I am picking up a HF DAtomorrow since I now have a place I can do details. Mainly just my own cars for now. I have 2 new cars both with dealer swirls and my accord has a scratch down the side where someone did a poor job of trying to key my car. ( cant feel it with fingernail) I read some of Mikes articles but he does not give an actual pad or compound recommendation. I need to get a backing plate and whiever set of pads works best for swirl removal, applying BF GEP and a sealant. Sorry I tried to research but I just dont want to pick something that sucks or will be ineffective. Which compound would you reccomend for swirl removal? Will I need to do a second compounding step to remove marring from the first step?
Help me pick pads and compound for HF DA.
- Thread starter acv987
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Hjfowler
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- May 31, 2013
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I have two accords. Had some dealer swirls. I ALSO just bought the HF DA. Great machine for the price.
Pads: I went with Lake Country 5.5" pads. (Orange white and blue) (you'll need a new backing plate. 5")
Product: both of my cars are dark, but one is black. The Meg's black wax did AMAZING stuff to my black paint View attachment 26614View attachment 26615
There's a before and after. (Disregard the two stone chips)
I have also used Pinnacle XMT 360 on the dark grey Accord. Also great results. Just follow up with a nice wax or sealant.
All of this was recommended to me by a professional on AGO. You can't go wrong. Plus none of the above mentioned is expensive.
Pads: I went with Lake Country 5.5" pads. (Orange white and blue) (you'll need a new backing plate. 5")
Product: both of my cars are dark, but one is black. The Meg's black wax did AMAZING stuff to my black paint View attachment 26614View attachment 26615
There's a before and after. (Disregard the two stone chips)
I have also used Pinnacle XMT 360 on the dark grey Accord. Also great results. Just follow up with a nice wax or sealant.
All of this was recommended to me by a professional on AGO. You can't go wrong. Plus none of the above mentioned is expensive.
Hjfowler
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- May 31, 2013
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Backing plate isn't flexible. I never tried the pads. But I've not read one good thing about them. But like I say, I haven't tried them so I don't know. All ican say is the LC pads are great
Rmd
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- Dec 27, 2012
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A good starting point is a 5" backing plate and 5.5 inch pads. Get at least a couple each of orange, white, and black (or blue). Either flat or CCS, its mostly preference. The orange will work with compounds, the white with polish, or the black/blue for finishing work with regular polish or a fine finishing polish. The reds are good to have also if you plan to apply wax or sealant by machine.
For compound and polish, you can't go wrong with the AG Wolfgang line. The total swirl remover and finishing glaze (actually a polish despite the name) will cover most situations. The WG Uber compound is excellent too, if you are dealing with really messed up paint.
For compound and polish, you can't go wrong with the AG Wolfgang line. The total swirl remover and finishing glaze (actually a polish despite the name) will cover most situations. The WG Uber compound is excellent too, if you are dealing with really messed up paint.
VP Mark
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- Jul 12, 2012
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The HF backing plate IS that bad. It is a sanding plate and acts like it. Buy a LC backing plate and throw the stock one in the trash.
Lets keep this simple!
Compound: Optimum Hyper Compound
Polish: Optimum Hyper Polish
Pads: Optimum MF Cutting & Polishing pads
This is such an easy combo for someone new it is laughable. One squirt after each pass perfectly primes and loads the pad. Pads finish beautifully. One soft clear such as an accord you might be able to even get away with just the Hyper Polish and a MF Polishing pad.
You can use a MF polishing pad for sealant application as well, but a red or black pad is really smoother for that.
Lets keep this simple!
Compound: Optimum Hyper Compound
Polish: Optimum Hyper Polish
Pads: Optimum MF Cutting & Polishing pads
This is such an easy combo for someone new it is laughable. One squirt after each pass perfectly primes and loads the pad. Pads finish beautifully. One soft clear such as an accord you might be able to even get away with just the Hyper Polish and a MF Polishing pad.
You can use a MF polishing pad for sealant application as well, but a red or black pad is really smoother for that.
Hjfowler
New member
- May 31, 2013
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The meguiars is an AIO and so is the Pinnacle. The Meg's is far less aggressive though. The swirls basically get filled in with minimal correction. (Still looks awesome). The XMT will actually do some correction, but still isn't very aggressive. I chose this combo because I didn't want to mess up my paint. Not that you will with a compound, but I'm new to the use of machines on anything but boats. If you're looking for actual correction, I would stick with what VP Mark said.
KBsToy
Active member
- Jul 4, 2011
- 1,490
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Just use the KISS method . I likes the XMT 360 and did the Petes 53 . I like the Optimums pads ..
NIIICE..what year Honda if you don't mind me asking? I have an 07 accord and 11 pilot, and was hoping I could get away with just the ultimate compound.
- Thread starter
- #13
Thats what i was considering actually was picking up some Megs 205, and if that didnt take care of it trying some ultimate compound. The 205 is finer than the UC correct? So if the UC left any marking I could use the 205 to get rid of them? Or would I be better off using 105 followed by 205?
The backing pad on the HF DA is a POS. If you get the foam pads for HF as well, the backing pad will start to destroy the edges of the foam pad. And as your buffing, you'll start to see foam bits all over your hood, roof, wherever you might be buffing.
I took off the backing pad, put it in a drill, and used a razor blade to cut off the outer edges of it. I ended up with a 5 1/4" backing pad that didnt destroy my cheap-#### foam pads from HF.
Do this if our in a pinch for money. I did, and I worked. Order some new backing pads, a few foam pads, and practice until your new stuff comes in.
I took off the backing pad, put it in a drill, and used a razor blade to cut off the outer edges of it. I ended up with a 5 1/4" backing pad that didnt destroy my cheap-#### foam pads from HF.
Do this if our in a pinch for money. I did, and I worked. Order some new backing pads, a few foam pads, and practice until your new stuff comes in.
CDot
New member
- Aug 8, 2013
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2009 EX-L in Bali Blue Pearl. The UC finishes very nicely (used an orange pad).
Yeah, UP is finer than UC so you can follow up with it if you need to. I saw the 105/205, but decided to go with the UC/UP combo because a lot of guys here say 105 & 205 produce a lot of dust. UC barely produces anything if you're using properly.
Damn, that's a trip...I have the same color! It's an 11 Pilot. The Touring model(bunch of useless gadgets that wife wanted) I'll be using UC too. Not sure if I even need the UP
CDot
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- Aug 8, 2013
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Doing a review I hope?
I did some pictures when I did it last year--intending to review--but hadn't had the time to post, let us know how it goes!
cheapbutshiny
New member
- Feb 17, 2014
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I have the HF buffer also. When I got it the pads were on sale for 5 bucks each so I decided to give them a whirl. They worked alright for the first time around, but after one (or maybe two) uses they were falling apart. One of them completely came apart from it's backing as I carefully tried to remove it from the backing plate. On the up-side, the hook and loop on the backing plate is very strong.
