Ask-A-Pro: What Pads To Use With the Blackfire Polish and Protection Kit?

I’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.