DA pads advice

ba_barabus

GRATE NEWS, I went out to my shed to find mice had turned my old DA polishing pads into a nice cosy nest.

IN their defence I've been meaning to replace these for a long time and Santa has offered to provide it so long as I keep it cheap and cheerful .

I'm getting to the end of a project and I'm hoping to finally sort the paint work over Christmas.

One of the key things I need guidance on is pads for my DA. I've no idea what I should be buying.

The paint is gone flat but has responded well to a hand polish. Basically it was a car parked under trees and unused for 4 years.

First stop will be to remove tar spots (advise a product plz), clean, decontaminate paint, clean, claybar, DA polish with a compound (advise product plz), DA buff (advise product plz) and seal paint.

TL/DR sh!t paint, need advice on reasonably priced DA pads and polish to submit to Santa to keep me entertained over Christmas.

Cass

Polishing pads will range in price from €2 per pad for the Chinese ones from ebay to €16 per pad from Chemical guys (hexlogic). The key is heat prevention. You don't want the pad to create much or excessive heat while working with it, risking damaging the paint work further.

I bought a ten pack of the cheap ones from ebay, two packs of three from Halfords (€18 each pack), an ADBL kit from OCD detailing for about €55 (pack of 10) and finally a couple of the Chemical guys hex logic pads for €15 each from my local motor factor.

Never used the Chemical guys one, not yet. The others I have used. To be honest I cannot see ahuge difference, but I'm not a professional. I do my own cars and some friends/families, but that is it. The only faults I found with the cheap ones were the velcro failing (peeling away from the pad) and the pad being useless after a couple of cleans.

The Halford ones were better, but one did fail in the same way. Maybe it was how I washed them, but the others are holding up well. The ADBL ones, I've only used a couple and they areg good. Haven't cleaned them yet so not sure how they stand the test of time, but from theri other products I'm hoping for good things.

First stop will be to remove tar spots (advise a product plz),

Vasco. Always top of my suggestion list. Cheap, highly effective, and completely safe.

DA polish with a compound (advise product plz), DA buff (advise product plz)

I like Menzerna products. Great range from havy cut (300) to medium (1,000) and into fine (2,400) and finally ultra fine (3,000) with various grades in between. Also do a finishing range (3,800) . Its not cheap at about €16 per 250ml bottle, cheaper on sale if you find it, but the larger bottles save you money at about €35 per litre, however may be more than you need. The avergage 250ml, if done right, will do most if not all of a car.

I'll leave it to others to suggest other products as my only other experience is with swirl removing products from MEguairs, G3, etc. Nothing much in the cutting compound range other than the above.

Lastly sealants, again I'll stay quiet. Never sealed my car. I've polished and even waxes, but never used a sealant. So I'll not comment as I've no experience with them.