need to know...

[BarryK]

Re: need to know...

I use the LC CCS pads with my Flex 3401

in order, from most aggressive to least aggressive is:

Yellow - cutting: heavy compounding work
Orange - light cutting: compounding and/or heavy polishing
White - Polishing: polishing
Green - Polishing / Finishing: Polishing and also very good for AIO products
Gray - Finishing: final finish polish, glazes, etc
Blue - Finessing: glazes, waxes, sealants
Red - Wax/Sealant: glazes, waxes, sealants

what pad you uses is like deciding what product to use - it depends on the condition of the paint./
For example, If i'm using M105 I'll usually use either a White or an Orange pad, depending how bad the flaws are and/or how well the paint responds to the product/pad combination. A harder clearcoat my require the orage pad where another car works well with the White. Just like choosing product, start with the least aggressive and only go up when needed.
I'll than follow the M105 with M205 with either a White or a Gray pad.

I use my blue pads only for glazes or to apply waxes or sealants.

If I'm using an AIO product such as D151 I'll use either the Gray or most usually the White pad.

The point is choosing the pad is like choosing what product - start with the least aggressive that is appropiate and work up. No need to go to a Orange or Yellow pad if a White one will work, etc.

[J.S.]

Re: need to know...

Here are some pics I snapped yesterday evening showing most of the paint defects that I need to remedy. Keep in mind that the paint has no wax on it at the moment, was washed last weekend but there's pollen, dirt and rain spots all over so I just want to say that so some people don't think that everything you see is paint damage. I couldn't show most of the swirls because the sun was going down and I didn't have a work light/flashlight at the time (only camera flash):

Front bumper...this is probably one of the most severe defects...I rear ended an Accord at like 2 km/h on the freeway last fall...no hardware damage, only paint scuffs...not sure how deep they are though...my bad.



Scuff/scratch behind the passenger rear wheel...don't even know how it happened...could've been flying debris on the freeway or something.


This is THE worst scratch on the whole car and due to how deep it is, I don't think much of it will come out but i'll try. It was on the car when I bought it...previous owner said it was caused by a tree branch.


Scratches...


More scratches...


More scratches...


Mmmmmmm, swirls...


Deeper scratch but I think the whole thing will come out...


Scratchies...


I apologize for the low-end picture quality and picture taking but I really wanted to just get SOMETHING posted so guys have an idea of what I'm gonna tackle.

Need to call Meguiar's customer service about the G110 but I'll have to wait 'til after work. Boooo.

[J.S.]

Re: need to know...

Thanks for your reply. I will definately build my pad arsenal up eventually. For my first purchase, I'm most likely going to get 3 pads only (due to finances at the moment).

How would you define the difference between the terms "cutting" and "polishing". Wouldn't any "cutting" be "polishing" technically and vice versa? Just from less extreme to more extreme?

I use the LC CCS pads with my Flex 3401

in order, from most aggressive to least aggressive is:

Yellow - cutting: heavy compounding work
Orange - light cutting: compounding and/or heavy polishing
White - Polishing: polishing
Green - Polishing / Finishing: Polishing and also very good for AIO products
Gray - Finishing: final finish polish, glazes, etc
Blue - Finessing: glazes, waxes, sealants
Red - Wax/Sealant: glazes, waxes, sealants

what pad you uses is like deciding what product to use - it depends on the condition of the paint./
For example, If i'm using M105 I'll usually use either a White or an Orange pad, depending how bad the flaws are and/or how well the paint responds to the product/pad combination. A harder clearcoat my require the orage pad where another car works well with the White. Just like choosing product, start with the least aggressive and only go up when needed.
I'll than follow the M105 with M205 with either a White or a Gray pad.

I use my blue pads only for glazes or to apply waxes or sealants.

If I'm using an AIO product such as D151 I'll use either the Gray or most usually the White pad.

The point is choosing the pad is like choosing what product - start with the least aggressive that is appropiate and work up. No need to go to a Orange or Yellow pad if a White one will work, etc.

[BarryK]

Re: need to know...

Thanks for your reply. I will definately build my pad arsenal up eventually. For my first purchase, I'm most likely going to get 3 pads only (due to finances at the moment).

How would you define the difference between the terms "cutting" and "polishing". Wouldn't any "cutting" be "polishing" technically and vice versa? Just from less extreme to more extreme?

yes, a cutting pad is just a more aggressive polishing pad. A cutting pad like a Yellow or Orange pad is more aggressive and will help eliminate more severe flaws than a polishing pad.
Again though, it comes down to use what you need to accomplished the job at hand.

From your pics you have some nice scratches and swirling. I's start with M105 on a white pad but wouldn't be surprised if you needed to go to M105 on an orange pad than finish up with M205 on the white pad.

[J.S.]

Re: need to know...

yes, a cutting pad is just a more aggressive polishing pad. A cutting pad like a Yellow or Orange pad is more aggressive and will help eliminate more severe flaws than a polishing pad.
Again though, it comes down to use what you need to accomplished the job at hand.

From your pics you have some nice scratches and swirling. I's start with M105 on a white pad but wouldn't be surprised if you needed to go to M105 on an orange pad than finish up with M205 on the white pad.

Thank you!!

Due to the fact some paint surfaces on the car are better/worse than others, am I correct thinking that I'll need quite a few different products (I understand that diff. pad/product combinations are variables too) to tackle each area because each area has difference levels of defects?

Another question I have is, on an area that has minor swirling and maybe 1 deeper scratch over top of the minor swirling. Common sense tells me that I should attempt to correct the biggest defect first, and then remove the minor stuff around that area afterward right...and not the other way around?

I think I'm going to need quite a few products for this job now that I've acquired more knowledge from you guys. Minor defects aside, do you think that if I got some UC instead of M105/M205, it would be a mistake. If at all possible I'd like to stay in the consumer line.

[BarryK]

Re: need to know...

if you prefer using UC than go ahead. i've never used it but it very well may be all that you need. Try it and see the results before deciding IF you need to go more aggressive by going to M105.

on areas such as you mention that may have a deeper scratch and also swirling, if you work the area to remove the scratch than you are already going to end up removing the more minor swirling. It isn't a case of having to go back afterwards to remove it separately.
Keep in mind though that if you can feel the scratch with your fingernail it's too deep to be removed. You can work it a bit and help reduce how noticable it is but if you can feel it you aren't eliminating it completely

[J.S.]

Re: need to know...

if you prefer using UC than go ahead. i've never used it but it very well may be all that you need. Try it and see the results before deciding IF you need to go more aggressive by going to M105.

on areas such as you mention that may have a deeper scratch and also swirling, if you work the area to remove the scratch than you are already going to end up removing the more minor swirling. It isn't a case of having to go back afterwards to remove it separately.
Keep in mind though that if you can feel the scratch with your fingernail it's too deep to be removed. You can work it a bit and help reduce how noticable it is but if you can feel it you aren't eliminating it completely

I will pick up some UC and do a test spot. That makes sense that if you remove a scratch which is more predominent than the swirls around it, the swirls will be removed too.

I hear what you're saying about feeling scratches with your fingernail. The large white looking scratch in my photos described as "the worst scartch on my whole car" isn't going to come out...I already know that. I'm going to do my best with it to reduce what I can and then I'm going to see what kind of "fill" or "cover" product will help lessen then contrast of a white scratch on a black car. I think the white is the primer. I guess I can look on the possitive side and be thankfull that there's no exposed metal.

[J.S.]

Re: need to know...

I called Meguiar's customer service here in Canada to inquire about the G110. I'm not sure if it's actually Meguiar's who runs the stuff in Canada or if it's some farmed out operation because it's great that the G110 is available to be shipped to me and I can have basically any other available Meguiar's products shipped to me at the same time as the G110 BUT, they won't do that if you don't buy the G110. Basically, you can't call them up and order a few of Meguiar's polishes and waxes only. They tell me that they have to refer me to "distributers" if I want products other than the G110. It's good in one sense that I can get a G110 and stock up on other products at the same time but seriously. The only thing I can think of is that they want to make sure it's worthwhile to them financially to get an order ready to ship out 'cause I'm sure it cost $ to put the actual order together and process it. I didn't ask but I think I read on the Meguiar's Canada website that you can get bulk stuff shipped to you. They just won't ship a few bottles of this and that to you. You Americans don't have to put up with stuff like this do you?

Can somebody tell me if the G110 comes ready to stick pads on it or additional backer needed?

[akimel]

Re: need to know...

A word to the wise, J.S.: Save your money and buy everything at once. I can assure you, you will need more than three pads for a full detail. You don't want to find yourself half way through your polishing only to realize that you have to stop so you can wash and dry your pads. Plan it out. I know you want to begin immediately, but it is really best to get all the necessary equipment and supplies assembled before you begin. That, at least, has been my experience.

And yes, the G110 comes all ready to go to work right out of the box. You will not need to buy an additional backing plate.

[J.S.]

Re: need to know...

A word to the wise, J.S.: Save your money and buy everything at once. I can assure you, you will need more than three pads for a full detail. You don't want to find yourself half way through your polishing only to realize that you have to stop so you can wash and dry your pads. Plan it out. I know you want to begin immediately, but it is really best to get all the necessary equipment and supplies assembled before you begin. That, at least, has been my experience.

And yes, the G110 comes all ready to go to work right out of the box. You will not need to buy an additional backing plate.

Aw thanks I never really thought ot that either! Ha. I just realized I'm going to need some smaller pads than 6.5"s. Should I be okay to get through my whole car for the first time with:

All Lake Country pads...
(2) 6.5" orange pads
(2) 6.5" white pads
(2) 6.5" black pads
(1) 4" orange pad
(1) 4" white pad
(1) 4" black pad

My car's a 2006 Honda Civic so it's not too too big.

I'm gonna make a list of all the other products I'm planning on using too.

[akimel]

Re: need to know...

A lot of us get by without using 4" pads.

[J.S.]

Re: need to know...

A lot of us get by without using 4" pads.

Really? For example, how would you use a 6.5" pad to do something like an A-pillar?

[J.S.]

Re: need to know...

J.S., if I were you, I would consider getting the new 7424XP. Like the G110, it's got a bit more power than the 7424. Here's a recent comparative review.

If you want to order a G110, contact customer service at Meguiar's Canada: 1-800-278-4559 or (905) 670-5580.

Thanks for the "push" for making me consider the PC 7424XP but I've taken a while to think about and and I'm gonna pull the trigger on the G110. I called Meg's Canada and they'll let people buy the G110 right from 'em and ship it to you. Otherwise, for all other stuff they refer you to their dealers.

LUCKILY though for me, they're letting me add any other Meg's products to my G110 order so I can stock up on UC, ScratchX2.0, SwirlX.

The price they're selling the G110 is a good deal. I'd say how much but not sure if that's "acceptable". If someone okays it then i'll say but if someone informs me that I shouldn't then I won't. Anyway, I got a quote from the Meg's dealer closest to my house thinking I can get it faster and they want to change me $75 MORE than Meg's Canada. Considering how Meg's products aren't as readily available as they are to US consumers, I find it frustrating that people have to gouge like that. You Americans have it made. I mean I'm sure the dealer isn't paying retail from Meg's Canada for it so I'm sure they can mark it up an make some profit from it and come in around what Meg's Canada is selling it for but no they have to be $75 more than Meg's Canada's retail.

I'm just happy I can get it from Meg's and call it a day. One weird thing I found about Meg's Canada is that they don't show any machine foam pads on their site. I'll inquire about them when I place my G110 but I'm not holding my breath. Probably just end up getting all Lake Country pads from eshine.ca

[J.S.]

Re: need to know...

Thought about it and changed my mind. I pulled the trigger this morning on ordering myself a PC 7424XP with 5" backing plate and (2) 6.5" LC orange pads, (2) 6.5" LC white pads and (1) 6.5" LC black pad. Alright received my bottle of UC last week.

My car's gonna regret that it's ever let itself get swirled and scratched!!!

When it arrives in a few days, I'm gonna do a test spot with some UC on a white pad on the hood of my Honda Civic. I know that's right on the front but I'm sure it will not come out any worse than what it already looks like.