I have had my truck for about 3.5 years now and it has never seen a coat of wax yet. Decided it's time to get rid of the swirls and water spots and am looking for some recommendations on which products to use. After reading numerous threads I think I have a pretty good handle on what to use except for maybe which pads to get and which wax to use. I plan on claying before doing anything else.

This is my list so far:

Griots Garage 6 inch Random Orbital
Meguiars 5" Backing Plate
Meguiars Mirror Glaze #105 Ultra-Cut Compound 32oz
Meguiars Mirror Glaze #205 Ultra Finishing Polish 32oz
Lake Country 5 1/2 Inch Flat Pads 6 Pack (2-orange, 2-white, 1-black, 1-blue)

Also, can I get away with a smaller size of the Meguiars 105 and 205 to lower the cost a bit?

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks

 

How bad are the swirls, you might have to do two passes with the compound and therefore use more product than you realize. If you have a lighter colored vehicle, you could finish the compound to a great finish and might not need much of the polish. On my mom's vehicle, I just now finish out with 105 on a black car and don't bother with the polish.

You might just get a small bottle of each, both are readily available otc so picking up more quickly shouldn't be a problem. Also, you will likely go thru 2 pads each for each compounding/polishing step. If you need to make a second pass of same product, you'll need to clean/dry your pads first. Not a bad idea to pick up an extra orange/white pad since you are already ordering.

I would dump the 2 orange pads and get the yellows. If you are going to compound, then use something that will get you there. DA's don't have much power behind them so get something that won't take forever to correct.

Make sure to wash the polishing oils off before putting down any wax/sealant. Which wax/sealant to use very subjective. 845 is a very good low cost wax, easy to use, great durability and great shine looking. Once you get into detailing you will likely try/discover other products that will make your truck look better thru your eyes.

 

First timer? This is a great kit for that:

http://www.autodetailingsolutions.ne...ction-kit.html

 

Collinite is a good product, but IMHO, nothing beats BlackFire Wet Diamond for a deep, wet shine.

The #105 can be a hassle; read up on how to use it and prime your pads. You might try Megs Ultimate Compound first and see if it works for you; much easier to use.

Jim

 

I like the looks of that. Is there any reason I couldn't use this microfiber kit (http://www.autogeek.net/da-microfibe...r-kit-5in.html) with the Griots DA? The Griots has a lifetime warranty which is why I would prefer to get that one over the Meguiars DA.

Looks like this kit is just missing the sealant.

 

Go with the Griots!!!!!!!!!! Most power, too.
I would try the microfiber padsfor the swirl removal; Lake Country now makes them. I would stick with the foam pads for the polishing, however.

Jim

 

The swirls aren't too bad in my opinion. I see much worse on a daily basis just driving around town. This is a black truck and I have always washed with the two bucket method to try to prevent as much swirling as I can.

Thanks for the tip on getting more pads. I wasn't sure how many I would end up needing for this first job on the truck.

 

So would you recommend this microfiber kit and then some foam pads for the polishing? I'll also look in to using the Blackfire Wet Diamond. Thanks!

 

I agree with Jaymz - stay with the Griot's unless you are on the low for money and also the recomendation on the Meg ultimate compound. That is actually what I use on my mom's car, not the Meg 105 - sorry getting my products crossed. The Ultimate Compound doesn't quit have the cutting capability but is easier to use overall as new detailer compared to 105. The Meg's ultimate compound and polish would be cheaper also compared to the 105/205 combo.

By the way, I use BFWD on my truck. It doesn't have the durability of 845, but overall the same ease of use and provides a deeper glow which is noticeable on darker colors.

Have no experience with the new microfiber pads, I use all foam currently.

 

Just for clarification and I've never used the Meg's MF system, my understanding is that the Meg's MF system must be used together to make the entire system work properly. I would not go throwing the MF polish on another brand of pad because who knows how it will work and what results you will get.

My recommendation for products would be the following.

Either the Meg's or Griot's D/A
Lake Country pads- 1 orange, 2-hard green, 2-white, 1-blue, and 1-black

I mainly use Poorboy's products just because they can be used in direct sunlight on a hot car with great results.
Pro Polish
SSR-1
SSR-2
SSR-3

As far as waxes go, pick one or two that give you a warm fuzzy and run with it.

 

You could get a Griots DA and that MF kit from Autogeek - then all you would need is a LSP of your choice and the appropriate pads for it. The MF finishing wax isn't particularly durable. That's why ADS is packing a foam pad and M21 with the kit I linked.

You could even do the LSP by hand. It's not like it has to be polished in. With a black truck, a pure carnauba usually gives you best results.

If you use the MF kit with a Griots, make sure you can translate the recommended speeds.

 

The Megs MF system I got for testing I tossed the product and the "finishing" pads I use as hacking pads on my old backing plates ( anything I need to go after but don't want to use a good backing plate or pad ).
I am using the "cutting" pad up with Optimum Hyper Compound now, but prior I had to use M105 on it, to get any real defect removal out of it.
Worked fine. Even with Hyper Compound I do not get as much defect removal as the Optimum Cutting pad.

Did a write up at the Cafe on the Optimum MF pads and Hyper combo vs the Megs MF DA kit.

Hyper Polish and the Opti MF polishing pad will remove almost the same defect as the both steps of the Megs MF pads and products.

The LC MF pad, it is similar in function to the So1o pad from Megs, change out the product to get different action.
- not exactly what you need with a multi use product like PB ProPolish where you change out the pad to get more defect removal.