getting started --- please help on products to buy

[rrpalma]

Hello,

I'm new to Meguiars and detailing. I'd like to get started though, and would please like some tips:
1. Is a DA polisher needed for periodic maintenance, or just for fixing swirls and scratches? Can I use just to remove wax, or manual is better?
2. Which Meguiars DA polisher is the same as Porter Cable? And which one's better (and why): The new 7424XP or the G110v2?
3. Which polishing compounds/wax/shampoo do I need to buy? I seem to like the pro line ...
4. I'll be working on a brand new German car (white) as well as restored, 13 yr old Peugeot (also white).

Thanks for reading!

[ziggo99]

Re: getting started --- please help on products to buy

1. You can use a DA for pretty much anything, paint cleaning, swirl removal, applying polishes and waxes, taking said items off, carpet cleaning, tire cleaning. I like to take my wax off manually, but it's personal opinion.

2. The old G100 was the same as the PC 7424, but the G110 and G110v2 aren't. The V2 is, from what we've read, scores better, because of the greater ranges in speed, and the "cruise control" feature, which cranks the motor up when you apply enough downward pressure. On other machines, the motor just bogs down for safety measures. The G110v2 does to, but the crank up allows you to work with more power.

3. For the Mirror Glaze line, the top 4 "Go To" products are M105, M205, M83 and M80. For wax, M21 2.0, M26 and NXT 2.0 are the "Go To". Shampoos would be Gold Class, NXT, M62. Another good product to look into is the Detailer Paint Reconditioning Cream. It's a cleaner wax, but a darn good one.

I hope I was able to help some. Feel free to ask more questions.

[rrpalma]

Re: getting started --- please help on products to buy

Thanks a lot for the advice -- great tips.

I still have 2 more questions, if you will:
1. Of the 4 products you suggested, which one's best for removing light swirls?
2. A friend of mine is offering to sell me his BNIB Porter Cable 7424 (no use at all) for $50 -- he bought it recently, but decided to get a more powerful brand/model. Is this a good deal, or is it better for me to get either the XP version, or the G110v2? are the additional features worth the difference over $50?

Thanks again!

[Andy's Pro Detailing]

Re: getting started --- please help on products to buy

palma I see you live in Miami, I lived there (Kendall for about 10 years), I still have family there. Welcome to the detailing disease.

Anyways, I really think you can't go wrong with the new Megs g110V2, it has a lot of new features I just got mine this past weekend, I can't wait to try it this week.

Working with the DA is like night and day when it comes to polishing, and it's even great for waxing.

There is a lot of reading around here, you can probably read for weeks and still learn something new everyday .

-You need a Megs Clay bar kit,

About the products. Megs consumer line is outstanding, and everything can be found locally.

I think great products for you to start off with would be:
Polishes:
(from most aggressive to least)
ultimate compound
scratch x
swirl x

always going with the least aggressive first until you see what works better on your vehicle.

-Waxes: any megs wax is great, NXT is the bomb.

[tcope1]

Re: getting started --- please help on products to buy

What machine you get really depends on how much you want to spend and how much you will use it and for what purpose. If you are only going to use it a few times for light correction then the used 7424 should be fine. If you are going to use it more often or want a much better machine, then I'd recommend the G110v2. I've not used one but the "cruise control" feature seems like a big plus. $50 is a great deal on a used PC 7424 and it is a very good machine. I have one and I think it does just fine. Thought if it's the difference between $100 for a PC or $120 for the G110v2, I'd go the G110v2 any day.

You can use a DA for applying and removing wax but that is now the main reason for using one. Most people have one for paint correction. After prepping the paint correctly, wax should go on and come off easily. A detailer is probably going to use a DA for applying and removing as a DA can do this very fast. Time is money to them. For me, I can apply and remove a LSP by hand in about an hour on my Focus. using a DA it might take 45 minutes.

If you are getting 2 cars that might need some paint correction, I'd buy that PC for $50. That is a good deal.

[ziggo99]

Re: getting started --- please help on products to buy

But don't get ScratchX and ScratchX 2.0 confused. The 2.0 is more aggressive than SwirlX, but the original ScratchX is weaker than SwirlX.

http://www.meguiars.com/dealerlocator/

Type in your zip code and check if you want to find consumer products or professional products and it'll show you where they're found.

[rrpalma]

Re: getting started --- please help on products to buy

Thanks for all the great advice guys!!

$50 is a great deal on a used PC 7424 and it is a very good machine. I have one and I think it does just fine. Thought if it's the difference between $100 for a PC or $120 for the G110v2, I'd go the G110v2 any day.

Just to clarify, this guy is willing to sell me his BRAND NEW 7424 for $50. It's never been used -- he's just getting something "more pro" according to him.

If you are getting 2 cars that might need some paint correction, I'd buy that PC for $50. That is a good deal.

Actually one needs paint correction; the other one is brand new.

Thanks A LOT for all your comments !!

[ziggo99]

Re: getting started --- please help on products to buy

For $50, go with the 7424. That's a sweet deal too good to pass up.