Ask-A-Pro: What Pads To Use With the Blackfire Polish and Protection Kit?
by Todd CooperiderI’m looking at buying the blackfire detailing kit, I have a porter cable 7424, and I was wondering what pads you would recommend for each application?
The Blackfire Detailing Kit comes complete with Compound and Finishing Polish (both are formulated by Menzerna), as well as their Gloss Enhancing Polish, Blackfire Wet Diamond, and Midnight Sun Carnauba Paste Wax.
For the compound and finishing polish, the pads you will use depends on the hardness of the paint being polished, as well as the level of defects. For harder clear coats like newer Mercedes, Audi, or BMW, I would probably pair the compound with either a Lake Country Cyan Hydro-Tech pad, or an orange light cutting pad. For the finishing polish the most likely candidates would be either a Lake Country Tangerine Hydro-Tech pad, or a white polishing pad.
For softer clear coats like Honda, Toyota, or Porsche I would most likely pair the compound with a Lake Country orange light cutting pad. For the finishing polish I would use a black finishing pad.
Once again, the pad selection during the compounding and polishing stages vary quite a bit depending on the hardness of the paint, the condition that it is in, and the level that you wish to take it. It’s always best to start with a test section to determine which combination achieves the results you are looking for.
For the Blackfire Gloss Enhancing Polish and Blackfire Wet Diamond, the choice is much simpler and not dependent upon paint hardness. I would recommend using a Lake Country black pad for the Gloss Enhancing Polish, and an ultra soft blue pad for the Blackfire Wet Diamond.
The Midnight Sun Carnauba Wax should be applied by hand with a soft foam applicator.
Enjoy your Blackfire kit, and be sure to let us know if you have any additional comments or questions.
Related Posts
- Ask-A-Pro: New to Detailing and Want a Buffer. PC 7424XP? Flex XC3401 VRG? And What About Polishes?
- Ask-A-Pro: 2007 Infiniti G35 – Which Polish / Sealant / Wax & Pads?
- Ask-A-Pro: Detailing Package Recommendations for BMW M3
- Ask-A-Pro: How To Get a Wet Look On My Show Car?
- Full Detail: Ferrari Challenge Stradale in Rosso Scuderia
Hi Todd,
Why would the hydro-tech pads not be more effective than a regular flat pad for softer paints such as a black Lexus IS 250 car that I have? The hydro-tech pads claim that they have similar cut yet finish better than the flat pads. Wouldn’t that be suitable for all paint types no matter how hard or soft?
Alex,
In my experience, I’ve been able to achieve a better finish with traditional pads on soft paint than I have with the Hydro-Tech pads. On hard paints, I almost always though reach for the Hydro-Techs.
With the Tangerine pad, it finishes down almost as good as a black pad. On soft paint (dark in particular), you’ll want the less cut and the finer finish that the black flat pad has to offer. You may not be able to get the Tangerine to finish down as nicely as the black on a dark soft paint…but that also depends on polishes being used, methods, machine, etc.
I think it’s more of a factor when talking about the finishing pads (black versus Tangerine) on soft paint than with the cutting pads (orange versus Cyan) because you’re going to be following up the cutting process with a finishing process anyways.
But since there are some variables involved, and most enthusiasts don’t have both types of pads in their arsenal to test with, I find it easier just to recommend the traditional for soft paint, and the new Hydro-Tech for hard paint in those cases.
Thanks.
What products/pads would you suggest for a new Audi S5, medium blue color? I plan to buy a dual action polisher, and would like to finish with Blackfire Wet Diamond. Are the Blackfire scratch resistant polishes a good choice, or should I look to Menzerna or something else?
Just because I have more experience with them, and knowing that the Audi paints are pretty hard, I would probably get the Meguiar’s MF Cutting Discs and D300 compound for the heavy stuff, and Menzerna 106FA with a white or black pad for the lighter / finishing process.