Pad and compound combo?

[Autobrite]

Hey guys, was wondering wht you have found to be the best combination of pad and compound for removing scratches and swirls using a DA. I have a car coming up that has some fairly deep swirls and scratches in it. I have been using 105 with my DA, even though its not meant to be.

[Ganesa]

Re: Pad and compound combo?

well, probably the strongest pad and compound combo for a DA would be with a polishing pad + #105 and following it up with a finishing pad + #205 or
polishing pad + Ultimate Compound and following it up with a finishing pad + SwirlX

but you have to remember the DA always has its limits, unlike the rotary :]

[sontakke]

Re: Pad and compound combo?

What is life of a typical light cutting pad, for example LC Orange used with M105 by DA polisher? Can one pad do four cars provided the pad is periodically cleaned using pad brush?

[BarryK]

Re: Pad and compound combo?

Hey guys, was wondering wht you have found to be the best combination of pad and compound for removing scratches and swirls using a DA. I have a car coming up that has some fairly deep swirls and scratches in it. I have been using 105 with my DA, even though its not meant to be.

there is no real definite answer to this question as it will vary with every car.

Every car has different paint - some paints are harder while others are softer.
As an example, Honda's paints are generally softer so removing defects is usually easier and faster and don't usually require as aggressive of a pad / product combination. Conversely, a corvette typically has a very hard clearcoat and for the same exact defects of scratches or swirls that was found in the Honda would usually require a more aggressive pad / product combo to remove from the Corvette.
Even the same make/model of vehicle can differ in paint hardness/softness in differing years.

since all vehicles are different in not only the paint issue but also the level of defects you need to correct EVERY situation is different.

It's for this reason that your best course of action is to do a test spot when first starting work on any car that you need to do paint correction to to find what combo will work for THAT car.

I've removed scratches/swirls would with M205 or D151 on some cars with a white polishing pad while others cars with the same level of defects required M105 with a orange cutting pad followed by M205 on a white pad.

Use a test spot area to dial in what you need. start with the least aggressive you think may work and only move up to a more aggressive choice if needed.
You may find for example that M205 on a white pad will do the job, or maybe you need to jump to M205 on a green pad, or jump next to m105 on an orange pad....etc.

test spot is the only REAL answer you can find to your question and that's only good for that particular car being worked on - the next car you start from scratch again

[BarryK]

Re: Pad and compound combo?

What is life of a typical light cutting pad, for example LC Orange used with M105 by DA polisher? Can one pad do four cars provided the pad is periodically cleaned using pad brush?

depends on how hard it's been used and how well it's been cleaned and maintained.
I use the Lake country 6.5" CCS pads with my Flex 3401.
By far the pad I use the most are my white polishing pads.
On my current whit pads they have been used on approx 7-9 cars and still look like practically new.
My orange pads tend to not last quite as long but probably because I usually only use the orange pads with the more abrasive M105 AND if I found I needed to step up to using an Orange pad the vehicle itself would be in worst condition therefore usually tougher on the pad so i may only get 8-12 vehicles done with an orange pad before I want to replace them.