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Hi MOL,
I picked up a new MT300 two weeks ago along with the 5" pads in Maroon (cutting), Yellow (polishing), and Black (Finishing). Today I used the new Da and some Yellow and Black pads. I did purchase the new backing plates in 5" and 3" size to use with the machine and pads.
1st thoughts on the pads, thin, thin, thin. I have always liked and used Buff & Shine 5.5" flat pads as they were my favorite. I have to say these new pads are now my favorite. The control and balance you are able to have with them is superb. Being so thin, they do not deflect very much, and it is very easy to go right up to the edge of something and see exactly where the edge of the pad is. I used the yellow pad with my Rupes LHR 15ES and some 205 to put a nice finish on the hood of my 10 year old black Ford Focus ST. The hood has been repainted, the clear scratches very easily compared to the OEM paint, so I find myself needing to give it a little polish each spring. I know what you are thinking, why did I use the Rupes and not the MT300. I wanted to see how the pad did with the larger throw. I am pleased to say the pad did just fine, and easily removed all the light scractches and marring present in the soft clear coat. I was very, very careful in removing the pad from the Rupes backing plate, and would caution everyone to do the same when removing any non Rupes pad from one of their backing plates. The pad did not look any worse for wear from the larger throw.
I then switched over to the MT300 with a new yellow pad and some Megs Black Wax. I used 4800 OPMS and some light pressure on all the painted surfaces. The machine was very smooth. It is not as smooth as the the Rupes, but much, much smoother than any other std DA I have used. I have removed the handle as my personal preference is to not use it. Thanks Megs for the little straight edge on the back of the polisher, enabling you to put it down without fear of the DA rolling over and possibly soiling your pad. The machine's torque management system worked as advertised. I had no issues keeping the pad spinning even on contours, just as long as you held it flat and applied even pressure. I used two pads for this car, but truth be told the 1st pad could have probably completed the entire car. It did not seem to saturate with product hardly at all. The yellow pad with the black wax left a very nice finish. The wax was a dream to wipe off. I did apply some serious pressure on a vertical panel to see what would happen. The machine handled it with little effort.
I then threw on the black finishing pad and reached for some ULW. I knocked the speed down to 3800 OPMS and went to town. Effortless to put on. I put a coat on the entire car, and then removed. I don't
usually have any problems with this method, even though Megs suggests you remove after a 3-5 minute period. This pad seems a hair firmer than most finishing pads, but it certainly did not mar any of the soft clear on the hood.
The machine is very balanced, Meguiars isn't kidding when they said it is very ergonomic in your hand. It is quite easy to one hand the machine, even on vertical panels. I plan on using the machine tomorrow with the new 3" backing plate and one of the the 4" soft buff finishing pads to throw a coat of UPW over top. I am usually not a wax waster, but I am curious to see how the machine feels with a 3" plate and 4' pad.
Next month I am planning on trying it out on my company car with the 5" MF discs (cutting and finishing) with D300 and D302. The car needs a decent clean up as it saw plenty of road debris and salt this past winter. I will report out after seeing how it tackles a little work.
Final thoughts today on this DA is Megs has upped the ante for non large throw DA's. It is a very balanced machine that will not tire you out nearly as quickly as other short stroke DA's. It is a pleasure to use, and just feels good in your hand. The new pads (discs) are right to the front of the line. They seem to work well with large throw DA's as well as the MT300. I think if you arm yourself with the new pads and the Megs MF pads, you can tackle just about anything.
I picked up a new MT300 two weeks ago along with the 5" pads in Maroon (cutting), Yellow (polishing), and Black (Finishing). Today I used the new Da and some Yellow and Black pads. I did purchase the new backing plates in 5" and 3" size to use with the machine and pads.
1st thoughts on the pads, thin, thin, thin. I have always liked and used Buff & Shine 5.5" flat pads as they were my favorite. I have to say these new pads are now my favorite. The control and balance you are able to have with them is superb. Being so thin, they do not deflect very much, and it is very easy to go right up to the edge of something and see exactly where the edge of the pad is. I used the yellow pad with my Rupes LHR 15ES and some 205 to put a nice finish on the hood of my 10 year old black Ford Focus ST. The hood has been repainted, the clear scratches very easily compared to the OEM paint, so I find myself needing to give it a little polish each spring. I know what you are thinking, why did I use the Rupes and not the MT300. I wanted to see how the pad did with the larger throw. I am pleased to say the pad did just fine, and easily removed all the light scractches and marring present in the soft clear coat. I was very, very careful in removing the pad from the Rupes backing plate, and would caution everyone to do the same when removing any non Rupes pad from one of their backing plates. The pad did not look any worse for wear from the larger throw.
I then switched over to the MT300 with a new yellow pad and some Megs Black Wax. I used 4800 OPMS and some light pressure on all the painted surfaces. The machine was very smooth. It is not as smooth as the the Rupes, but much, much smoother than any other std DA I have used. I have removed the handle as my personal preference is to not use it. Thanks Megs for the little straight edge on the back of the polisher, enabling you to put it down without fear of the DA rolling over and possibly soiling your pad. The machine's torque management system worked as advertised. I had no issues keeping the pad spinning even on contours, just as long as you held it flat and applied even pressure. I used two pads for this car, but truth be told the 1st pad could have probably completed the entire car. It did not seem to saturate with product hardly at all. The yellow pad with the black wax left a very nice finish. The wax was a dream to wipe off. I did apply some serious pressure on a vertical panel to see what would happen. The machine handled it with little effort.
I then threw on the black finishing pad and reached for some ULW. I knocked the speed down to 3800 OPMS and went to town. Effortless to put on. I put a coat on the entire car, and then removed. I don't
usually have any problems with this method, even though Megs suggests you remove after a 3-5 minute period. This pad seems a hair firmer than most finishing pads, but it certainly did not mar any of the soft clear on the hood.
The machine is very balanced, Meguiars isn't kidding when they said it is very ergonomic in your hand. It is quite easy to one hand the machine, even on vertical panels. I plan on using the machine tomorrow with the new 3" backing plate and one of the the 4" soft buff finishing pads to throw a coat of UPW over top. I am usually not a wax waster, but I am curious to see how the machine feels with a 3" plate and 4' pad.
Next month I am planning on trying it out on my company car with the 5" MF discs (cutting and finishing) with D300 and D302. The car needs a decent clean up as it saw plenty of road debris and salt this past winter. I will report out after seeing how it tackles a little work.
Final thoughts today on this DA is Megs has upped the ante for non large throw DA's. It is a very balanced machine that will not tire you out nearly as quickly as other short stroke DA's. It is a pleasure to use, and just feels good in your hand. The new pads (discs) are right to the front of the line. They seem to work well with large throw DA's as well as the MT300. I think if you arm yourself with the new pads and the Megs MF pads, you can tackle just about anything.
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