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pappasnapple

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I wrote auto geek on several occasions and their answer to everything is Wolfgang. While I am sure a good product it can't be the answer to all things good.
I am new to detailing and am trying to get myself in a good place.

I have a 7424 and I have been told to stay with it as a beginner, less chance of wrecking your cars (all older and all show).
I am going to work my way through questions but for now. What are good pads to have especially if you are preparing to clay and then remove all the swirls and scratches I have put in with the wrong cleaning rags?

Second and I will leave it at these two to start, I guess I have added scratches with cleaning cloths. So what microfibers are good to have especially at a show when you are outside and trying to keep your car clean

Pappa
 
As another beginner with a PC I've been using the Meguiar's Ultimate series, Compound, Polish and Wax. It's nearly idiot proof.
 
The Porter Cable 7424 is a nice machine and has a good reputation and track record.

Many here recommend using the 5 1/2" pads and corresponding backing plate for efficient removal of swirls and minor finish defects.

Lake Country Pads

Lake Country 5 1/2 x 7/8 inch Beveled Edge Pads 6 Pack, foam pad kit, build a kit, buffing pads, curved edge pads

Backing Plate

lake country 5 inch backing plate, 5 inch backin plate, 5 inch hook and loop backing plate

Cobra Microfiber Towels

Glass

The Cobra Waffle Weave Microfiber Glass Towel cleans & buffs glass to crystal clarity with the soft texture of genuine Cobra microfiber.

Drying

The Guzzler Triple Kit

Buffing

Cobra Supreme 530 Microfiber Towels, drying towels, buffing towels, auto detail towels, car detail towels, micro fiber

Kit

Cobra Microfiber Towel Super 6 Pack includes five of Cobra's most popular microfiber detailing towels.


Process Order

Wash
Clay
Polish
Seal
Wax

Some Great Products

Wash - Duragloss 901

Clay - Meguiar's or Mothers

Polish - Menzerna
Menzerna Power Gloss, Power Finish & Super Finish Bundle, Menzerna Polishes Combo, Nano Polish, Power Finish Polish, Power Gloss Compound

Sealants

  • Menzerna Power Lock Wax
  • Optimum Opti-Seal
  • Klasse High Gloss Sealant Glaze
  • PRIMA Hydro-Seal
  • DP Poli-Coat Paint Sealant
  • Four Star Ultimate Paint Protection
Ultima

  • Ultima Paint Guard Plus
  • Ultima Tire & Trim Guard
  • Ultima Waterless Wash Plus Concentrate
  • Ultima Interior Guard
Wax

  • Collinite 845
  • Optimum Spray Wax
  • Prima Banana Gloss
  • Blackfire Midnight Sun

Paint Coatings

  • Optimum Opti-Coat 2.0
  • Element 119
  • Permanon Car Platinum

Tires & Wheels

  • Pinnacle Black Onyx
  • DP Gloss Tire Gel
  • Optimum Opti-Bond
  • Amazing Roll Off
  • Poorboy's World Wheel Sealant
 
BobbyG said:
The Porter Cable 7424 is a nice machine and has a good reputation and track record.

Many here recommend using the 5 1/2" pads and corresponding backing plate for efficient removal of swirls and minor finish defects.

Lake Country Pads

Lake Country 5 1/2 x 7/8 inch Beveled Edge Pads 6 Pack, foam pad kit, build a kit, buffing pads, curved edge pads

Backing Plate

lake country 5 inch backing plate, 5 inch backin plate, 5 inch hook and loop backing plate

Cobra Microfiber Towels

Glass

The Cobra Waffle Weave Microfiber Glass Towel cleans & buffs glass to crystal clarity with the soft texture of genuine Cobra microfiber.

Drying

The Guzzler Triple Kit

Buffing

Cobra Supreme 530 Microfiber Towels, drying towels, buffing towels, auto detail towels, car detail towels, micro fiber

Kit

Cobra Microfiber Towel Super 6 Pack includes five of Cobra's most popular microfiber detailing towels.


Process Order

Wash
Clay
Polish
Seal
Wax

Some Great Products

Wash - Duragloss 901

Clay - Meguiar's or Mothers

Polish - Menzerna
Menzerna Power Gloss, Power Finish & Super Finish Bundle, Menzerna Polishes Combo, Nano Polish, Power Finish Polish, Power Gloss Compound

Sealants

  • Menzerna Power Lock Wax
  • Optimum Opti-Seal
  • Klasse High Gloss Sealant Glaze
  • PRIMA Hydro-Seal
  • DP Poli-Coat Paint Sealant
  • Four Star Ultimate Paint Protection
Ultima

  • Ultima Paint Guard Plus
  • Ultima Tire & Trim Guard
  • Ultima Waterless Wash Plus Concentrate
  • Ultima Interior Guard
Wax

  • Collinite 845
  • Optimum Spray Wax
  • Prima Banana Gloss
  • Blackfire Midnight Sun

Paint Coatings

  • Optimum Opti-Coat 2.0
  • Element 119
  • Permanon Car Platinum

Tires & Wheels

  • Pinnacle Black Onyx
  • DP Gloss Tire Gel
  • Optimum Opti-Bond
  • Amazing Roll Off
  • Poorboy's World Wheel Sealant
Click to expand...

Nice work compiling that list for him Bobby :props:
 
pappasnapple said:
I have a 7424 and I have been told to stay with it as a beginner, less chance of wrecking your cars (all older and all show).

What are good pads to have especially if you are preparing to clay and then remove all the swirls and scratches I have put in with the wrong cleaning rags?
Click to expand...

Thin is in...

Regardless of the 7424 PC you have, the newer one is the XP, or if you have a Meguiar's G100 or any of their later variations, or a Shurhold or a Griot's Garage DA Polisher, you'll get best swirl and scratch removing ability by sticking with smaller, thinner pads as it's easier for these types of tools to maintain pad rotation under pressure.

Removing swirls means removing a little paint in an effort to level the upper most portion of the surface with the lowest depths of the swirls and scratches you're trying to remove. It's really that simple.

When the pad is rotating under pressure it is forcing the abrasive particles to take little bites out of the paint, think of a ice cream scooper, taking scoops of ice cream out of a bucket of ice cream.

Here's an article on maximizing your DA Polisher...

The short how-to guide for using a DA Polisher
How to maximize the ability of the 1st Generation Porter Cable Dual Action Polishers



Here's an article on pads plus some pics and links to some good basic pads to start with...


5 1/2 inch and 6 inch Buffing Pads on Autogeek's Online Store


Lake Country

5.5" Flat Pads
5_5FlatPads01.jpg



The outer edge of the face of these pads is tapered so they are actually a little under 5" in diameter
5_5FlatPads02.jpg


5_5FlatPads03.jpg



Approximately 7/8" thick
5_5FlatPads04.jpg




5.5" CCS Pads
CCSPads01.jpg



5.5" CCS Pad is right at 5.5" in diameter
CCSPads02.jpg



Approximately 7/8" thick
CCSPads03.jpg






:xyxthumbs:
 
pappasnapple said:
Second and I will leave it at these two to start, I guess I have added scratches with cleaning cloths. So what microfibers are good to have especially at a show when you are outside and trying to keep your car clean.
Click to expand...

I just want to touch on this because I don't see that anyone else has. It's a little more complicated than just what towels to use, there is a lot of judgement and technique involved. I'm sure Mike Phillips has a thread about "when it's safe to use a quick detailer" because I remember him doing it on MOL, but you have to be aware of what kind of "dirt" it is, how it's adhered, how much product and pressure you are using, and also of course your wash media or towel.

It's all about not grinding whatever "dirt" or dust is on the car into the finish. So the kind of cleaner you are using (rinseless wash, waterless wash, QD, spray wax) is important, as well as the quantity of that product, how many passes you are doing, how much pressure you use, what kind of towel, how often you turn/change the towel, etc. You want to make sure you use enough product to provide lubrication and float the grit away, be very gentle until you have loosened/removed as much as possible, clean or turn your media when it's dirty, etc.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
It's all about not grinding whatever "dirt" or dust is on the car into the finish.

So the kind of cleaner you are using (rinseless wash, waterless wash, QD, spray wax) is important, as well as the quantity of that product, how many passes you are doing, how much pressure you use, what kind of towel, how often you turn/change the towel, etc.


You want to make sure you use enough product to provide lubrication and float the grit away, be very gentle until you have loosened/removed as much as possible, clean or turn your media when it's dirty, etc.
Click to expand...


Nice post Mike... thanks for pointing out some very detailed factors to be considered...

Something I "speak" all the time, not sure how much I "type" it but everything comes down to how the paint is "touched" and to your point, that includes the thing touching it and what's on the paint when it's being touched.


And I do have a couple of articles on this topic...


Tips & Techniques for using a Spray Detailer to Remove Light Dust, Fingerprints and Smudges

How dirty is too dirty to safely use a rinseless wash?

The difference between a Normal Car Wash, a Waterless Car Wash, a Rinseless Car Wash and a Spray Detailer

How to maintain a freshly waxed car

Scratch your car for $5.00

The reality of the 100% Hand Car Wash



:autowash:
 
setec astronomy said:
i just want to touch on this because i don't see that anyone else has. It's a little more complicated than just what towels to use, there is a lot of judgement and technique involved. I'm sure mike phillips has a thread about "when it's safe to use a quick detailer" because i remember him doing it on mol, but you have to be aware of what kind of "dirt" it is, how it's adhered, how much product and pressure you are using, and also of course your wash media or towel.

It's all about not grinding whatever "dirt" or dust is on the car into the finish. So the kind of cleaner you are using (rinseless wash, waterless wash, qd, spray wax) is important, as well as the quantity of that product, how many passes you are doing, how much pressure you use, what kind of towel, how often you turn/change the towel, etc. You want to make sure you use enough product to provide lubrication and float the grit away, be very gentle until you have loosened/removed as much as possible, clean or turn your media when it's dirty, etc.
Click to expand...


right on point! I know mike philips commented above, so use his link because he describes in the best words possible.
 
I have obtained outstanding results with a PC7424xp, 5" backing plate, 5.5" flat pads and time.
TruckHood11.jpg


Kit:
If you are correcting swirls & fine scratches then I would suggest the Megs 5" Mcrofiber kit.
It comes with a 5" backing plate, D300, D301 and 2)MF cutting pads & 2)MF polishing pads.
(It's a pretty self contained kit. Did I mention a nice Meguiar's apron?)

Pads:
Add to that a six-pack of LC 5.5" flat pads 2)orange 2)white and 1)black and 1)blue or
as a newbie you may prefer the Constant Pressure Pads. Try 1)Orange 1)White 1)Red
SIDE NOTE: You can never have too many clean pads or clean quality microfiber cloths

Product:
The Meguiars M105 / M205 combo or the Ultimate compound and Ultimate Polish combo.

Process:
With a little time and practice you will master PC speed, pressure, arm speed & control.

Welcome to my world!
 
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