Which LC pads to use with DA?

[invertalon]

I recently got a PC 7424 and ordered some extra pads for it by LC, an orange and white pad.

The question is, what should I use the orange pad with?

I have all the basic meguiars products... paint cleaner, scratch x, deep crystal polish, ntx wax, carnauba wax, detailer, etc...

I already tested out the PC 7424 on my hood and it did an amazing job. I used scratch x (with the PC) as well as the polish. Came out flawless with no issues and looks incredible.

But since the orange pad has a little more cut, is it still fine to use with scratch x for the harder areas? I know a lot of you don't use scratch x with a DA but I have used it with excellent results and will continue to. But do any of you have experience with the orange pads and are they pretty "light" unless used with some severe polish? Just want to make sure.

Thanks alot!

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Which LC pads to use with DA?

We don't recommend using a cutting pad with a DA Polisher as the foam itself has a tendency to haze the paint and most people new to machine polishing panic when they see this happen to their paint.

Of course anyone working on a light colored car might not see this hazing but it's very apparent on black paint and when you consider most cars have a clear coat finish that means if it's happening to a black finish it's happening to any colored finish because you're not really working on the color layer but on the clear layer.

We've had many people come to our Saturday Classes and our Thursday night classes that have taken the advice to use a cutting pad that they learn on other forums only to have us show them how to remove the hazing.

You can read more about it in this thread that's in our "Hot Topics" forum.


Cutting Pads with the PC - Is this a good idea?

Below is my Mustang hood where I used an orange pad on the top right side

[roushstage2]

Re: Which LC pads to use with DA?

Here is a recent thread about LC Pads: http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums...ad.php?t=22451

The orange pad is an iffy, like Mike said, but looking at LC's website, it may be alright to use. I know other people who use the LC pads with a DA, and the orange works fine. Do a test spot and check. All paints are different in how they respond to buffing.

[rebelde33]

Re: Which LC pads to use with DA?

The orange pad is a light cutting pad to remove fine scratches and swirls. If you want more cut, go with the yellow pad but I find it too aggressive. The white pad is for applying and working polishes in and the black pad is for applying wax.

[roushstage2]

Re: Which LC pads to use with DA?

So I take it yellow is where you would ultimately need to draw the line then? I haven't heard of anyone using the yellow, and that may be why.

[rebelde33]

Re: Which LC pads to use with DA?

So I take it yellow is where you would ultimately need to draw the line then? I haven't heard of anyone using the yellow, and that may be why.

Yes. Yellow is used to remove serious defects and from what I've heard it causes marring so you would need to follow it with the orange pad and the white pad. I've never used a yellow one so I can't say from experience.

[TH0001]

Re: Which LC pads to use with DA?

The orange pad, in my opinion, is going to be fine on most paints. It is more aggressive then the Meg's 8000 series polishing pad, but far less aggressive then a Meg's cutting pad. It is a nice comprimise.

I wouldn't use a yellow pad (the same as I wouldn't use a Meg's maroon) on a PC though.

[2KLS1]

Re: Which LC pads to use with DA?

^^^I would have to agree. I think it would also depend on how hard the clear is. When I had to do some correction on my car with a PC I needed to use an orange pad, and in some spots a yellow pad followed by the orange. In my case it was a must because a polishing pad was just getting me nowhere. Just remember to always start with the lest aggressive product and pad then go from there.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Which LC pads to use with DA?

It's always a good idea to get the manufactures recommendation too, as in ask the manufacture of the LC pads what they recommend as to which pads they officially state are safe to use with which tools.

Then if you have a problem, you have their recommendation to fall back on, (save your e-mail or take a screen shot of a reply on a forum). If everything works out fine then you know you can trust their word.

As for using different companies chemicals on different companies foam pads, there may not be any official statement on this or control over your results, so you're kind of on your own when you go outside a company's "System".

As long as you do a "Test Spot" with the pad and chemicals you're planning to use over the entire car and it turns out good you should be good to go.

Just remember to test first to a small area and check your results before going over the entire car only to find out you have a problem afterwards.

[invertalon]

Re: Which LC pads to use with DA?

I got my pads in and very happy with results (as in how the pc 7424 runs with it), the stock pad got unbalanced and was quite a rough ride, haha. The new pads are as smooth as butter. Won't be able to actually use them for a few weeks though when I do my full detail.

Also, comparing the LC pads to the stock pad for a general idea, the white is softer then the stock pad with the PC, and the orange is more firm but not as much as I expected. I think it will be a great pad for scratch x / polish whichever I plan to use it for.

[Black Bart]

Re: Which LC pads to use with DA?

I have used a LC Orange pad with # 83 and # 80 on my Black car and they worked great.
If you have swirls and you use the orange pad and #80 it will correct them with a PC but follow with a LC white polishing pad to really make it look good.
I have used my LC polishing pad with several different brands of polish and got good results with all of them you just have to adjust your technique to suit the product you are using.

[BlueZero]

Re: Which LC pads to use with DA?

Here is the official Lake Country chart...

[invertalon]

Re: Which LC pads to use with DA?

Although my "full" detail is planned for tuesday, I decided to try and do a few rock chip repairs up front before then. Did the touch up (nothing too fancy in doing it, but the white primer is an eyesore with the black finish). So did it carefully with a fine tipped brush and then once set, went and tried out the pads.

I used scratch x with the orange pad, which removed the extra "residue" around the touch up area's and eliminated all the swirls that have accumulated since the last time I have did a little detail. Then I moved on to the white pad with polish, and finished with gold glass (using nxt 2.0 come tuesday).

Results were excellent. need to confirm in better lighting tomorrow, but I think it did an amazing job.