Can a badly centered pad cause holograms?

[BenP]

Just a quick question really...

The backing plate I got from Meguiar's UK doesn't have the "dimple" in the middle so getting the pad centered is very much a game of hit and miss (i.e. I can't adopt the folding the pad in half like a taco technique).

Sometimes the best I can manage is getting it centered "as near as damn it", but I find that I still get pretty bad holograms despite using a W8006 with #83 at about 1500rpm keeping the pad dead flat, moving the buffer slowly, using plenty of product and not buffing it dry!

Is it the badly centered pad that's potentially causing these marks or am I really that useless with a rotary?!

TIA,
Ben.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Can a badly centered pad cause holograms?

Originally posted by BenP
Is it the badly centered pad that's potentially causing these marks or am I really that useless with a rotary?!

TIA,
Ben.

If you want a 100% swirl free finish without using wax or a pure polish and you're talking about inspecting the finish in bright enough light that any and all imperfections in the finish will show up, then then you're going to have to follow your rotary work with a an application of a light cleaner/polish using a dual action polisher.

I'm pretty sure I've discussed this in these two threads...

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4929

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4966

[gbackus]

A badly centered pad can help to induce more swirls than you normally would because you throw off the balance of the machine, but even with the nub I still can't center my pads "perfectly". I also agree with Mike, in that with very few exceptions, a 100% swirl free finish with the roatary is very hard to achieve.

[BenP]

Thanks guys. I forgot to mention in my original post that I always follow up with a DA and a light cleaner polish, but I just didn't really know how good a finish should be expected from the rotary before I go to that step.

Now I know that flawless is very difficult with a rotary alone, I'll be less critical of myself.

Thanks again.
Ben.