I have just bought a DAS6 pro and need to get hold of some pads and products but who does a reasonable kit for med - hard paint (skoda and a VW) don't want to take out a mortgage either

I use Chemical guys Hex logic pads & Menzerna polish to great effect

You can get all those from "Clean Your Car".

They do a Menzerna polish sample kit with every polish that you'll need & they are big enough to last quite a few details. http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/polishing/polish/menzerna-250ml/menzerna-250ml-sampler-kit/prod_220.html

If you buy a Menzerna kit make sure you write what they are on the bottles as oddly, they're not labelled anywhere!

And don't get me started on the naming/numbering system. It's ludicrous.

Unless you're doing serious correction, you probably only need 85 3.02 (medium cut) and 85 RE5 (very low cut). On my black magic vRS the 3.02 with a compounding pad or polishing pad worked very well and the RE5 works extremely well with a finishing pad to give a crystal clear finish.

I also use the hexlogic pads. You really cannot beat them with a DA in my (very limited) experience.

Definately looks like the CG hex pads are the ones to go for, so where is the best place to buy? Juicy detailing seem to be the cheapest at £7.95 for the 5.5" pads plus a £1 postage or free postage with three or more

I have to be honest and say I don't rate the Hexi-logic pads on the DA, limited experience on them but what I had wasn't good compared to Megs or 3M Pads................... :no:

I would also suggest that the 3M kit for polishes would be a better investment than Menzerna, just my opinion but Menz polishes seem to play up too much with heat and cold.................. :S

Recently bought the menzerna kit from clean your car. The names are on a lable at the bottom of the bottles. They also have a cut scale on each bottle. I've only used poorboys ssr2 and the menzerna range at a Dave KG day over on detailing world. Seemed to get on well with them so I bought the kit. I do notice the menzera polishes dust more than autogylm and poorboys.

I have to be honest and say I don't rate the Hexi-logic pads on the DA, limited experience on them but what I had wasn't good compared to Megs or 3M Pads................... :no:

I would also suggest that the 3M kit for polishes would be a better investment than Menzerna, just my opinion but Menz polishes seem to play up too much with heat and cold.................. :S

so then would I be better off getting the 7" megs pads and a couple of spot pads with the 3m polishes or should I just get the 3m pads as well? New to the DA polishing as only ever used MER (don't laugh it was what my dad had in his garage ) by hand before. I was thinking that the 5.5" pads would be a versatile size but the combination of 7's and 4's would be better then?

I had a good look at SWMBOS Passat(Dark Blue SE trim) in the sun this evening and it looks like an army of spiders have been busy on it so it is going to be a good test when the Das6 Pro turns up, Can you point me to any good video tutorials or are the ones on the american sites OK?

Having read a dozen or so of your details I am very happy to yield to your superior knowledge

Forgot to add the Skoda is silver so I guess I need kit for med-hard paint?

Edited 4 October, 201015 yr by karlbar2k

I have to be honest and say I don't rate the Hexi-logic pads on the DA, limited experience on them but what I had wasn't good compared to Megs or 3M Pads................... :no:

I would also suggest that the 3M kit for polishes would be a better investment than Menzerna, just my opinion but Menz polishes seem to play up too much with heat and cold.................. :S

Don't you find the new 7" Megs pads too big? I couldn't get enough pressure on the backing plate with my DAS-6 using the 7" pads. I haven't tried the 3M pads but I need to order some, so I'll give them a crack this time.

I'm lucky enough to have a heated garage to work in, so I've never had any trouble with the Menzerna polishes, except when the labels on the bases fell off!

I have tried the 3M polishes and they are very good. The three bottle range is also much simpler than Menzernas 6 or 7 bottles.

so then would I be better off getting the 7" megs pads and a couple of spot pads with the 3m polishes or should I just get the 3m pads as well? New to the DA polishing as only ever used MER (don't laugh it was what my dad had in his garage ) by hand before. I was thinking that the 5.5" pads would be a versatile size but the combination of 7's and 4's would be better then?

I had a good look at SWMBOS Passat(Dark Blue SE trim) in the sun this evening and it looks like an army of spiders have been busy on it so it is going to be a good test when the Das6 Pro turns up, Can you point me to any good video tutorials or are the ones on the american sites OK?

Having read a dozen or so of your details I am very happy to yield to your superior knowledge

Forgot to add the Skoda is silver so I guess I need kit for med-hard paint?

For both Skoda and VW paint you will need something with a little cut and if your using a DA then you will need to try and adopt the Kevin Brown Method to achieve 95% correction, both the 3M polishes and pads will serve you well but it may be worth looking into the Megs 105 and 205 polishes as between those and the 3M polishes they are all I use now, they work well on VAG paint.................

I favour the 5.5" and 4" pads but then that's just me, I don't think you really need the larger pads on most occasions.................... :yes:

Don't you find the new 7" Megs pads too big? I couldn't get enough pressure on the backing plate with my DAS-6 using the 7" pads. I haven't tried the 3M pads but I need to order some, so I'll give them a crack this time.

I'm lucky enough to have a heated garage to work in, so I've never had any trouble with the Menzerna polishes, except when the labels on the bases fell off!

I have tried the 3M polishes and they are very good. The three bottle range is also much simpler than Menzernas 6 or 7 bottles.

The new Megs pads IMHO have been a step backwards, I still use the old style pads and shifted the new ones on, just didn't cut and it were too big.

I would reccomend the 3M polishes and pads for a try as I have strayed away from Menz due to the temperature problems mentioned, mind you if I had a warm large garage then I guess I may still be using them..................... :S

A Quick Update:

I got hold of a pair of the 3M Yellow pads and some Farecla G10 and had a stab at using Das6 Pro on swmbos passat. Tried a couple of passes and there is definately an improvement but I think I need to go a bit harder, so the question is what is the next step up? Do I stick with yellow pad and a stronger compound or stick with the G10 and go to a stronger pad?

If I am getting a lot of dusting is it too much compound? or is it just the G10? What size backing pad do you recommend for the 150mm 3M pads as the one I have is 6" and right at the edge of the pad (dont want to damage anything)

What exactly is the KB method? as the info I have found mainly talks about priming the pad?

cheers

Karl

just been looking and the Flexipad 125mm backing pad seems a better idea than the standard one. Works out at just over £10 from I4detailing. what do you think Steve?

A Quick Update:

I got hold of a pair of the 3M Yellow pads and some Farecla G10 and had a stab at using Das6 Pro on swmbos passat. Tried a couple of passes and there is definately an improvement but I think I need to go a bit harder, so the question is what is the next step up? Do I stick with yellow pad and a stronger compound or stick with the G10 and go to a stronger pad?

If I am getting a lot of dusting is it too much compound? or is it just the G10? What size backing pad do you recommend for the 150mm 3M pads as the one I have is 6" and right at the edge of the pad (dont want to damage anything)

What exactly is the KB method? as the info I have found mainly talks about priming the pad?

cheers

Karl

just been looking and the Flexipad 125mm backing pad seems a better idea than the standard one. Works out at just over £10 from I4detailing. what do you think Steve?

The 3M Yellow Pads are in the middle of the 3M Range but mixed with G10 you should have yeilded some good results but more so to knock out finer swirls than anything deep. Ideally you would try a tougher compound on that pad but more than likely if your using a DA on VAG paint it still won't cut it, you will need some form of compounding pad and then a follow up with a polishing / finishing pad. You will get dusting with most polishes as they are dry but having not used any of the Farcela products I can't really comment............ :S

Your 6" backing pad will be OK, some prefer 5.5" but it all depends on how much you want to spend, most of the backing plates that come with these machine's aren't up to the job so most will replace them, I can reccomend the Gloss It brand, not cheap but very good............ :yes:

The Kevin Brown method is specfic to achieving high levels of correction with a DA using specific pads and polishes, also applying a lot of pressure with specific movements to yield good correction, seen it done first hand in the USA and I was very impressed, used it a lot while working with my DA's before I switched to the rotary..............

I have two types of Final Finish Menz, the 106 and the 85. Baker, what's your go to choice for minor correction? I have Menz pads and normaly use a final finish pad. Wondering whether I should use a white polishing pad. I have used the 85 with a FF pad last spring but it still left some minor cobwebbing.

( I have the kestrel)

Thanks.

I have two types of Final Finish Menz, the 106 and the 85. Baker, what's your go to choice for minor correction? I have Menz pads and normaly use a final finish pad. Wondering whether I should use a white polishing pad. I have used the 85 with a FF pad last spring but it still left some minor cobwebbing.

( I have the kestrel)

Thanks.

Using a DA on VAG paint will always be tough and in most cases you will have to go with more cut than you may think, using a Finishing Pad with a Final Finish type polish on a Rotary may yield good results but on a DA the items I would go straight to would be different................. :S

You will more than likely need to use a Polishing Pad with a Finishing Polish or you may have to use a Medium Cut polish to achieve the results your after..........

I guess a white menz pad (polish) and some of the 106FF then. Ta for info!

this is what I discovered. VW paint is tough