Novice Removing Scratches - Which Pad?

I'm a novice at using a DA/polisher but just did my 2012 and it came out great. My wife's 2015 has some scratches on the hood and I'm wanted to know what pad I should use to remove them. Should I use 105 followed by 205? The pads I have - orange, white, red, & black.

2012-almost done....
2015- scratches in hood...

 

Which brand of pad? Different colors mean different things to different companies.

Aside from that, you need something that is capable of a pretty heavy cut for those. For Lake Country, I'd be starting at no less than an orange pad, knowing full well it probably won't get through those.

Always start with the least amount of cut you can get away with, and go from there as needed.

 

I believe the pads I have are Lake Country. I'll verify that tomorrow.Should I use the 205 with the orange pad or start with the 105 and see where that gets me?

 

For those, I'd probably be grabbing the 105. It is safest to start with the 205 and see where it gets you, but it might not have enough cut for those. Kinda hard to tell just from a picture.

 

I never aim for full correction on scratches that I can feel with a fingernail. I just polish and live with whatever improvement comes.

Remember- you’re removing clear coat to the level of the bottom of the scratch if you’re doing full correction on a defect. If you can feel it with a fingernail, that’s a lot of clear coat you’ll be removing.

 

Yes, I'm using Lake Country CCS pads. I'll report back with results.....
Thanks for the tips.....

 

I used the orange Lake Country CCS pads on my 08 and they did a good job. The hood needed more correction and the orange CCS pads were not getting the job done, so I switched over to Buff and Shine's URO Fiber 50/50 pads. That got the job done.

$13 Buff and Shine URO-Fiber Microfiber Pad for Car Compounding, Cutting, Buffing, Waxing, and Polishing - Compatible with Long-Throw, High-Action, Dual-Action, and Random Orbital Polisher - 5 in (1 Pad)

https://www.amazon.com/Buff-Shine-U...dp/B0725JT16D/ref=psdc_15707091_t3_B07CHSH27P

 

I tried the 205 first but there wasn't a significant improvement. I then used 105 and it did improve the scratches a lot. If you look at them at different angles, they are invisible. At other angles you can see a hint of them. For now I'll leave it be but I just might try the Uro-Fiber pad....