Reddit reviews Chemical Guys BUF_HEXKITS_8 Hex-Logic Buffing Pad Kit (6.5 Inch) (8 Items)

This would be a nice little set to add to the DA.
http://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Guys-BUF_HEXKITS_8-Hex-Logic-Buffing/dp/B00BTGDRB8/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1395789961&sr=1-1&keywords=6+inch+buffing+pads

As far as the polishers and such, it would depend on how bad the swirls/scratches etc are.

For the Canadian guys, this is a pretty hot deal.
Chemical guys 6.5" pad kit with cleaner for $17.60.

https://www.amazon.ca/Chemical-BUF_HEXKITS_8-Hex-Logic-Buffing-Items/dp/B00BTGDRB8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1502489327&sr=8-1&keywords=CHEMICAL+GUYS+6.5

3.) Is this what you bought? http://amzn.com/B00BTGDRB8 The blue stuff is pad cleaner, basically it's just APC. You use that to clean the pads after use. Do you have any more pads than that? You'll generally want one color (orange) for the compounding step, and a softer pad (white) for the polishing step. Make sure you have multiples so you don't have to wash pads between panels.

6.) I'd be a bit careful here. Collinite will work as a headlight sealant, but it is far from permanent, and once it wears off, you'll have to do it again. Opti-Lens, CQuartz, Gloss Coat, or even spray on clear coat are much more permanent. Again, Collinite will work, it just won't last forever.

7.) Please don't use a magic eraser. You really shouldn't need one. Just use APC, microfibers, and a brush if you need to scrub out some dirt. Magic Eraser is essentially fine sandpaper, so you have to be careful with it. There are some posts on here saying it is safe, and other people have bad results. Just be careful.

8.) This is personal preference. I'd waterless wash once a week or more depending on how dirty the car is. Pick up some Optimum No Rinse or something similar and dilute it to use as a waterless wash product. Then you can do a full 2BM every few weeks, or if the car is exceptionally dirty. You shouldn't need to polish again for a long time. On most cars, I would say you can get away with reapplying Collinite ~3 times a year. Polishing is up to you, but you just don't want to take off too much clear coat. You can always spot polish a panel if you notice some swirling. Also, you don't need to compound and polish every time. Once you do that initial compound, polish should be all the aggressiveness you need unless you don't protect the car.

I have used Griot's Garage products for a long time and had excellent results with their polishes and pads. First, you need to assess your odds of actually removing the marks with polish and pads. Two ways: get it wet and see if they tend to disappear? If so, they will likely come out. Second way is to scratch it with your fingernail. If it catches your nail in the groove, it is likely too deep and may need touch up paint. It's hard to tell from the pic.

GG microfiber pads are excellent at removing heavy marks like this when used with the Fast Correcting Cream (their strongest polish/compound). It can sometimes leave some hazing, which easily comes out with lighter polish. For foam pads, this is a pretty good kit cost wise, the pads get the job done, and it comes with a good pad cleaner.

Hope this helps.

So with this kit I bought, should I start out with the light blue pad and work my way up?

Thanks for your reply. The case I'm looking at is a friend's car which seems to have been keyed, I can feel the scratch with my nail. I imagine this means it has gone beyond the clearcoat. So wet sanding would basically be a quick way to take down the clearcoat as opposed to a slower way using a DA with pads like these? http://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Guys-Hex-Logic-Buffing-Items/dp/B00BTGDRB8/

I have a black car (old E39 BMW) - never tried DA and I've been lurking and reading this sub, trying to learn proper techniques.

I have always been deathly afraid of doing any black with any machine since my first black truck in the '90s, I left swirls galore with just a cleaner wax (by hand) - a buddy of mine had to buff out.

I picked up a cheap DA HF that was on sale. Now I know I should pickup a smaller 5" backing plate and now I need foam pads - or maybe MF pads? I was going to pickup the hex-logic pad kit - or Meg's MF pads (figured MF would be better but looking like they are more abrasive). The wiki only says I need Yellow/orange/white, but I"ve seen other posts with blue and black - and also talking about MF pads. So what do I need or should I go with?

Something like this?

Or can someone point me in the right direction here? Should I just buy the pads individually? I know CG's aren't preferred here...


I plan on doing M205 (maybe M105 - but I want to start with 205 and then I'll go back with 105 if needed. The car was corrected back by the PO more than 3 years ago).

Torq22DDA: Torq22dD

Pads: ChemicalGuys orange then white for finish

Compound: Meguiar's M205

Ceramic Coat: Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light (didn’t use the exo to humid for application)

Sealant: Gtechniq C2 Liquid Crystal v3

Microfiber: Chemical Guys MIC_507_06 Professional Grade Premium Microfiber Towel, Gold (do not skimp out on your MF!)

I went with Torq cause I found a package on Amazon which includes the DA, and 5 Hex Logic Pads for $180, the Lowest Griots Garage DA that i saw was this one, and with a 7 Hex Logic Pad kit for $40 I'll end up with similary priced combos.

But the Griots is superior than te Torq? Or Im getting a good deal on the Torq that justifies it?

I got them in this set and this is the orange pad after one use.

http://imgur.com/RvBNM9U

http://imgur.com/VQ7QeDw

Don't know if the divet in the middle is from too much pressure or poor quality pads. The White pad I used for polishing is fine.