first experience w/ Flex, SIP, 106FF and 109

My first detail using a machine buffer, a Flex, on a '99 wrangler that I used as a 'test' car. Outside temp was in the high 50's / low 60's, humidity around 75% - i was working in my non-heated garage w/ the door open.

- wash, dried and clayed

- didn't bother to re-wash after the clay, but might add this step when i do the bmw

- SIP w/ orange pad, top speed 6: The SIP was a struggle, maybe it was my inexperience w/ a buffer, maybe i thought it should be cleaning up the scratches better then it was (I went back over certain spots a second time w/ not much improvement).

After some feedback from this forum it sounds like i used too much product and the pad broke down but i continued to use it. For the bmw I'm going to use one pad for the top panels, a new one for front and side, and a third for the back and the other side to make sure i always have a fresh pad.

- 106FF w/ white pad, top speed 6: this went much better then the SIP, seemed easier and quicker to use, cut like i thought it would, brought out a nice shine

- re-washed car: to make sure all the polish residue was gone, but i'm not sure if I liked this step. I was worried about creating scratches and water spots that would be sealed in. It also caused water to gather in cracks and such, and even though i waited an hour after the wash, the applicator i used for the 109 was getting wet.

- 109, applied by hand: applied, waited an hour, removed, reapplied, waited two hours, removed; tough to apply evenly - might use the flex w/ a gray pad next time. real easy to remove.

Observations:

- painter's tape is your best friend !! tape everything you don't want wax to get on. I only taped the obvious stuff and should have taped more. The jeep is a PITA w/ exposed hinges, windshield bumps, black plastic wheel wells, etc. I expect the bmw to be much easier.

- having a buffer made the job much easier and i achieved better results then i ever did by hand

- the flex was very simple to use, i would assume the PC 7424 would be even easier. i was worried about damaging the paint at first, but i quickly cranked the Flex up to the max speed setting w/o any problems w/ the paint.

- think about getting something to protect your ears, I already had a something i grabbed from work and was glad I did.

- i wonder if I would have had better results if the temps were in the high 60's low 70's. i'm going to wait for that weather before doing the bmw

- continually found myself doing more then a 2ft x 2 ft section at a time. maybe i was eager to use the buffer and see the result. gotta figure out a way to avoid this next time

 

Thanks for the review :thumb:
I've been waiting to get my Flex. I'll probably be getting one in two weeks from now
For what I hear, the best speed for paint correction using the Flex is 4-5 on the flex, 6 seems too fast for the SIP. I actually have the PO85RD3.02 and not the SIP, and I find that by working it slow, you'll get better results as Menz stays wet longer than other polishes

 

The flex is easier than the PC. The PC simply vibrates the ish out of your hands and arms.

I enjoy applying 109 with a gray or blue pad and the Flex on speed 1. Very easy to do.

tape tape tape! Yes, it's a PITA, but it easier than cleaning polish out of or off of places it shouldn't have gotten.

Sounds like you had fun! It only gets better.

 

I'll give that a try.

I applied the product to the pad and blotted it onto the surface (found rubbing it on caused too much product buildup on the edge of the pad). Turned it on 2 to spread, then to 6, then backed down to 3 for the final pass.

I'm happier w/ the results now that I got a chance to look at the car in the sun for the first time today - most, if not all of the swirls are gone.

Just ordered a gray pad today.