Cutting pads and waffle ones

[Wally]

What is it that I'm doing wrong.

The orange cutting pad (from Sonus) is soo hard that my rotary start bumping and skipping, no matter what I try, I also have this problem with other "cutting" pads.

Even on 1000 or 1600, with lot's or no polish, straight or at an angle, lot's of pressure or just featering... Nothing works, it's like a brick that I'm moving around...
And they make the most horrible holograms mankind has ever seen, if I put a picture of them on here, I will instantly get BANNED....

And how do you apply polish on a waffle finishing pad from 3M, it slings all the way between the waflles... LOL

Wally

[wannafbody]

I've never used the Sonus pads but I have used the Megs burgundy with a rotary and it was sling city. I've found that the Edge pads produce very little sling. Remember though with a roatry and an aggressive polish any cutting pad will need to be followed up with a less aggressive product and pad.

[gbackus]

Cutting pads require a break in period. They tend to work much better after a couple of use cycles.

[Rollman]

Originally Posted by gbackus

Cutting pads require a break in period. They tend to work much better after a couple of use cycles.

Never heard of that .

[a.k.a. Patrick]

That Orange pad is very stiff and has a small break in period......Once its broken in, you'll be quite impressed....

[jdoria]

I use the 3M waffle style pads with a rotary.

COMPOUND:
I apply the 3M Perfect-it III compound directly to the car, slop it around with the pad, keep the white pad flat, move very slowly, and sling compound all over the garage and car. Polish until there is no product left. (On a real slob, I'd use wool)


POLISH:
I apply 3M foam pad glaze directly to the surface, a drop the size of a quarter for 1/2 the hood, slop it around with the pad and keep the black pad flat. Move slowly, polish until there is nothing left. Sling will be reduced.

WASH:
You will need to wash the car after this process; a pressure washer works the best on wiper arms and body gaps if you didn’t tape them.

WAX:
I previously waxed using Zymol Carbon by hand to finish this job. Now I started reading these forums and have spent over $500 on pads, sealants, waxes, and a Porter Cable polisher just this month. I have to say, I like my old school methods better.

I have tried a few varieties of pads and compounds, I like the 3M waffle pads the best. The white will take out up to 1200 grit wet sanding marks when used with a rotary; the black pad will produce a swirl free finish when used with foam pad glaze and a rotary. If you are not a pro, you can burn paint and trim easily with the edge of the pads, they are thin. At $110 per gallon, the foam pad glaze is expensive, but worth it. You hardly need any and it works. If you apply a sealer or wax after this 2 step process, you will have an excellent swirl free shine. I am a fan of mechanical polishing, chemical polishing satisfies some people’s needs, and I just know what I like from working in an auto body shop.

[brwill2005]

The waffle pads are pretty good. I use the ones from Pro-Wax, but they look very similar to 3M. I also apply about a quarter size of leveler to the panel, and then spread well with the pad before turning the machine on. I just recently found a source for flat pads for aprox $6.00 per pad. I will try those and see how they compare to the waffle pads that are aprox $11.00. BTW, in place of the 3M glaze, Hi-Temp's Light Cut leveler works great as a final polish/swirl remover with a finishing pad. It is only $24.95 a gallon.

[SVR]

I haven't had to wash a car after full polishing for ages.
I like the 3M blacks, edge and lake country as well

Sonus orange of mine is brand new and doing that so I'll machine wash it a few times to see if it softens
One question - the sonus das blue and green pads are really soft and when you use them they shrink down to about less than half an inch thick, is this safe?

[Bence]

Originally Posted by jsatek

...and sling compound all over the garage and car. Polish until there is no product left. (On a real slob, I'd use wool)...

...At $110 per gallon, the foam pad glaze is expensive, but worth it. You hardly need any and it works. If you apply a sealer or wax after this 2 step process, you will have an excellent swirl free shine...

Using the correct amount will reduce/eliminate slinging. There are rotary experts here who can do a full job in tuxedo.

I don't know. You will have a swirl-free-appearing surface. 3M products can fill so much that is actually disgusting for me. I hate liar products - until I have to use them on an un-correctable classic.

[dxt]

Has anyone seen or used the new Edge waffle pads? They look pretty cool.