peacemaker
New member
I just recently moved to 5.5 backing plate and pads but completely forgot that I had a bunch of perfectly fine 6.5" pads (the backing plate is toast). Can I still use my 6.5 pads? Will I encounter any issues?
Dumb Question: Can I Use 5.5" Backing Plate with 6.5" Pads?
- Thread starter peacemaker
- Start date
David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
You can, but you will ultimately be giving up correction performance. Matching the backing plate to the pad is very important for peak performance. I don't think it's all that important if you are only doing light polishing though.....
togwt
The Old Grey Whistle Test
A polishing system is more efficient when used with the correct sized backing plate. Using a backing plate that is slightly smaller than the pad uses utilizes the whole surface contact area of the pad, you should not use an undersized backing plate.
If the backing plate is too small for the pad, you reduce the effective contact surface area of the pad that is able to polish effectively, t here is also a possibility that the backing plate will ‘cut’ the foam causing it to fail.
Allow a maximum of ¼-inch as a safety margin (i.e. 6.5 -inch pad- 6-inch backing plate, 5.5-inch pad -4.75-inch backing plate) this will allow the maximum pad surface contact area, and equal pad compression over the pad contact surface ensuring efficient polishing
If the backing plate is too small for the pad, you reduce the effective contact surface area of the pad that is able to polish effectively, t here is also a possibility that the backing plate will ‘cut’ the foam causing it to fail.
Allow a maximum of ¼-inch as a safety margin (i.e. 6.5 -inch pad- 6-inch backing plate, 5.5-inch pad -4.75-inch backing plate) this will allow the maximum pad surface contact area, and equal pad compression over the pad contact surface ensuring efficient polishing
peacemaker
New member
Ugh... well I have a 6.5" MF cutting pad, a pretty busted up 6" BP, a new 5" BP, and new cutting/finishing (non MF) 5.5" pads. I had intended on using the MF system with FG400 this weekend.
Do you think I can achieve the same results using an Uber yellow cutting pad?
Do you think I can achieve the same results using an Uber yellow cutting pad?
David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
Not sure it would be the "same" results, but I'm sure you can get similar ones. Some paint react very well to foam cutting pads. Especially deminishing abrasives products like Menzerna. I would just give it a try and see what happens.
peacemaker
New member
So my weekend detail didn't go so well. He has a Griot's v1 polisher... we tried plugging in the new vented 5" BP to the DA, but it didn't fit. It's a different size attachment :|
I took it to Detailers Domain and he looked at it as if it were an antique. Guess that would explain my previous poor results!
I took it to Detailers Domain and he looked at it as if it were an antique. Guess that would explain my previous poor results!