Flex 3401/Menzerna Newbie polish ?'s for 2001 S2000

[silv3rbakk]

I recently purchased this kit for my 2001 Honda Grand Prix White S2000:

Menzerna polishes for ceramic clear coat paint, Flex buffer, Nano polish, super intensive, Lake Country pads, Show car kit

The Kit includes:

FLEX XC3401 VRG Orbital Polisher Variable Speed Polisher
FLEX backing plate
16 oz. Menzerna Super Intensive Polish PO 83
16 oz. Menzerna Super Finish PO 106 FA
16 oz. Menzerna Power Lock
2 Microfiber Towels, 16 x 16 inches
4 - 6 Inch Microfiber Bonnets
1 CCS 6.5 Inch White Polishing Pad
1 CCS 6.5 Inch Orange Finishing Pad
1 CCS 6.5 Inch Gray Finessing Pad
1 CCS 6.5 inch Red UltraSoft Wax/Sealant Foam Pad

My question is my car is almost 13 years old. It is a garage queen and is in pretty good shape overall. I have never used a DA polisher so I'm new to all of this. Would you recommend detailing the entire care or can that damage it? If the sun or bright light shines on the paint, you can see spider web/swirls in there.

So my question is will one pad be able to detail the entire car or what else would I need? Also I want a pristine shine on the entire car, so do you recommend detailing the entire car even if there aren't any noticeable flaws or can that be detrimental in anyway?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts. I'm new to all of this and just bought Mike Phillips complete guide to detailing book to keep me busy in the meantime.

 

[swanicyouth]

Your asking after you bought all the stuff ???


Sure, you could damage it with a 3401, as its a forced rotation machine. Most people that teach themself how to polish paint start with a non forced rotation machine, as that type will bog down if you put too much pressure on it.

You will likely be fine with foam pads though. The only way to know for sure how much paint there is to polish safely is to measure it with a thickness gauge.

Ideally you want multiple pads for each step, or you could clean them as needed. But that takes time. Also, pads sometimes "explode" when someone is learning in their own, so you want some back ups.

Let us know how you make out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[Evan.J]

Welcome to the forum and thats a great Kit

Here is an in-depth video on how to use the flex.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arn_kVH3BVc]In depth Look at the FLEX 3401 Polisher - YouTube[/video]

Of course a wash, clay/decontamination will be needed prior to working on your paint.

Be sure you do a test spot and start with the least aggressive combo and the move up if you have to.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/50162-how-do-test-spot.html


http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum.../34201-lubricating-felt-ring-flex-3401-a.html
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/flex-polishers/49262-speed-settings-flex-3401-a.html
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...how-do-section-pass-when-machine-buffing.html

 

[Flatlander]

Welcome! I am new to the polishing game too and have a flex as well. Those big pads are going to be difficult to work with IMO. The Flex is very "grabby" and the big pads will make it feel like it's a Rottweiler on a leash going after a Yorkie! The smaller backing plate and pads (5.5") are easier to handle. If you want some real advice you're going to have to upload some pictures of the paint out in the sun preferably. Whenever you "polish" a car you are removing small amounts of clear coat/paint. So, yes, it can be detrimental to polish a car that doesn't need it. Good luck and welcome!
- Mike

 

[silv3rbakk]

Your asking after you bought all the stuff ???

After extensive research I found and read a ton of great things about the Flex and Menzerna products. I'm the kind of guy that installs my own turbo kits in my cars, so I'm not a total newb just never used this machine before.

I bought this kit because after all I had read it seemed like it was the complete kit to what I was after, which was a show car shine. I used the orange pad w/ SIP on my headlights and lexan rear window and they came out perfect. I followed that up with the white pad and the finishing polish and it really started to shine. I was able to remove almost 100% oxidation.

My question to you all is on a lexan/plastic window would you follow that up with the gray pad/power lock? I never really apply any kind of sealant/wax to my headlights or rear lexan window as I thought that may be detrimental to it.

I appreciate all of your feedback and I know with time/knowledge I can tackle this.

 

[silv3rbakk]

Welcome! I am new to the polishing game too and have a flex as well. Those big pads are going to be difficult to work with IMO. The Flex is very "grabby" and the big pads will make it feel like it's a Rottweiler on a leash going after a Yorkie! The smaller backing plate and pads (5.5") are easier to handle. If you want some real advice you're going to have to upload some pictures of the paint out in the sun preferably. Whenever you "polish" a car you are removing small amounts of clear coat/paint. So, yes, it can be detrimental to polish a car that doesn't need it. Good luck and welcome!
- Mike

Yea that is what I had been figuring. The 6.5 pads that come with the kit seem really big...especially when working on the headlights. I will be purchasing a smaller backing plate and will get some 4" and 5.5 pads too.

With the paint being OEM Honda, how is there a way to tell how thick etc it is without spending $600 on a paint thickness guage?

 

[Evan.J]

Yea that is what I had been figuring. The 6.5 pads that come with the kit seem really big...especially when working on the headlights. I will be purchasing a smaller backing plate and will get some 4" and 5.5 pads too.

With the paint being OEM Honda, how is there a way to tell how thick etc it is without spending $600 on a paint thickness guage?

Get the LC interchangeable backing plate system and the 5" hybrid pads.

Yes you need the BP system for these pads the 4 3/8 Flex backing plate is too big and the hook and look will cut into the foam and ruin a pad.

Lake Country Hybrid Power Finish 5 Inch Foam Pads
FLEX XC3401 Changeable Backing Plate System

 

[silv3rbakk]

Is the orange hybrid pad the same cut as the orange CCS pad?

 

[Evan.J]

Is the orange hybrid pad the same cut as the orange CCS pad?

Here you go:

 

[silv3rbakk]

Thanks Evan! Those hybrid pads seem like they're more aggressive. Do you suggest I start off with orange and SIP w the hybrid pads or?

 

[Brody]

If you've never machine polished paint and your first experience is going to be with a forced rotation DA, I would suggest you start by finding a junk body panel to practice on to get a feel for how much cut your polishes and compounds have when used with (insert pad color and type here). Figure out how far you have to push the envelope so to speak before you go through the clear coat. You will find that some scratches will be to deep to safely polish out and as a result you'll just have to live with them.

I would recommend you start polishing your car with PO 106 and a white polishing pad. If you can get away with using a less aggressive polish you're better off because you're removing less clear coat. If PO 106 and the white pad isn't doing it, try PO 106 and an orange pad. If that still isn't enough then go to the PO 83. I certainly wouldn't advocate starting with PO 83 and an orange pad if you can get the job done with PO 106.

 

[Theostoubos]

Welcome! I am new to the polishing game too and have a flex as well. Those big pads are going to be difficult to work with IMO. The Flex is very "grabby" and the big pads will make it feel like it's a Rottweiler on a leash going after a Yorkie! The smaller backing plate and pads (5.5") are easier to handle. If you want some real advice you're going to have to upload some pictures of the paint out in the sun preferably. Whenever you "polish" a car you are removing small amounts of clear coat/paint. So, yes, it can be detrimental to polish a car that doesn't need it. Good luck and welcome!
- Mike

If you've never machine polished paint and your first experience is going to be with a forced rotation DA, I would suggest you start by finding a junk body panel to practice on to get a feel for how much cut your polishes and compounds have when used with (insert pad color and type here). Figure out how far you have to push the envelope so to speak before you go through the clear coat. You will find that some scratches will be to deep to safely polish out and as a result you'll just have to live with them.

I would recommend you start polishing your car with PO 106 and a white polishing pad. If you can get away with using a less aggressive polish you're better off because you're removing less clear coat. If PO 106 and the white pad isn't doing it, try PO 106 and an orange pad. If that still isn't enough then go to the PO 83. I certainly wouldn't advocate starting with PO 83 and an orange pad if you can get the job done with PO 106.

This IMO is all good advice.

The kit that you got is a great one and it can bring you amazing results. PO106 / SF4000 is an amazing product and depending on the condition of your paint it might be the Only product you might need.

So start with that on a medium pad and I couldn't agree more on the 5.5 inch pads instead of the 6.5.

As others said let us know of your results and post a lot of photos.

Welcome
Theo

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Rupes pads are the bomb on the 3401.

Do not be scared by the forced rotation of the Flex 3401. You really have to careless to damage paint with it. Keep the polisher moving(not too fast) and you're good to go.