Is it a waste of time to use the white pad for the PC with Meguiars #9, should I go with the yellow pad? I'm going to be using the #9 after I go over the car with 3M FI-II.

In general, white pads are soft and meant for polishing. They will not be effective with any sort of SMR.

Use the yellow pads.

Originally posted by Estoril ART
Is it a waste of time to use the white pad for the PC with Meguiars #9, should I go with the yellow pad? I'm going to be using the #9 after I go over the car with 3M FI-II.

I'm assuming #9 is Meguiars version of SMR. I still don't have all of thier numbering down!! Anyway, I usually use FI2 with my cutting pad (yellow for you), and then to remove the hazing I use a milder polish (for me AIO, for you #9) with my polishing pad (white for you). The rule is to use the finest possible polish and pad combo prior to waxing/sealing. This will help to bring out a high gloss in your paint.

If you find that the 9/white pad are not removing the haze, then use 9 with your cutting pad, then go back over the car again with 9 and the white pad to finish things off. The white pads are quite good. It's the finishing pads (gray coloured for lake country pads) that are a complete waste of time IMHO.

Hope this helped.

David.

Originally posted by Drjones
In general, white pads are soft and meant for polishing. They will not be effective with any sort of SMR.

Use the yellow pads.

Drjones,

You are correct, white pads are meant for polishing. #9 is a very mild SMR that can be used with a white pad for finishing the job (prior to waxing), or with a yellow pad to help remove bigger swirls. I personally think #9 and 3M SMR are junk at removing bigger swirls, but to each their own.

David. :)

Originally posted by David
I personally think #9 and 3M SMR are junk at removing bigger swirls, but to each their own.

David. :)

That's why I'll be using FI-II first. I'm looking to get rid of the major swirls with the 3M stuff, then any minor swirls left should be taken care of when I go over the car with the Meguiars #9 SMR.

Thanks for the advice, i'll try out the white, and if it isn't cutting it, i'll step up to the yellow pad.

FWIW, the 3M SMR did a fantastic job of removing the light swirls I had. :)