LC sucks, need recommendations

Chicagoareanew · 09-18-09, 11:02

I know I'm new at polishing, but at this point I am convinced it's the pads and not me. Even with priming, giving them breaks, cleaning them with DP pad cleaner, they soften up which defeats the purpose of having orange pads. And then they lose control, where instead of spinning they freeze for a split second and then do something unpredictable. I'm pretty sure at this point it can't be my technique because it starts out ok, but then goes down hill.
So, I'm wondering if Chemical Guys has good pads. They seem to have a pretty big selection; it's smaller than LC but they have too many anyhow. I know some people like Meg's pads, but I don't like that brand in general.
Edit: I'm willing to consider anything, not just CG but they are the only other brand I know of.

gmblack3a · 09-18-09, 11:32

I doubt that CG makes there own pads.

WhyteWizard · 09-19-09, 06:47

Sounds to me like you're using too much product for one thing, the softening up as it's being used is a good thing because it lets the pad conform to the surface better and instead of washing them out you should try just brushing the off with a wire brush or scrapping with a wood rasp to remove the excess polish/compound.

Here's what you can expect with Lake Country pads and the right polish and technique.

This car got colorsanding and detailing and went to Pebble Beach. If you right click the picture and then choose open in a new tab you can see more pics of this car and a couple of other things. The shots on the grass were from a different show a few weeks later.

Robert

evolutionwc3 · 09-19-09, 07:00

Are your surfaces completely void of all waxes and silicone based fillers? The LC orange pad can be problematic if there's anything left on the surface. Try several ISO 50/50 wipedowns and see if that helps.

gmblack3a · 09-19-09, 07:06

Both great points above. I have been using LC pads for 4 years and don't have the same issues as long as the above advice is followed.

kaotikdt · 09-19-09, 07:40

Sorry to hear that, but I haven't had a single problem with my pads. I've used 4", 5.5" and 7.5", both flat and curved. I wan't to try some megs though

wfedwar · 09-19-09, 07:54

I'm always amazed at the small amount of polish you actually need to get optimum results. I was polishing quite a while before I realized I was using too much.

a.k.a. Patrick · 09-19-09, 07:59

Never had any issues with LC in the many years of using them. Bound to be technique and products.......

swan · 09-19-09, 09:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chicagoareanew

I know I'm new at polishing, but at this point I am convinced it's the pads and not me. Even with priming, giving them breaks, cleaning them with DP pad cleaner, they soften up which defeats the purpose of having orange pads. And then they lose control, where instead of spinning they freeze for a split second and then do something unpredictable. I'm pretty sure at this point it can't be my technique because it starts out ok, but then goes down hill.
So, I'm wondering if Chemical Guys has good pads. They seem to have a pretty big selection; it's smaller than LC but they have too many anyhow. I know some people like Meg's pads, but I don't like that brand in general.
Edit: I'm willing to consider anything, not just CG but they are the only other brand I know of.

The details are overwhelming!

I am pretty sure it is you and your technique than the pads. Maybe even the product you are trying to use. There are thousands of folks here that use the LC pads with no issues. What size pads are you using and what machine? I assume when you say "freeze for a split second" you are using a PC? What product are you using? All very important details you left out.

I don't understand what you mean by "giving breaks"....."then do something unpredictable", can you explain what you mean?
Also when are you using the pad cleaner?

I have not used CG pads so I have no opinion. Did you have a bad experience with a Megs product? Not sure why you dislike Megs brand but maybe give them another shot as they have a lot of good things to offer.

Chicagoareanew · 09-19-09, 10:24

Thanks for all of the responses, guys. I guess I will address all of them in an organized list lol.

Chemical guys does sell a weird type of pad with a hexagon pattern, but they don't say the name of the company that produces it, they just mention that it was designed just for them and that it was produced in CA.

I was using a PC, 4 inch pads, and Menzerna polishes (PG, IP, FPII). I primed with chemical guys pad conditioner. I also have their brush so I try and not let the pad get too crusty. I cleaned the pads with the DP after I gave up on them, otherwise I just scrape and spray them.

I'm not sure if I'm using too much polish. The bottles say just use a quarter sized amount but that won't even spread. But it's not like I'm using so much that it ends up overwhelming, since I can always just spread it further if need be.

When I say I give the pads breaks, I mean when they soften up and become easilly compressed, I switch to a fresh, stiffer pad.

When I say they do things unpredictable, basically when they are fresh, they are easy to control. But when they get soft, they either start expanding and contracting, or it'll just stop spinning for a split second and then start again which makes the machine jump. Comparing a fresh pad to a one I've been using for a while is like comparing some petting zoo pony to a raging bull.

My correction is being done on speed 5.

The surface of my car shouldn't have any fillers or anything because the surface will not bead whatsoever. I'll try some extra wipe downs just incase, but I don't think that is the problems.

I don't like Megs because after trying 105 and probably some stuff in the past, I just don't think they are high quality. If their pads are amazing, then I'm closed minded and suffering from that. But I am willing to spend more for quality because I've got so many LC pads that if I would have spent 2x more and the pads have less problems, I could get by with less cleaning and clutter.

Accumulator · 09-19-09, 11:04

Chicagoareanew- I can sympathize with how you must feel, hearing that it's all your technique as opposed to the pads, but I really do think that is the case. The diffs in pads simply aren't that significant IME.

Saying that you're predisposed against trying Meguiar's pads due to experiences with other Meguiar's products seems, uhm...ill-considered.

Since things are OK when you start and then degrade, IMO you need to figure out what's happening to cause that drop in performance. Maybe you simply need to clean/dry your pads more often/thoroughly or even just get out a fresh one.

And as soon as the pad is loaded with broken-down product and cut-off clear, you *will* experience a difference because of that. If fresh pads work better, keep your pads fresh.

If the way you're doing things requires you to change pads very frequently, then either just do that or reconsider how you're doing things. I sure wouldn't expect a different brand of pads to make much difference.

FWIW when working with non-rotary polishers, I never prime my pads with anything except the product I'm using. And I'm very careful to prime my pads properly, even when *not* using M105-type products. I actually spend a whole lot of time priming, cleaning, repriming, etc. my pads; it's time well-spent IMO and if for some reason I have to do it *very* frequently, then so be it.

I sure wouldn't just put a blob of product on the pad, I'd want the foam's surface to be more uniformly loaded than that (which is *not* to say "use a lot of product").

mc2hill · 09-19-09, 11:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chicagoareanew

Chemical guys does sell a weird type of pad with a hexagon pattern, but they don't say the name of the company that produces it, they just mention that it was designed just for them and that it was produced in CA.

Chemical Guys and Adam's both sell the 'self-centering' hexagonal faced pads. I believe they are from Buff and Shine. This design does make it easier to center the backing plate on the pad, but they still work similar to the Lake Country pads.