LC Hydro-Tech Pads

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imported_DetailDan

New member
I got some of the thin 5.5" hydro tech pads (cyan, tangerine, and crimson). However, one of my crimson pads was cut weird so I sent it back. I just got the new one and it is cut weird as well. So I was wondering if this is normal or not? I attached some pictures so you can see what I'm referring to.



HT_01.jpg


HT_02.jpg
 
That does look strange! :eek:



I've just ordered some Hydro-Tech pads from Polished Bliss today (thin rotary pads and thicker DA pads) and will check them carefully when they arrive later in the week. I'll report back what I find.
 
Well I received my LC Hydro-Tech pads from Polished Bliss today and only the 5.5" Crimson low profile rotary pad has the same 'chamfer' to the top edge as shown in the above photograph.



The 5.5" low profile Tangerine pad I received has the regular radiused edge only as do the thicker 5.5" Crimson and Tangerine DA pads received.



It looks like the 5.5" Crimson low profile pad is the only one to feature the 'chamfer'. :confused1:



The pads were distributed through CMA.
 
Dan, I've had several LC pads come in poorly cut, but it's always been on the back side. This causes the pad to wobble and make them unusable IMO. I guess I should send them back but I'm too lazy. :)



LC-Pad.jpg
 
Alan W said:
Well I received my LC Hydro-Tech pads from Polished Bliss today and only the 5.5" Crimson low profile rotary pad has the same 'chamfer' to the top edge as shown in the above photograph.



The 5.5" low profile Tangerine pad I received has the regular radiused edge only as do the thicker 5.5" Crimson and Tangerine DA pads received.



It looks like the 5.5" Crimson low profile pad is the only one to feature the 'chamfer'. :confused1:



The pads were distributed through CMA.
Click to expand...



Thanks Alan, sounds like we have the exact same issue here.



RaskyR1 said:
Dan, I've had several LC pads come in poorly cut, but it's always been on the back side. This causes the pad to wobble and make them unusable IMO. I guess I should send them back but I'm too lazy. :)
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Thanks for the heads up Chad. Ill have to double check that part of the pads as well.
 
D&D Auto Detail said:
Thanks Alan, sounds like we have the exact same issue here.
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It does indeed Dan. :(



Do you think it will have any adverse effect on the pad's performance or are we worrying unnecessarily? :confused:



Should we be contacting LC or CMA?
 
Alan W said:
It does indeed Dan. :(



Do you think it will have any adverse effect on the pad's performance or are we worrying unnecessarily? :confused:



Should we be contacting LC or CMA?
Click to expand...



Im not too sure, I havent used the pads yet. But after inspecting them further, some of them do have the issues Chad mentioned. My tangerine ones however dont seem to have any issues. The cyan ones seem to be ok, but the crimson ones are pretty bad.



Ive emailed and left a voice message for LC, no response. I returned one of my crimson pads to CMA already, but they say thats just the way LC cuts them. Ill probably just return both crimson pads for a refund. I dont want to have to worry about something going wrong during the finishing step because of poorly cut pads.
 
D&D Auto Detail said:
Ive emailed and left a voice message for LC, no response. I returned one of my crimson pads to CMA already, but they say thats just the way LC cuts them. Ill probably just return both crimson pads for a refund. I dont want to have to worry about something going wrong during the finishing step because of poorly cut pads.
Click to expand...



I also contacted LC today, by email, and alerted them to this Thread. I've scoured the 'net and can't find any photos of Crimson pads with the 'chamfer' like ours.



Having looked at the pad more closely my concern is that the inner edge of the chamfer, where it starts on the face of the pad, is not concentric with the outside diameter of the pad.



However, whether this will have any detrimental effect when trying to achieve a jewelled finish I don't know.
 
I received the following reply from Lake Country today:



"There is nothing wrong with the pad. The machine set to do the work had a dull grinding wheel. It has been replaced. The pad should work just fine."
 
Alan W said:
"There is nothing wrong with the pad. The machine set to do the work had a dull grinding wheel. It has been replaced. The pad should work just fine."
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Wow! That comes across as a pretty arrogant response IMHO. They clearly admit a defective manufacturing step, then just dismiss it with their "the pad should work just fine comment". Somebody in the QC department needs a time out!



I think D&D did what I would do. Send them back and take my pad business to someone else.
 
landcruiser said:
Wow! That comes across as a pretty arrogant response IMHO. They clearly admit a defective manufacturing step, then just dismiss it with their "the pad should work just fine comment". Somebody in the QC department needs a time out!
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I was concerned why they used the word 'should work just fine' rather than something like will work fine without affecting the quality of the finish.



I haven't been re-assured by the the LC reply and may well end up returning the pads also because as Dan has said above:



"I dont want to have to worry about something going wrong during the finishing step because of poorly cut pads."
 
Alan W said:
I was concerned why they used the word 'should work just fine' rather than something like will work fine without affecting the quality of the finish.



I haven't been re-assured by the the LC reply and may well end up returning the pads also because as Dan has said above:



"I dont want to have to worry about something going wrong during the finishing step because of poorly cut pads."
Click to expand...



Or how about, we're sorry for the problem, we'll replace them at no charge?



My favorite pads are the 3M UK pads. Expensive, but I like the quality. No issues with any of their pads.
 
I have a number of the LC HT pads, and I'd say roughly 1/2 are cut in an unsymmetrical manner (as Rasky illustrated) causing a very noticeable wobble with the machine.



The response from LC quoted above, and the seemingly lackluster QC, doesn't bode well for them with the new Megs MF stuff coming on strong.
 
Have you heard of any supplier or retailer who are selling these pads returning them to the manufacturer before they are sold to their customers, now that thay are aware of this problem??

Seems to me that Lake Country Manufacturing has a known quality issue, but is being unresponsive in this situation to customers' concerns. With all this information available to their customer base via forums like this, you would think they would want to do some damage control and generate some positive public relations with their customers by replacing defective products. It's the norm these days in business that one bad product can influence the purchase alot of good products from that manufacturer by customers. Maybe LC needs to review the Toyota stuck throttle pedal fiascal and what Toyota's response did to their new car sales across all their lines. Yes, new car sales and peoples lives at risk are much different that pads that may not work or cause possible damage to vehicle surfaces, but when it's your detailing business customer's car or your car that been damaged because of a manufacturer's negligance, it takes on a whole different meaning to you personally.
 
My Crimson pads are cut the same way but I have not had any performance issues, the velcro problem was well known although my latest orders the velcro is better. The low profile pads have better velcro than the old pads and CMA always took care of the issues(Angelo), but I will always use the pads for thier performance and I put heavy use in daily correcting finishes.
 
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