Beginner Assistance Please

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b0b

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Hey guys, I have been searching the forums for quite some time before deciding to post. I have already absorbed so much more knowledge than I ever thought possible when it comes to washing cars and I find myself learning much more day in and day out... Anyways, I have spent around $600 on this new hobby thus far (mainly the flex 3401) and I found myself wishing I had gone with this over that when speaking of products. Well it is time for me to put in another order and I was hoping for some advise on the products this time before I find myself reading a post two weeks later about this other great product...

Here we go...
- Gtechniq C5 Wheel Armor 15 ml
- Duragloss 901 (Previous was P21S--I liked it but heard really good things about 901)
- Duragloss Aquawax
- Menzerna Power Finish 16oz
- Gtechniq C4 Permanent Trim Restorer 15 m
- 3 Pack Cobra Miracle Towels, 16 x 24 inches

BTW, I drive a black Lexus IS250, probably a grade 3 paint in the scale.

Thanks in advance Feed back please
 
DG 901 car wash and DG AW are two of my favs. I like the Menzerna, too. Can't comment on the other items because I haven't tried them.
 
gardnerr2 said:
Flex 3401
- Menzerna Power Finish 16oz


BTW, I drive a black Lexus IS250, probably a grade 3 paint in the scale.
Click to expand...


I've buffed out that same car and the paint reacted well to the Menzerna polishes, if I remember correctly I found the paint to scratch easily but buff hard.

The Power Finish is now called PF 2500 and it's a medium cut polish that will finish out to perfection on most paints using good foam pads and good technique.

Menzerna - New Names and Product Numbers



Try a polishing pad, not sure what you have but start by doing a test spot.

You could go to your DG LSP's after that...



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





:)
 
I have 5 CCS pads (Orange, Grey, Coarse Green, Gold, White.) I plan on trying the gold pad with my test spot and see how it looks from there. I watched the video where you polished the Lexus right before polishing my car for the first time this week, which helped a lot to say the least. Results were incredible compared to what I was used to with my old "methods" of washing the car and throwing on some wax....

I am going to go ahead and take advantage of this 20% off and place my order.

Thanks for the reply, its cool to get an answer from someone you've seen hours upon hours of footage on, especially on my first post...
Im the MAN
 
I'd get some tangerine hydrotech flat pads too

power finish worked well for me too. I used orange flat pads and did a one step
 
Thanks for the tip, I'll be sure to order that. I plan on using the orange pad that you recommended (did some research on it) and finish with a 100% carnauba from P21S, and trying out Blackfire sealant.
 
You will need more than one pad of each color.
At least three and better is 4. In the flat pads go 4 orange and 4 White. If Hydro tech go 4 Cyan and 4 Tangerine 5.5" pads
 
The reason I like the flat pads is that Power Finish is a DAT polish. That means it uses diminishing abrasives that need to be broken down to finish nicely on the paint. On Lexus' softer paint, this works extremely nicely.

CCS pad dimples are not the greatest for use with DAT polishes b/c product gets trapped in the dimples and you get some polish that doesn't break down at the same rate as the rest of it. Also harder to clean those dimples.

Not sure if 7/8 in or 1 1/4 inch thick is best for use on a Flex. I know that for a DA thinner is better but that may not be the case with a forced rotation DA like the Flex
 
I you ever heard, dont judge a book by its cover, its like the same for car paint, Dont judge the automobile by its paint manufacturer. Lexus back then and now has changed. It might seem hard to work with (Hard paint), but could be easier to correct with different materials. I would also add m105 and 205 to your order and pick up ultimate compound the m105/205 is a great combo and can remove almost all paint defects and sanding marks.
 
This might be a stupid question, BUT... do I need to buy a different backing plate to use a 5.5 pad? I know the ones that came with the Flex were 6.5? Also, I have used Wolfgang Paintwork Polish Enhancer on the hood, and it removed nearly all swirl marks from the paint. Would adding the M105 and 205 be too abrasive for my car's condition? Would those be good options to use on the one area that needs some attention, the rear bumper?

After searching I have seen some good reviews on the M105/205 products, which surprised me because of their low cost. If it gets the job done the same for less $$ then I am fine with that.
 
what year is your 250?

I have yet to hear of a lexus with hard paint...
 
gardnerr2 said:
This might be a stupid question, BUT... do I need to buy a different backing plate to use a 5.5 pad? I know the ones that came with the Flex were 6.5? Also, I have used Wolfgang Paintwork Polish Enhancer on the hood, and it removed nearly all swirl marks from the paint. Would adding the M105 and 205 be too abrasive for my car's condition? Would those be good options to use on the one area that needs some attention, the rear bumper?

After searching I have seen some good reviews on the M105/205 products, which surprised me because of their low cost. If it gets the job done the same for less $$ then I am fine with that.
Click to expand...

"The FLEX XC 3401 VRG HD dual action polisher comes with a 5.5 Inch Hook & Loop Backing Plate. This plate is compatible with all Lake Country 6.5 Inch Foam Pads."

5.5 inch pads need a 5 inch bp. Mike has an article where he measures pad widths and generally, they are a bit smaller than their descriptions. You won't have any room for error if you try 5.5 in pads on the stock 3401 bp.

Not sure but I think you'll need a 4 7/8 bp in order to use 5.5 in pads on the 3401
 
gardnerr2 said:
2008
Click to expand...

mine is a 2007 and I just got marring from putting on some natty's blue a little too thick the other day... I was so angry at myself...

have you done a search on show and shine section for your year and colour IS? It's what led me to go with the Power finish and Super finish combo for my first detail.
 
thanks for the info about the backing plate... And I saw that you has a black IS, searched for some images but couldn't find any...

Did you apply it by hand or machine when you caused the marring? I am completely new at this and want to learn what not to do before it happens.
 
gardnerr2 said:
thanks for the info about the backing plate... And I saw that you has a black IS, searched for some images but couldn't find any...

Did you apply it by hand or machine when you caused the marring? I am completely new at this and want to learn what not to do before it happens.
Click to expand...


I applied it with a GG6 and black flat pad at speed 4 and used a sonus polish removing towel. No idea how I put it on too thick but it wasn't coming off and I needed to use a quick detailer to help remove it. This was the first time I've used a machine to apply a wax. I was not impressed to say the least. Must be my technique. I should have just done the trunk lid but I was stupid and did the whole car before wiping off. Should have just stuck with fuzion

Planning to use some super finish to remove the marring this long weekend.
 
gardnerr2 said:
BUT... do I need to buy a different backing plate to use a 5.5 pad?
Click to expand...


Yes. You cannot safely use 5.5" pads on the stock 5.5" Flex Backing plate. They will fit but there is no safety margin at all.

Also, you've probably done a lot of reading so just to point out, thin pads are good for polishers like the PC, Megs and Griot's. It's not an issue for direct drive tools.

I've found the best pads for the Flex 3401 are the 6.5" pads, either flat or CCS or Hydro-Tech. Or get the 4" backing plate and the 5" Hybrid pads.




Flex 3401 Forced Rotation Dual Action Polisher
ThursdaysBuffers007.jpg


[video=youtube_share;JyNWYRr_0To&hd=1"]FLEX Polishers Commercial - Flex 3401 & PE14 - YouTube[/video]

The Flex 3401 Polisher is a powerful tool but also incredibly safe. This is a Pro-Grade tool that can be used 6-days a week in a heavy production environment and will hold up to all the abuse you can throw at it.

Video: All about the FLEX-3401 Forced Rotation Dual Action Polisher

NEW - New 5" pads for 4" Backing Plate on Flex 3401

New 4" and 6" Backing Plates for Flex 3401

Lubricating the Felt Ring on the Flex 3401

:xyxthumbs:
 
I was thinking about it the other day and don't recall it ever being mentioned on a thread like this...

...sunscreen (unless you have a garage of course).
 
:xyxthumbs:

THANKS for the help! Each car I get to work on (all family cars) the more comfortable I get. The results get better each time too.
 
gardnerr2 said:
Hey guys, I have been searching the forums for quite some time before deciding to post. I have already absorbed so much more knowledge than I ever thought possible when it comes to washing cars and I find myself learning much more day in and day out... Anyways, I have spent around $600 on this new hobby thus far (mainly the flex 3401) and I found myself wishing I had gone with this over that when speaking of products. Well it is time for me to put in another order and I was hoping for some advise on the products this time before I find myself reading a post two weeks later about this other great product...

Here we go...
- Gtechniq C5 Wheel Armor 15 ml
- Duragloss 901 (Previous was P21S--I liked it but heard really good things about 901)
- Duragloss Aquawax
- Menzerna Power Finish 16oz
- Gtechniq C4 Permanent Trim Restorer 15 m
- 3 Pack Cobra Miracle Towels, 16 x 24 inches

BTW, I drive a black Lexus IS250, probably a grade 3 paint in the scale.

Thanks in advance Feed back please
Click to expand...
I have used C4, C5 and the old version C1. I far prefer Opti Guard or Opti Coat. Much more durable and a helluva lot more cost-effective. Get CarPro ReLoad to top OC and you wont look back.
 
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