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Using a PC with a cutting pad, good or bad?

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  • #1

    Using a PC with a cutting pad, good or bad?

    Hey guys, Ive noticed that some people are saying that its not a good idea to use a cutting pad with a porter cable (or any D.A or Random orbital for that matter ) I have a yellow lake country pad 'that I'm not planning on using yet (because I can get the job done with a less agressive method) but I don't want to order more cutting pads if I cant use them . Also if its not a good idea to use them , I d like to know why. Thanks in advance.
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  • #2
    Re: Using a PC with a cutting pad, good or bad?


    Originally posted by Ravi_1992 View Post

    I have a yellow lake country pad 'that I'm not planning on using yet (because I can get the job done with a less agressive method)
    if its not a good idea to use them , I'd like to know why. Thanks in advance.


    If you can get the job done with a less aggressive method, and you already have a LC yellow cutting pad, then there is no need to order another one. The LC orange light cutting pad is Sufficient for the PC.

    I have used the LC yellow cutting pad with a PC with no ill effects. Depending on what type of polish/compound you're using, the PC/LC yellow combo may cause random gouging, marring, or just a rough finish that will have to be removed with another step/procedure.

    Even when using the most aggressive method, your goal should be to leave the finish as smooth as possible, so when you do your final buff/polish, it will clean up very easily. When you do your final buff/polish, you want your paint to finish to a beautiful, smooth luster. By leaving your finish as smooth as possible after the initial buff, it will be easier to polish out perfectly smooth, and swirl/scratch free.

    Although I have used the LC yellow with the PC with success, the consensus is that the LC yellow pad shouldn't be used with the PC, due to this combo leaving gouging, or a rough finish.

    There are lots of variables when it comes to polishing/buffing paint, such as pad types, chemical compounds, machine used, the type of paint, ect.





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    • #3
      Re: Using a PC with a cutting pad, good or bad?

      The problem with using a cutting pad (with the DA) on some paints is that it may leave hazing/micro-marring and some may not know any better to follow it up with a less aggressive polish/pad to remove it. If you know what you are doing then it shouldn't be a problem.

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      • #4
        Re: Using a PC with a cutting pad, good or bad?

        The only thing I use the cutting pad for is, Put a microfiber bonnet on it and remove wax.
        quality creates its own demand

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        • #5
          Re: Using a PC with a cutting pad, good or bad?

          The LC orange pads are not as aggressive as our burgundy pad which is not quite as aggressive as the LC yellow pad. The potential issues with using a very aggressive cutting pad on a D/A are that most paint systems will end up hazed by these pads. Yes, they can remove more severe defects, but you almost always have to follow up with a less aggressive pad to remove the haze. That's fine and well, as long as you know that going in. On the other hand, if, like you're experiencing already, you can remove the defects with a less aggressive pad anyway, why go more aggressive?

          There is also the potential for pad failure when using a cutting pad very aggressively on a D/A. A cutting pad will exhibit more drag on the paint, and this in turn causes more stress on the hook & loop attachment system holding the pad to the backing plate. Since a D/A is constantly trying to change the direction of the pad, the hook & loop is constantly fighting to keep hold of the pad. This can generate a lot of heat (we've seen temps in excess of 200F here, but the cutting face of the pad is still cool!). Over time this can destroy the adhesive that holds the fastening material to the pad. A rotary doesn't have this problem since it just spins in a perfect circle. Fit a pad to a rotary and let it free spin at 2000 rpm - it will just spin. Fit a pad to a D/A and let it free spin on speed 5 and the pad will go flying across the garage!
          Michael Stoops
          Senior Global Product & Training Specialist | Meguiar's Inc.

          Remember, this hobby is supposed to be your therapy, not the reason you need therapy.

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: Using a PC with a cutting pad, good or bad?

            i have been using burgudy pads on my DA with no problems, the condition of cars in Chile vs USA is like a night and day diferrence, cars that come in for a detail are in horrible conditions, normaly i always have to use cutting pads and then folow up with finer polish, in my experience this seems the fastest way to work, use cutting pad wih compund to get the deep swirls quick and then folow up with polish and yellow or black pad to remove the hazing, the only time i had an issue with DA/Cutting combo was on a black camaro ss (black 2010) that didnt want to finish nicely on the DA but with my rotary i could get excelent results.

            Michael touched on a good point about the backing plate life, that is the reason for not using agresive pads on the DA, lately iam just going with compunding on my rotary and the folow up with my DA for finishing.
            Nelson Zapata - Advance Detail - Detailing and Auto Reconditioning in Santiago Chile.

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            • #7
              Re: Using a PC with a cutting pad, good or bad?

              Originally posted by Michael Stoops View Post
              The LC orange pads are not as aggressive as our burgundy pad which is not quite as aggressive as the LC yellow pad. The potential issues with using a very aggressive cutting pad on a D/A are that most paint systems will end up hazed by these pads. Yes, they can remove more severe defects, but you almost always have to follow up with a less aggressive pad to remove the haze. That's fine and well, as long as you know that going in. On the other hand, if, like you're experiencing already, you can remove the defects with a less aggressive pad anyway, why go more aggressive?

              There is also the potential for pad failure when using a cutting pad very aggressively on a D/A. A cutting pad will exhibit more drag on the paint, and this in turn causes more stress on the hook & loop attachment system holding the pad to the backing plate. Since a D/A is constantly trying to change the direction of the pad, the hook & loop is constantly fighting to keep hold of the pad. This can generate a lot of heat (we've seen temps in excess of 200F here, but the cutting face of the pad is still cool!). Over time this can destroy the adhesive that holds the fastening material to the pad. A rotary doesn't have this problem since it just spins in a perfect circle. Fit a pad to a rotary and let it free spin at 2000 rpm - it will just spin. Fit a pad to a D/A and let it free spin on speed 5 and the pad will go flying across the garage!

              Great post Mike. You are an asset to this forum and the detailing community as a whole with your insightful and honest posts!

              < Michael Stoops fan.
              Let's make all of the cars shiny!

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              • #8
                Re: Using a PC with a cutting pad, good or bad?

                Thanks for all the great replies guys! Guess I should order polishing and finishing pads instead of cutting pads

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