So spring is almost here (although it is 1 degree right now) and I am getting excited to try the PC I got for Christmas. I'm about to order pads and I have two questions for you PC users...

1.) Is there a preference for 4" versus 6.5" pads? I'm thinking the 4" will be easier to fit into tighter spaces.

2.) I'm planning to use an orange DP pad with Klasse AIO and then apply Klasse sealant over it by hand. Is the orange pad agressive enough that it'll leave hazing? I feel I need it to get rid of the swirls, but I'm wondering if I need to finish with a less agressive pad after the orange to remove hazing.

Thanks

 

4" would make it easier to get into the curves and tight spaces, but
i was able to polish and apply wax on my 6" pads without issue.

the very small areas i just did by hand.

 

I am not sure your combination of pads and compounds is appropriate for what you are trying to accomplish. You might want to call DP and see what they recommend.

TJM

 

Personally, I would suggest on your MINI using the white pad using Prima Swirl or Finish, and the Black/Grey Pad for Amigo and or Epic. Heather might suggest something different but I wouldn't start and finish with only the orange pad.

Otherwise get a Meguiar's W8006 pad. Start with the standard 6" pads. There are no areas on the MINI that cannot be reached with the regular 6" pads.

 

Hmmm...it sounds like I may have been given a reason to buy some Prima products. Or at least the black and white pads.

I've heard from OG and Kenchan. Where's Heather for the trifecta? Heather?

 

Here I am! I'll answer your questions separately...

Pad Size

The 4" pads can be helpful in tight spaces and on curvy spots. However, they are not good on the wider and flatter areas. The 4" pads focus the pressure enough that it is very difficult to maintain eveness on the wider/flatter panels. The result is that the paint gets wavy in these areas.

So, consider the 6.5" pads as the standard requirement first. Then consider the 4" pads as accessory pads- should you find the desire to use them for their advantages. MiniMaybee seems to be offline today, but he is a MINI owner who uses a combination of both.

In summary though, the 6.5" pads can do it all. The 4" pads can only do certain areas on your car. Start with the 6.5" pads and wait on the 4" pad to see if you want them in addition.


Product/Pad Combo

First, you state that your goal is to remove swirls. Klasse AIO isn't really the right product for this task. AIO isn't abrasive by itself (although it's fillers will fill some of your swirls temporarily). So, in order to even attempt to remove any swirls, you'd have to pair AIO with an aggressive pad. You have the right idea by suggesting you'd like to pair it with the orange pad. However, it is likely that even the orange pad and the AIO will not be enough to remove your swirls. 99% of the time, you need an abrasive product (as opposed to just an abrasive pad and a non-abrasive product) to remove swirls. This is why OctaneGuy made the product suggestions that he did.

Do you already have Klasse AIO? I'll assume you do and tailor my suggestions around it. It can still be useful, even if it isn't the correct product remove your swirls. If you don't already have the AIO, let me know and I'll recommend a slightly more effective combo for your goal.

Here's what I would suggest:

Prima Swirl & a white pad to remove swirls
Klasse AIO & a second white pad to cleanse and fill any remaining wee swirls or fine scratches
Prima Epic & a black pad

You may find a few spots need the additional aggressiveness of the orange pad and Swirl so it may be a good pad to have on hand. However, it's likely that if you work the paint with the white pad & Swirl for a bit, it will do the job- so, I'd definitely start there. You always want to start with the most likely yet least aggressive approach. Otherwise, you could end up unnecessarily making a bigger mess that you have to then fix. (read: spend more hours!)


I also agree with OctaneGuy in that as a general rule you don't want to finish with an orange pad. There are some very hard paints (typically American paints) with which you can do this but the vast majority of paints out there will find the orange pad too aggressive for your finishing steps. You can sometimes start with an orange pad, but almost never finish with it. You normally need to finish your polishing stage with the white pad. (then the black pad to apply your final wax)



With the list above, you'll undoubtedly end up with an amazing finish! At that point, we do require that you post your results in the form of photos.

I'm excited for you that you're getting close to breaking out your new PC! You are about to wonder how you lived without it. (you think I'm kidding...)

Hope that helps! There's your complete trifecta.

-Heather

 

I bought a 4" pad specifically for the boot on my cabrio. There are areas on the boot, below the plate mount and the horizontal flat of the bumper as well as the curvy valley part on the bonnet that I just could not seem to get at with the 6" pad. I even had OG "show" me how in a different thread, but I just could not get the bigger pad in there to get at the swirls. So I bought the 4" pads (White and Black) and not I can get to those areas without difficulty. I also use them on the A-pillars since they are less prone to slinging product. Also since they are smaller, less pressure is needed and a less aggressive pad can be used. I would use an orange pad with a 6" size, but a white pad with a 4" size.

 

Wow, thanks for the awesome post Heather; very helpful! I am not wedded to using the AIO - in fact it froze this winter (and is very old) so I was thinking of replacing it. Given that, I'd like to hear your overall recommendation.

In a related matter, do the Prima products stain the black trim on our cars? One of the things I like about the Klasse is that it does not stain them trim. That said, I've done enough painting that I have plenty of blue tape around!


Looks like there will be another DP order in the future... And just do you know, that's where my PC is from also

Thanks all for the tips. I can't wait for Spring...

 

There you are, MiniMaybee! I knew you'd come through with your detailed 4" pad story customized to the MINI.

Just want to reemphasize a point too...

Like MiniMaybee pointed out, the 4" pads focus the natural pressure of the PC. So, as a general rule you go down a notch in pad density whenever you use 4" pads. (6.5" orange = 4" white, etc)

-Heather

 

The only change I might suggest if you aren't attached to the AIO is to use Amigo in its place in the suggestion I made earlier. The AIO has stronger paint cleansers, but you don't need them in your situation/goals/process. Amigo will last longer under the Epic and will also add a little bit of finishing to your post-Swirl process with its super-fine abrasives. Pair Amigo with the white pad, just as in the original process I suggested w/ the AIO. You could pair it with a black pad, but you'll get a little more out of it with the white pad in terms of your final finishing step.

Indeed, the beauty of AIO is it's non-staining trait! I am a big fan of AIO for this reason. You should be careful around your trim with the Prima line or tape off if you're not confident in successfully avoiding it. I never tape but I've used the PC for a long time now. For your first time, it's probably not a bad idea to just tape and not worry about it.

Also, you can dress your trim prior to working on your paint. This will help prevent the polishes & waxes from sticking to the trim and they should wipe right off after you're done polishing/waxing. (dress with any trim dressing for this purpose) Worse case: Use Wizards Black Renew to clean off any stains or old residue.

Thanks for the support... Glad to hear you got your Christmas PC from DP!

-Heather

 

Thanks Heather! I had actually never thought of using the trim sauce to prevent wax from adhering to the trim. That's a great idea.

And yes, I'll post pics after the spring detail with your products