A Few Pad and Polish Combinations I Use Regularly
by Ivan RajicThis is another question both I and the blog get quite a bit. Even among us detailers there are always questions such as “What was the process?”, “What combo did you use to finish down?”, etc. As you can imagine, due to the extremely large amount of polishing combinations (machine, polish, pad, technique, etc.), many detailers and enthusiasts alike have completely different processes and methods for achieving good results. I’ve listed below a few combinations that I use on a regular basis along with a short explanation on each combo. For what it’s worth, I use my Flex XC 3401 VRG polisher a good 95% of the time when detailing, so these pad and polish pairings are based on use with that specific polisher.
Meguiar’s “307.5 WGCI” & Lake Country Orange Cutting Pad
So what is 307.5 WGCI? It’s a fake, joke of a name given to a mix of Meguiar’s 105 Ultra-Cut and D300 Correction compounds. The name came about after I did some non-sense calculations with the numbers 105 and 300. Then, after repeating it a few times, my helper at the time realized it sounded a lot like an introduction to a local radio station, WGCI, so Meg’s, or just M, “307.5 WGCI” stuck :).
Aside from all the nonsense, it was made by mixing 1 part D300 with 3 parts M105 in order to make a pretty aggressive combo while cutting down on the dusting from M105. I have kept it around as it did exactly what I hoped for and it has become one of my favorite products to use when doing a 2-3 step polishing job on some medium-hard paints. Paired with a Lake Country Orange Cutting Pad, this polish combo can do some pretty serious correction and leave behind a nice finish, which can be finished down with two or less steps.
Meguiar’s 205 & Lake Country White Polishing Pad
This is a regularly used combination among many detailers as well as enthusiasts. Meguiar’s 205 Polish paired with a Lake Country White Polishing Pad is one of the most versatile pad/polish combos out there when doing anything less than a serious 3+ step correction. The combo is aggressive enough to remove swirl marks from all but the hardest paints, while it can easily finish down perfectly well on all but the most finicky and soft black paints. Thus, it is a great pair to use following a more aggressive step on certain paints to leave a nice finish. It’s also one of the best 1-step polishing combos out there as it both removes a lot of the defects that dull the paint color and results in a nice, glossy finish.
Sonax Nano Tech Paint Cleaner (NTPC) & Lake Country Crimson Pad
I was introduced to Sonax NTPC by Todd Cooperider in early to mid 2011. To get a great feel for what the product is all about, I’d highly suggest thoroughly reading Todd’s NTPC Review. To completely summarize Todd’s review and give a very short explanation, NTPC is one of the best AIO products around today. It finishes down extremely well, even on the most tricky black/soft paints, and it leaves a good coat of protection in the process. Used by hand or machine it’s a must-have product for any professional.
I have since used NTPC regularly with a Lake Country Hydro Tech Crimson Ultra Fine Finishing Pad (that’s a mouthful!) when doing any 1-step AIO type job and both I and my clients are more than pleased with the results. The correction, while minor as expected, is always noticeable and the gloss it leaves behind is amazing. I like to use it with the Crimson pad because it ensures I don’t leave any pad-induced marring in the paint while leaving a great finish, but it can easily be used with more aggressive pads on anything but the softest of paints.
Well that about does it. I could go on with at least another 5-6 pairs, but these are the three combinations I enjoy using regularly as I find they give me great results and are extremely easy to use.
I encourage any readers to leave their own favorite combos in the comments below. We can only learn more by experimenting with other combinations.
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Great read Ivan, one of my favorite go to combos is menzerna power finish with a 3m 5inch orange pad. Perfect for quick great looking finish. Also like opt poli seal with the mequiars micro fiber finish disc. That works well for my entry level detail for customers that rather not pay for a full correction.
Thanks for the good words Kevin!
I too like to use Menzerna Power Finish occasionally, as well as Opt Poli Seal. I’ll have to try that MF/Poli Seal combo as a quick AIO. Sounds like it would work well on some harder paints and leave no marring but do a bit of correction, all while leaving a glossy and protected finish. Thanks for reading and for the tip!
Ivan, thank you for sharing this. Different paints, different climates, a pattern to paint restoration that can be shared by all. It’s great to get feedback like this on systems that have proven themselves.
Thanks for sharing Ivan! I have to give the hydrotechs a try at some point.
What about speeds and pressure on these combos?
Thank you in advance for the feedback.
Kostas
Great article Ivan, I’ve heard pf2500 and a polishing pad work great for a one stepper. I wanted to ask is there any chance I could use a AIO to clean up clay bar marring, I might try klasse aio and a mf pad
I like to combine M105 and Ultimate Compound to cut down on Dust also. 105 dust can really put you in a bad mood.
Have you tried new Carpro fixer polish or similar Gtechniq P1? What do you think of them?
– Sean, thanks for the kind words. As much as I like to share my experiences I also like to read others’, so I’m definitely looking forward to more comments like the ones above.
– Kostas, I’d highly recommend the Hydro Tech pads as they’re a great addition to the other Lake Country pads. As for the pressure, I’d really have to write another article on that :). There are way too many variables and goals within paint correction on which speed and pressure will be dependent. However, I can say that as a general guide, I like to use fairly high pressure when doing corrective polishing with the M105/D300 concoction but ease up on the last few passes (both speed and pressure) in order to leave a finer finish for the next polishing step. On the other hand, I like to use little to no pressure when working with finishing polishes, like M205 or PO85RD, while starting with high speed and finishing with slower speeds. Again, I could go on forever on exactly how I like to use different combos, so I’ll be doing an article on speed and pressure in the very near future. In the meantime, definitely feel free to email me with any questions. Thanks!
– Hamza, an AIO can definitely clean up clay bar marring, but I would look at stuff like the Sonax NTPC or Optimum Poli Seal before Klasse AIO. From my experience, Klasse AIO doesn’t have as much correcting ability as the others, but it’s a great AIO in terms of cleaning up the paint by chemical action rather than mechanical. In all honesty, I can’t remember ever using Klasse AIO to remove clay bar marring, so it might work just as well as the others, but I doubt it. Also worth mentioning, if the marring is too severe, such as on soft paint or from a very aggressive clay bar, you might need to look at something more aggressive than an AIO to clean it up. Hope that helps!
– I agree David. M105 dusting is one of my least favorite things about detailing. It has to be done many times, but if I can avoid it I’ll bend over backwards to do so!
– SM I haven’t tried either of those polishes yet but have heard good things about the P1 from a few colleagues. Wish I could be of more help.
Ivan, great write up and I also enjoyed all the feedback. I just recently started using the MF disco and D300 and love it! I also got po85rd which is also great. I also despise the dust with 105 and get it with powerlock as well, very annoying! Thanks again! Look forward to reading more!
Scott
Glad you like it Scott. Thanks for reading!
Great write up! I will have to give that 307.5 WGCI combo a try one of these days. As for a AIO product I have had great success with Optimum GPS and a grey or crimson pad. If you need a little more correction, I’ve even used LC white pad and GPS but the grey pad and GPS usually does the job. It removes very light cobweb swirls and brightens up the paint as well as leaving behind some protection for those quick detail jobs when people do not want to spend the money to fully remove swirls, scratches, etc.
Thanks Shawn. I’d highly recommend you give that 105/300 combo a try. I’ll have to pick up that GPS soon to see how it compares the the few AIOs I have.
I knew I forgot to order something in my last order…the sonax !!!! next time!
What’s your thoughts on Klasse AIO and Klasse SHG.
Hi Larry,
I don’t use either of the products regularly anymore, but I do like them both quite a lot. KAIO works great on breaking down some oxidation or cleaning up metals, etc., as well as providing a great base for the sealant. KSG is a great sealant that looks good and provides durability better than most on the market, but the application process is a bit longer than some of today’s sealants.
Hope that helps!
I am using 3M 06064 & 06085 as polish. Yellow wool & black foam pads on a rotary buffer (Milwaukee & Flex). I do not see many on this site that do. Why?
Nick I think the simplest answer is that everyone has their favorites in terms of pad, polish, machine, etc. I would think much of it other than simple preference, so if you’re getting good results with the products and tools you’re using, no reason not to stick with them. You can surely always experiment with some new products and see how you like them.