waffle pads vs flat pads (rotary)

wannafbody · 07-02-05, 08:05

is there an advantage to one vs the other? does one cut better or leave a better finish?

MongooseGA · 07-02-05, 08:07

I'd like to know about these pads too. I've only seen pics of them in a few "How-to" write ups and couldn't figure out what the advantages would be.

Any info?

JDookie · 07-02-05, 08:27

I don't know about performance, but the waffle pads create less heat than the flat pads, so I would *assume* that the flat pads would cut quicker since they creat more heat.

That being said, I don't see many people having problems with the flat pads on rotaries, so whether one is *better* than the other would be pure preference on the user's part.

scottabir · 07-02-05, 10:27

A few people I know use them for finish polishing and they swear by their performance. I persoanlly have yet to try them but what I have heard has been positive.

usdm · 07-02-05, 10:44

waffles work very well. But I found that they wore down
a lot faster than Edge flat pads, or LC VC pads. Megs pad
(which I happen to love over all the others), on the other
hand do not last very long at all.

MorBid · 07-03-05, 06:34

In addition to producing less heat, the waffle pads are easier to control "slinging".

X-Trail · 07-04-05, 07:42

You will get sling with either pads. The waffle pads is not as durable as the LC pads thats for sure. But its a pretty good pad. I rate the Black waffle pad to be in between the white & black LC pads in terms of cutting power.

Sylox · 07-05-05, 12:29

I use Flat Megs red (heavy cutting) Flat Megs White (polishing etc) and Black Megs waffle (for all swirl filling and finishing)

We tried using waffle pads of a harder foam for cutting but you only had to bump some thing with them and they nearly self destructed. They also didnt cut as quick...

Alfisti · 07-05-05, 04:30

I'd speculate that the advantage of less heat production would be with a rotary, not a PC. If anything, a PC creates too little heat, sometimes, too breakdown some heavy polishes.

SVR · 07-05-05, 12:32

3M waffle pads are pretty good but I am amazed at how fast they thin out whereas edge just keep on going. Mine haven't thinned out at all yet

Been using 3M black waffle with menzerna IP on my car and soon will be PO85RD 3.01 and PO85RD but now have edge green pads so will switch to them.
The results with IP, FP II, SONUS 3 and clearkote red moose are absolutely stunning
The amount of orange peel that was reduced was also impressive
my car's paint had probably only a quarter or fifth amount of peel than brand new cars but now it's almost all gone.

Shiny Lil Detlr · 07-05-05, 03:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by usdm

waffles work very well. But I found that they wore down
a lot faster than Edge flat pads, or LC VC pads. Megs pad
(which I happen to love over all the others), on the other
hand do not last very long at all.

100% agree.... my Meg's pads don't even last that long used with a PC exclusively; let alone how they'll respond to the rotary. I've never been able to successfully wash them either.