Are the curved or flat pads best for polishing the MINI? What is the best set up for us? My paint is in decent condition and was thinking I could get by with the orange, black and white pad offered by dealers paridise.

 

I would call the vendor whose products you are going to use. Often times it appears products are formulated around pads and pads choosen because of product. If you are going to use DP's stuff, I would use there pads, at least thats what I plan on doing. I use Griots stuff and keep the pads seperate, no need for cross contamination.

 

i always wondered how and when to use those angled pads.

heather, octaneguy, BradB- any suggestions? how do you benefit
from those angled pads vs flat (?) regular round pads? i would like to know!

 

* crickets *


hummm.... where do i insert my coins to start?

 

I bought orange, white & gray pads from DP. I really like the orange pad for the polish - either Finish or Amigo - because it really increased the swirl removing speed. I had started out using the white pad, but I think it was just too soft for swirl removal with their polishes. For Epic I used the gray (or is it black?) pad. It is soft and it spreads the wax very evenly and thin. I think I will be just using the orange and gray/black pads here on out.

Chuck

Edit: BTW, I also bought the DP 4" mount and gray pad for use with the MINI. I thought it would help get into the valley on each side of the bonnet a bit better. Also the top of the back bumper is always a problem spot for swirls on my MINI so the smaller pad I think will be more effective there.

 

Excellent question! There are many sizes and shapes and it's hard to figure out what you may need...

For an easy to read summary of pad shape differences, click on this link (article title) to access our article called, "Selecting Your Pad and Polish."

I would start with that article then read on... (btw, the article also helps you match up some common products, including Prima, with each pad)

We have assembled our standard Pad Bundle (as well as the PC & Pad Bundle) to contain both flat and variable contact (aka VC or concave) pads, depending on the density (as indicated by its color) of the pad and its likely use. Our pad manufacturer, Lake Country Manufacturing, makes all the variations in pad density, shape, style and size. Although we offer several of these variations ala carte, our standard pad bundle is well matched for most situations, and certainly for a MINI.

As MiniMaybee mentioned, the 4" pads (along the the 3" backing plate with which to "velcro" them onto the polisher) can also be very useful on a MINI due to the many rounded and curvy areas.

Still, the standard pad bundle is necessary for all the open areas. The 4" pads are not good for open flat areas, even if they are not that wide.

I would recommend the standard pad bundle first and then see if you'd like the 4" pads... you can tell if you'd like them once you start polishing your MINI but they aren't mission critical by any means.

Regarding your color (aka density) question...

Here are the colors and their typical use, in order of most dense pad to least dense pad:
Yellow Cutting/Heavy Scratch & Swirl Removal Pad (note that anytime you use this pad, you will undoubtedly need to do a followup step to smooth out your cutting)
Orange Light Cutting/Swirl Removal Pad
White Polishing/Paint Cleansing Pad
Black Finishing/Wax Application Pad

So, I agree with your assessment of what you should need. You are very unlikely to need the Yellow cutting pad (the densest of all the pads, and thus most aggresive) with a MINI in good condition. I think the Black, White, and Orange would be ideal and cover al your bases.

If you want to buy the Pad Bundle or PC & Pad Bundle but would like to make a substitution, just note it in the Order Notes during checkout. There is no charge for a substitution in a pad bundle. For example: You order the standard pad bundle, which consists of a 5" backing plate and 1 of each of the 4 colors of pads. You know you won't need the yellow cutting pad. Simply state in the Order Notes during checkout, "Substitute yellow cutting pad with an extra black finishing/waxing pad." It's as easy as that!

That way, you can still take advantage of the price break in the pad bundle and not have to get the yellow pad. Anyone is free to do this.

Typically, the average MINI owner could use an extra white or black pad and would not need a yellow pad. Black is probably the most common substitution for yellow by MINI owners.

I hope that helps! I know it's alot in one post! Please fire back with more questions if I've created any confusion.

-Heather

 

Wow... that's an answer and a half!

Thanks!

Once you have your pads, be sure to clean them fairly quickly (30 min - 1 hour) after use... plenty of hot water and Dawn for mine... lots of rinsing afterwards.

 

Hey Heather, can you please post your cell phone number for us ?

You never know when a MINI owner might have an emergency detailing question and you are The Detailing Wizard.

 

Good tip! You especially want to wash them immediately (as described by agranger) after using a synthetic wax (especially Epic). Otherwise the wax will cure in your pad! You don't want that.

Here's a little bonus tidbit about the Prima polishes (specifically, Finish, Swirl and Cut)... they are very unusual in that they are water-based polishes (as opposed to oil-based, which is the type almost all other polishes are). What makes this a nice bonus is that you don't need to wash them right away if it isn't convenient.

We've left our pads with any of the Prima polishes in them them for several days... they wash right out with just a wee bit o' Dawn and some warm water. Of course it's nice to wash the pads right away anyway, but sometimes we're just too swamped to do it right then. It's nice to know it's not at all urgent.

Note again though that I'm talking about the polishes and not Epic! Epic can be a pain to wash out, if not impossible, if you let it sit overnight or something.

Oh, and Amigo washes out quite easily after several days too. Not as easily as the regular polishes, but with a little Dawn and a "pad massage" it's no problem.

With most other polishes, you want to wash them right after you use them for sure!

-Heather

 

thanks, heather! i'll check out that link.

 

Heather - Is there anything better to use than Dawn? I Dawn'd my Epic pad until dawn and was still able to squish out glucky white goo. Now that the black pad is dry there seems to be no ill-effects on the surface, but I know it is still in there festering (and no, I did use too much Epic).
Is there something like an anti-matter Epic that will totally disintegrate Epic? A small blue flash of light and a slight puff of smoke would be cool when the two products came in contact.

 

Ha! Ha! Ha! What, you don't want me to have a life outside of DP and car care?? Wait, that's already the case!

How about this... anyone who is planning on a weekend full of detailing and thinks they may need help (new to detailing, new to certain products, new to the PCDA, new to abrasives, trying something different or on a different car, etc) can call, PM, or email me ahead of time and I'll give them my cell phone number.

I certainly don't mind giving it out NAMers at all and have done so in the past... I just don't want to post that number anywhere on the internet! You never know who might end up with it!

You were probably kidding about my cell phone number, but I'm serious about my offer to give it out individually! I'm glad I can help out.

-Heather

 

Yes, Heather, I was kidding about the cell phone number. But your offer is very considerate, to say the least.

 

Between me and the "Wizard" here, I wish I had something that would give off a flash of light and smoke! That would be cool!

In the meantime, Dawn is the best cleaner for Epic. You often have to really wash and wash then rinse and rinse (and over and over again).

However, if it seems extra stubborn, try spritzing some rubbing alcohol (full strength) all over the pad. Work the alcohol in a bit, wait 2-3 minutes and then wash again with Dawn/warm water. You can use this trick with any stubborn synthetic or polymer-based product and any kind of pad (polisher pad or hand pad). (note that you don't want to leave alcohol on the pad for much longer than that... leave it on overnight and you'll have much less pad remaining. It isn't pretty!)

With Epic, you really want to remove the pad and wash it immediately after you're done waxing. That great durability we see on paint is the same reason it will be "durable" in the pad too! Since there's the 35-45 minute wait time before removing Epic, it's usually pretty convenient to wash the pad asap. (not that you didn't do this, MiniMaybee... just a reminder to all)

-Heather

 

heather, i opened the pdf file and within the first 2 seconds i noticed
that i used the wrong pad for Epic!

is your orange pad the same desity as the Griot's orange pad?
(I used Griot's orange pad as it was easier for me to use for
Epic).

Is your black pad similar density to Griot's red pad?

If i was to use the black pad, do you think i can apply even at
lower temps than 55-60F?

 

i guess my other question is, are your 6" pads the same size as
the Griots 6" pads? ie: can i use the DP pads on my Griots orbital?

 

Heather,
Thanks for the info. I guess my only concern was with using the flat pad on the hood with all the shapes it has.

Is Epic similar to Klauss? I've been using that but I'm not to impressed with it. It didn't seem to keep fallout or bird poo from sticking to paint. I always try and get it of right away but have been unlucky a couple times. I've been thinking of chopping the tree down at work.

I was almost thinking of going back to regular wax. My first Mini is Pepper White my latest is Royal Grey and it is a much bigger challenge to keep looking good.

 

hummm... when i say silly things i get a quick response..when i ask a
real question, i get no response. oh well.

NEXT!

 

You are right about the synthetics being a PITA to get out of pads. Zaino just seems to clot together in my foam applicator. It takes a lot of Dawn and hot water to get that sucker clean, I do it right after finishing the application.

 

anyone have the black pad DP sells? Anyone know if that's about the
same density (firmness) as Griot's red pad?

The Griot's red pad is the softest they have for applying wax.

i have a feeling (and i thought this before too) that Epic might spread
better using a softer pad than the polishing pad (orange) that i used (?).

can anyone confirm this? The issue is, i need a wax that can be applied
in sub 50F temps. Griots BoS and MegNXT is no issue. tried it already
with success. Epic on the otherhand, i am not sure but i dont have any
left over pads to try at the moment...

 

I was wondering the same thing. I am interested in trying Epic in the spring as well as some amigo.

 

Yep, and if Epic is hard to apply in the colder temps can there be a
more fluid version made available for colder climates?

im asking serious questions now and no one replies. i post something
dumb and they all reply. wtf man! jk jk

 

Ken - I put on the Epic using a black DP pad. It is very soft and it spread the wax out very, very thin. It was about 45 deg when I did this. The last time I did this at 45 deg the Epic was a bit hard to remove, however I was using a firmer white pad and I don't think it spread it as thin.

So how's that for being serious?

 

very nice! thanks for the response!!!

 

Sorry kenchan! I'm covering both Nick's and my jobs this week and I'm going bonkers trying to keep up. :impatient I've also been (in between gads of fires to put out) researching an answer to your questions.

Sorry again!! I'm off to answer your questions now...

-Heather