What would you use??

[cmanningjr]

Looking for products, steps and advice on this 2002 Volvo S60.

Needs to be something a newbie can't destroy the car with..

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[Ted S.]

After you decon, try Megs Ultimate Polish with a black pad. If that doesn't help, try Megs Ultimate Compound with a white or orange pad, then Polish. Hard to mess paint up with these...

 

[rolop6]

Do you have any products now? Do you have a dual action polisher?

 

[cmanningjr]

Do you have any products now? Do you have a dual action polisher?

I just got a da last week from HF.

I have a little over the counter clay and wax. Nothing much I would think that this one needs..


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[HateSwirls]

Just from looking at the pictures I'd doubt a fine Polish would do much of anything, it's worth a shot but I'd make sure to test an area before doing the entire car.

What I'd do is,

Wash
Clay
Get you a few pads.
3 - 5.5" orange, and 3 white pads for starters.
Meguiar's Ultimate Compound and Ultimate Polish or if you can afford it get a bottle of Meguiar's 205 Ultra Fine Polish.

After claying test a 2x2 area with the Ultimate Compound along with the orange pad.
Make 3-4 passes using slow arm speed, moderate pressure, make sure the pad spins, a simple mark of any kind on the backing plate will help you, the pad should turn slowly.
Buff the compound residue off, inspect , if it looks to your standards continue on.

Btw. Get rid of the backing plate that came with your buffer, it's crap.
The HF DA is a great little tool to own, I'm sure down the road you'll be looking for something better but for now it's all you need:dblthumb2:

Follow same steps for the fine polish which ever you buy.
You can get good protection using the Meguiar's Ultimate Wax or the NXT.

Good luck

 

[rolop6]

After you decon, try Megs Ultimate Polish with a black pad. If that doesn't help, try Megs Ultimate Compound with a white or orange pad, then Polish. Hard to mess paint up with these...

:iagree:
Meguiars Ultimate line is good for beginners. The ultimate compound doesn't dry as fast as the M105 and your get the same results. But M105,205 are good too and can be found locally.

 

[Coopers ST]

The nice thing with the Ultimate line is they have everything you need from exterior to interior products and you can get it all at Walmart. The Ultimate Wax is called a wax on the bottle but is really a sealant and a fine way to top the compound/polish. Your local Walmart may have the Meguiars bucket with product in it still. Mine did last week on sale for $18. You get a bucket something you will need if you don't have one, and if you have one really you should use two so you would be set, car wash soap, you will use it even if you have some already, quick wax a spray to use every couple weeks to keep the wax you use good, interior detailer, glass cleaner I found I really like it about the best I have used, tire foam not sure I will use it but if wiped down it is probably a fine product. It also comes with a sponge again not sure I will ever use it, I should toss it before I get an idea and try it.

 

[BobbyG]

The nice thing with the Ultimate line is they have everything you need from exterior to interior products and you can get it all at Walmart.

I absolutely agree with this!

Meguiar's Ultimate line is a truly superb line locally available and for a great price. This combined with a few appropriate pads below will yield spectacular results.

Yellow Cutting Flat 5.5 inch Foam Pad - Use this pad to apply compounds or polishes to remove severe oxidation, swirls, and scratches. It is the most aggressive and should only be used on oxidized and heavily swirled finishes. Always follow this pad with a white or gray pad and a fine polish to refine the paint until it is smooth.

Orange Light Cutting Flat 5.5 inch Foam Pad - Firm, high density foam for scratch and defect removal. Use this pad with polishes and swirl removers. It’s an all around pad that will work on most light to moderate imperfections.

White Polishing Flat 5.5 inch Foam Pad - Less dense foam formula for the application of cleaner waxes, one step polishes, or "all in one" type products. This pad has very light cutting power, so it's perfect for pre-wax cleaners.

Black Finishing Flat 5.5 inch Foam Pad - Composition is firm enough to withstand added pressure during final finishing to remove buffer swirls. It has no cut and will apply thin, even coats of waxes, sealants, and glazes.

Blue Finessing Flat 5.5 inch Foam Pad – Flat pad has soft composition for applying glaze, finishing polish, sealants, and liquid waxes. Flat pad provides full contact with paint surface to minimize the pressure applied by the user.

Spend some time reading truly outstanding articles and how to's by Mike Phillips then get out there and build that knowledge through experience.

Articles by Mike Phillips

 

[cmanningjr]

Thanks for the in put!! I'm putting a shopping list together..

Question about the pads,

What brand?? And which ones??
It's suggested above 3 orange and 3 white..

And what's good for the black trim??




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[BobbyG]

Thanks for the in put!! I'm putting a shopping list together..

Question about the pads,

What brand?? And which ones??
It's suggested above 3 orange and 3 white..

And what's good for the black trim??

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Lake Country pads work very well. For compounding and polishing the Orange and White pads are perfect. I'd also add a couple of Black pads for finishing and applying sealants and waxes.

CQuartz DLux is about the best, long lasting trim treatment that I know of...

 

[Tato]

I agree with people here. Meguiar's Ultimate line will give you at least 2 things:

1- Results you're looking for

2- Addiction to detailing

From your first detail, you will decide if (and where) you are going to invest more and we can help you after.

I'd recommend you to get Meguiar's Ultimate Compound (UC), Ultimate Polish (UP), and Ultimate LIQUID Wax (explain latter).

Take your time, start washing thoroughly and claying afterwards.

With clean, clayed, dried and cool car, you can start polishing.

For that, you'll need at least 2 orange (cutting/light cutting) pads, and 2 white polishing pads. If you have a free-spindle (conventional) DA, take a 5" Backing plate and 5.5" pads.

Start your 'saga' with white polishing pad and Ultimate Compound (UC) to see how defects will respond (always try a least aggressive method to start). If needed, step up to Orange Pad and UC.

After compounding the whole car with UC, I'd go polishing with white pad and UP.

For compounding: Higher Speed and Pressure, SLOW arm speed.
For polishing: Slightly lower Speed and pressure, slightly fast arm speed. Less passes.

After polishing the whole car with UP, you'll need a LSP (last step product), that maybe a wax or a sealant, or even a coating.

Following the Ultimate line, you can get Ultimate Liquid Wax. I'm a paste wax 'lover', however, for the ultimate wax, I do prefer liquid. The reason is simple: Meguiar's were able to create an effective liquid wax based on paste, so results and durability will be similar. Other than that, Liquid do not stain trim, so it's absolutely 'fool proof' (consider me as a fool because I always stain trim accidentally - but clean afterwards!).

To apply ultimate liquid wax you'll need 1 finishing pad, that may be a gray (I call black) finishing pad, a blue or a red pad, or even a gold pad (my favorite for carnaubas).

With UP, UC and UW, be prepared to impress everyone around.

You can order a 6 pack of LC pads, and the Ultimate trio cited above for much less than you would pay for someone to do this for you. Also, I can risk you'll have enough product for 10 entire vehicles, at least.

Don't forget to get some quality microfibers, at least 1 for removing compound residue, 1 for polishing, and 1 for buffing wax.

Meg's Ultimate Wax will come with one hand applicator (so you can reach areas that machine won't) and a MF towel for removing dried wax residue, and I think that MF is enough for that task, so you save here.

Hope I've helped,

Kind Regards.

 

[cmanningjr]

Ok, I dug out some of what I have on hand

I have

1/2 bottle of Clay Magic w/some clay
Meguiars Deep Crystal Car Wash
Meguiars Hot Shine tire spray
Meguiars Gold Class Rich Leather Cleaner/Conditioner
Black Magic Wheel Cleaner
Meguiars Cleaner Wax Paste

Any of this worth keeping or using??


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[ducksfan]

Ha! Deep Crystal Car Wash. I have some of that (from about ten years ago). I don't know why I've kept it. I wouldn't wash my car with it.

 

[cmanningjr]

Advice taken..

Still need pads and a backing plate for the da..Maybe a big sale will pop up...

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[MitchLiving]

What do you think about Meg's polishing pads? I notice here a lot of people seem to have their fav's and Lake country seems to be the one mentioned the most.

 

[cmanningjr]

What do you think about Meg's polishing pads? I notice here a lot of people seem to have their fav's and Lake country seems to be the one mentioned the most.

I'm a newbie, so I have never used a da before..

I've been reading, checking prices and reviews. Still trying to decide. I have considered the Meg's pads though. I'd like to hear some input..


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[CM8 6MT]

Meguiars makes some of the best foam pads on the market. They make THE best MF pads to date, so you know their foam pads are top notch. Their wonderful, I use them exclusively when doing final polishing. They cut faster, and finish down way better than any of the Lake Country CSS pads. Theres just no comparisson.

Although, the LC HydroTech pads come close. If you were going to go with LC, select the Hydros. Just dont expect them to last very long, at least the 4" pads they make are horrible quality.

The pic below shows a white LC and orange LC pad. Ive tested them both against what Meguiars offers (yellow polishing & maroon cutting pad). Meguiars pads beat them both in cutting ability & finishing ability. As expected.

Maroon cutting pad, polishing, wax/sealant pad.

They also make 4" pads.

 

[cmanningjr]

Meguiars makes some of the best foam pads on the market. They make THE best MF pads to date, so you know their foam pads are top notch. Their wonderful, I use them exclusively when doing final polishing. They cut faster, and finish down way better than any of the Lake Country CSS pads. Theres just no comparisson.

Although, the LC HydroTech pads come close. If you were going to go with LC, select the Hydros. Just dont expect them to last very long, at least the 4" pads they make are horrible quality.

The pic below shows a white LC and orange LC pad. Ive tested them both against what Meguiars offers (yellow polishing & maroon cutting pad). Meguiars pads beat them both in cutting ability & finishing ability. As expected.

Maroon cutting pad, polishing, wax/sealant pad.

They also make 4" pads.

Thanks for the write up.. Do they come in 5.5" pads??

Which would be the better alternative 6.5" or 4"??

Thanks again



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[CM8 6MT]

Thanks for the write up.. Do they come in 5.5" pads??

Which would be the better alternative 6.5" or 4"??

Thanks again



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No they do not. Although if your using a GG6 or higher, you will have 0 issues spinning a 6.5" pad. I know 5.5 pads are real popular, especially with the PC guys.

I wouldnt suggest that a 4" pad is an alrernative to a 5.5, because on larger panels theres just no substitute for having more surface area to cover. I use 4" pads for smaller intricate panels like fenders, trunks on sports cars, pillars etc.

 

[ducksfan]

Advice taken..

Still need pads and a backing plate for the da..Maybe a big sale will pop up...

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I don't really use regular car washes anymore. I find the rinseless and waterless ( I personally like UWW+ and Opti-Clean. I have some Megs D115, but I haven't used it yet. I've had mixed results with ONR - don't like it in the cold) to be so much more versatile and superior. I have some Megs Gold shampoo. It's only about $10 and I have no complaints about it. An equivalent would be the Mother's Gold.