Picking out DA and polish for a newb

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ws6guy

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Hi all I hope this is the right place to ask the question. Between this site and Autopia I'm overwhelmed!

I just picked up a 2021 Ram in Granite Crystal metallic. The truck was filthy when I was looking at but I couldn't see much in the lines of swirling. When I was doing the purchase paper work they decided to wash the truck. I didn't notice at the time anything bad but wow at sunset the paint looks awful. I have a feeling their tunnel wash did a number on it. Now I've seen much worse but I've got to get this polished up. In the below pics I tried to capture the swirling but it's hard to get a good shot.

I've always wanted to try my hand at using a DA to polish but never had a good reason until now to make a go of it. I've been reading a lot and watching the youtube. I wouldn't mind keeping this to a one step product for ease of use. After watching some of the Apex channel on the tube I'm leaning towards 3D one with a uro buff and shine pad. However I don't know how hard or soft the paint is on Rams and if the URO pad is a good fit. But it seems that a lot of people like 3D one for the ease of use. Also maybe a less aggressive product might work as well?

Since I'm starting from scratch would I be better off finding a kit to use? I have plenty of TRC rags but need all the polishing equipment.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Please don't mind the mess in the garage. Winter time in the midwest causes a little chaos :)
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FLEX XCE 8-125 18.0 Polisher
I loved my corded so much I bought it in the cordless. Only regret is I wish I bought the cordless first:(
 
Here’s your shopping list..

Porter Cable 7424
Velcro backing pad
Lake Country orange flat pads
3D Speed
Microfiber towels

Have fun


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Welcome to the site!! Great truck and the best color also!!!!

I am biased though, lol

And I see your name, do you have a 'Bird??
 
I'm a fan of the Griots polishers. After using a HF polishers for many years I really appreciate the better ergonomics of the Griots tools...that and the overall quality is way better.

As for pads, I would get at least a couple different cut of pads. This will allow you flexibility to have a fall-back for more correction if you hit a place that's worse than others and you need a little extra correction. Example Lake County white for the normal work and the orange when you hit areas needing more cut to correct.

I don't know if Ram paint is any different, but I found the paint on my son-in-law's Charger to be pretty easy to correct. I was able to buff out mild marring with just Griots Perfecting Cream and Lake Country white pads. I stepped up to the Griots Correcting Cream on the white pad for a couple bad spots, but also got similar results on those bad spots with an orange pad and the Perfecting Cream.
 
I am a new to machine work guy, always compound/polish by hand. I looked to make the switch but because new wanted to keep it simple. After alot of research I went the 'system' approach, and got Rupes machine with their compounds and polishes and pads. But I did go off script a bit because of so many vids and such and got a bottle of Sonax Perfect Finish and extra yellow pads. For me it has worked great, but I also have not tried all the various products and have anywhere the experience as folks on here. But it sure worked better than doing by hand :)
 
Eric7810 said:
Here’s your shopping list..

Porter Cable 7424
Velcro backing pad
Lake Country orange flat pads
3D Speed
Microfiber towels

Have fun


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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3D Speed seems interesting, it might provide just enough cut to get the swirls out. As far as pads go, does it make much of a difference between the pads with the dimples are the straight flats?
 
Silly Rabbit said:
Welcome to the site!! Great truck and the best color also!!!!

I am biased though, lol

And I see your name, do you have a 'Bird??
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Thanks for the compliment! Yes I do have a Bird, purchased new in 2002. After 21 years it too could use a tiny bit a paint correction. Once I tackle the truck I'll look in to doing the car with something that has very little cut as the paint still looks pretty good.
 
ws6guy said:
Thanks for the compliment! Yes I do have a Bird, purchased new in 2002. After 21 years it too could use a tiny bit a paint correction. Once I tackle the truck I'll look in to doing the car with something that has very little cut as the paint still looks pretty good.
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Nice!!!! My favorite car there is!! Original owner car too! What color?
Get that 'Bird cleaned up and take it on a road trip this summer to Dayton Ohio, last weekend of August. You will have the best vacation!!
 
Silly Rabbit said:
Nice!!!! My favorite car there is!! Original owner car too! What color?
Get that 'Bird cleaned up and take it on a road trip this summer to Dayton Ohio, last weekend of August. You will have the best vacation!!
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Here she is. Only 30k miles. All these years I've never made it to the nationals, I keep thinking I'll do it sometime. Bad thing is that I'm only 2 hours from it :)


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If you're on a budget the 15mm cordless SPTA is very nice for the price.

I would probably get a bunch of orange and blue lake country SDO or HDO with CCS tech - we maybe a microfiber. Polishes i would get sonax cutmax and perfect finish.

Both orange and blue pads can be used as a 1-step on most paints.
 
ws6guy said:
Here she is. Only 30k miles. All these years I've never made it to the nationals, I keep thinking I'll do it sometime. Bad thing is that I'm only 2 hours from it :)


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Ahhh, my top colors are Silver, Pewter, and Red. All colors are nice on these cars, but I love those 3. Beautiful car!!!!
Man, you have to make it to the show, you would love it!! Tipp City Saturday night is amazing! Throw it in your calander now, it's March. Give everyone plenty of notice now your going.:dblthumb2:
 
ws6guy said:
3D Speed seems interesting, it might provide just enough cut to get the swirls out. As far as pads go, does it make much of a difference between the pads with the dimples are the straight flats?
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I don't like the CCS pads (those with dimples). The flat ones work much better in my experience. Lake country Thin Pros available at auto geek are excellent pads.
 
I’m lazy, I wanna polish once and walk away. I would do a Griots polisher, a medium pad, and any of the major all-in- ones…a couple times a year a spray on ceramic after a wash… my cars don’t have to be picture perfect…
 
Eric7810 said:
Here’s your shopping list..

Porter Cable 7424 Or a Griot's G9.
Velcro backing pad. 5-inch ventilated. (The one with the holes).
Lake Country orange flat pads 5-1/2", at least 6.
3D Speed. Awesome stuff.
Microfiber towels Something like a 360 GSM for a little "bite" to help remove the product, and some 480-ish for final wipes.

Have fun. :)


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:dblthumb2:
 
noorth said:
If you're on a budget the 15mm cordless SPTA is very nice for the price.
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if I were in the market for a primary cordless polisher, Milwaukee would probably be my choice at the present time. the main concern for me with cordless tools is being able to buy batteries (on-going cost) as they eventually will need to be replaced. the nice thing about the SPTA cordless (on top of being affordable) is being able to use makita batteries..
 
Thanks for all the info! I guess there's no clear cut answer, I just need to try somethings out LOL.

I'm leaning towards the G9 polisher. Also for some reason leaning towards the 3D line, I keep seeing how it's very user friendly. Does the speed have fillers so it will also be masking some of the swirls instead of correcting them? Maybe I'll try test panels with Speed and One. No matter what I use I plan on follow up anyway with Collinite 845 since I bought a bottle last year and only used it twice and have a bunch left.

Unfortunately I know my OCD is going to kick and try to get a car show level job. I'll need to fight this urge as it doesn't make sense on daily driver that sits outside all the time and I also use it for trucky things too.
 
ws6guy said:
Thanks for all the info! I guess there's no clear cut answer, I just need to try somethings out LOL.

I'm leaning towards the G9 polisher.
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I think you'll really like it and it will serve you well. I love my G15 and it is very similar to the G9.
 
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