Not a G100, but it'll have to do...

[Legacy51]

Well I have a pretty dinky little Ryobi ROB which I use to doll up my car...no PC, but its got a pretty good OPM range

I tried to detail my car (I'd say about 5 months ago) with the provided buffer heads that came with the thing (cotton terry heads and some sort of polyester? to remove the applied product)...

Well it was my first true detail with a ROB and it kinda sucked...Partly I blame my inadequecy to use a buffer, but also I feel the heads I was using were doing more damage than good.

So with that in mind, and the fact that I cannot buy the foam buffing pads provided by Megs, what other materials are good for applying/removing NXT products?

I am considering just getting some MF bonnets to apply and remove the products I will use....but is MF the best to use? Also my buffer came with a wool bonnet....but what the heck am I suppose to do with it, or rather should I even use it?

Any input would be greatyl appreciated guys....my cars looking really cruddy and I'd hate to think all this cash I dropped on detailing stuff was all for naught....

Thanks

[roushstage2]

The Synthetic Wool Bonnets are good for compounding.
The Terry Cloth is good for everything. It's a general bonnet. The Microfiber is good for applying wax and polishing/buffing.

I'm sure there is someone on here though who knows more about this than I do.

[Legacy51]

Thanks for the info...problem is I'm getting confused with these terms...

The Synthetic Wool Bonnets are good for compounding

What does compouding do, or rather what is compounding?

The Microfiber is good for applying wax and polishing/buffing.

Alright...so I can use a MF bonnet for applying wax....but when you mean polishing/buffing, are those seperate tasks?

Does polishing refer to applying polish and removing it? Also buffing....does that mean going over the whole car with a MF bonnet after all the products have been removed....

On that note, I have seen many detailers goin over a car with a buffer when there is no product on the car nor on the buffer...what does that mean?

Sorry if these are pretty weird quesitons, I just don't want to damage my paint...

Thanks

[the other pc]

Originally posted by Legacy51
What does compouding do, or rather what is compounding?

Compounds are products with lots of heavy cutting abrasives used for removing severe paint defects. They're normally used with a powerful rotary buffer. They shouldn't be used with little ROB.

Originally posted by Legacy51
Alright...so I can use a MF bonnet for applying wax....but when you mean polishing/buffing, are those seperate tasks?

Yeah, the terminology gets pretty confusing. In this case microfibers work well for just about everything, applying polishes, removing them, working in cleaners, applying wax, removing wax...

Is this the unit you've got?


Keep in mind that a low powered RO polisher won't have much ability to remove below-surface defects so if you have a lot of heavy swirls or etching you won't get very far.

If you just want to save your arms when applying wipe-on/wipe-off products like waxes they can work ok.

As you've found the biggest problem is that the pads aren't changeable and the available bonnet selection is poor. Meguiar's X-4003 microfiber bonnets might fit.

If the pad is an open cell foam it will absorb product and soak through when you try to change bonnets so you may need some kind of barrier when changing from a cleaner to a polish to a wax.

If it were me I'd try to modify it so I could use Velcro pads.

Does your "Location: OC" mean OC, Ca.? If you're local you I'd highly recommend signing up for one of the Saturday "Detailing 101" classes.


PC.

[Mike Phillips]

I would just like to chime in that someone gave me a similar tool, I think manufactured by Porter Cable, it offers much higher OPM but it didn't' have any power when pressed against the finish. It's a tool used for sanding wood normally.

After testing it out a couple of times my conclusion was that I could clean and polish a car faster and more effectively by hand with ScratchX.

[Dee]

Mike,
thanks for the info. Can you tell me if you have been able to get the package deal on the G-100 for the MOL members. This would help those of us who are fruggle, take our detailing to the next level

[Legacy51]

Does your "Location: OC" mean OC, Ca.? If you're local you I'd highly recommend signing up for one of the Saturday "Detailing 101" classes.

Yes it does refer to OC, Ca and I would LOVE to get some hands on training if I could, what are the details/prices etc...any more info on this would be greatly benificial.

Also I was considering getting doing some mods so I can fit on the Meguiars pads for the G100....problem is I would need to see some G100 pads in person. Again going to the Detailing Class would help out there.

Thanks for all the info, really good stuff!

[the other pc]

Originally posted by Legacy51
Yes it does refer to OC, Ca and I would LOVE to get some hands on training if I could, what are the details/prices etc...any more info on this would be greatly benificial....

The classes are FREE! Barry Meguiar picks up the tab for the whole enchilada. (Well, lunch is pizza actually but you get my drift.)

There's a button at the top of the page labeled CALENDAR. Most Saturdays have one scheduled for some car club or other. Members of the organizing group get first shot but if they don't fill the class anyone on MOL is welcome to join in.

This coming up weekend's class is for Orange County Vettes. Looks like there's still space.


PC.

[Legacy51]

Thanks for the info!

I'll def. be registering for one of those detail days.

Hopefully afterwards I can finally detail my car correctly

Again, thanks for the info....really helpful.

[Mike Phillips]

Perhaps the classes on August 13th and 20th will have some open seats.

August Classes