Rotary disappointments...

xfire · 09-29-06, 10:12

So, I got my new Metabo rotary and I played around with it and a light-cut pad on an old Rav 4 door. It seemed ok. I then proceeded to polish my Crossfire. That went good I think...no holograms, incredible silver metallic flake POP! I used an Edge 2K Blue 6" pad. It was very similar to working with a PC...almost TOO similar. How so? It took just as long to break-down polish with this machine as with the PC. Is this supposed to happen?? While polishing with the rotary, my friend touched the paint surface and he said it was every so slightly warm, not hot, but warmer than with a PC. Everyone on the forum seems to tell me that a rotary breaks-down polish faster than a PC. I had the speed set to about 1200 rpm...

Today I detailed my friend's Supra. Pics will come from the show tomorrow, but, I was using an Orange Edge 2K 6" light-cut pad on the car, same speed of 1200 rpm, and the pad seemed to consistently vibrate every so slightly but totally noticeable. I switched back to my blue pad and the pad did not bounce or vibrate at all. Both pads were clean before use. The orange pad, from initial use, vibrated. What can possibly be wrong? Because of my problems with that pad, all I did was use the blue pad and swirls remained! The one panel with the orange pad usage had no swirls though, I must say. The car had never been polished. I clay barred and washed before polishing. I ALWAYS focus on keeping the pad as flat as possible to the surface. Any and all help will be great.

Reflections · 09-30-06, 01:12

I find ocassionally that my pads will vibrate also, and only with the cutting pads. I'm still not sure why it does it sometimes and not others. I find that pads designed for PC which tend to have smaller cells vibrate more when I use them with my rotary, which is annoying because I like using 6 inch pads and can't find any rotary pads that are that size.

It helps to make sure the panels are cool and you're using lots of polish. I'd love to hear what anyone else has to offer on this issue.

David Fermani · 09-30-06, 05:00

Use a pad centering tool:
http://www.automagic.com/accessories/1002C.htm

Keep in mind that not all pads are perfect and some are somewhat defective/off center. If you have a perfectly round backing plate and your pad is perfectly centered and still wobbles when you spin it, it's most likely bad. Return it or exchange it with the manufacturer/vendor. If you keep using it, it will cause unecessary problems and be an uphill battle.

xfire · 09-30-06, 06:19

David...my pads are always centered b/c I have the Edge 2K pads. I hate it when I'm polishing with these pads and the pad just skips around like it is it's job! The skipping/vibrating pads leave a scattered lines of polished product, and I am most definitely worried about holograms!

Anthony Orosco · 09-30-06, 06:34

David is correct in the off balance pads but also if you have an issue with pad bounce then stop laying it flat.

I buff 90% of the time with my pads at a slight angle. Usually pad bounce occurs when you are not centered over the rotary so to counter this just give the pad a slight angle and continue buffing.

If this bounce occurs more on the flat surfaces, like hood, roof and trunks, then try using a step stool so you can be more centered over the rotary. It all has to do with balance and angles.

The myth is that buffing with an open faced pad gives you swirls but that's incorrect. An abrasive pad/product is what leaves you with swirls....yes buffing with an angled pad can be potentially dangerous as it creates more heat but this would only happen if one became careless and distracted.

Hope that helps,
Anthony

wannafbody · 09-30-06, 08:20

the softer the pad more effort or time is needed to break down the polish. the difference in density between the blue and orange pads are the difference you're feeling. The blue compresses easily and the orange is denser. That's why you get some skipping as well.

blkZ28Conv · 09-30-06, 09:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anthony Orosco

I buff 90% of the time with my pads at a slight angle. Usually pad bounce occurs when you are not centered over the rotary so to counter this just give the pad a slight angle and continue buffing.

If this bounce occurs more on the flat surfaces, like hood, roof and trunks, then try using a step stool so you can be more centered over the rotary. It all has to do with balance and angles.

Hope that helps,
Anthony

Bingo!

David Fermani · 09-30-06, 03:45

[quote=xfire]David...my pads are always centered b/c I have the Edge 2K pads. QUOTE]

Please explain.... Do they automatically center themselves? My backing plate and pad both have a hole in the exact center and it's a MUST that they are exactly lined up. If not it's will wobble and cause swirls.

wannafbody · 09-30-06, 05:43

[quote=David Fermani]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xfire

David...my pads are always centered b/c I have the Edge 2K pads. QUOTE]

Please explain.... Do they automatically center themselves? My backing plate and pad both have a hole in the exact center and it's a MUST that they are exactly lined up. If not it's will wobble and cause swirls.

The Edge system uses a metal adapter instead of a backing plate. The adapter snaps into a plastic piece in the center of the pad.

holland_patrick · 09-30-06, 07:22

ya the edge is self centering..

http://www.edgepads.com/index.htm