7.5 pads or 6.5?

[SLiM003]

For those people who uses rotary, what size of pads do you prefer? I decided to go with a makita 9227 because its lighter than the dewalt. I've used the dewalt so many times and could not get comfortable with it. Its just too heavy for me. What are the advantages and disadvantages between the two?

[DanoWatt]

For a rotary, smaller. You don't want a big bulk of a pad knocking into everything, especially with a rotary. Little curvy areas will be quite a pain.

[porta]

When I am compounding, I prefere smaller pads like 6" , when I do light polishing 7,5"-8" and finishing I use 8-9" SM Arnold 80ppi, very soft pads.

My next rotary will be the very light and strong Flex L 3403 VRG, only 4lbs and a couple of oz! For us in Europe it´s 1,9kg. That is very very light, I have never tested a Dewalt but they do look heavy and bulky. The flex have 1300watt so it´s not that powerful like the bigger ones, but not so weak either. A superb machine!

Is Flex represented in North America? Anyway take a look at this link

http://www.flex-tools.de/en/prod/detail.php?id=164

EDIT:

After some reading I now know that the Dewalt 849 is 8,25lbs! No wonder why you think it´s heavy. It is!.
It´s almost twice as much as the machine I use today

AEG PE150

http://www.aeg-pt.se/internet/CmsTEST2003A.nsf/Files/PE150Z1.jpg/$FILE/PE150Z1.jpg

[MichaelM]

I like the 7.5" pads. The size is nice for doing large panels while the edge of the pad still allows you to get into tight spaces.

[Accumulator]

I hardly ever use pads larger than 6.5", and I mostly use 4" ones since I'm usually just doing spot repairs/RIDS.

[cgc2]

Just tried my new Metabo this evening on our older car.
Used a Propel 1 @ 7 inches, and then the new Propel 2 @ 6.5 inches.

Im using a 6 inch backing plate, and I must say I like the new Propel 2 A LOT.