What pads to use with a Griot's Garage 6" DA Polisher?

[JuiceBruce]

I've been reading up on DA polishers, sealants, waxes and all that good stuff over the past month or so, and it's now time to buy. I've decided to go with the Griot's Garage 6" DA polisher, and I'm trying to figure out what pad's I should order to get started.

My car is only a few months old so I'm not needing any major paint correction at this point. I really just want to seal up the paint using Collinte 845 and get my tafetta white popping!

The site that I'm ordering the polisher from carry's the Griots and Lake Country pads. Does anyone have any experience with either of these? It looks like Griot's only has a couple of pad options (Orange and Red), so I was leaning towards the Lake Country 6.5" pads.

I've seen on some of the detailing forums that some people go with a 5" backing plate so they can run smaller pads, just not sure if this is something I should consider at this point.

Also, how many pads should a guy have on hand to get through polishing a car?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

[namegoeshere]

If it's just to maintain your car, at least 2 of each.

http://www.auto-geek.net/charts/buff...d-chart-lc.htm

So 2 orange, 2 white, 2 black. If you want to use the DA to apply a wax/sealant, 1 blue or red. I prefer to apply a wax/sealant by hand with a small foam pad.

[glen e]

Agreed...if a new car without any swirls or correction needed, the orange is not really necessary......use Meiguires ultimate compound with the black, then a green or blue for the 845.....heat the collonite up like a baby bottle and put it on REAL THIN.....two coats 12 hours apart....

[JuiceBruce]

Thanks for the help guys.

I ordered a couple of black and couple of blue Lake Country pads to get started with as whites and greens were out of stock.

Can't wait for it all to arrive!

Besides the GG 6, LC pads and Collinite 845, I picked up some Blackfire Total Eclipse Tire spray and some Griot's Speed Shine.

Glen, thanks for the tips on using the 845. From all that I have read, the stuff sounds delicious!!!

[JuiceBruce]

My order arrived yesterday.....



Here's my plan:

1) Wash with Dawn
2) Clay
3) Meguiars Ultimate Compound using Black Lake Country CCS Pads
4) A couple of THIN coats of Collinite 845 using Blue Lake Country CCS Pads

This will be the first time that I have used a machine polisher. Hopefully I'll be happy with the results.

I'll try to get some good before and after pics to share. Wich me luck!!

[RTexasF]

None of those pads has any cut. I question if either one will do any good with Megs Ultimate Compound. Do a test spot on a horizontal surface to see if does anything at all before spending a great deal of time for little return. White and Orange pads are a mainstay and not something to be without.

[JuiceBruce]

Originally Posted by RTexasF

None of those pads has any cut. I question if either one will do any good with Megs Ultimate Compound. Do a test spot on a horizontal surface to see if does anything at all before spending a great deal of time for little return. White and Orange pads are a mainstay and not something to be without.

Thanks for the input. I'll definitely place an order for some white and orange pads. They were out of stock when I placed my original order, but see they are now available.

As I mentioned in my first post, the car I'm working on is basically brand new and really doesn't have much for paint flaws. I went with the black and blue pads on my initial order based on what Glen suggested. I saw that both were listed as polishing pads with no cut, and assummed the minimal cut I would get would come from the ultimate compound.

I have to add that I am paranoid about Honda's soft single stage paint!!!

I will test on the trunk lid as suggested, and will report back later on.

Time to get started

[glen e]

Remember, use the least aggressive combo first and work toward the more aggressive......start with the green pad for the UC......rick and I respectfully disagree, I have always found the orange too aggressive for the cars I do, as I'm usually not doing strong correction.....

[JuiceBruce]

So after washing and claying, I took a really good look at my paint and really couldn't see any swirls or scratches. I decided I'd try out the LC black pad and UC combo on the trunk lid. I ended up doing the whole car with this combo. Probably did waste a bit of time doing it, but I enjoyed the process, so it's all good.

I did get one coat of 845 on using a LC blue pad before I called it quits last night, and will follow up with another coat tonight. It's way different than any thing I've ever used in the past. I made sure I to use little product, and it went on and came off with no problem. After 20 minutes in the sun it went from the consistency of mayonaise to milk. Crazy stuff!!!!

A couple of questions:

1) Should I let the Collinite 845 haze over before removing it, or wipe clean with a MF cloth after finishing a panel?

2) Seeing I didn't really need to correct any flaws, would it of made more sense to use a polish after claying and before moving onto the 845 (or am I just wasting my time)?

The paint is shining like crazy now. I tried snapping a few pics last night, but it was getting a bit dark out. I'll get some taken tonight and will post them up later on.

Thanks again for the pointers

[RTexasF]

Originally Posted by glen e

Remember, use the least aggressive combo first and work toward the more aggressive......start with the green pad for the UC......rick and I respectfully disagree, I have always found the orange too aggressive for the cars I do, as I'm usually not doing strong correction.....

What you are saying makes sense. 90% of the corrections I did required an orange pad & Menzerna so it boils down to the the job at hand and I have been doing this for many years. Having said that I have done MANY more corrections than you have. NOT a put down, just trying to get things in order of time in grade. Since I have done it much longer I have done more cars, many in horrid condition. Again, not trying to come across as the know it all because that's damn sure not the case.

[glen e]

My point was he's not doing correction.....

[RTexasF]

Originally Posted by glen e

My point was he's not doing correction.....

Then why use Meg's Ultimate Compound at all if no correction is intended?

[RTexasF]

From Autogeek:

You will find the wax easiest to remove if you apply a thin coat and do not let it completely haze over before buffing.

To apply by machine: work at a low speed with no pressure since you are simply applying a product. Use a microfiber bonnet over a lambswool pad to remove Insulator Wax. Apply wax to one section at a time, wait 30 seconds, and then buff.

[MM49]

What pads do you guys recommend? They ones that I purchased along with the machine from DetailersDomain **** so I'm looking into buying new pads

[namegoeshere]

Originally Posted by MM49

What pads do you guys recommend? They ones that I purchased along with the machine from DetailersDomain **** so I'm looking into buying new pads

I'm pretty sure it's not the pads.