Been in country after not having a vehicle for three years from being stationed overseas. I now have two six years old cars. My truck has quite a bit of miles for its age but the paint isn't too bad. My car has less miles but the paint looks like it's never been waxed and is beginning to look bad after being in the hot sun here in hot sunny El Paso. I applied a layer of turtle wax's cheaper rubbing compound, polish and liquid wax by hand on roof, hood and trunk lid which were worst areas. I was not impressed with the results. It looks better but there was a lot of chalky residue, swirling and the wax showed all the paint chips in the hood. The car is black. Im now researching a quality line of polishes and waxes that are good to apply by hand for dark paint. I'm also looking for products that don't break the bank. Been researching for 3 days after work but still haven't decided. There's lots of good quality products on auto geek but I'm trying to find something for my needs. Any suggestions? Thank you.
Hello forum
- Thread starter beavis87
- Start date
4u2nvinmtl
New member
- Jun 9, 2015
- 443
- 0
Meg's M101 Compound
HD Polish or CarPro Reflect
I don't recommend polishing by hand as it will be hard to get even results and it will take forever.
HD Polish or CarPro Reflect
I don't recommend polishing by hand as it will be hard to get even results and it will take forever.
- Thread starter
- #3
So I should invest in a good buffer. Which do you recommend. Seems the porter cable 7424xp is what I've been hearing about a lot.
Mike Moore
Well-known member
- Dec 16, 2009
- 1,031
- 66
The PC and the GG 6" are both good machines to start with.
I recommend a Megs DBP5 DA Polisher 5 inch Backing Plate.
I like LC 5" flat pads & the Megs 5" microfiber cutting discs.
That combo works nice with Megs D300 and Carpro Essence.
I recommend a Megs DBP5 DA Polisher 5 inch Backing Plate.
I like LC 5" flat pads & the Megs 5" microfiber cutting discs.
That combo works nice with Megs D300 and Carpro Essence.
- Thread starter
- #7
Is M101 intended for a DA polisher? Can it be used with microfiber pads? What Meg compound would be best with a DA polisher with either foam or microfiber pads? I thought M105 was intended for DA polishers with different pads.
- Thread starter
- #8
Thanks, living the dream!
- Thread starter
- #9
The pads and discs look good, so I will be definately ordering them. However, I'm finding it hard to justify Meg's D300 if I'm getting M101. Also, while the CarPro Essence looks to be great polish, its quite expensive. I'm looking for a good polish about half that price.
70fastback1
New member
- Sep 12, 2011
- 78
- 0
If you are trying to jump in without breaking the bank, and a buffer is in your budget, maybe try this.
Get the machine of your choice, whether it be the PC, GG6...or whatever. Buy a 5" backing plate and some 5 1/2" pads (orange and/or white). Then head down to your favorite auto-part or discount store and get some Meg's Ultimate Compound!
Tape off a test spot and check out the results...I think you'll be amazed.
Then as the addiction grows, you can move on testing other products as the budget allows.
Personally, if I were just starting out, I would be very interested in the McKee's line of products after seeing the results on this red Caddy...simply amazing!!!
Sneak Peek! - McKee's 37 at Cars & Coffee Tech Session Tomorrow!
Get the machine of your choice, whether it be the PC, GG6...or whatever. Buy a 5" backing plate and some 5 1/2" pads (orange and/or white). Then head down to your favorite auto-part or discount store and get some Meg's Ultimate Compound!
Tape off a test spot and check out the results...I think you'll be amazed.
Then as the addiction grows, you can move on testing other products as the budget allows.
Personally, if I were just starting out, I would be very interested in the McKee's line of products after seeing the results on this red Caddy...simply amazing!!!
Sneak Peek! - McKee's 37 at Cars & Coffee Tech Session Tomorrow!
Mike@DedicatedPerfection
New member
- Feb 26, 2011
- 12,365
- 0
Hi sir, welcome to AutoGeekOnline from Germany! (active military here)
I would invest in one of Mike Phillips books before I went any further. This will give you a better understanding on various issues at hand as well as various machines and buffing pads. This will also serve as a reference that you will always have on hand.
Mike Phillips’ The Complete Guide to a Show Car Shine Paperback Book
I would invest in one of Mike Phillips books before I went any further. This will give you a better understanding on various issues at hand as well as various machines and buffing pads. This will also serve as a reference that you will always have on hand.
Mike Phillips’ The Complete Guide to a Show Car Shine Paperback Book
4u2nvinmtl
New member
- Jun 9, 2015
- 443
- 0
M101 works great with DA's (can be used by hand too). It works with Microfiber pads too.
The pads are depending how much "cut" you want and what finish you want from that step. You might get away with M101 and foam pads as a "one step" but not with the microfiber pads (you'll need to polish after compounding with microfiber)
In short you'll correct faster with Microfiber cutting pads but the finish isn't as nice compared to foam pads that correct slower but finish nicer (the cut really depends on the paints hardness/softness most of all). It's really a game of trial and error until your familiar with your paint.
As far as DA's and Pad's Merlin's comment is spot on (his corrections are also top notch)
Mike Moore
Well-known member
- Dec 16, 2009
- 1,031
- 66
Megs Ultimate Compound and Ultimate Polish are very good "1-2 punch" consumer products. I like them both.
If you're just starting out, these products are "safer" than using more aggressive (and expensive) products.
What I mean is that they are user friendly products and easy to learn with.
D300 is not as aggressive as M101. I do like M101 but I always use the least aggressive products and process first!
Another thought...Carpro Essence IMHO is a phenomenal final polish with filling ability and gloss that's off the chart.
- Thread starter
- #14
I made some more cost comparisons and made compromises where I had to. Before all this I was considering a Harbor Freight DA polisher and just going at it with my inferior products but then I found autogeek and it all went uphill from there.
Ordered the GG 6" DA polisher HD version and 5 Inch D.A. Hook & Loop Flexible Backing Plate
As for products just for the paint I chose
Meg's D111 Shampoo Plus, Tarminator, IronX, Nanoskin Autoscrub Speedy Prep fine and medium grade sponges, Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine, DP Aggressive and Universal clay, M101, All 9 LC CCS pads (hopefully one for every product out there!), M205, Meg's #21 synthetic sealant, and Meg's Gold Class Wax Liquid. And of course all kinds of other random detailing products and tools I needed or never used. Thanks autogeek for consuming my last three nights going through your whole site (wish it easier to organize and compare!).
I know I deviated a little from your suggestions but I sort of wanted to use one brand of product from compound to final wax. Meg's also came out to be the most economical from start to finish. Some brands had cheaper compounds and polishes or other brands had cheaper sealants and waxes but none had better value overall. I learned a lot about prep. Even down to how to wash a car better by hand and tools that allow me to do so. I also didn't know about clay bar alternatives and wanted to test out one of these to see how it compares. I also wanted to test these CCS foam pads. Are they as great as they claim? When I start running low on the Meg's then I want to try the next product until I find out what works for me. For me the fun is in trial and error. Its like a science experiment, hopefully I don't royally f### it up!
Ordered the GG 6" DA polisher HD version and 5 Inch D.A. Hook & Loop Flexible Backing Plate
As for products just for the paint I chose
Meg's D111 Shampoo Plus, Tarminator, IronX, Nanoskin Autoscrub Speedy Prep fine and medium grade sponges, Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine, DP Aggressive and Universal clay, M101, All 9 LC CCS pads (hopefully one for every product out there!), M205, Meg's #21 synthetic sealant, and Meg's Gold Class Wax Liquid. And of course all kinds of other random detailing products and tools I needed or never used. Thanks autogeek for consuming my last three nights going through your whole site (wish it easier to organize and compare!).
I know I deviated a little from your suggestions but I sort of wanted to use one brand of product from compound to final wax. Meg's also came out to be the most economical from start to finish. Some brands had cheaper compounds and polishes or other brands had cheaper sealants and waxes but none had better value overall. I learned a lot about prep. Even down to how to wash a car better by hand and tools that allow me to do so. I also didn't know about clay bar alternatives and wanted to test out one of these to see how it compares. I also wanted to test these CCS foam pads. Are they as great as they claim? When I start running low on the Meg's then I want to try the next product until I find out what works for me. For me the fun is in trial and error. Its like a science experiment, hopefully I don't royally f### it up!