Rotary Pad Question

[Stephan]

I currently have a PC 7428 Rotary Buffer, which I may replace due to the fact that its lowest speed setting is 1K RPM's and I was thinking of replacing it with a Makita.

Now I about 6 months ago went to the EDGE pads on both my Rotary and my PC (7424), because of the ease of use, and benefits of dual side and ability to center with out pulling on and off.

Although with my rotary and using the edge pads I have noticed that no matter what pad I use, and or with what product I cannot go with out any buffer trails and holograms. However it has not been that large or much of an issue as I usually then go over the panels or doors etc. with my PC and it gets rid of any of those issues.

The other day I removed the edge adapter and went back to my yellow flexible backing plate and put on my LC pads and tried polishing my wifes car using similar pads (meaning their strength) and the same products and had no holograming, no buffer trails just a nice smooth finish.

Now I don't thinks it the pads, because I use them on my PC and have no issues. But could it be the length of the adapter? Has anyone else had this issue?

 

[budman3]

I've heard that the Edge pads are a lot "stiffer" than other pads, which is what I would point to your hologram issues. Since the PC doesn't work the same as a rotary, that is why the pads can clean up the holograms... just my opinions.

 

[Aaron@IAP]

I currently have a PC 7428 Rotary Buffer, which I may replace due to the fact that its lowest speed setting is 1K RPM's and I was thinking of replacing it with a Makita.

Now I about 6 months ago went to the EDGE pads on both my Rotary and my PC (7424), because of the ease of use, and benefits of dual side and ability to center with out pulling on and off.

Although with my rotary and using the edge pads I have noticed that no matter what pad I use, and or with what product I cannot go with out any buffer trails and holograms. However it has not been that large or much of an issue as I usually then go over the panels or doors etc. with my PC and it gets rid of any of those issues.

The other day I removed the edge adapter and went back to my yellow flexible backing plate and put on my LC pads and tried polishing my wifes car using similar pads (meaning their strength) and the same products and had no holograming, no buffer trails just a nice smooth finish.

Now I don't thinks it the pads, because I use them on my PC and have no issues. But could it be the length of the adapter? Has anyone else had this issue?

I don't think its the adapter either. We shortened the rotary adapter about 3 years ago so that most backing plates and velcro put the pad at exactly the same distance from the buffer as our system. Try it and measure the distance from the pad to the machine on both systems, I think unless you are using a special type of plate that they are basically the same distance. Also the feeling that our pads are stiffer is also a common misconception because out of the bag our pad comes with the backing plate inside the pad so it feels stiff but when you attach a pad to a velcro backing plate it becomes stiffer than our system. Now you said you are using a flexible backing plate, see if that is more flexible than our pad, it could be since there are some new very flexible backing plates out now. If that is the case, the difference is buffing with the pad flat. If the plate is more forgiving than our plate because it is so flexible and you are not keeping the pad flat you can impart the swirls. Our pads are used alot in shops that need the pad to bite in order to save time, so we made the internal plate to be less stiff than most backing plates but still have some rigidity. Since now there are also very flexible backing plates out there they might be more forgiving but not as effective and therefore not as appealing to pros. At the end of the day, if you practice buffing flat and in figure 8 overlapping motions, you will not make swirls with either pad and the ease of centering and no backing plate is what gives our pads the advantage.