When I purchased my Flex last year most of my researched indicated to use the orange pad with SIP followed by a white pad and Super finish.
Results have been fantastic on my 02 Ford truck. The 09 Vett still looks great and I see no need to buff it yet. But lately been reading about a orange pad being used for removing moderate to severe defects, bug and water etching, light sanding marks, and blends.
Is the orange pad with SIP to aggressive for my needs?

 

Just posted in your other thread.
Use a white pad and your finishing polish of choice (for me it's ZPC) and see what you think.

 

Polish / Pad Combinations

All abrasive polishes are ‘foam pad and applied pressure dependant’ as far as their paint correction abilities are concerned. If we consider the Lake County (LC) White foam (50 PPI) polishing pad as the baseline; any polish used will derive help from the abrasive abilities of the foam.

Then consider the LC Blue (70 PPI) finishing pad has no abrasive ability and will contribute nothing to the cutting capability of a polish.
What is derived from this is that a polishes abrasive ability can be ‘fine tuned’ by using different combinations (abrasiveness) of polish and foam (the same thing is true of wool pads) and of course differing the amount of downward pressure (10-15 Lbs is the usual range) applied will also have an effect on the abrasives capability of a polish or compound as well as other factors (See also Foam Pad Selection and Use)

Here are just a few suggested examples of Lake County (LC) Mfg foam pad and Menzerna polish combinations.

Single-Step
Menzerna Power Finish PO203on an Orange or a Green pad

Two-Step Combinations
a) 1. Menzerna Super Intensive Polish PO83 on an Orange pad
2. Menzerna PO106FA on a White pad
b) Menzerna Power Finish PO203on a Green pad
2. Menzerna Final Polish PO85RD on a Black pad
c) 1. Menzerna Intensive Polish PO91E on an Orange pad
2. Menzerna Final Polish PO85RD on a White pad

Three-Step Combinations
a) 1. Menzerna Super Intensive Polish on an Orange pad
2. Menzerna PO106FA on a White pad
3. Menzerna PO85RD on a Black pad
b) 1. Menzerna Power Gloss POS34Aon a Yellow or a Purple Foamed Wool (PFW) pad
2. Menzerna Intensive Polish PO91E on an Orange pad
3. Menzerna Final Polish PO85RD on a White pad

 

Orange pads are indeed abrasive and should be used with SIP only as needed , often initially, to remove swirls and water marks. Then you often should move to SIP and white pad to remove any micromarring and down to Nano or 085rd with lighter pad to start bringing up gloss and reflection.

A common rule in detailing is to use the least abrasive polish and least abrasive pad as needed for polishing. So if you dont need those steps at the abrasive level skip them, you can always go up as needed but start with a margin of safety. Some good finishes only need a quick light polish and pad to really do justice. Then protect your work with the sealant or wax of your choice.

 

A little confusing to me. Would you suggest using a white pad with the SIP and then a different white pad with the Super finish?

 

Start with a white pad and finishing polish and see if you are happy with the results.
Ramp up from there if not.

 

I would start with a white pad and either SIP or Nano (Nano is lighter). If the finish is as nice as you suggest you might only need to jewel up the paint abit and could use a finishing pad (grey, or blue) and Nano or 085rd to do that.

Orange and SIP is much to abrasive if you dont need it, so only go there if the white pad and polish combo didnt do what you expected and you need more correcting/cutting. This should only be needed for heavier swirls or waterspots and etching.