut and all but material wise. What are the foam used for as compared to wool, cloth, and what are bonnets used for? Any help or a link to what to use what pad material for what would be greatly helpful. Thanks.

Carlo
 
Wool is very aggresive and should be used with a rotary. Cloth pads? Never heard of them. Bonnets are used to remove wax, but are very unpopular. Foam is not as aggressive as wool, but will finish better.
 
FivePoint.0 said:
Wool is very aggresive and should be used with a rotary. Cloth pads? Never heard of them. Bonnets are used to remove wax, but are very unpopular. Foam is not as aggressive as wool, but will finish better.
Click to expand...

:iagree:
 
FivePoint.0 said:
Wool is very aggresive and should be used with a rotary. Cloth pads? Never heard of them. Bonnets are used to remove wax, but are very unpopular. Foam is not as aggressive as wool, but will finish better.
Click to expand...

:iagree: I hate using bonnets for wax removal. I have downgraded all of my MF bonnets to steamer towels.
 
Well there I go, the answers to my questions lol. Thanks guys. I have a list of all the diff colors and what they are used for so I guess now all there is left to do is try diff color pads out with diff speeds and see what works best for me. I have some pretty bad black paint on my mustang.
 
FivePoint.0 said:
Wool is very aggresive and should be used with a rotary. Cloth pads? Never heard of them. Bonnets are used to remove wax, but are very unpopular. Foam is not as aggressive as wool, but will finish better.
Click to expand...

Maybe cloth pads = MF pads? If they are, then they're used for polishing/compounding as well - they generally have more cut than most foam pads.
 
cobracarlo said:
Well there I go, the answers to my questions lol. Thanks guys. I have a list of all the diff colors and what they are used for so I guess now all there is left to do is try diff color pads out with diff speeds and see what works best for me. I have some pretty bad black paint on my mustang.
Click to expand...


Welcome to AGO! If your paint is bad, (might not be as bad as you think) then make sure you look up Mike's articles, he is THE MAN! Everything from working with M205 (which can be a bear, especially for first timers) to what pad does what, and ESPECIALLY doing a "test spot" is covered. Get some 3M Tape and mark your hood off into say 4 areas and try a different solution on each one. Might take a yellow pad and 4 section passes on one, and a orange pad on the other. Once you figure out what works to get the worst of the swirls out, you'll need at least 4 ~ 6 of that color pad to do your Cobra. The 205 you can get away with less but I'd still use 3 ~ 4 easy. Good rule of thumb is 1 per panel minimum.

If you have problems with it (the 105) drying out then Ultimate Compound will be your friend for sure. Look for the Megs Ultimate Compound & Ultimate Polish (either locally or here on AG). The UC has almost the same cut but a lot longer working time than the 105 and is actually a spin off of that exact product.

Might wanna check out this thread.

The only other thing I might add is seriously make sure you keep your pads clean and change them often. Having one really loaded up doesn't do the job you need and wears out the pad prematurely. Whatever you do keep a fresh pad (thread link).
 
cobracarlo said:
OK I'm new to the detailing world and Ive recently purchased a package here with some pads, GG DA and M205/105. Here is my question.

What do I use the different pads for? Not the color I realize that that's the lever of cut and all but material wise. What are the foam used for as compared to wool, cloth, and what are bonnets used for? Any help or a link to what to use what pad material for what would be greatly helpful. Thanks.

Carlo
Click to expand...

Welcome to AGO, Carlo:welcome:

I assume u have purchased this package:
autogeek_2243_23519241



Using Buffing Pads depends on what you want to achieve. check this link:http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/wool-foam-buffing-pads/29312-different-types-foam-formulas-ccs-smart-foam-pad-line.html

Wool pads have more cut and are used with Rotary polisher, whereas, bonnets are used to remove wax with the DA polisher. For more info watch :Buffing Pads, Backing Plates and Accessories - YouTube

Best of luck to play with your new toys:dblthumb2:
 
Re: New To Detailing and need Help with pads.

cobracarlo said:
so I guess now all there is left to do is try diff color pads out with diff speeds and see what works best for me.
Click to expand...

Actually, using ANY DA polisher is pretty straight forward.

If the paint on your car has swirls and scratches, we call these BELOW SURFACE DEFECTS, then in order to remove them you need to level the surface of the paint with the lowest depth of the defects you're trying to remove. So in other words, "yes" in order to remove below surface defects you need to remove a little paint.

There is no other way to remedy the problem except to have more paint sprayed onto the car which is usually kind of the extreme path to follow especially when the new paint will simply get swirls and scratches also.

To remove paint with a DA Polisher, this is a tool where when used correctly the pad rotates and oscillates, the key is to maintain pad rotation. If the pad is not rotating, that is if the pad is only vibrating or jiggling against the paint it will take you a million years to remove the defects.

So you want the pad to oscillate and rotate and the way you maintain pad rotation on a DA Polisher like The Griot's Garage DA Polisher is to use the tool on the 5 to 6 speed setting.

So you don't need to

diff color pads out with diff speeds and see what works best for me


Because what works is the higher speed setting...

Also, click the link below and watch the videos...

Video: Mark your backing plate to make it easy to see pad rotation



In this video I demonstrate how the basics of how to use a DA Polisher for Dave Bowman of Crank & Chrome fame as well as Shade Tree Mechanic and Two Guys Garage. After this segment, a few weeks later he purchased everything I demonstrated and buffed out his Corvette. In the video I also shove the pad against my hand to show how safe these types of tool are...




Removing Swirls and Oxidation By Machine
[video=youtube_share;PWdYCHZrpd8"]How To Remove Oxidation by Machine Polishing with...[/video]​





I'd also take a look at these,



How To Do a Test Spot
(and why it's so important)


I recommend everyone read this article first - before you need to troubleshoot :)

DA Polisher Trouble Shooting Guide


Factors that can cause a pad to stop rotating on a DA Polisher

Video: How-To do a "Section Pass" when Machine Polishing with a DA Polisher


The Compression Washer

How to prime a foam pad when using a DA Polisher


Wet Buffing Technique

DA Polisher Articles - Help for Newbies to Machine Polishing <-- Walks you through detailing your car...


Might as well read this and then throw the handle away...

Handle? Or No Handle? - Using DA Polishers Without the Handle


You can wax by hand too...

How-to Machine Apply Wax using a DA Polisher

How to Apply Dodo Pastes Waxes by Machine

How To Apply Mothers California Gold Carnauba Paste Wax by Machine



Feel your paint after washing and drying but before machine polishing...

The Baggie Test - How to inspect for above surface bonded contaminants


The above will get you going in the right direction...


cobracarlo said:
I have some pretty bad black paint on my mustang.
Click to expand...

Then before you start, read through this, all the tips and techniques apply to both a brand new car or an older car...


How To Detail Your Brand New Car by Mike Phillips



:)
 
Thank you to everyone for the responses. Ive been trying to read as much as my schedule permits (24hr shift at the fire dept then an 8 month old at home). That Package above is the one I purchased and it should actually arrive today.

As far as the paint condition on my car. Well it sat in a shop for 6-7 months that also sprayed various things so I know it has a little overspray on it then it sat outside for almost a year with no protection. The main parts that are oxidized are the flat surfaces (hood, trunklid, roof) I by no means expect the paint to come out looking brand new. I figured since the paint was in bad condition its the perfect vehicle to learn on. Plus My ultimate goal is to repaint it in the next year.

Until then Ill detail and drive it. Thanks Mike for the tips about the speed being the factor. I do remember about marking the backing plate to make sure its oscilating.
 
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