Opinions needed for new pads

Don

Don

Darth Camaro 12/27/15
I have a PC with a 6" backing plate and my LC variable-contact pads are a few years old. Truth is I don't remember how old they are, it's been that long and I need some ideas on what to get to replace them with.

I know they don't make the VC's anymore and I've never used any other kind of pads, so I'm really in the dark here ... help!
 

I personally prefer 5.5in LC Flat and Hydro pads. Megs MF pads have great cut as well. I find myself using MF pads for cutting and foam for polishing.


Side note: Poorboys World still has and sell the VC pads if you still want them.

 
The MF pads are a bit out of my league since I only do light to moderate paint correction ... mostly light, as in what a medium cut foam pad would do. My own car never needs any heavy corrections and the customers I get aren't into their cars enough to pay for the extra work of heavy corrections ... they think a one-step cleaner wax is as good as it gets.

So should I change from a 6" Backing Plate to a 5" one? What about the CCS pads.
 
I would switch to a 5 inch plate. CCS pads are great. I have some that are really old and are still holding up. They dont get used much anymore, but they are there if I need them. Ive been using the Buff & Shine flat pads with good luck, but they sure dont stick to the backing plate like the LC pads do.
 
Hydrotech pads all the way. My girlfriend just bought me a 6 pad set of CCS pads and now I'm wanting the hydrotech's. :(
 
So yes, I agree with the general consensus...a 5" backing plate with a PC.

I personally use the 5.5" Lake Country flat pads and usually get the 6-pack
(2-orange 2-white 1-black 1-blue)

I have never tried the Hydro-Tech pads. (another item on my list)
Folks love 'em but I don't believe they last as long as regular foam.

I'm also a big fan of the 5" Megs microfiber cutting/polishing discs.
Again, a lot depends on the compounds and/or polishes you use.

Megs D300 is a great product. It works very well with the Megs mf discs
M101 works great with the foam pads and I have used it as a one step

If it were me I'd spring for LC 5.5" flats, the M101 and a small bottle of M205
 
Merlin said:
I have never tried the Hydro-Tech pads. (another item on my list)
Folks love 'em but I don't believe they last as long as regular foam.
Click to expand...


I can vouch for this. Although if you only do you own vehicle they will last quite a while. The Cyan pad cuts unbelievably well, but you want to make sure have a few as you don't want them to get saturated or overheat. That is when they really start to fail. Where regular LC Flat / CCS pads are a little more forgiving.

 
I only use the Lake Countyry Hydro-Shreds Pads, Cyan and Tangerine on a Rotary.

The Cyan can correct really great with an aggressive compound and finish down really nice at the same time. If you use a less aggressive compound it will work to that point and finish down even better.

Just finished a Jet Black 1991 BMW 850 V12, 4 big exhaust pipes, wide BBS BasketWeaves, etc... It was Single Stage Black paint that was very trashed.

Used the Hydro-Shred Tangerine with Sonax Perfect Finish (cut of 4, gloss of 6), and it absolutely killed it beautiful !

Because this Single Stage is soft and sticky with this compound and it doesnt like to be heated very much, I had to make it 2 passes with the product. It looks like wet India Ink Black now.

This great compound combined with the ability of the Hydro-Shred to correct and finish down really good makes life so much easier for me.

You specify that you dont do a lot of work, so perhaps the best all-around pad for you would be the Lake Country White Flat Pad. I love flat pads, dont care for all those pads with holes in them and stuff. I want as big a contact patch as possible all at once and you will always get that easiest with flat pads.

Good luck !
Dan F
 
MF pads will cut faster. Car-Pro has Sure Buff pads. They have a cut and a polish pad. Work really well and fast. Foam does finish nicer IMO. I use CG Hex-Logic and Hydro Tech for flats. I get much longer work times for product with the Hex Logic pads
 
I was reading in another forum that new pads need to be primed before first use? Didn't really say what should be done. Is there something I should do to a new pad before I use it on my car?
Using a PC 7424 with LC waffle pads.


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marinesoup said:
I was reading in another forum that new pads need to be primed before first use? Didn't really say what should be done. Is there something I should do to a new pad before I use it on my car?
Using a PC 7424 with LC waffle pads.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Priming a pad refers to covering the surface of the pad with Polish and working it in. This eliminates areas of the pad that are uncovered and is done when starting out with a fresh or clean pad. It's a technique and commonly referred to as the Kevin Brown method.
 
Well, I got my new pads and 5" backing plate today. I went with Meguiar's Soft Buff, thin & flat pads. There was a discount code for 15% off any order over $60, which brought my total to $68.99 shipping incl. I was gone all day and when the wife handed me the box, I couldn't believe how small it was. I thought surely all 6 pads AND the backing plate *can't* be in there. Well, they all were. I was surprised at just how small (compared to my old pads) these things are, my old pads are GIANTS compared to these in thickness AND diameter. I'll have to measure because I don't remember (getting older sucks) how big my old pads are, but I'm willing to bet they are at least 7.5" and 2 - 3 times as thick.

All I need to do now is go to Wally World and pick up some UC/UP and I'll be ready to detail the inlaw's cars, a silver Chevy 1500 (with cap and steel rack) and a strawberry Ford Edge.
 
Definitely get the 5" backing plate. I use LC ccs and flat pads. I've tried a few others but always go back to these.
 
Ecrissman said:
Definitely get the 5" backing plate. I use LC ccs and flat pads. I've tried a few others but always go back to these.
Click to expand...



As soon as I saw there was an option to add the 5" plate to my order, I immediately checked the box. I was thinking about the LC CCS & flat pads but I went with the Megs Soft Buff because I couldn't pass up the 6-pack + plate combo offer.
 
ec90 said:
Priming a pad refers to covering the surface of the pad with Polish and working it in. This eliminates areas of the pad that are uncovered and is done when starting out with a fresh or clean pad. It's a technique and commonly referred to as the Kevin Brown method.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, never quite understood what priming a new pad meant.
(Now to research Kevin Brown)


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