Buying buffer pads, critique my choices!

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milesvdustin

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FINALLY getting into the dual action polisher game, and I am going to stock up on pads. I plan on doing my 2012 Chevy Sonic Hatchback as my first car, and then my harley superglide as a second. WHen I got the technique down, I am going to do my Dad's Ram quad cab.

SO far, I have picked out the Lake country 5.5" flat pads 6 pack X2. I am going to get 5 orange, 3 white, two black, two blue. ANd a 5" backing plate. ALso, a 3" backing plate and some hydro tech 3" blue, tangerine, and red pads, 3 of each for the motorcycle and fine areas on the vehicles.

More than likely will be trying meguiars products for polishing, not sure on what wax or sealant I want to use yet. More than likely going to get the porter cable, but might go with the harbor freight polisher since I wont be doing this very often. Maybe get two of those and keep a backing plate on each one. I am also going to get a pad brush, pad conditioner, and some cleaner. Or will my griots microfiber cleaner work on the pads?

Thoughts, comments, suggestions?
 
For the extra few bucks you can't beat the Griot's polisher--much more powerful than the PC--just as safe and it has a lifetime warranty. If you only use it a few times a year it would be a shame if it broke down 3 years from now and you had to spend $80 to have it repaired.

You might want to look into the new Megs Flat THIN pads (especially if you're going to get the PC or HF) or the new LC THIN pads- less mass for the machine to spin and they have been getting great reviews. Another one to consider are the Buff & Shine pads-great pads and very durable.
 
IMO your Pad selection is awesome! I only use Lake Country Pads. I have tried others, however, always went back to Lake Country. Meg's have new pads and I have not tried them so I cannot comment.

Lake Country Pads are my choice. Others may disagree.

As for your selection it's good too. Instead of the Blue Pads, see if you can get the Red or Gold Pads. The Orange, White and Black Pads should suffice. The Blue Pads (IMO) are just slightly less aggressive than the Orange Pads IMO it is redundant. If you can get the Golds that would be better for your LSP.

Now for the DA. I have the PC7424 XP and have nothing bad to say about the polisher. It has served me well. That being said I have moved on to the Flex 3401 as I do correction work and the Flex is significantly more powerful than the PC or GG 6".

Many of the AGO people here recommend the Griots Garage 6" DA. I have not used it so I can't really comment. However, it does come with a Lifetime Warranty and the backing plates you have are the same for the PC and GG.

I hear it is more powerful than the PC. Either way, you can't go wrong with either choice. Since you will be correcting the Ram PU I would lean to GG 6" as from what I gather is a more powerful DA than the PC. That alone will save you some correcting time.

The 3" Backing Plate or 2 7/8" Backing Plate should be fine with your PC or GG. That will help you get in tighter areas for correcting.

As for sealant and wax....that will confuse the heck out of you. But generally speaking, Menzerna Powerlock, Blackfire Sealant, and Wolfgang are excellent choices. As for wax....look into Collinite #476 or #845 liquid wax. There are many other choices, however, most AGO members like this brand including me.

As for the cleaning stuff, I don't use a brush, pad cleaner or conditioner. I do it a different way. Save the money for that stuff and buy more products that would be more useful like sealant or a boutique wax like Pinnacle Souveran. Again, this is all my opinion and either way, you have made some good choices.

My critique of what you are doing is pretty good!! Have an awesome day!!
 
I am sorry you are correct it is the Finessing pad. Please do not change. I use the Hybrid pads which are slightly different.

I realized they have no red or gold with the 5.5" Flat pads.

My Bad

You have an excellent choice in pads
 
glad you asked the question .... I'm doing something very similar and glad to see that I'm on the right path....
 
There are two lines of pads that I enjoy using. One is the Hydrotech line, and the other is the Green, Blue, and red foams from Buff and Shine. I haven't used the standard flats from LC, but I believe they are similar foam to the CCS line which I also really like.

Both companies make great pads.

Your selection sounds great. Personally, I like to go in fours in the compounding and polishing department, and two for waxing.
 
I am going to get a couple extra compounding pads, I know my chevy sonic is SWIRL CITY. I saw the reflection of the garage light in it the other day and its horribly bad. Thats what I get for letting my wife take it to the auto wash.
 
milesvdustin said:
I am going to get a couple extra compounding pads, I know my chevy sonic is SWIRL CITY. I saw the reflection of the garage light in it the other day and its horribly bad. Thats what I get for letting my wife take it to the auto wash.
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I never hurts. It's good to be able to switch a pad out when they get "tired".
 
The black and blue will do the same thing. I doubt you will see a difference between the two.
 
ski2 said:
For the extra few bucks you can't beat the Griot's polisher--much more powerful than the PC--just as safe and it has a lifetime warranty. If you only use it a few times a year it would be a shame if it broke down 3 years from now and you had to spend $80 to have it repaired.

You might want to look into the new Megs Flat THIN pads (especially if you're going to get the PC or HF) or the new LC THIN pads- less mass for the machine to spin and they have been getting great reviews. Another one to consider are the Buff & Shine pads-great pads and very durable.
Click to expand...

for anyone using the GG6, do NOT use speed 6 and foam pads (BuffnShine), I melted the backing of a green pad.
 
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