Thinking to use Meguiar's polishing products, but....

[garychen0919]

Hi, my name is Gary Chen. I have used Griot's Garage products for three years; however, I am thinking to use Meguiar's polish products since Griot's products cannot really provide mirror shine result. I have bought M06,M21,M26,NXT,UQD and I am thinking to use Meguiar's polish products recently. There are some questions for you.

1. I am using Griot's Garage Random Orbital polishing machine, but I do not know if that machine will fit with all Meguiar's SOFT BUFF 2.0 FOAM and POLISHING PAD. I know that Meguiar's DA polishing machine is much better, but I do not want to waste the money to get a new one.


2. I am wondering if I can use Meguiar's M09, M80, M81, M82 and M83 directly on Griot's Garage Random Orbital polishing machine and foam pad. Griot's Garage provides only one kind of foam pad for all of their polish #1, #2 & #3. I don't know if I can use Meguiar's polishing products with Griot's foam pad when I have had three brand new Griot's Garage polishing foam pad already.

3. I hope you can correct my detail process as the following: (Red color represents using Meguiar's products )

car wash twice -> drying -> clay bar -> polishing -> UQD -> M06 CLEANER/WAX -> UQD -> M21 SYNTHETIC SEALANT -> UQD -> M26 Hi-Tech Yellow Wax -> UQD -> NXT -> UQD

These products are what I have so far, but I do not know if I am using them correctly. Please correct me if I am doing it wrong.

Thank you very much.

[Blueline]

Re: Thinking to use Meguiar's polishing products, but....

Don't think you need to wash the vehicle twice, or use UQD in between every step.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Thinking to use Meguiar's polishing products, but....

Well, first of all, welcome to MOL!

As for your questions...one big problem: if the Griot "polishing" machine is truly an orbital buffer, then they are really only truly good for spreading or removing wax. The only product that *I* know of that even lists that type of machine as compatible is the new M105, but the older products require at least a dual action polisher to be effective (if using a machine, they can also be used by hand effectively in some cases, depending on the product).

I know that isn't what you want to hear, but sadly it is what it is.

Now, that said, you can still achieve amazing results (and superior results) even by hand with many of the new products released by Meguiar's in the consumer line for 2009. such as: Ultimate Compound, Scratch X 2.0, and SwirlX. (Listed in order of most, to least aggressive in terms of cutting power).

As for your specific order of operations, I would change it to a single car wash, and use Last Touch in between polishing steps if you need to do wipe downs for dust removal, and UQD as your true, final step.

Also, there is no need for NXT at the end, as M21 is the professional version of NXT. Pick one, or the other. Also, just to be perfectly clear there is a new 2.0 formulation that is ENTIRELY new from the original versions for both M21 and NXT. I highly suggest those versions. (You can do M21 2.0/NXT 2.0 before or after the M26, it's entirely up to you).

[Heatgain]

Re: Thinking to use Meguiar's polishing products, but....

If you have the Griot's Garage Random Orbital polishing machine that's around $130.00, (regular size, 5" or more backplate), you can use Meguiar's pads, no problem. If you have the Griot's machine for 3" pads, then no, you can't use Meg's pads.
As far as using Griot's polishing pad, it looks to me like an orange pad possibly made by Lake Country. If it is, it's a little coarser than Meg's polishing pad, and might be OK for the M83 step, but I wouldn't use it for #80, it might inflict some marring.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Thinking to use Meguiar's polishing products, but....

3. I hope you can correct my detail process as the following: (Red color represents using Meguiar's products )

car wash twice -> drying -> clay bar -> polishing -> UQD -> M06 CLEANER/WAX -> UQD -> M21 SYNTHETIC SEALANT -> UQD -> M26 Hi-Tech Yellow Wax -> UQD -> NXT -> UQD

What are you working on?
What are you trying to accomplish? (Remove swirls and scratches?)

[garychen0919]

Re: Thinking to use Meguiar's polishing products, but....

What are you working on?
What are you trying to accomplish? (Remove swirls and scratches?)

My car is E46 M3. It is jet black which is very difficult to maintain. I used to do the entire detail process every time when I wash my car. Yes, I really need to remove scratches and make my car as shiny as possible. I was saying that I have used Griot's polishing products for a while, but I do not really satisfy with it. I am thinking to use Meguiar's M80,M81,M82,M83 and foam pad. The problem is that I did not know if the foam pad will fit with my machine or not. However, I think that other members have already given me some good answers.

[garychen0919]

Re: Thinking to use Meguiar's polishing products, but....

I am sorry. I think I confused you. I was saying that my machine is a "Due action" polisher, but not Orbital Polisher. I know that Griot's Garage is selling Orbital Polisher right now, but I bought my polisher many years ago.

It looks 99% like this one:
PIC 1


This is the one that Griot's is selling right now:
PIC 2


I am very confused with the differences between Orbital Polisher & Due action polisher. I have used my friends "NEW" Griot's polisher which is same as the PIC #2. I found that it was make "DUE ACTION!" Does it mean that it is a due action polisher?

[garychen0919]

Re: Thinking to use Meguiar's polishing products, but....

If you have the Griot's Garage Random Orbital polishing machine that's around $130.00, (regular size, 5" or more backplate), you can use Meguiar's pads, no problem. If you have the Griot's machine for 3" pads, then no, you can't use Meg's pads.
As far as using Griot's polishing pad, it looks to me like an orange pad possibly made by Lake Country. If it is, it's a little coarser than Meg's polishing pad, and might be OK for the M83 step, but I wouldn't use it for #80, it might inflict some marring.

I just found that my polisher machine is the Porter Cable Dual Action Polisher. I bought it from Griot's Garage many years ago. I think they had not had their own polisher at that time. Right now, I am sure that my polisher is The Porter Cable Dual Action Polisher, and I am wondering if it can fit with Meguiar's foam pads and M polishing products????

This is the one that I have:


This is what Griot's is selling for the past few years.


I have use my friends NEW Griot's polisher, and I found it is a due action polisher, but not Orbital Polisher. I do not know if I am wrong or they made a mistake.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Thinking to use Meguiar's polishing products, but....

Both machines pictured are the same type of machine, they are dual action orbital polishers. The pad will rotate and at the same time make eccentric circles when the power is on. Both tools have clutch and if you apply too much pressure it will stop the pad from rotating and this is the safety factor that prevents you from burning through the paint like a rotary buffer.

Measure the diameter of the backing plate on your machine, as long as it's around 5" or smaller it will work for most 6" buffing pads on the market.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Thinking to use Meguiar's polishing products, but....

See how the backing plate fits to the edge of the buffing pad in this picture?






That's too close. If you're not careful while buffing you could run the backing plate into either the paint or a component on the car and possibly scratch, mar or scuff the paint. What you want is a backing plate that is a little smaller than the diameter of the pad you're using so you have a little room between the edge of the backing plate and the edge of the foam pad.

[garychen0919]

Re: Thinking to use Meguiar's polishing products, but....

See how the backing plate fits to the edge of the buffing pad in this picture?






That's too close. If you're not careful while buffing you could run the backing plate into either the paint or a component on the car and possibly scratch, mar or scuff the paint. What you want is a backing plate that is a little smaller than the diameter of the pad you're using so you have a little room between the edge of the backing plate and the edge of the foam pad.

Thank you very much, Mike Phillips.
This forum is awesome!!!! It is so useful! Thanks again.

[garychen0919]

Re: Thinking to use Meguiar's polishing products, but....

See how the backing plate fits to the edge of the buffing pad in this picture?






That's too close. If you're not careful while buffing you could run the backing plate into either the paint or a component on the car and possibly scratch, mar or scuff the paint. What you want is a backing plate that is a little smaller than the diameter of the pad you're using so you have a little room between the edge of the backing plate and the edge of the foam pad.

Thank you very much. This place awesome!