"First-Timer" plan and questions

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mjd91

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I just got my new PC 7424XP with CCS pads and i'm looking for a little advise for a first timer.
I got an orange, white, blue, and red pad.

Here's my plan of attack for the paint.
1. Wash with Pinnacle bodywork shampoo
2. Clay with Pinnacle clay kit
3. Iron-x
4. Meg's UC on an orange pad
5. Meg's UP on a white
6. IPA wipedown
7. Rejex sealant on blue pad
8. Wax of some sort to really make it pop on red pad

Now I realize that I will need more pads. What are your recommendations, more of the same colors (orange and white in particular) or different colors? I was recommended to have 2-3 oranges and whites each for compound and polish.

Plan of attack for the wheels
1. Wash with Pinnacle bodywork
(should I pick up some dedicated wheel cleaner?)
2. Iron-x
3. Clay with Griot's wheel clay
4. IPA wipe
5. Rejex sealant

I have a Mother's wheel brush and 1" lug nut brush in my AG cart right now. (Boar's hair wheel brush a little more than I want to spend right now)

Plan for tires
1. TUF SHINE tire kit
2. Touch up with Pinnacle Black Onyx if needed later on

In my AG cart is 2 Supreme 530 MF towels, 2 chinchilla MF's, XMT pad care combo, small boar's hair vent brush, and the already mentioned Mother's wheel brush, 1" lug nut brush, and Iron-X.

All of this will be primarily used on my 2006 Mineral Gray Dodge Ram.

Any and all recommendations are very appreciated!

Mitch
 
Welcome to AGO!

What is the condition, color and make of the car/paint?
 
Without a pic or description of the paint's condition it is hard to see if #4 is necessary. Whatever you do across the whole car, lock down the process by performing all steps on a test spot.

The process itself is fine; I'd rather IronX before claying so consider swapping those steps for the paint. Rejex can be applied with blue or red.
 
Paint is in good shape but it does have swirls and a couple scratches in it from the previous owner and a couple from the dog.
As said at the bottom of my first post, paint is Mineral Gray (paint code PDM) on a 2006 Dodge Ram.

Mwoolfso, I will do a test spot (I've watched all or most of the "how-to's" so I feel pretty confident about actually applying and using the products) I'm not a total rookie either, just a rookie to the "full" detail including the machine.
I do plan to iron-x before clay. I accidentally put them out of order. Got it right in the wheel process though!
 
Sounds pretty well planned out. Maybe a 6 pack of pads so you don't lose time cleaning them. I love 5.5" LC flat pads on my pcxp. I'm sure the CCS work just as well though.
 
I plan on a 6-pack. 2 more orange, 2 more white, but not sure about the last 2????
That was another question I had, do y'all prefer the flat pads over the CCS's?
I could save a little money with the flats so I might go that direction.
 
I started with the CCS pads, and I still use them, but I also tried the Hydrotech pads and I like those A LOT! All future pad purchases when I need them will be Hydrotech for me. If you get more CCS pads add in the gray. I seem to use my grays often. You really dont need more than one LSP pad from my experience. Since the paint is clean, and you are just spreading product for this step, you can do an entire car with one pad. So you might want to use the new pad purchase for additional compounding and polishing pads. Oh, and since you didnt mention the diameter, use 5.5 inch pads, they work better on a DA.

BTW, I have never used an IPA wipedown and I am not sure I have ever noticed not doing it causing any issue what so ever.
 
Jaret, any specific reasons you like the hydro pads better than the CCS ones? Yes I am and will be using. 5.5"ers. I'll add a gray into the mix, still have one more to decide on though.

Cgreen, I read that thread and will be extra careful my first time around to not use too much product and check my backing plate and surface for heat.

I think 3 orange pads should be plenty to compound with. I'll do the quick cleaning by putting a towel over the pad face and getting off the excess grime. If I run out of pads then I guess I'll take a break and clean them out.
 
mjd91 said:
Paint is in good shape but it does have swirls and a couple scratches in it from the previous owner and a couple from the dog.
As said at the bottom of my first post, paint is Mineral Gray (paint code PDM) on a 2006 Dodge Ram.

Mwoolfso, I will do a test spot (I've watched all or most of the "how-to's" so I feel pretty confident about actually applying and using the products) I'm not a total rookie either, just a rookie to the "full" detail including the machine.
I do plan to iron-x before clay. I accidentally put them out of order. Got it right in the wheel process though!
Click to expand...

You did come across as someone with experience and I figured it was an honest mistake. Enjoy!
 
I keep 3-4 pads in rotation so I don't have to stop as often but we all need a break from time to time. The towel trick works good but if you change your pad after each panel you won’t need it.

Craig
 
The towels I used to "clean on the fly" left lint on the pad, so then I had to brush them off also. Shortly after that I ordered more pads. It's hard to describe but I like the "feel" of flat pads. I have some hydrotechs to try next time I get to use the machine.
 
Since I already have the CCS pads I may try the flats to compare for myself and see which I like better.
 
The flat pads will cut a bit better than CCS pads, all others things held the same, because you have slightly more pad surface doing work.
 
Mike Phillips is just about the wisest fella bar none here. He'll help you.
 
Umi, that does make sense!

Mark, I'm hoping he'll chime in.
 
Welcome to AG! :)

Man do I love a man with a "plan". You can always adjust that plan as you get started. Might not need it all. I can tell though that you really want it to turn out fantastic and have no doubt with the work you plan on putting into it it'll be pretty awesome. (Remember before and after pics if possible.)

First thing I noticed on the pads is you seem to have the colors you will use the most so no real worries there. However I see you have a Dodge RAM and that is a LoT of sheetmetal. The bigger the panel, the more pads you're going to need. That truck will need a lot of pads if you are doing any real correction. For that huge hood I'd use 2 (Mike might use 4) ;) , 1 for each fender, door, rear quarter, etc. There is no way I'd have less than 6 of the colors I'm using the most, especially if you really want to use UC!

Honestly you might not even need UC as UP does pretty good on it's own and both (as I'm sure you've read here) have really nice, long, working times. You can take it with the orange pad and do a test area, then do another with a white pad and you'll be surprised at the difference. Same if you tried the yellow, and also it'll be different with the flats vs the CCS.

The most important thing is not over working, and over loading, the pads. Easy enough to just throw them in the bucket as they get dirty, do a good wash, overnight dry, and start again tomorrow. But don't do as you'll see in some of the latest posts where a pad is destroyed by trying to do a whole car with it.

I think we (me) were a bit delusional when that first GG6 order and 6 pads showed up thinking that would actually work for anything but maybe one of my cars. The only one that never gets dirty, never driven in the rain, and waxed long and often was the only one I could do with that first group of pads. (But then again, I knew that when I ordered those colors with that first order.) ;)

Maybe we should petition AG to sell us the DA's for $49.99 with the promise that ALL of our pads from then on would come from them. Why? Because I've spent THREE TIMES as much on pads alone as I did for the GG6, (and IT was on SALE)! :eek:

But yeah, you've watched the videos, you know about the "test spot" and you've got a solid plan. Really no worries there at all. :xyxthumbs:

AG has put together an excellent 25 piece kit to really exploit the capabilites of the current generation of DA's. It's The Complete Dual Action Accessory Kit includes 10 Lake Country CCS 6.5 inch foam pads, four CCS 4 inch foam pads, plus all the bonnets, backing plates (plus a carpet brush!) you need to perform any detailing task with your Porter Cable. We’ve also included XMT Polishing Foam Pad Cleaner and XMT Polishing Foam Pad Conditioner to help you get the most mileage out of your new pad collection.

Complete Dual Action Accessory Kit

The one thing that might subtract just a bit is only 2 of each color (10 total 6½'s) and not able to mix-and-match.

But with different backing plates, 4" CCS pads, plus the wool leveling pad and 4 MF bonnets it's something I think anyone that's really wanting to use their new DA needs. At $199.00 it's very fair (and I was lucky enough to get it for $150.00 on sale for Christmas). Eventually (if you're like me) you'll end up buying most/all the stuff in that package anyways.

Then, because it has a smaller backing plate included, you can order some 5½" flat pads to go with it in your favorite color and kill the whole flock of birds with one stone. :) At the risk of getting flogged I'm not going to post my last pad order photo here (again) as.... well.... perhaps it's a bit depressing to think how much I spent on that order. :laughing: But, you can find it here. Let's just say that I do not regret it, and I'll use each and every one with a smile on my face! :buffing:
 
mjd91 said:
Jaret, any specific reasons you like the hydro pads better than the CCS ones? Yes I am and will be using. 5.5"ers. I'll add a gray into the mix, still have one more to decide on though.
Click to expand...

The thin hydro pads allow you to put more pressure on the pad with less physical effort, since wasted effort is not being put down on a pad that is simply compressing. This also seems to keep more even pressure across the pad and they seem to be easier to control (not that CCS pads are difficult). They also might have just a tad more cut.

If you are placing another order, get yourself a pad conditioning brush. So much better and more effective at cleaning the pads than the towel method. Foam Pad Conditioning Brush cleans and reconditions foam and wool pads on the buffer. remove excess caked wax and polish from buffing pads.
 
Cardaddy, let me start by thanking you for the useful post! That combo pad kit does look good but I've read that the 5.5" pads are as big as you want to go with the PC. But is it a good idea to get a smaller backing plate pads (3-4") to put on my PC for the smaller/more intricate areas?
I'll have to take a look at your pad order.

Jaret, the hydro pads explanation makes sense. I haven't decided for sure what pads I want yet so I'll do some poking around and reading.
Also when I use the quick towel cleaning that will only be during use to get product off the pad between sections. I will clean the pads after use with the XMT pad cleaner spray and toss them in a bucket of warm water. After I'm totally done I will clean them thoroughly. Is there something special about the pad brush that a simple fingernail brush won't do?

I've also thought about the DP pad wash powder instead of the XMT spray just to put in the bucket I toss my pads in. Is one better than the other?
 
mjd91 said:
Cardaddy, let me start by thanking you for the useful post! That combo pad kit does look good but I've read that the 5.5" pads are as big as you want to go with the PC. But is it a good idea to get a smaller backing plate pads (3-4") to put on my PC for the smaller/more intricate areas?
I'll have to take a look at your pad order.

Jaret, the hydro pads explanation makes sense. I haven't decided for sure what pads I want yet so I'll do some poking around and reading.
Also when I use the quick towel cleaning that will only be during use to get product off the pad between sections. I will clean the pads after use with the XMT pad cleaner spray and toss them in a bucket of warm water. After I'm totally done I will clean them thoroughly. Is there something special about the pad brush that a simple fingernail brush won't do?

I've also thought about the DP pad wash powder instead of the XMT spray just to put in the bucket I toss my pads in. Is one better than the other?
Click to expand...

You are certainly welcome, and thank you as well. Ya' know... it was late/early (almost 3am) when I composed that message it didn't dawn on me your machine is a PC. :doh:
Although if you already have a few 6½" CCS pads then the ones included would likely be all you ever needed for your arsenal in that size. The PC will do ok though with the MF bonnet's included, as well as the smaller pads and of course there is even a carpet brush. :dunno: I figured the cleaning spur and XMT products as the icing on the cake, although I find it a little strange that there isn't a pad brush included in a rather well rounded out kit. ;) What I was thinking when I bought it was after that I'd have a few more 6½" CCS's to round out my inventory and only ordered just 6 more of that size.

Then just make all additional orders in 5½" and smaller pads. Not having a forced rotation machine the smaller pads just work easier. PLUS.... the smaller ones are MUCH more affordable, which means we get to buy more of those suckers!
:laughing:

Yes by all means it'd be a good idea to use the 4" pads on your DA for tight areas. Sure beats buying yet another DA if ya' don't need to.

I'm of the mindset that powders like the DP, Snappy and the like (I use Snappy) are another tool needed along with liquids like XMT, both pad cleaner and conditioner (both are included in the kit btw).

Gotta' run... I hear a grill full of ribeyes calling my name.:hungry:
 
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