about to detail my cosmos M for the first time and was wondering about the correct pad to use with my PC and on what speed.

I've got white, yellow, grey and a wool pad.

My steps will be:

Dawn
Clay
Wash
FI-II MG
(maybe SMR after this if not all swirls are gone)
AOI
Blackfire

Much thanks

It's been covered, but FI-II, yellow pad, speed between 4-6, work the product in 2'x2' area, going --- ||| /// \\\, then repeat as necessary; I'd recommend at least 4 cycles of the above pattern if you're trying to remove swirls and scratches. Depending on the severity, you may need to up the speed and or number of passes to resolve your problems.

AIO, use the white pad if you're using it after FI, otherwise use the yellow to remove oxidation and light scratches. If you're using the polishing pad, then you don't need to work the area as much as above. If you're using BF sealant, then use the grey finishing pad or do it by hand. Here one pass should suffice as you're just applying the product for later buff off.

Buff with a microfiber towel and you should be set.

Right on Hal, thanks for the concise but good info. I think I am finally ready to tackle this beast. I've had my dents removed and chips filled. I will be doing a little more touch up with the aurtosharp pen and then on to the detail. Can't wait to get my car shining again! Thanks :-)

Oh, one more thing, I was gonna use the wool pad with a MF bonnet for the final buff...is this OK?

Originally posted by axel
Oh, one more thing, I was gonna use the wool pad with a MF bonnet for the final buff...is this OK?

You can, but I'd say just wipe it down with a MF towel. The bonnet buff thing isn't really effective unless you're putting your final product (BF in your case) by hand and it's gloopy and needs to be worked in. If you put it on with the black finishing pad on the PC, then you shouldn't need to do a final buff with a mf bonnet.

Do not try to do the wool/MF bonnet combo to try to REMOVE the BF, it's going to gloop up the bonnet too quick and basically just spread the product around instead of removing excess product. Just do a wipe with MF then buff with the MF bonnet if necessary.

>>It's been covered, but FI-II, yellow pad, speed between 4-6, work the product in 2'x2' area, going --- ||| /// \\\,<<

Question. Do you like to work the polish by doing slow steady overlapping strokes in each of the directions you mention, or by stroking over an area quickly and covering the area more frequently but at a faster rate in a bunch of directions?

I used to drag the pc slowly up one 'lane', and then slowly down the next, with some overlap. Id do this first vertically, and then horizontally.

But I cant decide if this is better, or if moving the pc around quicker in shorter more random motions instead is better.

I work the area fairly quickly, probally 1 ft / sec (pretty normal sweeping motion) with a slight overlap on the pad (maybe 1"-2" overlap) on speed setting 6. The slower the motion, the slower I work an area at #3, I'm probally doing 1 ft every 3 secs.

I don't advocate random motions, but rather an ordered pattern, the random is built into the machine already. An ordered pattern gives you better coverage and you need to work an area in at least 2 directions (glazes and waxes, I do perpendicular to each other), for SMR's and other cleaning/abrasive polishes, I do the 45 degree thing. You generally want to work a small enough area where you can completely work the product in the manner it needs to be worked - for waxes, I work about 1/3 of the hood, for polishes about a 2x2 or 3x3 area.

I use Meguiars foam pads, which have a different coloring scheme than the ones most of you use. On mine, burgundy is the color of the cutting pad, yellow is the polishing pad, and the waxing pad is kind of a pink-orange.

Anyway the last few times Ive waxed, Ive noticed that the wax pad seems to behave very strangely. It soaks up the wax so that you can hardly feel it on the surface. And if you add more, it starts to develop these strange indentations. If you push hard on the pad surface, the wax its absorbed will ooze out, yet if yo8u dont, it feels dry, but the surface is all mottled.

I dont know..its very strange. Have any of you experienced anything like this with the wax pads?

Originally posted by paul e
I use Meguiars foam pads, which have a different coloring scheme than the ones most of you use. On mine, burgundy is the color of the cutting pad, yellow is the polishing pad, and the waxing pad is kind of a pink-orange.

Anyway the last few times Ive waxed, Ive noticed that the wax pad seems to behave very strangely. It soaks up the wax so that you can hardly feel it on the surface. And if you add more, it starts to develop these strange indentations. If you push hard on the pad surface, the wax its absorbed will ooze out, yet if yo8u dont, it feels dry, but the surface is all mottled.

I dont know..its very strange. Have any of you experienced anything like this with the wax pads?

Yep, that's why I normally include the function of the pad as well as coloring.

As for the wax, that doesn't sound right. What kind of wax are you using? It may be time for a new pad - it sounds like it's too porous to hold the wax/glazes you're uring. The finishing pad should be fairly smooth, a very tight weave, and generally a little harder than the polish and cutting pads. It may be time for a new pad.

>>As for the wax, that doesn't sound right. What kind of wax are you using? It may be time for a new pad - it sounds like it's too porous to hold the wax/glazes you're uring. The finishing pad should be fairly smooth, a very tight weave, and generally a little harder than the polish and cutting pads<<

Hal, thats completely opposite of how the Meguiars pads run. Their wax/finishing pad is by far the softest of the three. Its so soft you can tell that theres going to be no cleaning effect from its use. It seems to be absorbing the liquid wax ( I was using gold class the last time) so deeply into the pad's center that the surface remains dry. Then the surface starts developing a blotchy, mottled appearance, with clear indentions in a blotchy pattern. Yet the surface still feels dry. Yet if you squeeze, it stored up wax just oozes out from it. ITs almost unusable. I just ordered a black finishing pad from Lake Country, which is the other kind people are using. Meguiars is also sending me a replacement. Between the two, Im sure Ill get something to work. Ive never seen a meguiars pad do this, though. After use, I always clean it by running it under the tap, then squeezing dish detergent over the surface, and working it throughout. Then I make sure to squeeze all the detergent out, and ring it dry, and then let it air dry before putting it away. Go Figure!

Sounds like the pad. Stop using Gold Class. It's crap on longevity. If you're doing a show where you need the shine it's one thing (stuff only lasts about 2 weeks), but for normal use, use something better. Try S100 or if you want to stay with a liquid wax, try Meg's #26.

Paul E,

Just a thought. Have you tried using paste wax like S100/P21s or One Grand Blitz wax? I personally use these wax and they are great. I must add that these are very fast and easy to apply (small yellow foam applicators) and buff off (as long as you do not put too much wax) with MF towels. Saves you some money and time cleaning/washing foam pads as well.