what kinds and how many pads do you use on a single car?

Do you guys use 4", 5", etc? and how many of each do you use on a typical detail if the car is not in extremely bad shape?
Im asking because right now I only have 3 orange light cutting (2 uber 1 LC), 1 white, 2 red, and 1 blue all in the 6" range...do I need more? different types? smaller pads?

 

I think it'll help to know what type of polisher you have. People generally don't recommend 6" pads for a PC7424XP because it's a little underpowered for that size of a pad. I have a GG's DA polisher and use both 4" and 5" pads. Each stage I use roughly 4 pads.

 

lol well that sucks for me. I have the PC

 

What that means is that you'll have to work a little longer on areas. You'll be fine.

 

ah ok. im going to pick up some smaller ones anyways for the small areas
thanks man

 

mdt1308 --

Its not that bad - lots of Detailers are using the PC's - Portercable, Meguiars, Griot, Shurhold, and Flex and having great success. There are even new microfiber pads and compounds developed by Meguiars for their PC and from what I read, this system works really good too.

In order to better help you, it would be good to know the year, make, model, color, and paint condition of your project. Some paints are hard as nails, some very soft and easily marred.

It's also hard to be exact on how many pads you will need to complete a project; are you going to correct, with what compound, how many passes, are you planning on refining the finish with a finishing compound, how many passes, are you going to further refine the finish, etc..

If the finish has a lot of embedded dirt, wax, etc., in it, even after a good claybar job, there could still be gunk in there that will come out on the pads, and require more cleaning, or replacing with another one, so you can keep on working.

Some vehicles I've Detailed, I needed 3-4, some really gunk embedded paintwork, required 5 pads, to get all around it to the 90%+ correction rate.

I only use my PC machine for correcting the smaller areas like the front and back bumpers, the plastic light lenses, all the little area places that a 4" pad can do easier than a larger pad. For all the rest of the work Im a Rotary Power guy.. But I still use a PC for applying finishing material to paint glazes, sealants, etc., and it works great.

I also agree that smaller diameter pads, specifically the 5" and smaller will allow your PC to work faster and easier, but don't fret, lots of guys will tell you that they have no issues using the 6" pads too. Its all in knowing how to use it, the products for that specific paint, what your goals are, and how much time you have allotted for the project.

If you give us more detail regarding your project, perhaps we can offer more specific info to help !

Good luck with this !
Dan F

 

It all depends like everyone said ... I tend to use at least 6-7 pads per vehicle per stage. I could use less pads, but I like changing them often to avoid any issues.

 

I use about 10 pads depending on how big the car is (BMW z4 vs Cadillac Escalade ext) and the severeity of the paint.

I also tend to use more when using Megs..maybe im still getting used to the learning curve after using Menzerna for the past 5 years.

This is not including 4" pads for rocker panels, pilars and CURVY parts of cars.