I bought a random orbital buffer the other day and it came with two shoddy bonnets that I don't plan to use. I've been doing some searching over the internet for bonnets but there are so many options I don't know which to use for particular steps.

Foam, Terry, Microfiber, Lambswool....what should I get?

I will be applying Zaino products on a black car and the paint is still in very good shape if that helps.

 

I bought a Porter-Cable random orbital buffer a couple of weeks ago at Lowes for ~$93 and I had a 10% off coupon. I have used it for the last couple of weeks and it makes a big difference in getting out swirl marks and applying wax.

Get the Lake Country pads and flexible pad holder from www.topoftheline.com

Yellow pad - use with Swirl Remover
White pad - use with Polish and/or Glazes.
Black pad - use with finishing wax

Get a three or four terry bonnets to remove waxes, etc. You can put the terry bonnets over any of the above pads. Just make sure the pads are clean and dry.
I have a couple of miro bonnets to give a final polish. No real need for lambswool.

 

Zaino = do not use the orbital

You waste way to much product using an orbital pad. Stick with a good quality foam pad (Meguiars sells them in packs at most auto parts stores, Walmart too)

If you were planning to use an abrasive to remove swirls, then yes, absolutely go with the orbital.

As far as pads go, my preference is Lake Country pads. CLpower uses the pads from www.exceldetail.com which seem very good too. The explain what is used for what.

 

Foam pads are used to polish.
Wool pads are used for cutting.
Microfiber/Terry pads are used for wax application.

Unless your car's paint is seriously jacked up and you feel that you want to polish the car, use a soft foam pad on a rotary then a terry pad on an orbital. Have no misconceptions, orbital buffers are not really buffers, they are supposed to be used to apply an even coat of wax effortlessly over the surface of the vehicle. A terry pad can be used for this. Unless you have experience with high speed rotary buffers I would stay away from them or have someone show you how to use it first, one wrong angle with a pad and it'll burn right through your clearcoat.

-J-Tow