Why do kits have 6.5-in pads?

Bunky

Bunky

Detailing Gnosis
It has been common practice for most detailers using a DA to prefer 5.5-in pads and this comes up after someone purchases a kit that had 6.5-in pads and not getting the results they want. To take this further there is another group that prefers flat pads.

So, why do many DA sellers still seem to include 6.5-in pads and never offer flat pads in kits? Is it because there just more profit by selling the larger CCS pads?
 
I have wondered the same thing Al. I received a PC kit of christmas 2 years ago and still have almost all of the pads still in the plastic. It looks like almost every dealer sells 6.5 pads and a 5" backing plate. ???? It doesn't make much sense to me as the Backing plate is not at the optimum size for the pads. I would be really nice if they would start to sell kits with 5.5 pads. But I am guess they get more business from everyone then coming back and buying new smaller pads.
 
For someone just starting out, 6.5 inch pads with a 5 inch backing plate do offer a margin of safety in an effort to prevent the novice detailer from damaging their paint.

Thousands of cars have been successfully polished with 6.5 inch pads.

You forum guys learn more, get more experience and advance to the 5.5 inch pads once your confidence increases and you do paint correction quicker.

Flex is another example. For years the XC3401 was only available with the stock backing plate and you used 6.5 inch pads. Now that the 4 3/8 inch plate is available, 5.5 inch pads are able to be used on this machine.
 
Dwayne said:
For someone just starting out, 6.5 inch pads with a 5 inch backing plate do offer a margin of safety in an effort to prevent the novice detailer from damaging their paint.

Thousands of cars have been successfully polished with 6.5 inch pads.

You forum guys learn more, get more experience and advance to the 5.5 inch pads once your confidence increases and you do paint correction quicker.

Flex is another example. For years the XC3401 was only available with the stock backing plate and you used 6.5 inch pads. Now that the 4 3/8 inch plate is available, 5.5 inch pads are able to be used on this machine.
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Why not have an option?
 
Flex is another example. For years the XC3401 was only available with the stock backing plate and you used 6.5 inch pads. Now that the 4 3/8 inch plate is available, 5.5 inch pads are able to be used on this machine.
Click to expand...

I use the 5.5 inch backing plate with 5.5 inch pads to get a faster cut so what would be the benefit of using the 4 3/8 inch backing plate with the 5.5 inch pads?
 
Time 2 shine said:
I use the 5.5 inch backing plate with 5.5 inch pads to get a faster cut so what would be the benefit of using the 4 3/8 inch backing plate with the 5.5 inch pads?
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It is much safer . If your using both 5.5 inch pads and backing plate, if your not really careful you could gouge a molding or door handle with the backing plate. That would not be a good day!
 
That's a tough question -

Its been at least a couple of years, maybe 3 years ago we who had Flex 3401VRG's all went out to the garage and cut down the backing plate with a box cutter, etc., and made our own version of the smaller backing plate, and were instantly rewarded with a totally new, nicer handling, easier to maneuver, Flex, and never looked back.
And we all petitioned our suppliers to please talk to Flex and see if they would make a smaller backing plate and eventually Flex did !

So, if the suppliers are hearing us today, perhaps they will sometime, make up package deals that include the newer pad sizes as well.

Maybe its a supply and demand thing? If enough people want to see this happen and it fits the business plan of the supplier/s, they might do it.

If not, we the Detailers (who need this as part of our business plan) will go out of the box as we have in the past, and find someone somewhere, who will help us get what we want, right ? :)

Dan F
 
6.5" pad user right here. i get the flat pads from detailers domain (hope this is ok to post on here lol).
i use 6.5" & 4.0" pads.
 
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