New to buffing...need polish/wax/sealant advice

**JoeMN** · 08-04-2008,ï¿½06:44 AM

I just picked up a PC 7424 with 4 different Lake Country pads (orange, white, gray, red)...now I just need to buy some stuff to use with it.

Until now, I had mainly used Meguiar`s consumer stuff (cleaner wax, 3-step, spray detailer, etc). That was all good and fine for doing things by hand.

Lately, I have been looking at Poorboys (SSR1, SS2.5, EX-P Sealant) and Griot`s (Polish 2 & 3 and their paint sealant). I have heard people vouch for both of them, as well as Menzerna here and there.

What do you use? What do you recommend? I have a few scratches, some swirls, but nothing really major. (I drove through some mud/sand pits the other weekend and some girls decided to draw some things on my hood while it was wet and apparently they had little rocks under their fingers--there are a couple scratches now that I`d like to attempt to get rid of). My paint is a really bright blue as the picture shows.

Thanks for any help!

**JoeMN** · 08-04-2008,ï¿½09:16 PM

TTT...anyone?

**Garry Dean** · 08-04-2008,ï¿½09:46 PM

So, get busy with the Poorboys and the PC! You need a scratchless finish!

**JoeMN** · 08-04-2008,ï¿½10:36 PM

I haven`t taken the plunge and purchased the poorboy`s yet...I was going to try and get some more opinions from people before I spent the money. I was also wondering if what I was planning on purchasing was the right way to go...the SSR1 and SSR2.5 followed by the EX-P sealant. I`ve heard some people say the 2.5 is a little too rough as opposed to the regular SSR2...? :think:

**imported_Ivan Rajic** · 08-04-2008,ï¿½10:44 PM

My suggestion would be to go pick up some Meg`s polishes from a local auto parts store and try them out... I use Meg`s and Menzerna polishes with great results... pick up 83, 80 and 82, if you can find all of them, and try them each out... otherwise, you`ll be ordering products online which you don`t even know about, and trust me, the list of product suggestions can and will get pretty long... from menzerna, to meg`s to optimum, 1z, poorboys, 3m, etc. etc. etc. Basically you have to try things out to see what you like working with the most and what gets you good results, which is why I`m recommending something that can be picked up locally and it`s something many get great results with, Meg`s...

**JoeMN** · 08-05-2008,ï¿½08:57 AM

I went to 2 different auto places last week and they didn`t have much of a selection for anything really...just quick detailers, a few waxes, etc etc. They had a lot of turtle wax and of course the Meguiar`s 3 step and cleaner wax...pretty much it. SO, I need to find something online...

**miahman98** · 08-05-2008,ï¿½10:04 AM

Try a auto paint store.

**JoeMN** · 08-05-2008,ï¿½11:33 AM

An anto paint store...like a body shop type place that carries products? I can`t think of any places like that around here...what are some examples?

**MaxMarkham** · 08-05-2008,ï¿½12:32 PM

Originally Posted by JoeMN

An anto paint store...like a body shop type place that carries products? I can`t think of any places like that around here...what are some examples?

You don`t have your location listed, but off the top of my head you can try NAPA, Pep Boys, AutoZone, even WAL-Mart.

Based on the light scuffing you described any product that removes up to 1500 grit swirls should work fine, followed by a finishing polish, then a wax or synthetic sealant.

With a PC 7424 you won`t need to worry about doing any damage.

If you order online, the Poorboys products you mentioned will work fine, but I`d go with the SSR2 first - then SSR1, not going from 2.5 to 1 as you mentioned.

**JoeMN** · 08-05-2008,ï¿½02:44 PM

Alright, thanks! I`m in Minnesota actually...Duluth to be exact (for school). I`ll probably pick up the SSR1/SSR2 and the sealant and give it a whirl.

**Accumulator** · 08-06-2008,ï¿½10:01 AM

JoeMN- Welcome to Autopia!

I`d skip the Griot`s stuff. It`s *VERY* mild and not all that user-friendly.

I *always* recommend 1Z brand polishes...it`s sorta a case of "if you have to ask, the answer is 1Z" because they`re just *so* user-friendly (and effective). Pretty much impossible to mess up.

Sources: Home or Aloha & Welcome to Our Oasis for All Your Auto Detailing, Auto Detailing Supplies, Auto Detailing Equipment, Auto Detailing Products, & Auto Detailing Accessories for all your Automobile Detailing

You`ll probably find that the PC is useful but not a miracle-worker. For *serious* correction, you`ll need to use 4" pads (or 3.5" Purple Foamed Wool) as the larger ones end up being much too gentle.

**JoeMN** · 08-06-2008,ï¿½08:10 PM

Originally Posted by Accumulator

JoeMN- Welcome to Autopia!

I`d skip the Griot`s stuff. It`s *VERY* mild and not all that user-friendly.

I *always* recommend 1Z brand polishes...it`s sorta a case of "if you have to ask, the answer is 1Z" because they`re just *so* user-friendly (and effective). Pretty much impossible to mess up.

Sources: Home or Aloha & Welcome to Our Oasis for All Your Auto Detailing, Auto Detailing Supplies, Auto Detailing Equipment, Auto Detailing Products, & Auto Detailing Accessories for all your Automobile Detailing

You`ll probably find that the PC is useful but not a miracle-worker. For *serious* correction, you`ll need to use 4" pads (or 3.5" Purple Foamed Wool) as the larger ones end up being much too gentle.

Thanks for the recommendation! I actually ended up ordering some of the poorboy`s products from detailed image (since they offered the best discount when I signed up for this forum) so I saved a little bit too. I`ll give it a go and see what happens. I washed the truck today but I don`t have the polishes/sealant yet so I will probably set aside a day later next week sometime as I`m busy this weekend.