Some Novice Questions.

[Car Whore]

Hey all - looking at some different choices (i know I can't really go wrong) but wanted some additional insight.

Phil is running a great 20% off special which could end up earning my business.

My background: Basic car wash/amateur detailer that has been using mainly whatever my father & friends recommend. Typically Griot's/P21s/Meguiars type of stuff and although I find a lot of good tips from him I'm ready to step it up a notch. I'm a huge fan of their speed shine/spray on wax and the basic NXT/P21S waxes but yes it's time to step it up a notch.

Cars: '09 135 (just light blemishes from dealer prep on euro delivery) | multiple cars that I buy/sell thoroughout the year and typically drive 20k miles.

Products in Question:
Buffer/polisher > Looking at the rotary 7424 but I know there are others in the $150 budget.

What about pads? I know it depends on products but with all the searching/reading I've done I get a little confused on the Green, Blue, Black, White when you start changing makes of the pads.

Variety of polishes > Mazerna 083 & 085? Hard to tell the different. Then you have SIP which seems like a good to have on hand for those needing a little more love.

Sealers > Jetseal 109, FMJ, Z2 + ZFX - thoughts or opinions?



In a nutshell - Need a recommendation on a novice polisher (i've used orbitals in the past), some good polish&seal combo's and then any thoughts on a fresh wax? (concourse 50/50 looked interesting)


And anything else I've overlooked in my hours of reading this very helpful forum.



Current care @ Detailed image.



Product Unit Price Quantity Price 6" Counter Weight $4.74 $4.74 7424 Random Orbital Buffer $114.99 $114.99 Backing Plate for Porter Cable 7424 - 148 mm $19.99 $19.99 Blue Fine Finishing Pad - 6.5"
Quantity Discounts Available - as LOW as $7.99! $9.49 $9.49 Jet Seal 109 - 16 oz $39.99 $39.99 PO85RD Polish - 32 oz $39.99 $39.99 Snappy Clean Pad Cleaner $1.42 $2.83 White Polishing Pad - 6.5"
Quantity Discounts Available - as LOW as $7.99! $9.49 $9.49


Current Cart @detailer domain looks like this...

Menzerna Polishes PO85RD 32oz

Qty: x $39.95

Porter Cable DA Polisher 7424

Qty: x $149.00

Porter Cable 6 inch counterweight

Qty: x $3.95

Flexible Backing Plate for the Porter Cable (5 - 5.5 inch)

Qty: x $16.95

Uber Blue Pad 5.5 inch (final polish)

Qty: x $7.99

[BlackjackMulligan]

I used PO85rd on my Jet Black with a blue pad.....per Phil's recommendation. The buffer I used is the Griot's Garage buffer, from what I understand is simply a rebadged PC7424. See my other post in this forum about my Prep project that I've undertaken (I didn't have the dealer prep it). The Menz polish with the rotary is pure magic.

Some will tell you that it doesn't matter how much you spend, that it's all in the elbow grease you use. To put it bluntly: They're wrong. Menzerna is such a step above anything I've ever used that it's silly that I ever spent money on any other polish.

[Car Whore]

nice~! Yeah I saw a few of your older posts dating back to oct/nov and saw you were going to zaino seal it right? I'll check out your new post shortly. My father has the griot's thus I might just get some products and take a 3-4 hour drive to tampa for a test drive on the menz godies. Did you also get SIP or just the 085d? I imagine it's not necessary for ours... what kinda clay products did you use?

[BlackjackMulligan]

Originally Posted by Car Whore

nice~! Yeah I saw a few of your older posts dating back to oct/nov and saw you were going to zaino seal it right? I'll check out your new post shortly. My father has the griot's thus I might just get some products and take a 3-4 hour drive to tampa for a test drive on the menz godies. Did you also get SIP or just the 085d? I imagine it's not necessary for ours... what kinda clay products did you use?

I've used Griot's polish in the past and I have to say that it doesn't stack up to Menzerna. I used the Griots clay and Speed Shine for lube (I like the SS too!). The Griots buffer works well, but if I had to buy again I'd get a Flex. That seems to be the latest and greatest buffer out there.

I didn't get SIP because the finish on my car is brand new, so it didn't need much correction. If you have a car with deeper swirls and light scratches, then use SIP followed by PO85rd, IMO. Some people use 106ff, I believe it's a bit more intensive. My goal was to go as mild as possible on the new car finish.

As far as the pads go, it can get a bit confusing so make sure you email Phil and get his advice.......that's what I did. He recommended the blue pad with the 85rd and it worked great.

When I'm done, yes I'm going to seal with Zaino Z2 with the ZFX additive. It seems to be the most user friendly/effective sealant that I found so far.

[Car Whore]

Great advice - I figured you had to use the griot's clay&SS if you had their unit. I'm a huge fan of how well that comes out, and yeah I was really looking at the flex also (Phil really thinks it's a much better long-term unit).

Good stuff. Thanks again