Product Selection and Use Help! New to the Board.

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silvergray

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This is also posted in the Product Discussion Forum with no response :cry:



Hey Guys,

I am new to the forum, and relatively new to detailing. Recently, I decided I would start detailing on the side for some extra income/hobby. I already ordered several products, and would appreciate some guidance on which products/pads to use and when.



What I've Bought:

-Menzerna Car Care Kit from Properautocare.com, which consists of:

-Menzerna Auto Shampoo

-Menzerna Final Polish II

-Menzerna Finishing Touch Claze

-Menzerna FMJ

-Menzerna Intensive Polish

-Porter Cable 7336SP from Lowes



Pads:

-Lake Manufacturing 6.5" Pad Kit, which consists of:

-One Velcro Backing Plate

-2 Hi-Gloss Orange Power Pads

-2 Hi-Gloss White Polishing Pads

-1 Hi-Gloss Red Concours Finishing Pad

-1 Hi-Gloss Black Glazing/Finessing pad



The pads are my largest concern. I don't want to cause irrepairable damage to my/friends cars. All these colors and names are confusing as hell.



Pad Kit Link



Menzerna Car Care Kit Link





The car I am most unclear on is my 2005 Black Sapphire Metallic BMW X5. We bought it used, and it was clearly automatic car washed. It has moderate swirling. I also have the Zaino Complete Kit, and was curious which system would be better. (Menzerna/Zaino?)



I can't figure out what pads to use with which polishes, and how many coats are needed. Basically, I am clueless. I have read numerous other forums, including AudiWorld.com, where I received a lot of help, but I still am worried.



I would appreciate any help walking me through the processes.



Thanks guys!
 
i would start out with the ip and a orange pad on a small 1x1 area and see what your results look like.just remember to go very slow(back and forth then up and down),and i would probably put 2 or 3 pea sized dots on the pad,spread it in at speed 3 and then go speed 6.when it either turns clear or starts to dust turn of the pc and use a 50/50 water alky wipedown to see your results.

if the results arent good enough you may have to go over it again.if they are good go straight to fpII on a polishing pad.
 
silvergray- Welcome to Autopia!



I sincerely doubt that you'll do any irreperable damage to much of anything using just the PC and sensible products ;)



It's not like Zaino/Menzerna/most anything else is better/worse, just different. Coke and Pepsi, etc.



I don't know (first-hand) from Zaino so I'll confine my comments to the Menzerna. The FPII is *very* mild, IMO you'll need something stronger to use with the more aggressive pads (e.g., Menzerna IP with the orange pad as suggested by superchargedg.



You use aggressive pads with aggresssive products to do aggressive work. You can also use aggressive products with milder pads. You generally use mild pads with mild products to do mild work. You use gentle pads with gentle products to do gentle stuff like glazing and waxing, step that don't involve abrasion.



The best advice I can give you is to study up on this stuff before you start. IMO too many people jump in without a sufficient knowledge base and end up having some kind of problem(s) that could've easily been avoided with some more preparatory studying.
 
agreed, I think its almost impossible to damage your paint using a PC, especially with the orange pad. If you're that worried maybe try a junk yard for a hood or body panel and experiment on that.
 
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