Need help choosing pads

PokeFan

PokeFan

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I'm about to put in an order for pads and need some help getting the right mix. Following the trend, figure since I now have all the gear I might as well see if I can't make a bit of spending cash on the side. So I'll need pads to get me through customer vehicles and not just my own. I'm guessing at most for the time being I'll have 2 over a weekend so I don't think I need a lot.

Here's what I originally had bookmarked but now I'm wondering if I even need yellow pads.

Lake Country 5" flat pads:
2 - Yellow
3 - Orange
3 - White
2 - Black
2 - Blue

How's the mix? I don't plan on buying more than 12 pads so if anyone thinks I need more of anything something is going to have to give.

Also, I planned on getting these towels as wash media with ONR. Anyone have any objections to these? They seem to be the best mix of value and quality.
Super Soft Deluxe Green Microfiber Towels with Rolled Edges, green buffing towels, micro fiber, micro fibre, detail cloths

Thanks in advance!
 
To add to the above. Reason I ask about yellow pads is I don't really plan on pushing a lot of 2 step process jobs right now. I want to start with friends/family and offer a simple 1 step to get my feet wet and not try to go all out in the beginning. I know it's something I'll need to add eventually but I'd rather have adequate supplies for a 1 Step first so I'm not cutting corners there.
 
For me there was a fine line between "finishing" and "finessing", so my startup kit saved the finessing for another order and just included Yellow, Orange, and White with Reds for waxes and sealants. On a single stage car, you'll wish you had more of the Orange and White.

Those Blue/Black aren't going to get trashed quickly, so I'd cut them back to 2, so you can see which one you like. One for sealants and one for carnauba. YMMV.
 
Seems to be a pretty good list of pads. My question is what buffer are you planning on using? My guess is a PC7424.

The yellow and Orange pads are pretty close to each other. Their intended use is for compounds but many have discoveered with polish on them they may not need a compounding stage. As you indicated an All in One is a good place to start for daily drivers, stick with it results are just as good as 2 step but more profitable. I'd also guess you will get more use out of the white pads. Not really sure you need both blue and black pads. Black will work for waxing or sealants just fine.

Those mf towels should be fine also. I use a lot of the bulk mf from Costco and they seem to work just fine. I also have a dozen + of more expensive mf towels they work fine also.

I use a lot of Meguiars products some Duragloss and Colinite 845.
 
I would probably stick with orange and white mostly and then get a few finishing pads. I normally use the red and gold ones. I have just started using the Microfiber pads and love them. I have done several details and just used microfiber cutting and finishing pads. They take a little getting used to but they are great. I have some yellow pads, but seldom use them even on corrections. I have found that the orange pads and the white pads are mostly what I use at my shop. Hope that helps a little.
 
Most correction seems to be with my orange pads. I just did a full correction on a highly neglected, Black, 06 Escalade with XMT #3 and the yellow pad and it came out beautiful. I'd have at least 1 or 2 in my arsnal in case you ever get a difficult job.

I've about had it with black and blue pads. They just seems too soft depending on what you use. If the product is thick enough then I don't have an issue, but WGDGPS or #845 is just too darn thin and gets sucked up into the pad. I find myself having to constantly re apply to the pad. I did a polish on my Passat while I was at work yesterday and sealed with dgps by hand it . It actually felt easier to do and it was faster than using my PC.

If my wax is thick enough like #26 I don't have an issue, watery type products just don't work for me on anything less than a white pad.

I've already decided that my next pads will be the hydrotech pads. :)

Sent from my SCH-I535 using AG Online
 
Great feedback, you guys are awesome.

Ralph, I picked up the HF 6" DA this weekend. So far it seems very capable but the backing plate is no doubt junk. I've tried to mood it flat a couple times and the little time it stays straight the polisher is butter smooth so I think it will be a good buy once I get the new BP in.

Chase, thanks for pointing out the hydrotechs, I had managed to overlook those. I think I'll have to give them a try at some point. Right now I'm not using anything water based and for the price I think I'll hold off until my next big order when I pick up different product.

I wasn't quite sure how close some of these were which is why I had 4 blue/black pads. Now I'm thinking this should work for now and leave me with plenty of extras to rotate through.
4 - Orange
6 - White
2 - Blue

I think I'll keep the yellow for the next order as well.
 
PokeFan said:
Great feedback, you guys are awesome.

Ralph, I picked up the HF 6" DA this weekend. So far it seems very capable but the backing plate is no doubt junk. I've tried to mood it flat a couple times and the little time it stays straight the polisher is butter smooth so I think it will be a good buy once I get the new BP in.

Chase, thanks for pointing out the hydrotechs, I had managed to overlook those. I think I'll have to give them a try at some point. Right now I'm not using anything water based and for the price I think I'll hold off until my next big order when I pick up different product.

I wasn't quite sure how close some of these were which is why I had 4 blue/black pads. Now I'm thinking this should work for now and leave me with plenty of extras to rotate through.
4 - Orange
6 - White
2 - Blue

I think I'll keep the yellow for the next order as well.
Click to expand...

I've read good reviews on the HF polisher. I forgot to mention the hydrotech pads good call. Those pads look good. Just remember to keep pads clean use a pad brush (firm toothbrush or for us grunts a bore brush in a pinch). Clean on the fly with a cotton towel or just move to a new pad.

I still like CCS pads but also use hydrotechs mostly on a Flex but another great pad is the CG hex pad.
 
One last question.

I've been eyeing Blackfire total polish & seal for a while and had planned on including it in this order but just realized that Opti-Seal is on the BOGO right now. For now I'll be topping with Megs Ultimate liquid wax.

Any reason I should skip the Poli-Seal and still go with Blackfire? I haven't ever used an AIO so I'm not sure which way to go here.
 
PokeFan said:
One last question.

I've been eyeing Blackfire total polish & seal for a while and had planned on including it in this order but just realized that Opti-Seal is on the BOGO right now. For now I'll be topping with Megs Ultimate liquid wax.

Any reason I should skip the Poli-Seal and still go with Blackfire? I haven't ever used an AIO so I'm not sure which way to go here.
Click to expand...

You would need a pure polish, then poli seal. If this is what I think it is then polish first and then seal. To my understanding, it wouldn't be able to bond if you use the AIO product.

Someone may jump in here and tell me I'm wrong and call me an idiot, and that's fine if I'm wrong. :)

Sent from my SCH-I535 using AG Online
 
Oops, my fault. I meant the Optimum Poli-Seal, not Opti-seal.

I'm looking for quality first but to my understanding the BF TPnS and PoliSeal should be the same type of product. So my question I guess is the PoliSeal on par with TPnS enough so that it would be worth it to get the BOGO instead of TPnS.
 
Chase.Barnett said:
You would need a pure polish, then poli seal. If this is what I think it is then polish first and then seal. To my understanding, it wouldn't be able to bond if you use the AIO product.

Someone may jump in here and tell me I'm wrong and call me an idiot, and that's fine if I'm wrong. :)

Sent from my SCH-I535 using AG Online
Click to expand...
Not an idiot at all in fact you're correct

PokeFan said:
Oops, my fault. I meant the Optimum Poli-Seal, not Opti-seal.

I'm looking for quality first but to my understanding the BF TPnS and PoliSeal should be the same type of product. So my question I guess is the PoliSeal on par with TPnS enough so that it would be worth it to get the BOGO instead of TPnS.
Click to expand...
Never used BlackFire products. They seem to be quality. I use Meguiars D151 for an AIO. They developed it for one step production detailing and it is very versatile, DA or RB, foam or wool. If buffing a car for family/friends or not a high paying account an AIO is great. Comporable to a standard 2 step process. Daily drivers should get this treatment most of the time anyways because they are the vehicle that will see the swril-omatic car wash in a pinch anyway and there goes the 2 step or 3 step restoration.

I've also used Duragloss 501 and 601 as an AIO primarily on white cars. I prefer to mix the product 4 to one on the pad. 4 drops 501 to 1 drop 601 bonding agent rather than premix in a bottle because there is a shelf life to the premixed solution. Even though its a Marine product the results are great.

Meguairs paint sealant cures much faster than many others and I love Meguiars products. Try it Megs #21.

Vary your pad and product selection and you will get awesome results in a fraction of the time. It's not a short cut on results at all.
 
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