Pad advice for someone just starting out.

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mdchaser

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Hi, I'm about to purchase a flex kit from autogeek, probably this one:

FLEX XC3401 VRG Orbital Polisher Kit with Free FLEX Polisher Bag, FLEX Dual Action Polisher and storage bag, FLEX bag kit

Or alternatively this kit from Amazon (don't know which kit is better):

Amazon.com: FLEX XC3401 XMT Heavy Swirl Remover Kit: Automotive

I get to choose three pads and have no idea which three I will need. Here is my situation, keep in mind I've never touched a polisher before so this is all new. I have two cars, an 05 mercedes and a new corvette. The mercedes has some paint issues, scratches, swirls, just rough paint overall (previous owner I swear!). The vette is in great shape and is garage kept but the paint wasn't perfect from the factory, it has some minor marring and streaking though no deep scratches. I would like to be able to fix the real problems on the merc as well as clean up the vette. Any advice on which three pads I will need? And of course which polishes I will need? I have a bottle of CGs polish but I'm not sure which one, I'll try to post once I find out.

Thanks!
 
3 pads? You are going to need more... unless you are going to refine and wax by hand.

I think my bare minimum would be 3 polishing, 2 finishing and 1 for wax.
In LC language, that would be 3 orange, 2 grey and 1 red.
 
c8n said:
3 pads? You are going to need more... unless you are going to refine and wax by hand.

I think my bare minimum would be 3 polishing, 2 finishing and 1 for wax.
In LC language, that would be 3 orange, 2 grey and 1 red.
Click to expand...

I see, I've never used one before so can you explain why I need so many? I don't mind applying waxes/sealants by hand, been doing it forever! I really want the polisher to fix defects though I will probably buy more pads in the future to do things right. I could also get this kit with five pads if that would be better:

Dual Action Flex Polisher Kit, Lake Country Pads, Flex XC 3401 VRG Buffer, curved edge pads

Thanks!
 
When correcting, your pads can get heated which can lead to delamination... the hook & loop part separating from the foam. To prevent such, you want to switch to a fresh pad so that the other can cool down. Second, you can end up with too much build up of product on the pads which will lessen its effectiveness. You should be cleaning you pads on the fly but short of a pad washer, there is only so much product that can be removed using the towel method. I have a mid size 4 door sedan and 3 pads seems to work for me.
 
c8n said:
When correcting, your pads can get heated which can lead to delamination... the hook & loop part separating from the foam. To prevent such, you want to switch to a fresh pad so that the other can cool down. Second, you can end up with too much build up of product on the pads which will lessen its effectiveness. You should be cleaning you pads on the fly but short of a pad washer, there is only so much product that can be removed using the towel method. I have a mid size 4 door sedan and 3 pads seems to work for me.
Click to expand...

Good to know, thanks for the info! So if I purchase the five pad kit which pads would you recommend?

Thanks!
 
I have not used a Flex but I know it to be a more powerful machine than a PC. If I were to pick up pads for a PC, I would do 3 orange, 1 grey and 1 red. You should use the orange for compounding, the grey for finishing polish and red for your wax. Or if you prefer waxing by hand, I would go with 2 grey.
 
c8n said:
I have not used a Flex but I know it to be a more powerful machine than a PC. If I were to pick up pads for a PC, I would do 3 orange, 1 grey and 1 red. You should use the orange for compounding, the grey for finishing polish and red for your wax. Or if you prefer waxing by hand, I would go with 2 grey.
Click to expand...

Thanks for being so helpful! So the three oranges would be for defect removal, the grey would bring out the shine (less abrasive I assume), and the red would be to apply a sealant? I think that is what I will go with. Any thoughts on which polishes to use with the pads?

Thanks!
 
I am pretty Meg's bias but really, if you apply the correct techniques, you should have no problems with any of the products AG carries.

Having said that, I use Meg's UC/M105 and UP/M205 combo. I like Meg's because of the SMAT properties which I am sure other brands uses as well. With SMAT, you don't need to worry about the abrasives breaking down and you can stop at any point you feel necessary.
 
c8n said:
I am pretty Meg's bias but really, if you apply the correct techniques, you should have no problems with any of the products AG carries.

Having said that, I use Meg's UC/M105 and UP/M205 combo. I like Meg's because of the SMAT properties which I am sure other brands uses as well. With SMAT, you don't need to worry about the abrasives breaking down and you can stop at any point you feel necessary.
Click to expand...

Sounds good to me, they even have a kit with everything you recommended:

Meguiars Ultra Polish Kit with 5.5 Inch Pads, Meguiars Mirror Glaze Polishes, Meguiar's Polish Kit, 5.5 inch buffing pad kit

I may just buy that to cover all bases!
 
I know the Flex is a more powerful machine but I like the 5.5" pads for my DA. Smaller pads actually cut faster. Should wait until Flex owners chime in on pad size selection.

As for cleaning pads... I am in no position to offer any advice on this as I think my pads are loosing effectiveness only after 6 months. :(
 
Closeup pix of swirls and marring would help to give a more accurate recommendation on polishes and pads
 
c8n said:
I know the Flex is a more powerful machine but I like the 5.5" pads for my DA. Smaller pads actually cut faster. Should wait until Flex owners chime in on pad size selection.

As for cleaning pads... I am in no position to offer any advice on this as I think my pads are loosing effectiveness only after 6 months. :(
Click to expand...

I found this which I may try, not too expensive especially since I don't expect to use the polisher too often:

Snappy Clean Pad Cleaning Powder, foam pad cleaner, lake country pad cleaner, wool pad cleaner, citrus foam pad cleaner, polishing pad cleaner

At about $10/pad they are definitely worth cleaning!
 
anonymoususer said:
Closeup pix of swirls and marring would help to give a more accurate recommendation on polishes and pads
Click to expand...

I will see what I can do but I only have my phone to take pictures with so I doubt the detail will come through. The defects on the merc are obvious (to me at least, good eye) but the ones on the vette can only be seen under certain lighting conditions.
 
mdchaser said:
I found this which I may try, not too expensive especially since I don't expect to use the polisher too often:

Snappy Clean Pad Cleaning Powder, foam pad cleaner, lake country pad cleaner, wool pad cleaner, citrus foam pad cleaner, polishing pad cleaner

At about $10/pad they are definitely worth cleaning!
Click to expand...

I have DP pad rejuvenator and my pads loosing effectiveness is no reflection on DP at all.
I just have been lazy and throwing my pads in the washing machine and dryer which cleaned them pretty well... but never thought that this could potentially change the pad... not that it has been substantiated... but just my guess
 
c8n said:
I have DP pad rejuvenator and my pads loosing effectiveness is no reflection on DP at all.
I just have been lazy and throwing my pads in the washing machine and dryer which cleaned them pretty well... but never thought that this could potentially change the pad... not that it has been substantiated... but just my guess
Click to expand...

Damn, I like being lazy so the washing machine method appeals to me but it looks like I'll have to actually put some effort into cleaning them!
 
For the 3401 most guys and mike Phillips recommend the lake country hybrid 5.5" pads. In order to use these you will also need the lake country backing plates sold separately for the flex (they may be part of a kit that autogeek has so look through them). I just used them on my new Flex 3401 and I had no problem and it was my first time using a polisher ever! Definitely go with those hybrid 5.5"


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
FYI, the seller for the XMT kit @ Amazon is actually AG (Palm Beach Motoring Group == Auto Geek).

As for the Hybrid pads, they come in 5" and 6.5", are made for the Flex 3401, and I absolutely love them! You do need the Lake Country Changeable Backing Plate system in order to use the 5" pads, but not the 6.5" pads.

One other thing, Auto Detailing Solutions offers a 6-pack of the hybrid pads for a really good price, plus they have 15% off. I'd still buy them through AG though, just ask for a price match. I'd get 1 each of the orange and blue pads, and 2 each of the white and gray pads.
 
erichaley said:
FYI, the seller for the XMT kit @ Amazon is actually AG (Palm Beach Motoring Group == Auto Geek).

As for the Hybrid pads, they come in 5" and 6.5", are made for the Flex 3401, and I absolutely love them! You do need the Lake Country Changeable Backing Plate system in order to use the 5" pads, but not the 6.5" pads.

One other thing, Auto Detailing Solutions offers a 6-pack of the hybrid pads for a really good price, plus they have 15% off. I'd still buy them through AG though, just ask for a price match. I'd get 1 each of the orange and blue pads, and 2 each of the white and gray pads.
Click to expand...

Oh I meant 5" my bad man not 5.5". The 6.5" supposedly are too big and the 5" are the way to go or so I'm told
 
xtitan1 said:
Oh I meant 5" my bad man not 5.5". The 6.5" supposedly are too big and the 5" are the way to go or so I'm told
Click to expand...

The 6.5" pads are fine, especially if you're not ready to buy the changeable backing plate system just yet, or don't need to get into any tight spots, but the 5" pads are, as other's have said, the cat's meow!

Before I got the hybrids, my pads of choice were the CCS pads. While they're outstanding, highly recommend, and still my go-to pad for my DAs, the difference between the CCS and hybrid pads on the Flex was night and day.
 
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