When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Thanks for the response. One more question, which compound do you prefer??
It really depends on the paint. My bike is vivid black, softest paint I have ever worked on. Polish is all I need for that.
My preference for compounds are Menzerna FG400 and Shine Supply Compound.
Menzerna FG400 finishes down so good you only need polish for black paint after the compound. Cuts great and like I said finishes down almost perfect. I do a lot of black BMW, Corvettes and Benz. Menzerna is what works best for me. Benz also uses it on their assembly line. Its not cheap but it works incredible. No fillers either, unlike 3M.
If you are looking for compound and polish combo is hard to beat Menzerna. However HD Cut and HD Polish works really well also.
.I have been using 3D polish for over a year and I really like it.
Matching pad, product, and technique is key. You can have the best stuff with bad technique, and results will not be as good as could be
It really depends on the paint. My bike is vivid black, softest paint I have ever worked on. Polish is all I need for that.
My preference for compounds are Menzerna FG400 and Shine Supply Compound.
Menzerna FG400 finishes down so good you only need polish for black paint after the compound. Cuts great and like I said finishes down almost perfect. I do a lot of black BMW, Corvettes and Benz. Menzerna is what works best for me. Benz also uses it on their assembly line. Its not cheap but it works incredible. No fillers either, unlike 3M.
If you are looking for compound and polish combo is hard to beat Menzerna. However HD Cut and HD Polish works really well also.
.I have been using 3D polish for over a year and I really like it.
Matching pad, product, and technique is key. You can have the best stuff with bad technique, and results will not be as good as could be
Great thanks for the quick response. That does bring me to my next and hopefully last question. What do you prefer for an applicator and for the "buff"?
Are those foam round pads that come with wax worth a damn, what do you use?
Are you doing this with a machine?
The foam applicators that come with wax are fine for applying wax.
If your not using a machine, I would use 4in pads made for a DA. All different levels of cut for the 4in pads.
If you have spare $$ buy a DA. The results will be much better, can use it on your other vehicles. Be careful, it gets addictive when you start getting bit by the detailing bug
Are you doing this with a machine?
The foam applicators that come with wax are fine for applying wax.
If your not using a machine, I would use 4in pads made for a DA. All different levels of cut for the 4in pads.
If you have spare $$ buy a DA. The results will be much better, can use it on your other vehicles. Be careful, it gets addictive when you start getting bit by the detailing bug
I'm a novice in the detailing world so you have to be patient. What is a DA? If it will help, I will find the money to get one.
As I stated earlier I have both of these, are they considered DAs?
Are the 4 inch pads made of foam you speak of like on the pneumatic one below?
I guess I'll let you know where I am. I bought both of the ones above but I haven't used them very much. I bought the smaller size because I thought they would be better for use on the small areas of a motorcycle.
These are the pads I have for them.
I have the ones with the divots in them like this.
I also have the ones without the divots like this.
To "buff" it out or whatever I have these two:
Heavy Wool
And something a little softer like this
I ordered the Iron X, one of the compounds you suggested and one of the sealants you suggested as well.
That is what I have right now, any help would be GREATLY appreciated.
DA has dual action. it goes in a big circle and then sort of a small one inside the big one. Hard to put it in word. The drill would NOT be a DA. They do make air powered DAs for body work. Don't know if that is one of them. They do not spin fast enough or have enough power on certain angles though
The wool pads are for extreme cutting. Hopefully your bike would not need those pads.
Stick with the non-waffle type pad, use the flat pad.
With all of that said, different companies use different colors of foam to designate the cut of the pad. Finish, mild polish, polish, light cut, med cut, heavy cut. Without knowing who makes the pad in the picture, I can't tell you the cut of the pad.
This is a suggestion only: Call auto geek or detailed image up. Purchase a Griots Garage 6in polisher. Tell them you want to use 4in pads on it and they will set you up with the correct backing plate for the 4in pads.
Order 2X Lake country orange pads, 4in
2X Lake country white pads, 4in
QUALITY microfiber towels are a must, you can order them from where you get the rest of the stuff from, or there are other places.Do not use the ones from Sams or the other junk ones out there.
***Dont forget to clay the bike after the Iron X, clay can be bought at any parts store. This is very important. The pads will pick up anything stuck to the paint and then you will have a huge mess.
Auto geek has many videos on there site to help people. Great people. Take your time and have fun.
Anything else I can help you with let me know!
Mach: I got OUTSTANDING results following eaglefan's steps just using Meguires and good micros fiber towels. Lot's of 'em. I can't imagine how much nicer my Vivid Black would look with high dollar stuff, and a good DA with all the specific pads to go with the product being applied.
Let us know how it turns out for you. Looking forward to the read.
The wool pads are for extreme cutting. Hopefully your bike would not need those pads.
Stick with the non-waffle type pad, use the flat pad.
With all of that said, different companies use different colors of foam to designate the cut of the pad. Finish, mild polish, polish, light cut, med cut, heavy cut. Without knowing who makes the pad in the picture, I can't tell you the cut of the pad.
This is a suggestion only: Call auto geek or detailed image up. Purchase a Griots Garage 6in polisher. Tell them you want to use 4in pads on it and they will set you up with the correct backing plate for the 4in pads.
Order 2X Lake country orange pads, 4in
2X Lake country white pads, 4in
QUALITY microfiber towels are a must, you can order them from where you get the rest of the stuff from, or there are other places.Do not use the ones from Sams or the other junk ones out there.
***Dont forget to clay the bike after the Iron X, clay can be bought at any parts store. This is very important. The pads will pick up anything stuck to the paint and then you will have a huge mess.
Auto geek has many videos on there site to help people. Great people. Take your time and have fun.
Anything else I can help you with let me know!
I chatted with Auto Geek and this is what they suggested:
They stated my 3 inch polisher would work just fine. They did state to use 4 inch pads on the 3 inch backing plate though. They said it would help minimize the chance of the plate making contact with the painted surface. They also stated to use the flat pads without the divots
He stated to use orange pads for compound
White for finishing
And Red for wax/sealant
He stated to remove the excess wax and sealant to use Cobra microfiber towels.
Last he suggested using Wolfgang for compound, finishing, and sealant.
He said in between doing that to use Pinnacle Crystal Mist Detailing Spray.
I chatted with Auto Geek and this is what they suggested:
They stated my 3 inch polisher would work just fine. They did state to use 4 inch pads on the 3 inch backing plate though. They said it would help minimize the chance of the plate making contact with the painted surface. They also stated to use the flat pads without the divots
He stated to use orange pads for compound
White for finishing
And Red for wax/sealant
He stated to remove the excess wax and sealant to use Cobra microfiber towels.
Last he suggested using Wolfgang for compound, finishing, and sealant.
He said in between doing that to use Pinnacle Crystal Mist Detailing Spray.
Your comments?
Exactly. Wolfgang is top shelf, actually made by Menzerna, its one of their in house lines.
Cobra gold plush are excellent towels. Get at least 6. Wash them properly by themselves. On a bagger I will use 10-12, but I'm **** about it.
Before you order the pads, they make a low profile 4in pad, that is what you want. It takes less power to turn the thinner pad.
Anything else I can help you with Id be glad to.If your near pensacola bring it over and we can make a gloss monster out of it
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
