What NOT to do with microfiber pads

[billddrummer]

Re: What NOT to do with microfiber pads

I'm considering buying a DA orbiter from AutoZone that is cheaper than the Meguiars professional grade DA orbiter.

The lesson I see is to use less pressure and more product.

I don't want to damage the paint, but on the other hand, a $200+ DA orbiter isn't in the budget, since I only have one vehicle right now, and don't plan on doing detail work as a profession any time soon. (That does not mean I'll never entertain the option--just that it's not on the radar this year.)

I'm 100% sold on Meguiar's chemicals and systems. Just looking to integrate less costly options for cloths and the orbiter.

(Getting ready to do some correction on the car I bought in December--have been taking it to an automatic car wash, and found a touchless wash within a mile of my apartment, which will do the wash job nicely.

The correction is to remove swirl marks placed on the vehicle by the car wash, and provide a good wax coat which will withstand the 600+ miles/week I drive in severe environmental conditions.)

After the swirl marks/deterioration are gone (using Swirl X and clay), and after I figure out how to convert iPhone photos to something the forum will recognize, I'll upload the before and after pictures for view.

I appreciate this forum tremendously, and thank all the contributors for their interest, passion and information for getting the best out of this hobby!

Thoughts are welcomed!

[Zfactor]

Re: What NOT to do with microfiber pads

you may want to check lowes. they have a new da type tool that a couple people i know bought already and they said it works very well. i cant remember the name but its 99$ might be worth a look it has some weird pad design but one if the people i know who bought it said he took that off somehow. i have not seen how he did it though im guessing its just threaded because i saw they also sold extra pads and plates for it. otherwise go to harbour freight and get one of their 30$ rotaries just pratice some before hitting the car with it. i own one, but i also have a makita among many others i just bought this thing to see how well it worked and as long as your careful with the speed on it (the speed on the dial is off imo) it works fine for the hone user. i would not recc it to a pro or someone doing a lot of cars. it takes the normal meg's 8" velcro pads. either of those 2 i would say to be better than a regular orbital (which i dont like to use except for maybe wax's and even then i would much rather use my rotary with a nice foam pad)

and while i do not agree with it and think its probably not the best option a freind of mine buys microfiber by the yard at a local fabric place (there lies the problem i have no idea what kind they sell or the amount of correction the microfiber itself has this way) and his wife sews up his own bonnets for him. she puts a piece of foam on the back and then adds the elastic. doing it this way he says he spends like 1.50$ everything he throws one away and he washes them a few times. but if you want the cheapest options those might help. i would use the meg's or a comparable mf myself.

[CCC4me]

Re: What NOT to do with microfiber pads

I'm considering buying a DA orbiter from AutoZone that is cheaper than the Meguiars professional grade DA orbiter.

The lesson I see is to use less pressure and more product.

I don't want to damage the paint, but on the other hand, a $200+ DA orbiter isn't in the budget, since I only have one vehicle right now, and don't plan on doing detail work as a profession any time soon. (That does not mean I'll never entertain the option--just that it's not on the radar this year.)

I'm 100% sold on Meguiar's chemicals and systems. Just looking to integrate less costly options for cloths and the orbiter.

(Getting ready to do some correction on the car I bought in December--have been taking it to an automatic car wash, and found a touchless wash within a mile of my apartment, which will do the wash job nicely.

The correction is to remove swirl marks placed on the vehicle by the car wash, and provide a good wax coat which will withstand the 600+ miles/week I drive in severe environmental conditions.)

After the swirl marks/deterioration are gone (using Swirl X and clay), and after I figure out how to convert iPhone photos to something the forum will recognize, I'll upload the before and after pictures for view.

I appreciate this forum tremendously, and thank all the contributors for their interest, passion and information for getting the best out of this hobby!

Thoughts are welcomed!

The Harbor Freight DA--it's a powerful piece and it's only $55.00. Buy a Meg's backing plate to replace the crappy stock piece (or the entire DAMF system since we're in the MF pad thread) and it will have you correcting paint better than the de facto Porter Cable.

[Eldorado2k]

I agree with that.^

[Malborex]

Re: What NOT to do with microfiber pads

I have the rupes 15 and 21 and i ask myself if i can use the damf system on Speedsetting 5 or 6, or will the big throw tear them appart ? The OPM's are fine with 5000 and 4200 but the big throw worries me.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: What NOT to do with microfiber pads

I have the rupes 15 and 21 and i ask myself if i can use the damf system on Speedsetting 5 or 6, or will the big throw tear them appart ? The OPM's are fine with 5000 and 4200 but the big throw worries me.

The only thing that's really a concern on the Rupes 15 and 21 is the hook material on their backing plate - it's so grippy that you'd swear your pad has been welded on to them when you try to take it off. You need to be really careful how you remove a pad from these tools because of that. So work up an edge with your fingers, and then get your fingertips under that edge and slowly work deeper into the space between the pad and plate until you can get a good, solid hold on a large portion of the pad. You can then, with some effort, remove the pad. If you try to just grab the pad by the foam and pull, you will pull the pad apart. Just take an extra few seconds to do it correctly and you'll be fine.