Difference between cutting and polishing MF pads?

[derek37]

Hey y`all, been searching but can`t seem to find an answer.....is the MF compound pad the same as the mf polishing pad? What really is the difference, other than the foam, between the two? I have the Megs mf finishing/polishing pad and if I need to do some heavy correcting, I use the surbuf, which is awesome. I have no problems and really like the mf finishing pads but wondering if the mf compounding pad is really necessary for correction. Are the fibers different on the cutting pad? Will I get the same results (all things being equal) using a compound with the finishing as I would with using the MF compounding pad. I`ve been using UNO v3, killer product, every thing works out well



Basically, just what is the difference between each pad.



Derek

[autoaesthetica]

I am not sure if the microfiber is different, meguiars says its different I believe... the difference is the foam interface thickness, which is less on the cutting disc. This translates into less accessory motion between the pores in that interface and which directly translates into better conversion of oscillatory motion for the "cutting" action. Otherwise the foam firmness is slightly more on the cutting disc which again is that direct translation of energy.

[derek37]

Wow Mike, if that is true about the fibers being the same, what you say totally makes sense. Great post.

[autoaesthetica]

Sorry I corrected myself, regardless though, we are a Megs distributor, and using these pads weekly, I will openly sub a finishing disc if I run out of clean cutting discs.



But like I said, and hopefully it makes sense, the real difference comes from that direction of polishing movement directly back into the paint.

[derek37]

.....right, achieved by the density, or lack there of, of the foam interface. Is the recommended speed the same for both pads?

[autoaesthetica]

Generally I think its a hair lower for the finishing pads. A lot I think depends on where you are in the polishing process, the product you are using and how much removed material is in the pad.



I personally use the same speed(4-5 DA depending), same pressure for both with slight variations depending on the paint system I am working on. For example on softer paints, I have always tended to keep a moderate pressure, because I felt like(and often would see) if I lightened up, it would score and haze the daylights out of the surface(which you can imagine what it would look like if you had removed material in the pad along with it).



My DA technique over the years has gone from a pyramid progression, to basically constant pressure, varying the speed if needed to get the paint to respond.



LangMan what kinds of paints do you typically see?

[derek37]

man, i just typed out a long reply and something screwed on my laptop and everything was deleted. That effing pisses me off. I`ll try again tomorrow. Dammit.

[RaskyR1]

The MF itself is different between the cutting and finishing pads. If I remember correctly it was fiber length and the MF blend as well. The foam is probably going to be the biggest factor though IMO.