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Diners, DAs and Dives...

Discussion in 'Detailing' started by PlaysARobin, Apr 4, 2023.

  1. Apr 4, 2023 at 2:39 PM
    #1
    PlaysARobin

    PlaysARobin [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2021
    Member:
    #57335
    Messages:
    121
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Thomas
    East Houston - Texas
    Vehicle:
    2021 TRD Pro Super White
    (2021 TRD Pro) AMP Steps, Ceramic Tint 5/20/70 windshield, Kilmat floor, doors and rear with Audiofrog/Arc audio/JL speaker upgrades and factory HU. AJT blackout. Ironmax4x4 Raid bumper with 10w amber work lights and 32" light bar. Rago dash setup with Bulletproof phone mounts. VLEDs interior kit with front and rear footwell lighting. X2Power AMG 27F.
    The more I looked, the more confused I got (hence the thread title)...

    Trying to keep this one simple, because I simply want to take care of our 3 toyotas, and get the best life out of the paints I can.

    The Preface:
    '21 TRD Pro - Super White. I keep it pretty clean, but want to give it a good full de-con wash, clay, polish, ceramic coat.
    Wife's '22 Rav4 Hybrid XSE. Superwhite with the ol' tuxedo top. Still clean, but she cannot find it in her heart to PARK AWAY FROM EVERYONE, so i have some spots I'd like to try and salvage without the need for a paint shop.
    Son's '22 Corolla 5 speed hatch. Its the pearl white color. He's heavy into cars (going to mechanic's trade school) and wants to continue learning to take care of his own stuff. What better bonding experience than the frustration of continued DIY and modification efforts on cars?!?!


    The Body:
    I really only want one polisher for now. I'm aware of the dangers of rabbit holes, and I want a one stop shop where 90% really is good enough. Sacrilege, i know. I apologize. I don't have the mental capacity to stare at investments into capacity that won't be realized.
    I can get the basic Adams' SK Pro 15mm kit for $200. Browsing here says to get the HDO CCS Lake Country pads in Blue and Orange.

    Which compounds/polishes would you guys recommend? I know Superwhite is a single stage beast that is sensitive to these endeavors, so I was assuming that I'd just be after a single polish like Sonax Perfect Finish (or something else) and something like an Adams' one step pad. Wrong thought process? Blue and Orange Lake country pads with a polishing compound for the blue and then perfect finish with the orange?

    The End: The more questions I ask, the more my wallet and brief weekends cry!
     
  2. Apr 4, 2023 at 3:58 PM
    #2
    briarpatch

    briarpatch New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2016
    Member:
    #5310
    Messages:
    1,914
    Gender:
    Male
    I'm more familiar with Griots Garage products, but I think you'd be fine with the Adams 15mm. I'm not sure where you saw a kit for 200.00.....all of their kits on their website were more than that, and come with their pads and polishes. Sonax Perfect Finish is a very good finishing polish, and. hopefully, that's all you will ever need. For deeper defects, you're going to need a compound as well. Phoenix Papa Cut is very good...cuts well and finishes well.

    I'm a huge fan of the Buff and Shine Uro-Tec 50/50 pads. You control the cut with product and speed. Teamed up with 3D One or Turtle Wax One and Done, they are outstanding pads for cutting. Lake country HDO and CCS pads are separate......they are not one in the same. I'm unsure what the differences are...perhaps someone with more experience with their pads will chime in. The blue and orange give you two levels of polishing pad.....you'd need a finishing pad (black LC I think) for application of sealants or waxes, unless you plan on doing that by hand. Having owned a Tundra for 10 years...I learned my lesson and use the DA.
     
    PlaysARobin[OP] likes this.
  3. Apr 4, 2023 at 5:01 PM
    #3
    PlaysARobin

    PlaysARobin [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2021
    Member:
    #57335
    Messages:
    121
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Thomas
    East Houston - Texas
    Vehicle:
    2021 TRD Pro Super White
    (2021 TRD Pro) AMP Steps, Ceramic Tint 5/20/70 windshield, Kilmat floor, doors and rear with Audiofrog/Arc audio/JL speaker upgrades and factory HU. AJT blackout. Ironmax4x4 Raid bumper with 10w amber work lights and 32" light bar. Rago dash setup with Bulletproof phone mounts. VLEDs interior kit with front and rear footwell lighting. X2Power AMG 27F.
    Good info, @briarpatch ! Thanks. I'll look into the Buff and Shine pads. I didn't appreciate the difference on the finishing pad, but reading back it makes a bit more sense. A really fine polishing pad and a finishing pad are probably what I'm after, just to minimize the risk. I'll continue digging in and trying to navigate the nuance of perfection pursuit and distill down to the necessary components.

    I'm definitely going in on the DA. Theres a ton of surface area on our trucks alone, but when I throw the wife's car in the mix AND the 'Rolla with my son, I'm not about that level of abuse. The Adam's kit at $200 (I misspoke, it comes out to around $230) was with a promo code that is active from one of my emails. 25% off the whole cart. I need to re-up my wheel and tire cleaner (gallon) so I decided to test and see if the polisher kit would be included in the code. Sure enough!
     
  4. Apr 4, 2023 at 5:19 PM
    #4
    briarpatch

    briarpatch New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2016
    Member:
    #5310
    Messages:
    1,914
    Gender:
    Male
    Good deal!! So ofen the sales exclude polishers and/or polisher kits...sounds like you scored for sure. The long throw (15 mm) polisher will make a lot of tings easier/faster than the standard (8mm) throw of the smaller Griots polisher. I'm not sure what the specs are for the Adams unit, but I'm sure it will tackle anything you throw at it. I have three vehicles in this house....the Tundra, a Yukon and a Hyundai Sonata......so glad I have a DA.

    Best of luck with your purchase. Post some pics when you get a chance
     
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2023
  5. Apr 16, 2023 at 11:04 AM
    #5
    Ace96

    Ace96 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2022
    Member:
    #74227
    Messages:
    171
    Gender:
    Male
    Western KY
    Vehicle:
    2021 Voodoo Blue TRD Sport
    I wouldn't hesitate to use Adams polishes and pads. Used them in the past before I got away from their products.
     

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