Correction kit and polisher for home use

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dpmanley

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Hi forum gurus. I am going to get a polisher for use on my two personal cars – daily drivers.

Side note: It’s all YOUR fault. I wanted to clean up my daughters oxidized paint, on a 2000 Accord. I started reading AG online and now I am not satisfied unless I learn to correct, polish and seal. I seem to have a problem with tires and wheels too, but that is personal. Back to my questions.

My cars: 2000 Honda Accord, 2003 Chevy Suburban, both white. Paint is in good shape except surface condition. Regular cleaning and wax at the local machine car wash. The Honda was clayed, polished and hand waxed by us in June, our first ever attempt. Polish was a sears orbital. Turned out OK.

On my buy list:
Megs DA Microfiber Correction System
Extra Megs finish pads
Harbor Freight DA polisher
Or
Porter Cable Lake Country 5.5 kit
Or
Another kit – trying to stay under $220

Other stuff on my list no matter what kit I buy
MF towels
Megs Rinse Free Express wash and wax – for maintenance
Pressure sprayer – for the express wash

I already have stuff for trim, tires, wheels and I am not ready for major interior jobs, that is next year.
Remember – I am an amateur. I watched a bunch of Mikes videos and I think the Megs system looks easy for a beginner. I am in California, cars parked outside. No salt, not much abuse, not even rain the last few years..... Tree sap is a problem, but regular wash keeps it under control.

Questions:
What Kit?
What size – 5 or 6 (if I get the Megs Microfiber)
If I go to PC and foam pads, will I have enough (6) to do my burb without stopping to wash and dry pads? Cleaning pads I get, but I don’t want to wait for drying.

Final note - I am a woodworking hobbyist. I prefer Porter Cable for hand tools, but I occasionally buy Harbor Freight if I don't plan to use the tool a lot and precision is not a factor. I feel like one car is several hours of continuous use so the PC is a better tool, but reading forums, I don't see the value for a casual home user - 4 or 5 cars a year.
 
Follow up:
I have Megs Ultimate Polish and Ultimate compound on hand and can add a good finish wax. The MF kit comes with product, the PC kits do not.
 
I use the harbor freight 6" da polisher for personal use. I couldn't justify spending a bunch for something getting used a few times a year and that I would not be making money with. I like the Pinnacle XMT line as it is easy to use, low/no dust and gives a great look. Megs is also a good product. If you get a HF get a better 5" backing plate, I recommend 3M, and use 5 inch pads. Don't forget to get a clay bar or nanoskin to decontamination before correction and polishing.
 
mreed2483 said:
I use the harbor freight 6" da polisher for personal use. I couldn't justify spending a bunch for something getting used a few times a year and that I would not be making money with. I like the Pinnacle XMT line as it is easy to use, low/no dust and gives a great look. Megs is also a good product. If you get a HF get a better 5" backing plate, I recommend 3M, and use 5 inch pads. Don't forget to get a clay bar or nanoskin to decontamination before correction and polishing.
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Thanks. All the kits, including Megs Microfiber have backing plates. I already have clay, but have not done the 'burb yet.
 
Also remember to start with the last aggressive with product and pad combination and go from there. I recommend if the first combo doesn't work then try the same product with a more aggressive pad. If that doesn't work try a more aggressive product with a less aggressive pad and if needed them go to a more aggressive pad
 
Not personaly familiar with The machines you mentioned, but would recommend GG6 with a 5" backing plate & 5.5" pads. GG6 has a lifetime warranty, it also has an 850W motor.
A minmum of 2-3 pads each for compounding, polishing & finishing (guess the Mf system has 2 instead of 3 pads, in which case minimum 2-3 of each)
Are you sure you wanna start off with the MF system instead of foam pads though? MF is more aggresive.
 
I did plan to buy extra pads to have more than 2 of each. I am just not sure how many I need. If 3 will get through a car, I am happy.
I did not know MF was more aggressive. My cars are not that bad, more importantly, I don't want to do damage. I do find the huge number of foam options intimidating. The Lake country kits have 3 each of 3 pads.
 
I'm located in San Jose and see that you are too. Where in San Jose are you? I've been lurking here for awhile and have been buying tons of stuff. If you want to try some stuff let me know.

I have the Meguiar's DA Microfiber Correction System & the Wolfgang trio (TSR, FG, & DGPS) with Lake County Flats. Actually pretty much everything I have are from Meguiar's and Wolfgang.

Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover
Wolfgang Finishing Glaze
Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant
Wolfgang Deep Gloss Spirtz Sealant
Wolfgang Instant Detail Spritz
Wolfgang Pad Werks Polishing Pad Conditioner
Wolfgang Pad Werks Polishing Pad Cleaner
Wolfgang Fuzion Wax
Wolfgang Plastik Surface Sealant
Wolfgang Uber All-In-One
Meguiar's D300 (Correction Compound)
Meguiar's D301 (Finishing Wax)
Meguiar's D114 (Rinseless Wash)
Meguiar's D115 (Waterless Wash)
Meguiar's D156 (X-press Spray Wax)
Meguiar's D101 (APC)
Meguiar's D143 (Non-Acid Wheel & Tire Cleaner)
Meguiar's D155 (Last Touch)
Meguiar's D120 (Glass Cleaner)
Meguiar's D163 (Tire & Trim Gel)

Let me know if you want to try anything.
 
To start off I'd recommend getting the Meguiar's DA Microfiber system with a Porter Cable 7424XP or the Griot's Garage 6. With the MF pads they are really easy to clean/fluff using an air compressor. D301 is not too aggressive. I'd start with that to see if you're happy. If not then use D300 followed by D301.

If you're going to go with the PC7424XP or CG6 I'd say stick with the 5" pads.
 
dpmanley said:
I did plan to buy extra pads to have more than 2 of each. I am just not sure how many I need. If 3 will get through a car, I am happy.
I did not know MF was more aggressive. My cars are not that bad, more importantly, I don't want to do damage. I do find the huge number of foam options intimidating. The Lake country kits have 3 each of 3 pads.
Click to expand...

Ok then here is my suggestion, keep it simple.

-As for the pads Lake country has a few different lines, but the Hdydro techs come in 3 simple colors, blue for compounding, orange for polishing and Crimson for finishing. Get the 7/8" version & 3 in each color & you need a 5" BP.

-As for a polish, since you mention your car aint too bad, look at Sonax Perfect finish.
It's a polish that can have a cut of 4 out of 6, or right on the edge of a compound when paired with an aggressive pad. But it can also be paired with a ploishing pad for less cut, or even with a finishing pad with the least cut. So this one polish can almost do the job of 3 different products, it can cut close to a compound, be a polish, or a finishing polish.

-You may also wanna pick some smaller spot pads, 3"-3.5" or 4" ones. For these you'd need either a 3" or a 3.5" BP. But these come in handy on smaller areas, you'd probably get by with 2 of each color. (Ask guys here which spot pads they recommend, the ones I got are not available on AG.)

As to the machine itself I'd again say look @ GG6:
it has a strong motor, a lifetime warranty as long as you don't open it up or mess with it, and it's versatile in that it accepts anything from 3" to 6.5" pads.
Hope that helps
 
apthai86 said:
To start off I'd recommend getting the Meguiar's DA Microfiber system with a Porter Cable 7424XP or the Griot's Garage 6. With the MF pads they are really easy to clean/fluff using an air compressor. D301 is not too aggressive. I'd start with that to see if you're happy. If not then use D300 followed by D301.

If you're going to go with the PC7424XP or CG6 I'd say stick with the 5" pads.
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Seconded. That's how I started machine correcting, it's a very forgiving system for the beginner that gives great results while allowing you to get a feel for holding the machine and guiding it without too many worries. As you get comfortable you can experiment with foam pads and other compounds and polishes, mixing and matching if the case warrants. But honestly if you're just handling one or two cars of your own, the 5" Meguiars DA Microfiber Correction System will suit you fine for a long time to come. Two hundred bucks. Boom.

Porter cable 7424xp, 7424xp, Porter Cable 7424XP Dual Action Polisher, Porter Cable polisher, car polisher, buffer, sander-polisher

Meguiars DA Microfiber Correction System 5 Inch Starter Kit, paint correction kit, dual action polishing kit
 
SameGuy said:
Seconded. That's how I started machine correcting, it's a very forgiving system for the beginner that gives great results while allowing you to get a feel for holding the machine and guiding it without too many worries. As you get comfortable you can experiment with foam pads and other compounds and polishes, mixing and matching if the case warrants. But honestly if you're just handling one or two cars of your own, the 5" Meguiars DA Microfiber Correction System will suit you fine for a long time to come. Two hundred bucks. Boom.

Porter cable 7424xp, 7424xp, Porter Cable 7424XP Dual Action Polisher, Porter Cable polisher, car polisher, buffer, sander-polisher

Meguiars DA Microfiber Correction System 5 Inch Starter Kit, paint correction kit, dual action polishing kit
Click to expand...

From guys over here I hear PC is underpowered and bogs down under pressure?
 
PC7424XP with a 5" pad will work just fine. If you're using a 6" pad then the PC7424XP will feel underpowered and bog down under pressure.
 
I have the Harbor Freight DA polisher. It has been really great! Probably the nicest tool I've purchased there. I use the pads they sell at HF as well. Meguiars M105 and M205. I'm no professional, just wanted my own cars to look nice on a budget.

I'm really satisfied. I will probably get better pads and backing plate in the future.
 
If i were to start from scratch with $220

Harbor freight da $50
5" lc backing plate $15
Meguiars microfiber cutting discs x2 $20
5.5" lc flat pads (5x white polishing, 1x blue waxing) $35
Meguiars ultimate liquid wax or meguiars ultimate paste wax $20

30x microfibers from SAMs club $30
Roundup 1 gallon pump sprayer $20
Meguiars synthetic xpress spray wax $30
Meguiars rinse free express wash $35

Practically everything you need for around $140! I swapped out the express wash and wax for the rinse free wash and the separate spray wax. The synthetic xpress spray wax is one of my favorite products for sure.

The Meg's microfiber pads are fabulous! You already have ultimate compound and ultimate polish, which are excellent products that I currently use for my business. I also use the harbor freight DAs but have upgraded to the griots garage earlier this year.

Though the microfiber cutting pads can be aggressive, it's really product dependent. They finish excellent when paired with ultimate compound on all the cars that I've done.

With the foam pads, I usually go through 3 at most per polishing session bc I'm not compounding with foam. So you're more than safe with 5 identical pads

IMO, i like to keep it simple with limited options when it comes to pads. I only use 4 types, not including rotary pads. (Meguiars mf cutting, meguiars xtra cut, buff and shine green polishing, buff and shine black wax pad) All the other pads I've purchased go unused now
 
Rupes and microfiber cutting pads


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
In the future look for a good all-in-one product which helps save time after you've corrected the cars initially. Like I said before the XMT360 is great, BlackFire all-in-one or the new Wolfgang all-in-one (which I hear is awesome.) since you, like me just want your car's to look nice, an all-in-one does that with less steps and saves money from having to buy multiple products. Again though correct your car's to where you are happy, maintain and then AIO after that is my recommendation. Have fun and keep us updated on how things go. Don't hesitate to ask questions either we are all here to help.
 
  1. The PC can get the job done for you. (Although the GG6 is a much better machine.)
  2. Get the 5½" Megs system (It comes with D300, (my overall favorite compound), D301 AND a 5" backing plate!) :dblthumb2:
  3. The Microfiber pads are a LOT MORE AGRESSIVE! (Which you need sometimes.)
Pads.... Being as you do woodworking you have a compressor I figure. THAT is what you'll clean the microfiber pads with, nothing else works with those pads.

For foam pads.... I'd say get a dozen. YES... a DOZEN.
Perhaps 3 orange, 4 white, 2 blue, 2 black, 1 red.
The yellow pads cut the most, but honestly once you get your correction done you'll probably never use them again. The orange can be used for correction and polishing... with the right compound(s). The white can be used for both as well, and may indeed be your most used pads. The rest are finishing pads. :)

Microfiber, go to Microfiber Tech or perhaps The Rag Company. Get at least 10 of your favorite towels. I'd say go for the 360's and/or 530's in dual-plush. If you want something really soft Microfiber Tech has "extra fine" towels in 400 & 500 GSM that ARE REALLY SOFT. Then of course there are the 700 extra plush and the favorite amongst many, the Korean 500 split pile. For drying; get yourself a 12amp electric leaf blower JUST for your cars. ;) Then pick up a couple of the Korean drying towels at Microfiber Tech. OR... here in the store you can find the Cobra Guzzler.

Compounds; As mentioned, the Microfiber Correction Kit has D300 which is EXCELLENT and D301 Finishing Wax. You can find Meguiar's Ultimate Compound & Ultimate Polish locally. Both are VERY good and VERY easy to work with. From there you might want to grab a bottle of Meguiar's 205, or Menzerna 2500, OR Meguiar's D302 and you'd probably not need anything else.

Sealant; Meguiar's M21 2.0 is pretty good. From there you could step up to something like Menzerna Power Lock or better yet Wolfgang Deep Gloss 3.0. All will give you months of protection.

Shampoo, Duragloss 901 (902 in the gallon size) and you're set!
For that matter, Duragloss 951 Aqua Wax, (which is a spray sealant) is GREAT to use when drying, between details, pretty much anytime. It provides 6~8 weeks of solid protection and is VERY affordable. (I'd get a gallon of it too!)
 
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