Buffer Broke

[hondacrazy]

Right in the middle of a detail job, the backing plate broke...the velcro part seperated from the backing plate itself...it looks as though the foam adhesive between the two failed...I have only used this 4 times since I got it this May...how do I go about getting it replaced through the warrenty...I emailed Rick at ADS (where I purchased) but havent gotten a response yet...I am anxious to get it replaced so I can finish the job.

Thanks for the input.

[OctaneGuy]

Hmmm, did you by chance use the buffer at speeds higher than 5???? Was the day you were working on the car a hot one? Were you bearing down on the buffer for several minutes at a time with all these factors??

The way this happens, and yes I've done it myself, is that you heat up the backing plate so much, the glue heats up, softens, and the velcro backing then flies off.

I've been told by a guy that works with chemicals, rubbers, and glues all day that the glue is just industrial contact cement, aka DAP. I bought a jar and have yet to glue mine back, but I plan to.

[Mike Phillips]

The adhesive used to hold the Velcro to the backing plate and the foam pads is specially made for this application. I've seen the adhesive itself in various stages of testing in lab bottles being subjected to different chemicals, my point being is we've done our homework on the adhesives we use and really put some time, money and effort behind coming up with an adhesive that will hold up against, time, heat, pressure, chemical saturation and the rigorous oscillation action and rotating action the different tools expose our backing plates and foam pads are subjected to.

About the only time they fail is when they are used on the G100/PC at speeds over 5.0 for extended periods of time. De-lamination does happen at 5.0 or under this speed setting on the G100, but it's not very often and it's usually in part caused by heat and chemical saturation where the product you're using has seeped into the foam pad and onto the Velcro material and thus the adhesive.

If you're having a problem with any of our products you're always encouraged to contact Customer Care at 1-800-347-5700

[hondacrazy]

Speed was set at 5, and in the shade of a garage and it actually happened after a lunch break. No pressure was used at all, Rick from ADS did email, and said I would be getting an email from corporate...I will keep everyone posted.

[hondacrazy]

Meg's will be sending out a new backing plate, I should recieve in 7-10 business days...sheesh I guess I can not detail this weekend : /

In any event, octaneguy, let me know how that DAP works out...I have the old one that broke, it would be nice to fix it to have a second one on hand...

[Paramedic]

Megs shipping is FAST! I ordered from Tim yesterday and he said I would be getting it in 7-10 days.. Later in the afternoon I had a email from fedex with my tracking number. Check on it and I will be getting it tomorrow. Not very many companies are that fast with shipping to order in CA and the warehouse to ship the same day many miles away in TN. Im impressed!

[hondacrazy]

Megs came through in a big way and I got my backing plate yesterday...so back to buffing this weekend...going to tackle my wifes white CR-V next...it has 2 years worth of poor washing techniques to be erased... : /

[Jeepster04]

Originally posted by Paramedic
Megs shipping is FAST! I ordered from Tim yesterday and he said I would be getting it in 7-10 days.. Later in the afternoon I had a email from fedex with my tracking number. Check on it and I will be getting it tomorrow. Not very many companies are that fast with shipping to order in CA and the warehouse to ship the same day many miles away in TN. Im impressed!

They are very fast! I ordered a bunch of stuff saturday night. Today is tuesday and according to my tracking #, it should be sitting at my door anytime now!!

[RZ Autodetailing]

Iam also having problems with the megs backing plate....there is really nothing i can do about the hot weather we are having here on the east coast ,but the cars still have to get done.Iam noticing alot of people having problems with the megs bp seperating .I just ordered acouple new bp from another company to try out and see how theirs hold up to the heat...well i called customer service and they told me to send it back with a tracking# , then call them with the tracking# and they will send one right out..Thats good service.. i will repost and let you guys know how the new bp are holding up..

[hondacrazy]

Agreed, E. Coast has been sizzling...it is supposed to drop to the lower 80s this weekend though...thats when I plan on using it. Great service response, but I am unsure how the backing plates can be causing trouble...I do not understand if the machine goes past speed 5, then why cant the backing plate be engineered to stay together past speed 5??? I have only gone to speed 5, havent felt the need to increase, but it would be nice to know that i could...let me know how those other backing plates hold up, though I am hoping not to have an issue with the one they just sent.

[hondacrazy]

delaminated AGAIN!

used the buffer this past weekend after recieving my new backing plate, heres what I wrote to my contact at Meg's:

Bad news, it happened again. I worked the buffer for about 45 minutes on speed 5 with #83 and a 7006 pad. I then decided I wanted to give the backing plate a break, which I do not think I should be concerned about. In any event I removed the backing plate to get it away from the heat of the buffer, and took a 30 minute lunch break. Came back to finish up one more body panel before moving to #80 and a 8006 pad, and the backing plate started to come apart again. Thankfully I was able to catch it, remove the plate, let it cool and compress the velcro back to the plate, so I could finish the car with #21 and a 9006 pad with speed 3. It worked, but started to come apart again at the end. I took numerous breaks after the backing plate started to separated, removing the plate each time allowing it to cool. So I wasnt able to get everything done I wanted to, and it too a long time. Side note, its a heck of an ordeal to remove the pads, that velcro really sticks! I didnt have to remove mine until the pad started to separate, but I am sure doing so with the pad intact could compromise the integrity.

I am a bit clueless as what to do. As the directions stated, I did not set the buffer above speed 5. I do not quite understand how a buffer can spin faster than its backing plate can allow, it seems as though it needs to be engineered a bit differently.

In any event, what should I do? I do not want to keep on requesting backing plates, and worrying whether they are going to work or not. I could try speed 4 which doesnt do as good a job, but I am still thinking I would deal with the same issue.

What are your thoughts? Could I have gotten 2 defective backing plates (highly unlikely), is my buffer putting off more heat than usual? Is it just user error? My buddy who has had the same buffer for years, has never experienced anything like this, and has ran his buffer all day on speeds of 5, 4, and 3.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

My contact did reply and is having a meeting with his boss today about it...

Anyway last night I actually drilled 6 holes on the outter edge of the backing plate and inserted 1/2" screws/bolts/and washers to hold the velcro...I do not know if this is a good idea or not, but since I have 2 backing plates that are worthless, I figured I would give it a shot.

[Mike Phillips]

This is really strange and really out of the normal. We'll escalate this to priority status and see what we can find out as our backing plates when used correctly should not be de-laminating.

Can you post a picture of these backing plates so others here at Meguiar's to see the problem?

[Mike Phillips]

hondacrazy

Send me your shipping address via e-mail and I'll get a replacement in the mail today why we look into this.

mphillips@meguiars.com


We'll do our best to find out why the backing plates you're using are not performing to your and our expectations.

[TH0001]

This just happened to me today on my PC backing plate. I have had no issues with it until today (my car thermometer reasds 103 in sun and 98 in the shade, and its supper humid). I had some pulling away at the very edges of the pad previously (nothing more then a 1/8 of an inch in) but today I was polishing my motorcycle with a 9006 pad and 82. When I pulled the pad off, the velcro section of the backing plate pulled off with the pad.

I gentley peeled the velcro section off (it still felt tacky) and pasted it back onto the backing plate. I also brought it inside and put some books on it, hoping that it will readhere.

The pad was a brandnew 9006.... I can take picutres, but I already put the velcro back on the backing plate.

[TH0001]

I stated it was brand new 9006 pad, but I was mistaken and wanted to correct my statement. It had been used once, previously on my rotary with 82. It has never been washed, only brushed clean. I'm not sure if that would effect the backing plate from delaminating, but I figured that I would provide Meguiars will all the information I could.