Best pad combo that works for you. Recommendation.

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Z06-Goose

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My traditional set-up has always been Menzerna 2400 or 400 cut and my go to pads are hybrid (Cyan Blue) followed by the Hybrid (Tangerine) orange.

My buffer is the Flex 3401VG.
The problem that I've been having is finishing the job to where after paint correction shouldn't have to deal with minor swirls caused by the polishing pad. This is driving me crazy.
I've used German green polishing pad with fair results, as well as orange polishing pads, but I can still see those pesky buffing trails.
Is there any good polishing pad you would recommend to go with my Menzerna P2400?
Or any pad polish combo that delivers a killer finish?
 
For me there is never a locked in formula for pads and polishes. I let the paint and the results of a test spot guide me to the right pairing.

On harder German paint like VW and BMW I'd often use a mild compound or medium polish/swirl remover with a polishing pad or a medium cut pad with a lighter polish. This would get me good one-step results on a well maintained cars. On soft paints it was an easy pairing with a polish and a lighter polishing pad. This will also get me a good one-step result.

As for actual products, I'm really liking the Griots Garage BOSS polishes and Rupies yellow pads. Both are really versitile. When I need more cut I grab a Lake Country orange ThinPro pad for my G15. The orange pads probably aren't the best pairing for the polisher, but the still work well and I have plenty on hand left over from my days using a HF polisher.

You mention "swirls" from the polishing pads. Are you sure you aren't causing the swirls from removing the polishing residue? Menzerna polishes are pretty oily from what I remember and if you are doing a lot of wipe down, it is a great opportunity to cause swirls.
 
All good info from Desertnate.

Are you having this problem on the Audi or the Chevy in your signature, or something else? It seems to me in the old days, some of those GM blacks were very soft and a nightmare, I don't know if they were still like that in 2018.

But beyond that, it sounds like you are finishing with the Menz 2400? They consider that a medium polish, and they do have 3000, 3500, and 3800 finishing polishes. And you are using the Lake Country Hydrotech pads? Because they do have a finer pad, the crimson, which is more in the neighborhood of the green and white traditional pads, although I don't think they make the Hydrotech pads anymore: https://lakecountrymfg.com/wp-content/uploads/201810_LC_MSTR_AGRESSION_WEB.pdf

If you are having this problem on the soft GM black, I think you definitely need to go with some less aggressive pads and a finishing polish, and need to be careful with your wipeoff as Desertnate noted.
 
Thank you guys for your input.
My Audi has been good ever since I ceramic coated, my Silverado needs work.
The issues that I've had varies from customer's car. I can remove a lot of paint imperfections and deep swirls, but I can still see very light swirl patterns that seems to come from the pad.
One issue that I had came from VW Tiguan (Blk) I ordered a blue polishing pad from (Rupes Intermediate Light Blue) and Sonax Cut & Finish combo. That got me the best results. I like the Sonax product but they're a bit too creamy for my taste.
I ordered some Scholl S2 and S3 along with spyder pads to try on my truck as soon as the weather warms up here in Colorado.
 
There have always been people that said they couldn't get their best finish from a Flex due to the forced rotation. That's why Mike Phillips (or someone?) named the long-throw Flex "The Finisher". Maybe you have a DA that you could use on those paints you aren't getting the results you want with?
 
I don't know how abused the paint is on the Tiguan, but when I owned a black metallic VW GTI, I got my best results with Blackfire's Compound and a white Lake Country ThinPro pad while using my humble HF DA polisher. I bought the car new, so it was well maintained, but as a daily driver it saw plenty of "life" that had to be corrected. I was able to do a one-step with that combo.

The VW Black Metallic paint is pretty hard, but not as bad as the same color from Porsche. You have to get a little creative with your test spots.

I just noticed you said you ordered, "a blue polishing pad..." Only one? How many pads are you using on a job? That might be part of your problem if you are only using one. The pads are getting saturated and hot which makes them far less effective.

I've never tried any of the polishes you're looking at, but hopefully one will work out for you. I've always heard great things about the Scholl's products, but never tried them. I landed on Griots BOSS products and have stuck there for a while.
 
Have you tried the Lake Country Force pads? They were designed for the Flex 3401 and other forced rotation DAs.
I use the orange, white and black. I have been using Menzerna 400 for maybe 8 years or more as my go to cutting compound.
Then I would go to 3800 with a white.
Since I use CarPro coatings, the last 6/7 years I have used CarPro Essence instead of 3800.
I just bought a new bottle of 3800 because I want to give it a go again, I love the stuff.

When I use the orange and do a more aggresive compound I use a lot of pads, 10 or more.
I clean with a towel after each pass and switch to a new pad when the pad looks full and won't clean up.

When I switch to the white and finish polish I can get by with around 4 pads. I might even use a black pad and go over it quick again if need be.

If I do a light polish then I would use 3500 with an orange or a white depending on the condition of the paint followed with Essence.
I coated my nephews 640i recently with Gyeon Mohs and used 3500 with a white force followed with the Gyeon primer polish on a CarPro gloss pad.

If you don't own any Force pads pick up a white and black to try out since it sounds like your 1st stage is okay.
Wouldn't hurt to give 3800 or 3500 an 8 oz trial size test.

I don't know, It's just my limited approach which could change.
I bought some Sonax Cut Max and Profiline Nano Polish to try.
CarPro Ultracut and Fixer are on the shelf along with Essence. Meguiars 100, 110, 205 and UC are standing tall.

I like to have options.
 
My 2 cents. With your flex beast i would reccomend lake country force pads as well. Only colors ya need imo are orange and white. If i find i need more cut then i use flex rotary with rupes twisted wool pads and 510. I use the lc force orange and white combo with 3d 510,520 and my supa beast. Also used to use it with menzerna 400 and 3800. Have not experienced those issues you speak of. As others have said, could be from wipeoff or could be contaminates in your pad? Do you swap your pads and or towels often? Check them for debris after washing them?

Menzerna has nice abrasives, left a great finish but were to oily for me, so i had made the jump to 3d and have not looked back.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
 
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