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Ok, after a long wait I finally got home the necessary tools to help me achieve show car results in my own garage. (I wish!) 
I had my family going abroad so I ordered from ADS a PC 7424XP, a W67DA together with the DA Microfiber System Starter Kit Jr..
I thought, what the heck ?! If this system is so fantastic as people are saying than it would be a good place to start learning. I was very excited!
Last weekend I started the job and being my first time using a DA, the first couple sessions were a little shaky, but after a while it all started to work fine. I'm really impressed with the whole system, despite taking nearly 17 hours of labor to get to every nook and cranny in the end it was all worthy it. I believe it would take even longer if I had tried something different than the MF System. In the end, after all was done the car was really clean, no dust or splatter anywhere. Really liked that!
I would really like to get some critique of my procedure from others so I could improve my work.
This was what I did:
Wash with Gold Class
Clay bar on the entire car with Smooth Surface Kit and Magna Sponge*
D300
D301
* The Magna Sponge worked quickly but left some serious hazing (or else) on the paint. MF System didn't seem to mind though.
BEFORE
AFTER ONLY ONE PASS OF D300
BEFORE
AFTER
This was the appearance of the whole car
Half and half with only one pass of D300
The MF System kept on doing this
All those pictures are from just applying the correction compound D300, no finishing wax yet!
Now let's head outside for some sun shots of the finished car!
Those two were just passing by...
Here are my impressions on the whole process.
DA Microfiber System ( 5" Cutting and Polishing Pads, D300 Correction Compound and D301 Finishing Wax)
1- The packaging is very nice, the pads and 16oz. bottles are great. I think I've used maybe 1/4th of the D300 16oz bottle. (Could I have used less ?)
2 - D301's blueberry smell is fantastic. You can actually taste bubblegum. D300 is not bad.
3 - When priming the pad you don't need to overuse, just use 4-5 dots, work it in a little bit than 4-5 more on the white spots. After that 2 tiny dots per session after brushing the pad at speed 5 worked fine for me. You really have to stop and fluff the pad after every section as you can see the fibers matted down pretty quickly and at higher speeds the brush seems to work better.
4 - To achieve the desired cut you have to be patient and work the product in slowly and steady, smalls sections at a time. Don't go rushing the process. After D300 there was some minor hazing on the paint and some minor scratches left but D301 took good care of it.
5- For Cutting I've used speed 4 sometimes 4,5 (so the pad always kept spinning even around tight corners) and for finishing just below 3 on the Porter Cable 7424xp.
OPM's for PC7424XP
Speed Setting 1 - 2500 opm
Speed Setting 2 - 3300 opm
Speed Setting 3 - 4000 opm
Speed Setting 4 - 4800 opm
Speed Setting 5 - 5800 opm
Speed Setting 6 - 6800 opm
Took this from here (http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/sho...M%27s+PC7424XP)
6 - I really love how well D301 finishes, it just glides on the surface, gives a deep gloss and is ridiculously easy to apply and remove. Just didn't like the "water sheeting" of the wax so much. I have UQW and GC Carnauba Plus to apply now, but am in doubt between them. Any help ?
7 - D300 cuts better when you really slows down your arm speed. Think like a ninja! (Michael Stoops advice, well not the last part.)
8 - Flat surfaces are easy, but every curve, raised line or shape needs to be treated carefuly otherwise you don't work the whole surface.
9 - Rubber and plastic parts don't seems to stain but the pads get too dirty if you don't be careful, so remember to clean all the mess when removing products and wash the pads thoroughly after use.
PC 7424XP for the novice!
1- Working with a DA is a lot more fun!!
2- The PC is really easy to use if you remember to keep the pad flat on the panel. Use the weight of the tool, and mark with a pen the backing plate so you can see it spinning (very popular advice).
3 - Watch carefully when buying an extension cord, I got one with 5 meters and 2,5 mm2. Check the manual for the gauge.
Well, that's it!
Any comments or questions will be greatly appreciated. This would not be possible without you guys!
I had my family going abroad so I ordered from ADS a PC 7424XP, a W67DA together with the DA Microfiber System Starter Kit Jr..
I thought, what the heck ?! If this system is so fantastic as people are saying than it would be a good place to start learning. I was very excited!
Last weekend I started the job and being my first time using a DA, the first couple sessions were a little shaky, but after a while it all started to work fine. I'm really impressed with the whole system, despite taking nearly 17 hours of labor to get to every nook and cranny in the end it was all worthy it. I believe it would take even longer if I had tried something different than the MF System. In the end, after all was done the car was really clean, no dust or splatter anywhere. Really liked that!
I would really like to get some critique of my procedure from others so I could improve my work.
This was what I did:
Wash with Gold Class
Clay bar on the entire car with Smooth Surface Kit and Magna Sponge*
D300
D301
* The Magna Sponge worked quickly but left some serious hazing (or else) on the paint. MF System didn't seem to mind though.
BEFORE
AFTER ONLY ONE PASS OF D300
BEFORE
AFTER
This was the appearance of the whole car
Half and half with only one pass of D300
The MF System kept on doing this
All those pictures are from just applying the correction compound D300, no finishing wax yet!
Now let's head outside for some sun shots of the finished car!
Those two were just passing by...
Here are my impressions on the whole process.
DA Microfiber System ( 5" Cutting and Polishing Pads, D300 Correction Compound and D301 Finishing Wax)
1- The packaging is very nice, the pads and 16oz. bottles are great. I think I've used maybe 1/4th of the D300 16oz bottle. (Could I have used less ?)
2 - D301's blueberry smell is fantastic. You can actually taste bubblegum. D300 is not bad.
3 - When priming the pad you don't need to overuse, just use 4-5 dots, work it in a little bit than 4-5 more on the white spots. After that 2 tiny dots per session after brushing the pad at speed 5 worked fine for me. You really have to stop and fluff the pad after every section as you can see the fibers matted down pretty quickly and at higher speeds the brush seems to work better.
4 - To achieve the desired cut you have to be patient and work the product in slowly and steady, smalls sections at a time. Don't go rushing the process. After D300 there was some minor hazing on the paint and some minor scratches left but D301 took good care of it.
5- For Cutting I've used speed 4 sometimes 4,5 (so the pad always kept spinning even around tight corners) and for finishing just below 3 on the Porter Cable 7424xp.
OPM's for PC7424XP
Speed Setting 1 - 2500 opm
Speed Setting 2 - 3300 opm
Speed Setting 3 - 4000 opm
Speed Setting 4 - 4800 opm
Speed Setting 5 - 5800 opm
Speed Setting 6 - 6800 opm
Took this from here (http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/sho...M%27s+PC7424XP)
6 - I really love how well D301 finishes, it just glides on the surface, gives a deep gloss and is ridiculously easy to apply and remove. Just didn't like the "water sheeting" of the wax so much. I have UQW and GC Carnauba Plus to apply now, but am in doubt between them. Any help ?
7 - D300 cuts better when you really slows down your arm speed. Think like a ninja! (Michael Stoops advice, well not the last part.)
8 - Flat surfaces are easy, but every curve, raised line or shape needs to be treated carefuly otherwise you don't work the whole surface.
9 - Rubber and plastic parts don't seems to stain but the pads get too dirty if you don't be careful, so remember to clean all the mess when removing products and wash the pads thoroughly after use.
PC 7424XP for the novice!
1- Working with a DA is a lot more fun!!
2- The PC is really easy to use if you remember to keep the pad flat on the panel. Use the weight of the tool, and mark with a pen the backing plate so you can see it spinning (very popular advice).
3 - Watch carefully when buying an extension cord, I got one with 5 meters and 2,5 mm2. Check the manual for the gauge.
Well, that's it!
Any comments or questions will be greatly appreciated. This would not be possible without you guys!
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