What pads to go w/rotary?

[hillcgolfer]

Ok, I've got my rotary...now what pads to use with it?

I'm gonna do some wet sanding and buffing...cutting with 105 and other products...then polishing and finishing...so...an order I'm putting together for ADS has (1) a 6.5 in velcro backing plate for rotary (can I use 7 inch pads okay on this?)
(2) a burgandy 7 inch heavy cut wool pad #WWHC7

(3) a Meguiars Soft Buff 7 inch foam cutting pad #W7297

(4) a Meguiars Soft Buff 7 inch 2.0 Foam Polishing Pad and...for finishing pads I already have a RA with some finishing bonnets.

Will these three 7 inch pads and the 6.5 backing plate be adequate to get me started? I can add additional pads later as needed but I'm just wanting a "starter pak" right now....sound ok?

BTW...I am planning on practicing...alot... on old junk paint jobs before even doing small test areas on the cars in question.

[asim_296]

Re: What pads to go w/rotary?

You seem to be in the right path. But what's your project? and is it fresh or cured paint? I did wetsand 5 years old paint and I gotta warn you if the paint has fully cured you will need more work.

good luck

[hillcgolfer]

Re: What pads to go w/rotary?

You seem to be in the right path. But what's your project? and is it fresh or cured paint? I did wetsand 5 years old paint and I gotta warn you if the paint has fully cured you will need more work.

good luck

My paint is on a street rod that was repainted long enough ago to be fully cured....Trouble is ...it was a single stage paint....and applied by someone who didn't know what he was doing. I plan to attempt....to smooth out the orange peel it has in places...by trying some wet sanding (as I said, on a small test area first). If that won't work....and there's a better than even chance that it won't....Mike Phillips....on this site has told me that he used, some years ago....another compound, by itself, to lessen the orange peel a bit. If that ends up being all that I can do...then so be it. I'll take what I can get.

So...you think that the pads I mentioned are on the right track? Thanks for your input.

[hillcgolfer]

Re: What pads to go w/rotary?

I would like to stay with no larger than a 7 inch pad (wool and foam)....for more control/less hop, etc (than a larger 8 or 10 in. pad).

My question: Is the W64 Meguiars 6.5 inch velcro backing plate an okay size to use with a 7 inch pad?

Thanks for all your input. I'm really learning alot on this forum.

[3Fitty]

Re: What pads to go w/rotary?

BTW...I am planning on practicing...alot... on old junk paint jobs before even doing small test areas on the cars in question.

Very smart and probably well on your way to becoming a great detailer!

[Mike Phillips]

Re: What pads to go w/rotary?

Mike Phillips....on this site has told me that he used, some years ago....another compound, by itself, to lessen the orange peel a bit. If that ends up being all that I can do...then so be it. I'll take what I can get.

Didn't forget about you... over the weekend I dug up my scanner but couldn't find the power cord for it so I took some digital pictures to try to give you a little hope...

This is 1958 Chevrolet Belair that I compounded heavily from the center chrome trim up including the hood, roof and deck-lid. The owner didn't want to spend any more than $300.00 so wet-sanding was out off the table.

The pictures don't show the results as well as looking at the results in person but you could definitely see there was less orange peel on all the paint above the long stainless steel trim running down the car and the paint below the trim.





Close-up, cropped out section...

[Mike Phillips]

Re: What pads to go w/rotary?

Ok, I've got my rotary...now what pads to use with it?

I'm gonna do some wet sanding and buffing...cutting with 105 and other products...then polishing and finishing...so...an order I'm putting together for ADS has (1) a 6.5 in Velcro backing plate for rotary (can I use 7 inch pads okay on this?)

Yes.

(2) a burgundy 7 inch heavy cut wool pad #WWHC7

Good pad to have in your arsenal or tool chest of buffing supplies.

(3) a Meguiar's Soft Buff 7 inch foam cutting pad #W7297

Another good pad to have in your arsenal or tool chest of buffing supplies.

(4) a Meguiar's Soft Buff 7 inch 2.0 Foam Polishing Pad

It's usually a good idea to have a at least a couple of these especially for a Street Rod as large as yours.

and...for finishing pads I already have a RA with some finishing bonnets.

We're going to guess this buffer looks something like this?




If so then because most of the panels on your 1938 Chevrolet are fairly large and flat you might be able to work out any residual swirls using this type of buffer since it's single stage paint, (usually softer than clear coats), and one of our light cleaner/polishes. Do a little testing before going over the entire car.

Will these three 7 inch pads and the 6.5 backing plate be adequate to get me started? I can add additional pads later as needed but I'm just wanting a "starter pack" right now....sound OK?

Yes. Because of the large size of your Street Rod, you might want to get two polishing pads instead of one but you should be able to knock out most of the chopping with one cutting pad. The wool pad will be a lot more aggressive and a lot more effective at removing paint than the foam pad, see this chart...


Order of Aggressiveness - Cutting Pads


The question comes up once in a while as to which pad is the most or least aggressive when it comes to cutting pads. Here's a picture to show our cutting pads from least to most aggressive...




Remember, how aggressive your process is will be determined not only by your choice of product but also your choice of buffing pad as well as the tool you use and your technique.

BTW...I am planning on practicing...alot... on old junk paint jobs before even doing small test areas on the cars in question.

Very good idea. Get some hours under your belt before working on something important to you.

[hillcgolfer]

Re: What pads to go w/rotary?

Yes.



Good pad to have in your arsenal or tool chest of buffing supplies.


Another good pad to have in your arsenal or tool chest of buffing supplies.


It's usually a good idea to have a at least a couple of these especially for a Street Rod as large as yours.





We're going to guess this buffer looks something like this?




If so then because most of the panels on your 1938 Chevrolet are fairly large and flat you might be able to work out any residual swirls using this type of buffer since it's single stage paint, (usually softer than clear coats), and one of our light cleaner/polishes. Do a little testing before going over the entire car.




Yes. Because of the large size of your Street Rod, you might want to get two polishing pads instead of one but you should be able to knock out most of the chopping with one cutting pad. The wool pad will be a lot more aggressive and a lot more effective at removing paint than the foam pad, see this chart...


Order of Aggressiveness - Cutting Pads


The question comes up once in a while as to which pad is the most or least aggressive when it comes to cutting pads. Here's a picture to show our cutting pads from least to most aggressive...




Remember, how aggressive your process is will be determined not only by your choice of product but also your choice of buffing pad as well as the tool you use and your technique.




Very good idea. Get some hours under your belt before working on something important to you.

Thanks very much for the feedback Mike. That '58 Chevy pic does show graphically the improvement in just compounding.....which of course is all I'll do (initially) if the "wet sanding first" test does not show postive results.

I'll order those pads you agreed I could use today....along w/backing plate and cleaning tool....

For chem products, I have already ordered and/or have at home....(a) #105, (b) #4 ,(c) #83 , (d) #80 , (e) NXT 2 Tech Wax , (f) Final Inspection (for lubrication on pads prior to their use). Have been using the Mild Clay w/Quik Detailer lubricant for some time now.

I remember Mike, that you said you had used the #4 years ago on the '58 Chevy when wet sanding was not an option.....so I figured I'd try the #4 first (whether I can wet sand or not) , on Meguiar's theory of trying a less aggressive product first and see how it worked out and then, try a small section with #105 and compare the two results...before moving on through to the milder polishes....like the "83....#80, etc....

.......and, if you think I need it, I'll add on an order for some #205....although I thought maybe the #80 would be okay for the step before the final....NXT wax.

Thanks again Mike....

[Mike Phillips]

Re: What pads to go w/rotary?

Ok
(1) a 6.5 in velcro backing plate for rotary (can I use 7 inch pads okay on this?)

Hold on...

My mistake, if you're talking about our W65 Backing plate then it's too large to use with our Solo Wool and Foam pads. If you're going to use the Solo pads you need to get the matching backing plate for these pads which is the W66 Backing Plate





Here's a couple of threads on the topic of different size backing plates for different size pads...

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29870

Solo Pad System