Help Please Ist time using my Flex DA and Mequiars microfiber corection system

Thanks for reading.
I finally made the decision to get a Flex DA vs Meguiars or Griot, using the Meguiars microfiber correction system. So I started with my friends 2009 Mazda CX9. 3 years old never waxed or polished. I have been following this forum for 8 months or so, I have seen some amazing correction work. This was a favor, the car was a lease return.

I foamed the car with DP xtreme and a quick was. Did not clay bar (not sure if this had a impact on the poor results). I used MG compound and polish. I'm not sure what I did wrong, I could not remove towel scratches. Didn't really get a lot of pics, I did get one after shot. Do I need to go to a rotary? or change products and use foam pads. Any help would be great!

 

Welcome and congrats on your effort. Clay is a must for compound and polish work. Rewash it and clay it. Then work with the DA.

 

How long did you cut for? Also did you follow up with a polish?

 

Thanks for the reply

 

I worked the compound @4 until product was almost gone, toweled then applied polish @4 then finished @6, toweled.

 

Another question is how much pressure did you put on the Flex while you were compounding? Exactly which Meguiars compound did you use? M105, M205, Ultimate, M301, etc., ?

And then, which Polish did you use ??

I have not used the Microfiber pads yet, but I think that your compounding speed is giving you pretty slow rotation. With Foam pads, I always run the speed up to 6 or sometimes 5 but never as slow as 4.

Microfiber with a Flex, PC, users - what is the best speed for compounding here ?

Dan F

 

Used MG 300 compound and 3011 polish, The microfiber correction system, I tried both, pressure and just the weight of the Flex

 

With the Megs MF system, it's recommended to use 4800 speed for the 300 cutting then cut down to 3800 for finishing. Did you prime the pads before starting, then add 3 pea size drops along the way, cleaning the pad each time after the product dissolved? Here's a good instructional video that would be worthwhile to look at if you haven't seen it yet.

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=232766

 

Thanks for your response. I followed it to the "T". I have been on every site, and all videos, youtube, etc.

 

Post some pics of what it looks like as well.

 

Sorry the pic I posted was the only one that was of decent quality. I used my iPhone (and I shoot all pro canon dslr's) Another problem I was having a just received the new backing plate for the Flex, In my opinion its's too small (4'') for a 5'' pad, gotta talk to someone about that. Were u able to see the pic I attached to the original post?

 

Sorry the pic I posted was the only one that was of decent quality. I used my iPhone (and I shoot all pro canon dslr's) Another problem I was having a just received the new backing plate for the Flex, In my opinion its's too small (4'') for a 5'' pad, gotta talk to someone about that. Were u able to see the pic I attached to the original post?

 

What speed would you recommend when using the flex DA? I usually pair the Meg's MF system up with my griots but I'm curious because my flex's speed chart only uses 3 digit numbers (like 160-480 or something if I remember correctly)

 

Rangeroversuper --

That Flex backing plate is 4-3/8" wide and works great with 5" pads. I have that set up and use it all the time when I want to apply something like an LSP, etc., to the paint after correcting with my Rotary.

I saw your picture, looks like you need to speed up and apply more pressure to the Flex have a primed pad, apply the pea sized drops and go after it, then clean the pad with the brush and/or blow it out with compressed air, and do it again if needed.
I have no experience with Meguiars micro fiber products or compounds and polishes for microfiber products, but if it was me and this was happening, I would get a Lake Country Hydro-Tech Cyan pad on my Rotary and use something a little more agressive in the Menzerna compound line like PO203s, Power Finish, and if that didnt do it, go up to PO83 Super Intensive polish,
I believe your car has more of a medium to medium-soft paint anyway, so it should not need major compounding to clear it up.

Has this car even been Detailed with paint correction using a compound before ? - Sorry, re-read your 1st post - its a 2009 Mazda CX9 never been touched by machine, etc..
Dan F

 

I should clarify, I wasted $55 on the quick Change BP it came with a 4'' and a 5'' waste. I will or the 4 3/8 I did see it. The car had never been detailed. I primed and and followed the proper amount of product, I also use the cleaning brush in between passes. I surprised I didn't see better results. Thanks for your info

 

The Meg's MF system and Griot's are my tools too. The Flex's speed chart numbers are probably 1600-4800. I haven't used the Flex DA, but here are the only references I could find in my bookmarks that are close:

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forum...gs-for-the-DA-polisher&highlight=OPM settings
http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?48598-Color-X

 

Thanks for the refs belair! I haven't used my DA yet and almost forgot to find out what the opm speed are.

 

Rangeroversuper --

I found this posted on Belair's post - first link above this --

"and maybe we could add Flex XC 3401 VRG DA as well."

Setting 1 - 160 rpm (3,200 opm),
Setting 2 - 200 rpm (4,000 opm),
Setting 3 - 270 rpm (5,600 opm),
Setting 4 - 330 rpm (6,600 opm),
Setting 5 - 400 rpm (8,000 opm),
Setting 6 - 480 rpm (9,600 opm).

Your Flex came with a 6" backing plate, you bought the kit that gives you a 6" and 4" backing plate and the other plate to allow interchangeability.

I only have the original 6" backing plate but bought the 4-3/8" plate for using 5" pads and its all I really need.

What you might want to do is get the right speed, use pressure, slow the passes down, and work that product into the paint. Since its never been corrected before, you probably have lots of paint to work with.

Still hoping some Meguiars Microfiber system users will chime in here and help you out with their experiences using this product !

Dan F

 

9,600 OPM??? Jezzzze that's fast! I assumed it was probably something like 6,000OPM.

I don't understand the LC interchangeable backing plates. Don't you still have to screw and unscrew the plates? Doesn't seem likes it's much faster to use. I have the factory plate and the 4-3/8s plate and don't see a need for the LC system

 

Thanks Dan, Def need 4 3/8 bP