Where to begin with polishes?

Sometime in the near future I'm going to buy either a 6" Griot's or a PC 7424XP. I want to start to learn paint correction. My plan is to start with a single product, probably PO203 or maybe PO106FA, and slowly expand once I feel like I'm starting to understand that product.
Does this make sense?
Is PF a good place to start or should I opt for the more forgiving (?) PO106FA or something else?
Will PF with black pad finish down fine enough to go straight to a sealant after cleaning (other than black paint)?

I probably will primarily be working with Japanese cars <10 years old and maybe a few 1/2 or 3/4 ton Chevrolet or Ford pickups.

Feel free to offer additional advice about RO polishers and pads if you are willing. Thanks. Any informed advice would be much appreciated.

 

You will not be getting much correction from PO106FA if you are looking for one step product. You should have at least 2 polishes: medium and finishing polish such as SIP /106FA.although it will take more passes for paints swirled up.

I would suggest Meg's M105 (get the Ultimate Compound OTC), SIP, and 106FA which gives you a range to handle many tasks.

 

Polishing ‘Kit’

With these polish / pad combinations you should be able to tackle most paint correction problems. When performing this type of polishing, you're typically trying to accomplish as much correction as you can while at the same time finishing down to a level suitable to apply a (LSP) paint protection product

• Menzerna Super Intensive Polish PO91E with a (LC) Orange pad
• Menzerna Power Finish PO203S with a Lake County (LC) Orange or a Green pad
• Menzerna Final Polish PO85RD with a (LC) White pad or use a (LC) Black or Gold pad for finessing
• Lake County (LC) foam pads- 2 each - Purple Foamed Wool (PFW), Orange, Green, White and Black foam pads
Use with a moulded urethane backing plate for excellent flexibility and balance by Lake Country (LC) manufacturing

 

I say Megs 105 or D300, 203s, and 106fa or 85rd.

 

Just out of curiosity, why do so many people prefer Power finish over SIP? I have both and tend to gravitate towards SIP when im doing any sort of polishing...... SIP followed with Super finish. Is there a benefit over those two products?

just curious, I dont want to be missing out on something that could make my life easier..........

 

i believe all menzerna products can be used as a one step, prob the reason why people go PF for more cut and one step it.

 

Power Finish is pretty much the only polish I use. Gives great results. I use it as a one step on my black M3. And only go for the Uber pads or Buff & Shine.
I would recommend the Griot's RO.

 

PowerFinish & 85rd

Uber Pads:yellow,green,blue,black.

I only maintain personal vehicles and family's cars,so i try to keep it simple for myself =)

 

That is what I was thinking.....

 

sorry was trying to ADD this to my reply.
Polishing ‘Kit’

With these polish / pad combinations you should be able to tackle most paint correction problems. When performing this type of polishing, you're typically trying to accomplish as much correction as you can while at the same time finishing down to a level suitable to apply a (LSP) paint protection product

• Menzerna Super Intensive Polish PO91E with a (LC) Orange pad
• Menzerna Power Finish PO203S with a Lake County (LC) Orange or a Green pad
• Menzerna Final Polish PO85RD with a (LC) White pad or use a (LC) Black or Gold pad for finessing
• Lake County (LC) foam pads- 2 each - Purple Foamed Wool (PFW), Orange, Green, White and Black foam pads
Use with a moulded urethane backing plate for excellent flexibility and balance by Lake Country (LC) manufacturing

 

My advice is to get Menz Power Finish and the B&S Yellow and B&S Green pads. The combination of Power Finish and either one of these pads will allow you to correct nearly any paint to over 85% correct and not have to follow up with a finishing polish before going to your LSP, even if you use the Yellow pad. Power Finish with the Yellow Pad will remove an amazing amount of defects while the PF with the green pad will remove lighter defects typically associated with routine carwashing. Would using a finishing polish such as 106 or 85rd add some gloss? Yes, but the gains over Power Finish are marginal and the average consumer would never see it. I would have 3-4 of the yellow pads on hand per job as they do tend to absorb some product. For the green you'll be fine with two or three. Its important to keep it simple in the beginning. You could add Megs 105/Menz Power Gloss for heavier cutting and Menz 106/85rd ( with Black B&S ) for finishing in the future if need be. Realistically, you only need the yellow, green and black pads. The difference between the pads is 20ppi. The pads that fall between these only have a jump up or down of 10ppi with is irrelevant. KEEP IT SIMPLE.

 

^ I agree, someone told me too follow up SIP with Super finish......... marginal if any differences, I stopped using it after doing my hood. I agree, Keep it simple. Even using powergloss with a green pad very little difference with a second step, I usually do it, but its just more time it seems. PG with a orange pad is a different story. I stopped using 105, I don't like it to me its a mess, and not as clean working as PG, and I think the cut is about the same (i know i'm probably one of the only people here who will say it)

 

I spent way too much money wasting on polishes... A lot are very similar, or not even necessary. I have 32oz of SIP, 85RD, M105 and M205, HD Uno v1, HD Uno v2. All work very well, but if I were to do it again, its M105 and probably Power Finish. Pads are the way to go! Yet, I dont spend a lot of my time polishing anyways...

 

same here luke, I dont do a abundance of correction. Most of the people I detail cars for don't care about it, I will usually go over the car with superfinish or something before LSP but I too spend too much money on polishes.

 

Thanks. I appreciate the collective wisdom. I'm thinking I'll initially opt for PF with the 5-1/2" Uber/ B&S yellow, green and black pads and build from there.

 

Is that PFW made for DA or Rotary?

 

i believe most wools are made for rotary.

 

i thought so too, but since the OP mentioned he is getting a PC 7424XP and the PFW was mentioned so I thought it was a new product made for a DA.