cutting a pad to smaller size

J

jupiter

New member
I have an 8" LC CCS white pad that has barely been used. I found it's too large to handle without skipping, so instead of throwing it away I thought of cutting it to 6.5". Basically I'd draw an outline w/ a Sharpie and cut it w/ a very sharp utility knife or scissors. Any problems with this? I've never tried to cut foam before
 
I'd find something that is the right diameter and cut around that, but I can't follow a line to save my life. You'll be fine otherwise. Getting through the velcro is the worst part.
 
yakky said:
I'd find something that is the right diameter and cut around that, but I can't follow a line to save my life. You'll be fine otherwise. Getting through the velcro is the worst part.
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Agreed, get some box cutters or exacto knife with a clean tin can from some family sized baked beans or something like that and cut around it. Or even an old BP to cut around...
 
Note that you'll probably end up with a pad that has velcro all the way to the edge of the pad. Dunno if you'll mind that or not, some pads come that way but many have a bit of space between the edge of the pad and the velcro backing.
 
I was going to tie a string to a sharpie and draw a circle like you would with a math compass.



yeah I know the velcro would extend all the way to the edge after I cut the pad, but I'm ok with that
 
If you do this change, as all are saying.

Why?

It has a very great possibilty to cause more damage than you are attempting to correct.

I have been in the business since before you were born, developed, tested, used, etc pads from all the major manufactuers.

Just tough up and buy the correct pad.

That's what I have to say, and I will stand by it.

Pads and their construction are not as simple as many think.

However, it's you car, your money so do what you "know" is right.

Grumpy
 
Yeah....I tried whittling up some 4" pads for the Cyclo back in the day (from Meg's 7006 pads) and my results were, uhm...less than optimal. It's a bit trickier than one might expect.
 
I cut a LC red pad down to around 4" to apply AGHD wax, it was tricky and looked like I had drank 10 Coronas first - but, it worked for it's intended purpose. If I were to experiment with cutting down a pad again, I'd use my rotary as a lathe and come up with some kind of cutting tool to "turn" down the pad like you would a piece of metal.



note - add the usual, don't try this sh!t at home, always wear hazmat suit, kelver gloves and a condom (hey, you can't be too carefull) and I'm not responsible for you cutting off any part of yourself or any emotional damage............
 
I was going to try this very same thing myself with the Meguiars microfiber pads.



Where Meguiars does not make these pads in 4" for the Cyclo (yet) I was going to tool my own by using a 4" exhaust coupling sharpened with a file and "stamp cut" it down to size.



Too bad PAC was out of the kit when I placed my order :(



Jeff
 
JuneBug said:
.... If I were to experiment with cutting down a pad again, I'd use my rotary as a lathe and come up with some kind of cutting tool to "turn" down the pad like you would a piece of metal.



note - add the usual, don't try this sh!t at home, always wear hazmat suit, kelver gloves and a condom (hey, you can't be too carefull) and I'm not responsible for you cutting off any part of yourself or any emotional damage............
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The rotary "lathe" technique works. Just don't use any sort of blade like device on a spinning pad!



The Duo Spur has a feature that's sort of a cheese grater like thingy for cleaning up out-of-round foam pads.

duospur2.jpeg




Use scissors to cut the pad nearly round and smooth it out on the "lathe."



I have one friend who has used heavy grit sandpaper to do it. I don't think I'll try that because I'm deathly afraid of getting grit on a pad. But he says he's done it for years and never had any problems (and he's no hack, he does beautiful work). I'll stick to my Duo Spur.







pc.
 
I've had to do this in the past. I put the pad on the buffer, and spin itup while someone else takes an exacto and cuts the pad to a perfect circle. Super easy and super dangerous. ;)
 
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