picked up a rotary buffer this weekend, have a few questions

[navyblue2000]

I picked up an "inexpensive" (60 bucks) 7" rotary buffer from autozone this weekend...it's a "vector" brand product.

First impressions where that it's a very effective machine. My first time with the buffer and it made a night and day different over the effected area, and ALSO over a orbital buffer. I was impressed.

I have one question though...are there specific pads that need to be used with a rotary? I picked up a few pads that I would usually buy for an orbital and used them. did not damage the paint at all, but I noticed a black ring forming around the edges of the pad (the rubber piece on the buffer is black). is there some kind of pad or anything I need to put in the rubber piece? I just don't want to be using the wrong pad, or be missing a piece that I need, and tear the cloth and expose the rubber piece to the paint.

thanks...

[navyblue2000]

after looking at the products on meguiar's site, the pads appear to be thicker than usual bonnets. SO, i'm guessing that it's a BAD idea just to run a bonnet on a rubber backing plate?

Do I have that right?

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,

With the rotary, you do not use a bonnet at all. You can use either 6.5" (easiest to use) or 8" foam pads, with the appropriate backing plate for each size. You can also use a wool pad with the appropriate backing plate or mounting system, depending on the brand of the product.

Here are a few links to the backing plates etc:

W-7006
Meguiar's W-7006 Foam Cutting Pad



W-8006
Meguiar's W-8006 Foam Polishing Pad



W-9006
Meguiar's W-9006 foam finishing pad



W-4000

W-4000 Wool Pad



Rotary Buffer Backing Plates

Rotary Buffer Backing Plates



With the right equipment, you need to practice, practice and practice on something other than your car. Many obtain a hood etc and use it as a test bed to learn how to control the rotary and to discover how each product/pad combination works.

Tim

[navyblue2000]

that's what I had figured.
it came with a polishing "pad" that looked something like a bonnet, but DEFINITELY thicker.

oddly enough a bonnet did really well, but I won't be trying that again.

I think i may have gotten a little too brave with my Trans Am last night after experimenting with positive results on my sentra...