How Long Do Your MF Cutting Pads Last?

[jarred767]

Especially those of you do this on a daily basis.

I feel like I go through these cutting discs way faster than I should for their price. I love the way that work and the results that they produce are stunning, but I feel like I'm missing something with the pad's longevity. Or are my expectations too high?

Usually I am able to get between four and five cars out of a pad (actually half that because I usually use a couple pads per car). I rotate back and forth with the pads after every couple sections to help keep heat down, I wash the pads well by hand after each use and let them air dry and clean on the fly with a pad brush, no compressor while I'm mobile.

Is something in my system off that's causing the pads to delaminates on a regular basis? Any thoughts from anyone would be helpful.

[DrdetailNashville]

Re: How Long Do Your MF Cutting Pads Last?

I'll probably get bashed for saying so, but I think the Meguiar's MF pads are inferior to others on the market. The Buff 'n' Shine are my favorite, haven't had one fail yet. The Optimum pads are about the same as Meguiar's.

[CCC4me]

Re: How Long Do Your MF Cutting Pads Last?

I'll probably get bashed for saying so, but I think the Meguiar's MF pads are inferior to others on the market. The Buff 'n' Shine are my favorite, haven't had one fail yet. The Optimum pads are about the same as Meguiar's.

Interesting...I've read other reports of them shedding like no tomorrow. Have you experienced that?

At this point I only have experience with the Megs pads and, like the OP, love the results but wish they lasted longer.

[DrdetailNashville]

Re: How Long Do Your MF Cutting Pads Last?

Interesting...I've read other reports of them shedding like no tomorrow. Have you experienced that?

At this point I only have experience with the Megs pads and, like the OP, love the results but wish they lasted longer.

Same here, the performance of the Meg's pads is good. However, like Dynamic I only get 3-5 cars per pad. And that's only if you wash them by hand, they don't hold up well at all in washing machine. So far the Buff and Shine pads perform just as well if not better. They are quite a bit thicker, which I like. And I throw them in the wash with my microfiber towels and they are good to go.

I love using Meguiar's products and they have replaced several pads that have failed for me. I'm sure they'll come out with a better pad sooner or later.

[SwunMurrieta]

Re: How Long Do Your MF Cutting Pads Last?

After you wash the pads are you laying them face down to dry on a towel. Because if you lay them with the hook and loop side down then the water will drip down towards the adhesive area that hold it together.

[STRIFE]

Re: How Long Do Your MF Cutting Pads Last?

Maybe you batch of pads were the early production one that had issues?
Pretty sure Meguiar's CS will take care of you

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?54974-Problem-with-MF-cutting-pads

Another post on the MF pads

Btw...has anyone used the LC mf pads?

http://www.autodetailingsolutions.net/lake-country-microfiber-pads.html

[Detailing by M]

Re: How Long Do Your MF Cutting Pads Last?

Mine have lasted a few years now.
I've even had test pads to the newest pads made.
I've only had 1 or 2 de-laminate and I just re-glued them.
I clean mine with a brush during use then APC+, DP Pad Cleaner in my Grit Guard Pad Cleaner then put them on my dash in the sun to dry.
Today I did a Black Denali with major swirls/scratches. I used 4 cutting pads and 1 finishing pad. 3 old pads and 1 brand new pad. The newer pad didn't load up alot and worked great.

Your just doing something wrong with them they should last a long time.

I have the Buff n shine Micro Fingers pad, they shed alot, work good but my Meg's are my goto.

[jarred767]

Hmmm, interesting responses. I thought I'd get more along the lines of what Mario said, as I feel like I must be doing something wrong. I may have had a couple from the first batch, but those are long gone and Meguiars did take care of me with those. I did a full correction on a black Range Rover today and had two that completely came apart on me and one more that started to. Granted they weren't brand new, but like I said, only used a few times each.

So, a couple things that I noticed while reading the responses, maybe my washing technique isn't great. I quit the washing machine method a while ago as I could tell that was not a great idea. I now wash by hand with fairly hot water, dawn and a pad conditioning brush and then I used to just naturally lean them up against something (MF side up) so that they could dry with with air flowing under them. I'll try laying them face down on a towel.

Is it a big deal if I let them sit until the evening and wash when I get home? They do kind of dry, but I don't have a pad washer, so washing at home is the next best option. Should I maybe leave them soaking in something until I get home?

I want to figure out where I'm doing something wrong, so thanks for the tips guys, these MF pads are quickly becoming one of my biggest expenses.

Oh, and regarding buffing technique, how many 2x2 sections do you do before switching pads, and how do you best go about keeping the backing plate cool? Thanks again guys.

[SwunMurrieta]

Re: How Long Do Your MF Cutting Pads Last?

We are missing something here. What are you using the MF pads with? A dual action polisher? What kind of backing plate? And I think that putting them face down is the best way because it keeps the water away from the hook and loop side.

[jarred767]

Using them with a Megs DA, speed four, the designated 5" backing plate (forgot the number, but the right one) and usually use either D300, M105, or M205 with it.

[Detailing by M]

I think it's the way you wash them be gentler and don't be used Dawn.
APC+/ APC works good. Grit Guard PRS works great, but is $12 for 6 ounces.
The Detailers Pride cleaner is also a good cleaner combined with the APC works great. That's the combination I use.
You don't have to clean them right away you can let them set

I used one Cutting Pad per quarter section.
I start on the passenger front fender and then go counterclockwise around the vehicle
1. fender hood front bumper.
2. Fender two doors.
3. rear quarter panel rear and rear quarter panel ( the rear was really dirty)
4. two doors
1 finishing pad for the whole vehicle with finishing wax.

[SwunMurrieta]

Re: How Long Do Your MF Cutting Pads Last?

Yeah that's strange. I guess just try to dry them differently.

[jarred767]

Hmmm, okay so I think I've actually got some DP pad cleaner somewhere in the garage, so I'll try that with APC+ (what dilution, like 10:1?) and then the face down for drying method.

I hope this helps, but I personally feel like the actual compounding and buffing is probably where the main issues are. I feel like its difficult to keep the backing plate (and therefore the back of the pad) cool. If I did sections as big as what you mentioned with one pad Mario, the pad would probably melt right in front of me. I literally do two or three 2x2 sections (so like half a hood) then switch pads to let that one cool down. Then after two or three more sections, switch again, and repeat over the whole car. The backing plate just won't stay cool. I'm on speed 4 with decent pressure (pad still spins though). Should I rotate BPs every so often? Or maybe life will just get better all the way around when the new Rupes 21 comes in the mail next week and I don't need to use as much pressure.

[CCC4me]

Re: How Long Do Your MF Cutting Pads Last?

Do you have the washer between the backing plate and the spindle of the machine?

[jarred767]

Do you have the washer between the backing plate and the spindle of the machine?

Yup, but good question, I could see how that could cause added heat. Would an additional washer reduce heat buildup? No idea myself, just a thought.