New Rotary need thoughts on pads....

detailbarn

detailbarn

Professional Detailer
Ok I finally broke down and bought a new rotary (mine took a crap last year so I've been using my PC)



I picked up a Porter Cable 7428 for $165.00 I have tested it out and like the way it feels and I really like the bail handle for control.



Ok now for the questions I am going to buy some new pads for my new machine since my old ones are garbage that I got from a local body shop supple house. What pads would you guys reccomend and how many of each should I get. I'm open to all suggestions including size , brand ect. I am looking for the best so cost isn't a factor. So far I am leaning towards Meguiars pads a few people have told me they have good sucess with them and they last long. I like the fact that they are flat. Ok let's here all the autopians thoughts. thanks
 
I use and prefer the Lake Country 7.5in. DuraFoam pads.



They have yellow for cutting, white for polishing and black for finishing. I rarely use the yellow cutting pads and find myself mainlyusing the black finishing pads and then the white polishing.



I can take care of most paint problems with a cutter and the white pads and then do a few passes with a mild polish or straight polish and the black pads.



I prefer beveled pads over flat pads....go figure.





Hope that helps,

Anthony
 
Thanks for the input Anothny , so how many pads do you use for say a 3-series. I have some of the Durafoam 7.5 pads now and was thinking of getting more , I guess I'm use to the flat pads since that is what I learned to use over ten years ago , time to try new things.



So you stay away from using the yellow pad too , I think I've used mine once in the last two years. What polishes or compunds are you running with the white pads?



Again thanks for the input , it's much appericated.:xyxthumbs
 
I'll toss my .02 in for the 7.5" Lake Country VC pads also. The white polishing pad does seem to be a bit more agressive than the standard yellow meg's polishing pad. Almost like inbetween the yellow megs and maroon megs pad.



You may want to check out Valugard (AutoInt) 8" Euro style foam pads also. I've got a couple of the xtra fine white Euro style polishing pads and have come to really appreciate them. They are very soft white foam and extremely thick / well made. The velcro backing is attached better than any other pad I've ever seen and the machine backing plate is totally surrounded by curved, soft foam which helps (at least it does for me) around mirrors and trim. They sort of an odd shape though as the ends are beveled upwards a bit with the center of the pad being flat. It took me a couple times using them (I'm a relative newcomer to the rotary) to get the knack of the shape. But now they are my preferred rotary pad. There are two grades of that pad...the extra fine polishing and a lsightly more agressive "regular" polishing pad.



BTW...I've also got the PC 7428 and like the style handle very much. The only thing I would have liked to have is positive ID on the speed adjustment wheel like the Dewalt.
 
3M waffle pads for me. Pro also makes waffles, a slightly different design. They seem to leave the best finish and are easy to use. Soon you can try mine out :D
 
The only thing I would have liked to have is positive ID on the speed adjustment wheel like the Dewalt.
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Natty I agree I would much rather have had the dial read the real speed. Speaking of this do you happen to know what the speeds are in realtion to the numbers. I haven't got a straight answer out of porter cable yet.





Thanks ShineMGood look forward to it! :xyxthumbs
 
detailbarn said:
Natty I agree I would much rather have had the dial read the real speed. Speaking of this do you happen to know what the speeds are in realtion to the numbers. I haven't got a straight answer out of porter cable yet.





Thanks ShineMGood look forward to it! :xyxthumbs
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When I spoke to Porter Cable tech line they said the speed settings are linear so from 1-6 (1000-3000 rpm) they would be;



1 = 1000

2 = 1400

3 = 1800

4 = 2200

5 = 2600

6 = 3000



I find 90% of the time I keep the dial at about 1.5 and every now and then move up to 2.
 
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