Aggessive pad / Aggressive polish relationship?

[bbmach]

So… have a project looming. A 2004 Mazda 6 that’s been sitting in my driveway (and under an oak tree) for too long (Mom’s and she is no longer able to drive). Despite random washes and being hosed off often, this is what I am looking at.

I’m contemplating a wash, iron decontamination (will be my first time), a round with clay, and then an aggressive polish (but not compound) and wax.


My academic question is – all things being equal, is a more aggressive pad and milder polish the way to go, or the opposite? Off-hand, I would think it would be better to let the polish do most of the work, and if necessary, step up in pad as that is a variable, but...


As I said it’s intellectual at this point. I’ve only done a handful of projects with my DA and all relatively the same level.

 

[2black1s]

I'm assuming you are asking about foam pads so my response is with that in mind...

I would go with a more aggressive pad on anything that required some serious correction. My reasoning is that more aggressive pads are tougher and more durable than a softer polishing or finishing pad. So... if you've got some serious correction to do, I'd reach for the more aggressive pad.

 

[briarpatch]

To a degree, you may be putting the cart before the horse. With that much crud and buildup, you really have no idea what's underneath. Get a little more aggressive with your wash process.....I'd give that a serious pre-soak before a contact wash, and get a sense of what you're dealing with. Have a look at some disaster details....look up MAD details on YouTube.

To your question......I agree with the response given by 2black1s

 

[627PCFan]

Multiple test spots are your friend. You could start with a white polishing pad and 3D One, evaluate, step up to an orange cutting pad and then maybe to a foamed purple wool pad.

I have had success with compounds on polishing pads where I wanted to "back into" what was actually needed. But be careful, you could instill swirls that take a long time to get out or end up heating the panel trying.

Evaluate the paint, then come up with a plan.

 

[vobro]

For me the polish is better at adapting to a different type pad, a heavier cutting liquid is easier to cut less with a polishing pad than a light polish expecting to cut more with a more aggressive pad. That paint looks pretty bad and to me you’ll definitely be chasing your tail staring with a light polish, like mentioned before it’s going to be layers of imperfections. Plus the fact you’ll probably need a bunch of pads and I would look at it the other way in a heavier compound

Of course this is all based on one small pic, when the car is washed,clayed and prepped it may look different. IMHO I’d rather work on a car with swirls and scratches then your example of sap, water spots and other environmental issues as these defects can really be a headache

 

[bbmach]

Thank you gentlemen - you've given me good advice and direction. I have a few things to get done before I tackle it (and order a few more pads), but will certainly report back...
:cheers:

I'm assuming you are asking about foam pads so my response is with that in mind...

I would go with a more aggressive pad on anything that required some serious correction. My reasoning is that more aggressive pads are tougher and more durable than a softer polishing or finishing pad. So... if you've got some serious correction to do, I'd reach for the more aggressive pad.

To a degree, you may be putting the cart before the horse. With that much crud and buildup, you really have no idea what's underneath. Get a little more aggressive with your wash process.....I'd give that a serious pre-soak before a contact wash, and get a sense of what you're dealing with. Have a look at some disaster details....look up MAD details on YouTube.

To your question......I agree with the response given by 2black1s

Multiple test spots are your friend. You could start with a white polishing pad and 3D One, evaluate, step up to an orange cutting pad and then maybe to a foamed purple wool pad.

I have had success with compounds on polishing pads where I wanted to "back into" what was actually needed. But be careful, you could instill swirls that take a long time to get out or end up heating the panel trying.

Evaluate the paint, then come up with a plan.

For me the polish is better at adapting to a different type pad, a heavier cutting liquid is easier to cut less with a polishing pad than a light polish expecting to cut more with a more aggressive pad. That paint looks pretty bad and to me you’ll definitely be chasing your tail staring with a light polish, like mentioned before it’s going to be layers of imperfections. Plus the fact you’ll probably need a bunch of pads and I would look at it the other way in a heavier compound

Of course this is all based on one small pic, when the car is washed,clayed and prepped it may look different. IMHO I’d rather work on a car with swirls and scratches then your example of sap, water spots and other environmental issues as these defects can really be a headache

 

[Paul A.]

Like others have already said I adjust my pads first before changing liquid products. Test spots certainly zero in on the best combo. That's not to say I stick with 1 liquid product...i just exhaust a lighter cut product through pad changes first before grabbing a more aggressive product when needed on certain paints.

For example, i'll get very different results with 3D One and pads ranging from LC blue foamed wool -> white foam.

 

[luckydawg]

The first question is---you need to determine what end result you are after.

Then go from there.

 

[bbmach]

The first question is---you need to determine what end result you are after.

Then go from there.

Yep - obviously not a show car... just a 18-year-old Mazda 6 S with 50,000 miles on it getting prepared to sell. Paint needs to be clean and shiny. Not going after every last defect, just needs to present well - kinda like it used to

 

[luckydawg]

If thats the case, your selling it, get it as clean as you possibly can prior to machine polishing, then I would do a test spot with the yellow rupes pad and ANY GOOD one step polish. Put a wrap on it and sell it.

The test spot only to choose the pad-- highly doubtful if that car has had many folks polish it