what pads for porter cable and zaino?

[liam012]

Just ordered a porter cable but i am unsure which pads to use -
i will be using zaino "z-AIO" and z5.
someone has suggested applying with the blue sfx pads at low speeds only.
is this correct?

[m3ben05]

Im looking at the sonus pads, they do a whole kit for $60 in the states. Iv PM'd C76JON about it, once i get a reply il let you know his recomendations

[pete323]

Go for the LCC Pads from polished bliss

The Sonus pads are rubbish

[c76jon]

pm replied to

unfair to say the sonus pads are rubbish

lake country are imho the best...........they are what i have found to work best for me

but sonus are far from rubbish .what products are you using /did use with the sonus??

jon

[liam012]

Jon
I'd really appreciate your advice as this will be my first detail with a pc and with zaino.

the products i am getting are:
z7
Z-aio
z5pro+Zfx
Z8
Zcs

But i have a few questions!!

1) Will i need Z6 as a qd spray between z-aio and z5 and each subsequent coat of z5? or maybe the z8 will do?
2) Only Z5 and i presume Z-aio will be applied with the pc - but with which lake country pad? the finishing pad?
3) will i notice a difference between one coat and 3 coats of z5???
4) what is the best type of cloth/towel to remove products after each application?
5) will i survive with a 6" pc applicators only for a while? (the zaino is cleaning me out!!)
6)maybe there is no need for the z8 as i am getting the zcs perhaps i would be better off getting the z6 for in between coats.?

i think thats it! cheers!!

[c76jon]

Jon
I'd really appreciate your advice as this will be my first detail with a pc and with zaino.

the products i am getting are:
z7
Z-aio
z5pro+Zfx
Z8
Zcs

But i have a few questions!!

1) Will i need Z6 as a qd spray between z-aio and z5 and each subsequent coat of z5? or maybe the z8 will do?

use the z8 .thats what ido
2) Only Z5 and i presume Z-aio will be applied with the pc - but with which lake country pad? the finishing pad?

porter is used to prep paint remove defects etc and application of z aio and z5
3) will i notice a difference between one coat and 3 coats of z5???

yes yes yes
4) what is the best type of cloth/towel to remove products after each application?

topquality m/f towels
5) will i survive with a 6" pc applicators only for a while? (the zaino is cleaning me out!!)

clarify dont fully understand question
6)maybe there is no need for the z8 as i am getting the zcs perhaps i would be better off getting the z6 for in between coats.?

z8 is amazing zcs first then z8 after and use after subsequent washing

i think thats it! cheers!!

[boxclever1753]

got to say that lake country pads have been the best for me too... and they are colour coded so you know which one to use for which step..

[boxclever1753]

i'm beginning to think that liam and jon work for zaino or for one of those advertainment channels....

[liam012]

sorry i meant 6" pads for the porter cable - i dont think i can stretch to a set of 4" as wel.

there are different lake county pads for different abbraisaveness's (sp!) as the zaino is not abbraisive at all will it all be applied by the same grade pad or should i get different grade pads for the z-aio and the z5??

after my rambling below i have just realised that the car has not yet been properly polished since the bare metal respray. i guess thats the cause of the slightly unshinny lack lustre appearance - dont get me wron it is clean and the paint is 'good' no scratches or swirls really but its just a bit dull - does that make any sense?? would you reccomend something prior to the z-aio and after the z7 and clay thats a bit more abbraisave??


@boxclever1753 no mate! no advertising - i have however purchased an absolutely mint resprayed shell. it is like new and i want to keep it as well protected as possible as i know i will never have a shell in this condition again. also its lachs silver and the first time i meguiars it by hand i had trouble getting a "bling" finish of it as i dont know is it just me or is lachs silver quite a dull colour (as opposed to how black cars come out when they are detailed). maybe as it was only sprayed a few months ago it was never "properly polished" i am thinking aloud now, mmm brings me on to question 3....

[325iSportMark]

Sorry if this is slightly but I've noticed a lot of people talking on here about porter cables, are they a special kind of buffer? If so what is different about them?

I've been using a buffer for years, and always swear by them to get ultimate results so long as you know what you are doing. My current one is a Felisatti a variable speed, using 3M pads, which I find works really well, if a little heavy.

So back to the question, are they special, or is it just that they are a particularly popular/cheap/easy to use buffer. Don't think for a second that I am doubting them in a "mine's better than yours" kind of way, I've never seen one so I am just trying to find out what the fuss is all about.

[Frenchy]

Mark,
A lot of serious car detailers use them as the only way you will damage your paint with one is by dropping it on your car.
Unlike say a 9" grinder with a buffing pad as used by many bodyshops if not careful they will burn the paint off and can cause a lot of damage they were specifically designed for polishing without damage the weight of the machine does most of the work.
Made in USA nd 110v operation at present so you need a step down transformer they are a Random Orbital polisher ie;do not spin concentrcily and as such move around on their axis and as such can do many times the work elbow grease can do in a few minutes.
Check out Cargeeks.co.uk

[325iSportMark]

Mark,
A lot of serious car detailers use them as the only way you will damage your paint with one is by dropping it on your car.
Unlike say a 9" grinder with a buffing pad as used by many bodyshops if not careful they will burn the paint off and can cause a lot of damage they were specifically designed for polishing without damage the weight of the machine does most of the work.
Made in USA nd 110v operation at present so you need a step down transformer they are a Random Orbital polisher ie;do not spin concentrcily and as such move around on their axis and as such can do many times the work elbow grease can do in a few minutes.
Check out Cargeeks.co.uk

Ah ha, now I understand, thanks for explaining it

You're absolutely right about the big orbital buffers like mine, if you're not careful you can really wreck your paint. I suppose I'm just lucky that when I was learning how to use them it was on other peoples cars when I used to work as a valeter so now i feel completely confident to use it on my own car. The key is to make sure you spray plenty ofwater if you're using a strongish compound like Farecla G4, keep a close watch on the temperature of the panel and always keep the mop moving

[Frenchy]

The porter will not shift as many deep marks as an orbital buffer that you are used to,a big buffer (fnar fnar) and G4 Compound can cause a lot of damage in the wrong hands,whereas the porter is quite harmless.