Dewalt dwp849x - things needed for beginners!

[excelon]

Mike wanted me to post this for all to see. This is also a 2nd opinion before I make the plunge. Dave has been helping me along and iis very help and no, I haven't doubted you yet Dave. You're awesome!



Re: backing plate for dewalt dwp849x

Hi Mike. I'm new to rotary detailing and have been reading up and talking to a couple guys on the forum, but still can't find a for sure 100% answer, and I'm sorry if this has been asked because I'm sure it has.

I just ordered a Dewalt 849x and would like to start out using 5.5" pads because I heard that it's a little easier and more forgiving as your learning curve progresses. So, I'm stuck at this point. There are so many pads and backing plates it just winds up giving me a headache and I finally give up. Can you give me a for sure fire setup, and maybe some polish, too.

Thanking you in advance.

Eric

Hi Eric,

When using a rotary buffer thin pads are not better than thick pads.

Thin pads are best for tools that are NOT direct drive like the Porter Cable 7424XP.

For the DeWALT 849X I'd recommend getting the 5" Hybrids, they are thick and easy to control and a really nice pad.

See them shown with the link to the store in this article here,

My recommended buffing pads for the Flex PE14



Be careful about using any smaller pads than 5" on a full size rotary buffer as you'll find the buffer becomes

Tippy

Thank you so much for the quick response. I want to make my purchases for stuff I'll be able to use and not waste too much in the process. I've been talking with Dave (tuscarora dave) and so far he has advised me to use Meg the ultimate compound and the ultimate polish for my product. He says it's very forgiving. What do you think?

Let's just say.... give me a list of products to buy considering all I have is the 849x....

Backing plate
pads and sizes
product
ect...
ect...
ect...

Without going overboard of course.

I have 2 cars I'm going to be bringing back to life. 2002 honda civic with light swirls and 2007 chevy colbat with mild oxidation. The Honda is white in color and the Chevy is a gold or beige in color.

Thanks in advance.

Oh, and will those Flex backing plates work on the 849x?

rops:

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Hi Eric,

Thanks for taking this to the forum versus private messaging. Typing time on the forum is limited and I'd rather type out information that will endure over time that thousands of people can read versus one set of eye balls.

You wouldn't believe how many e-mails, Facebook messages and Private Messages I get asking me questions that would all be better posted to an actual discussion forum where everyone can join in.

Thank you so much for the quick response. I want to make my purchases for stuff I'll be able to use and not waste too much in the process. I've been talking with Dave (tuscarora dave) and so far he has advised me to use Meg the ultimate compound and the ultimate polish for my product. He says it's very forgiving. What do you think?

UP and UC are good products. I was in charge of the Meguiar's Thursday Night Open Garage class when the red Mercedes-Benz you see on the front label of Ultimate Compound was buffed out.



Before washing

After washing and moving inside...

Don't know what I was thinking was just trying to do something different than taping the hood off by taking it down the middle.

Side-by-side before and after...

Marketing used it on the label of UC

And of course the finished product....

Let's just say.... give me a list of products to buy considering all I have is the 849x....

Backing plate
pads and sizes
product
ect...
ect...
ect...

Without going overboard of course.

In your follow-up private message it read like you were going to return the DeWALT 849X to HD and then ordered the Flex PE14 from AG?


If that's the case then I list the backing plates and pads I like for the PE14 in this thread,

My recommended buffing pads for the Flex PE14


One of our forum members asked me which pads and backing plates I would recommend for the Flex PE14. I get this question fairly often so below is a collection of what I would consider the minimum collection to have for the ability to tackle any project in your garage.


First and top recommendation
If you're brand new to using a rotary buffer then here's some free advice...

Small pads are easier to control and thus easier learn with when first starting out using a rotary buffer. It will be easier to learn how to hold and guide a rotary buffer over both flat panels and curved panels. So get some good small foam buffing pads and a good backing plate.

Here are three foam pads that work exceedingly well with the Flex PE14

Lake Country 5" Hybrid Pads in Orange/Cutting, White/All purpose polishing, and Black/Finishing.

Link to 5" Hybrid Pads

4" Flexible Backing Plate
You'll also need a small backing plate because the velcro backing on the back of the 5" LC Hybrid Pads is 4" in diameter. For this the 3 3/4" Lake Country Flexible Rotary Buffer Backing Plate fits perfect. The backing plate in the picture above and the picture below is a 3 3/4" LC Flexible Backing Plate. Because it's a smidgen under size it's easy to visually align to the back of these pads.

Link to 3 3/4" Flexible Rotary Buffer Backing Plate

Then if you're going to try to finish out using only the rotary buffer you want to get some soft gold jewelling pads and an ultra fine cut polish like the Menzerna SF4500 or Sonax Nano Polish.


The below is also from this article,

My recommended buffing pads for the Flex PE14




Gold Foam Jewelling Pads
Hey who doesn't love the look of paint that has been meticulously jeweled to perfection? I know I do!

But in order to jewel paint to perfection with a rotary buffer you must use a super soft, gold jewelling pad to avoid instilling even the faintest of holograms. Below are 3 gold jewelling pad and they all will work but flat pads are always the safest choice when jewelling paint because the flat surface avoids any potential for excess product or foreign particles to deposit in design voids in the surface of non flat pads.

I've used the CCS pads successfully just be sure to clean and inspect the collapsed cell divots often.

My favorite types of pad are pads with a simple flat surface design. There's the least amount of risk for problems since the face is completely flat and they are a lot easier and faster to clean since you can brush 100% of the face of the pad using a nylon pad conditioning brush.



Gold Jewelling Pads

Link to CCS 6.5 inch Super Soft Gold Jewelling Pad

For the Flat 5.5 and 4" Gold Jewelling Pads call 1-800-869-3011 as these are not listed on the AG store and there's only one or two boxes left in our inventory.


The backing plates shown below work great with these pads, in order from left to right

Link to 6" Flex-Foam HD Rotary Backing Plate

Link to 5" Flex-Foam HD Rotary Backing Plate

Link to 2 7/8" Flexible Rotary Buffer Backing Plate

Note: The Lake Country 3 3/4" Flexible Backing Plate fits the back of the 4" Gold Jewelling Pad but there's not much safety margin from the outside of the pad to the outside of the backing plate and these pad are so soft that they compress very easily, especially the smaller pads and even more so when they start to become wet with product so for this reason I use and recommend the even smaller 3 3/4" LC yellow backing plate. See the picture below to see what I'm talking about.

A Jewelling Machine
The 5.5" Gold Jewelling Pad with the 5" Flex-Foam HD Backing Plate is the perfect combination for the Flex PE14 for jewelling paint to perfection.

Be sure to get lots of microfiber towels, the Gold Plush Jr.s are a a great all around MF towel. Get like 16 and you'll have more than enough to tackle a car and enough to make a small wash load of just the towels which is how you should do it.

As for pads,

How many pads do I need to buff out my car?

I didn't include pads needed for the Flex PE14 but 2-3 cutting pads 2 polishing pads and 2-3 gold jewelling pads should be a good average. More pads is always better so let your budget be your guide.

Oh, and will those Flex backing plates work on the 849x?

Yes. Backing plates use a standard thread for U.S. rotary buffers. In some parts of the world they use a metric but if you're buying from AG you'll get the right thread.

 

[excelon]

Thanks Mike. I went with all your recommendations and not only that but bought the Flex PE14 as well since autogeek.com is hosting 15% off.

I'm writing up a review for the Dewalt dwp849x and will compare it to the Flex PE14.

Thank you for all your help!

 

[tuscarora dave]

I haven't doubted you yet Dave.

Thanks for not doubting me Eric.

I do know a thing or two about the subject of detailing, especially where working in a "production" environment or working on commercial vehicles are concerned.

Just like Mike, I prefer to see these interactions posted in the public forum so others can learn and contribute to these topics as well.

I've always held true to the principles of gaining as much insight as possible, by learning the limits and capabilities of everything I get my hands on through constant out of the box (open minded) testing, and never placing all my eggs in the same basket.

In other words, while I do know a thing or two about detailing, as just one guy, I'm very limited in knowledge and experience with the overwhelming range of tools, products, needed techniques etc. that are out there today.

My Daddy always said that two heads are better than one.

While I do understand how confusing it can get when dozens of people are chiming in with both facts and opinions, it's still best to post in the public forum.

If I am unknowingly spreading misinformation about a tool or a product... here I can be checked by a more experienced member or, I can explain how what I am saying is the result of thinking critically and going far outside the box with something, then we all have the potential to learn something different.

Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy the phone calls and the emails because that helps to keep alive a passion that I've seen slipping away for me personally, and helping you and others allows me to stay a little more current with what's going on in the industry.

So keep em coming, just keep posting questions here too.

 

[excelon]

Yes Dave, I have neglected to post most of my questions and concerns here on the fourm but, I have " taken it to the forum" once again, and I'm here to stay.

I know you have a passion for making things shine... I can here the way you talk about the subject and that has been passed down to a younger generation, me.

I started out with a Dewalt dwp849x, and then found a great deal on a Flex pe 14. I'm going to get it a little more time, and then I'll write a review on both from a first timers stand point to help out.

As for what this fourm has done for me... I have been able to acquire the foundation and knowledge for the tool and product and with that have the greatest respect for not only the tools, but the people supplying the knowledge as well.

And now, I have taken a passion that was once only dreamt of, and have turned it into something understandable, easier then most learning curve and with the great help of Dave and other I'm able to turn great results.

Thank you