When to Change a PC Pad

[CharlesW]

Originally posted by 57chevy
ONE-MORE-Question...This one is one I struggle with as well.
What speed(s) should be used with what pad?
Does it depend on the product? Polish and a white pad at speed 3/4 on a PC 7424? This is what I guess I`m looking for next. What are the operating speeds and when should you increase or decrease the speed?
Hopefully this makes sense.

You will probably get lots of different opinions on this. (Imagine that, differing opinions on auto detailing)

For some time I experimented with different speeds and finally decided that 4.5 seemed to work for everything I was using.

The one time that I felt that a higher speed, (6), was beneficial was when I used Meg`s Scratch-X to remove a surface scratch on my van.

Charles

[kimwallace]

So far only experience is with Meg`s pads
DACP
Polishing pad mostly Cutting pad for tough scratches
Speed 51/2 - 6 seems to perform better and also break down better ... less hazing
#82 SFP or #9 SR
Polishing pad unless a dark color
Speed 5 ... these products work better if left wet
NXT (havent tried UPP with PC yet)
Polishing or finishing pad
Speed 4 - 4 1/2 Spreads the NXT super thin

The humidity and paint condition seem to be reasons to vary the speed up or down also, sometimes I will spread the product out with a slower speed and the increase to do the work.

[JimS]

I don`t remember having set the speed above 4 at any time since I got my PC last spring. Not even when doing heavier work. It just seemed to me that 4 was high enough, there`s no hurry and even if the job is a little tougher a little more time is all it will take. I`d feel different if I were doing it professionally and needed to get the job done and move on to another one.

[kimwallace]

I have used a rotary for years and so when I first started using a PC about 3 months ago ... I almost felt like I was wasting my time because it took so long to get the results I wanted so that is when I started adjusting speeds. Heat is one of the things that makes a rotary so effective among others. The heat cannot be duplicated with a PC but higher speeds add more heat.