Buff and shine rotary backing plate extension

ca.detailchick

ca.detailchick

New member
I saw a post Stokdgs recommended this so I ordered one recently. Dan always gives good advice.

I will be using this with a 3" backing plate.

Someone on another forum warned me I would not have as much control with this extension on my rotary.

Opinions please! Thanks !
 
I am a new user of all types of polishers. I purchased the following machines.....Flex 3401,PE-14,PE-8, Porter Cable,and finally Griot's Garage DA. I purchased the extensions for the rotaries and they are so smooth I had no problems at all using them like butter. I am using them for first step work and small detail work. I have not exceeded half speed or bigger than 5" and smaller than 3". They already helped get under side mirrors and roof racks and front-rear bumper areas just to name a few spots that they really shine. The extensions I purchased are aluminum and work in a nice balanced rotation. Buy more than one so you can get all different places you will love them. I watched Mikes AutoGeek Youtube video and it shows why they are needed if you want to do quality work.
 
Good Morning, DC,
Looks like rain for us in CA and we are so glad !

I have had extensions on my Rotary machines for so long I cant remember if it was hard to get used to them initially.. :)

Think it may have made the Rotary a little harder to use initially, but you get used to it and then are so glad that the machine is now spaced far away from things and you can get the pad in those little places easier..

I have never had a problem using these extensions and never hit anything with them either, etc..

Good luck !
Dan F
 
I run this extension on my rotary every time I use a smaller 3"- pad. I have even left it on and used it with 5.5 pads. Personally I like the added separation from the surface.
 
TroyScherer said:
I run this extension on my rotary every time I use a smaller 3"- pad. I have even left it on and used it with 5.5 pads. Personally I like the added separation from the surface.
Click to expand...

+1 !
I have never removed any of mine either.. :)
Dan F
 
Looks like anyone who uses a rotary needs this extension!! So glad I asked!

buff and shine rotary backing plate extension Autopia store sells these for 5.99

*DanF...We are getting slammed with rain storm after rainstorm also predicted all week . Yeah we need the rain but come on!!!

:o

I need to work and cant work in the rain! Im praying it will stop!;)
 
Absolutely no wobble which would indicate something is loose or coming loose..

And since everything from the extension to the rotary is metal, it would have to be the backing plate coming loose from the metal insert in the backing plate..

This kind of condition has never happened to me and a zillion years, but I suppose it could, since that would be the only place where the connection is not all metal to metal...

No wobble, just straight, smooth rotation; no vibration, etc..
Dan F
 
I had a chance to use the extension today and I got to say YES for me there is less control with the extension. I used it without ,then with and then without again and I could tell a significant difference. My wrists really took the hit and got fatigued right away. Took the extension off and no wrist pain.

Maybe if you have strong wrists you wouldnt feel the difference . I was also working on a curvy headlight so that could be a factor too.......

I do love how it gives you more room and will only use it when I need it
 
I used it for a while, and got smoother polishing without it. Also, is it supposed to require a wrench to get this extension off of the BP?
 
Well, the physics alone will be as such that it will take a bit to get used to it only the very first time, but it should be fine after you use it awhile..

Your hands and arms will get used to the different way it feels and make adjustments for it..

Think of it as the way it was when you first started riding a 2-wheel bike, but a lot easier... :)

Once your body and brain figured out the balance, you were fine, right ?

The idea especially with a Rotary is to keep the pad absolutely dead flat on the panel at all times if possible..

So, you have to be able to move the machine with your hands to that place - where ever - it is to keep that line from machine, through the spacer, the backing plate, and pad, absolutely straight, so you have the entire thing balanced... Its really easy when you find that balance, and there is no more fighting anything..

I never take mine off, and if I have to change the backing plate, its just a lock the motor and twist off the backing plate with the other hand.. The spacer stays connected to the Rotary's threaded shaft..

To answer your question Jrock645, it should be no harder to take this off than running off the original threaded shaft on the Rotary...
Its an extension of what you already have.. If you want to make it tighter, then it will take more force to remove it..

Here is another example of my experiences --- when I first bought the Flex 3401VRG machine (from almost the same guys in Florida), over 10 years ago, I put it on a panel and turned it on and was surprised that the counter-clockwise rotation was hard to manage - until - I figured out that this was the only thing different, and if I really tried to keep the machine perfectly straight and the pad flat on the panel, and not "fight it", the rotation was not as hard to manage..

After a bit, my arms and brain got to that place where they were now used to something entirely different - that crazy "backwards" pad rotation...

It took a little practice but then it was like nothing different - no matter how much time went by - before I used it again...
Good Luck !
Dan F
 
Stokdgs said:
Well, the physics alone will be as such that it will take a bit to get used to it only the very first time, but it should be fine after you use it awhile..

Your hands and arms will get used to the different way it feels and make adjustments for it..

Think of it as the way it was when you first started riding a 2-wheel bike, but a lot easier... :)

Once your body and brain figured out the balance, you were fine, right ?

The idea especially with a Rotary is to keep the pad absolutely dead flat on the panel at all times if possible..

So, you have to be able to move the machine with your hands to that place - where ever - it is to keep that line from machine, through the spacer, the backing plate, and pad, absolutely straight, so you have the entire thing balanced... Its really easy when you find that balance, and there is no more fighting anything..

I never take mine off, and if I have to change the backing plate, its just a lock the motor and twist off the backing plate with the other hand.. The spacer stays connected to the Rotary's threaded shaft..

To answer your question Jrock645, it should be no harder to take this off than running off the original threaded shaft on the Rotary...
Its an extension of what you already have.. If you want to make it tighter, then it will take more force to remove it..

Here is another example of my experiences --- when I first bought the Flex 3401VRG machine (from almost the same guys in Florida), over 10 years ago, I put it on a panel and turned it on and was surprised that the counter-clockwise rotation was hard to manage - until - I figured out that this was the only thing different, and if I really tried to keep the machine perfectly straight and the pad flat on the panel, and not "fight it", the rotation was not as hard to manage - until - my arms and brain got to that place where they were now used to something entirely different - that crazy "backwards" pad rotation...

It took a little practice but then it was like nothing different - no matter how much time went by - before I used it again...
Good Luck !
Dan F
Click to expand...
I only used it for a few minutes because it was stressing my wrists too much. I think my wrists have taken too much abuse with a lot of sanding I have been doing.I dont like to push my body beyond its limits and pay for it later with an injury!

But I know you are right that it s probably just a matter of getting used to and adjusting.

The 3401 Flex really stressed my wrists too , must be a weak area for me .

I still am glad to have it and use it when I need it. 5.99 is such an incredible bargain!
 
Well said Dan. Now I am going to have to buy the extension and the Flex 3401 machine. There is a longer extension out there anybody know where to get it from?
 
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