Newbie question about pads

[Cabbyfan]

Hi, finally got round to buying a DA polisher (EBay £90 woohoo), lookkng to improve some marks on the paint, mainly scratches from branches in the country lanes etc. I know I wont get 100% removal but can certainly improve.

The last owner did a pretty good job on the paint, its not badly swirled at all which is good.

My question is though, can polishing pads be used on more than one car ? I am going to a minor correct to an area on my Mums car door as well. hers is light grey, my Audi is black.

As for pads themselves, I know Audi paint is hard, so care is needed and choice of pad / compount is crucial !

Advice appreciated.

Cheers

 

[Padtwo]

Do you mean using the pad to do your car then using the same pad to do your mum's straight after? You can use a pad on any car, just start with clean pads so your not rubbing any dried polish into the paint (!!). Audi paint is generally hard but always assume it isn't and start with a light combination first, you may be surprised, or in the absence of a paint thickness gauge there may be some repair work lurking where a different paint has been used.

I have a set of sonus sfx pads 1,2 and 3 and at the minute am working my way through a set of sample size bottles of the menzerna polishes (250ml) which seem to work quite well. May well be investing in some hexlogic pads soon once I've worked out which ones I need, don't think I'll need them all!!

 

[John @ PB]

What type of car does your mum have?

It could be that the pads suited to your Audi paint aren't suitable for her car's paint type. Pad choice is just as crucial as polish choice.

You can re-use pads but they should be washed thoroughly between cars. Generally speaking, pads will need around 4 or 5 days to dry out fully. If they're used wet/damp, the can fail and will literally explode. Not what you want when you're working on a car.....

 

[Padtwo]

Hi John, what pads would you recommend for audi paint?

 

[John @ PB]

Hi John, what pads would you recommend for audi paint?

Generally, a full set of the Menzerna Pads: Menzerna 135 mm Pads | Menzerna Car Care & Detailing Products

These are used by VW/Audi on the production line so suit the paint type really well.

Use the Orange pad with Meguiar's 105: Meguiar's Ultra Cut Compound (#105) | Meguiar's Car Care & Detailing Products for correction stepping up to 105 on the White pad for really deep marks.

Refine the finish with the Yellow pad and Meguiar's 205: Meguiar's Ultra Finishing Polish (#205) | Meguiar's Car Care & Detailing Products

 

[Cabbyfan]

Thanks for replies guys. My A4 is metalic black, my Mums car is a grey nissan...its got a key scratch along the door so I want to take the edge off when I do mine. Just didnt want to cross-contaminate any paint realy.

 

[John @ PB]

Thanks for replies guys. My A4 is metalic black, my Mums car is a grey nissan...its got a key scratch along the door so I want to take the edge off when I do mine. Just didnt want to cross-contaminate any paint realy.

The Nissan is the complete oppostie in terms of paint type: extremely soft and thin.

For pads, I'd go with the Orange Lake Country Constant Pressure: Lake Country 140 mm Constant Pressure Pads | Lake Country Car Care & Detailing Products and Menzerna 203S - it should help the scratch massively providing the defect isn't too deep. Menzerna Power Finish (203S) | Menzerna Car Care & Detailing Products

Feel free to email if you need any further advice

 

[Cabbyfan]

Thanks John

 

[Cabbyfan]

Looks like I'm about to place my first order John !

 

[Cabbyfan]

Order placed..... let the fun begin ! I had to buy a new backing plate, my DA seems to have a rigid 6" plate which I didnt like the look of, so hopefully the list below is correct !

3MMT0003 3M High Performance Masking Tape - 3 Pack (saving of 5%) 1	£5.70	£5.70
FPDA0125 Flexipads Dual Action Backing Plate - 125 mm 1	£15.00	£15.00
MZFW0135 Menzerna 135 mm Compounding Pad (White) 1	£6.00	£6.00
MZFO0135 Menzerna 135 mm Polishing Pad (Orange) 1	£6.00	£6.00
MZFY0135 Menzerna 135 mm Finishing Pad (Yellow) 1	£6.00	£6.00
MGUC0237 Meguiar's Ultra Cut Compound (#105) - 237 ml 1	£8.50	£8.50
MGUF0237 Meguiar's Ultra Finishing Polish (#205) - 237 ml 1	£9.50	£9.50
MZPF0250 Menzerna Power Finish (203S) - 250 ml 1	£9.00	£9.00
LCSC0003 Lake Country Snappy Pad Cleaner - 3 Pack (saving of 5%) 1	£4.20	£4.20
LCFG0140 Lake Country 140 mm Constant Pressure Polishing Pad (Green) 1	£9.00	£9.00

 

[John @ PB]

Looks right to me.

Yes, 6inch plate is too big for a 5inch pad; the backing plate should always be smaller than the pad.

 

[Cabbyfan]

Cheers John, glad I got it right ! Look forward to my order being delivered

 

[Wozski]

john i dont suppose you want to have my brand new 150mm megs backing plate in exchange for a 125mm one?

 

[John @ PB]

john i dont suppose you want to have my brand new 150mm megs backing plate in exchange for a 125mm one?

Did it come from us?

If it did, email me. If not, you codul try putting it back to where you got it?

 

[Wozski]

it didnt no - it came with the da so i was just checking if anyone on here may want to swap iot for a megs 5"??