Solo foam pads...

[Nick Chapman]

This goes along with TH0001's post about the pads, but I wanted to focus this thread towards the foam pads. Hopefully Jason will chime in?

The foam pads, primarily the black ones, tend to loose chunks off of the edges of the diamond pattern after very little use.

Is there any chance of the same desity foam pad, without the diamond pattern in it? I believe that this would make the pads last longer, and give us detailers a little more bang for our buck when using these expensive foam pads.

Anyone else have this problem?

Nick

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Solo foam pads...

Anyone?

[yalerd]

Re: Solo foam pads...

I don't use the So1o pads that often, I do have and used them but I haven't noticed this but like I said, I don't use them as often.

[TH0001]

Re: Solo foam pads...

Yes, I have had chunks tearing of the pad. I think it is a function of the foam used in the process. I have Lake Country gray pads which use the same basic foam (the LC pads feature an additive which "blows up" the foam slightly, which I don't like) and they have issues as well.

I think the soft foam, combined with the diamond cut, and really cut the durabilty of the pads way down. But in terms of performance, Meg's So1o finishing pad is probably my favorite.

[RDVT4ME]

Re: Solo foam pads...

I have used the solo wool pads mainly and the foam pads not as often. It seems difficult to clean the foam pads without wearing the foam. I do like them, just concerned about long term durability.

[Jason Rose]

Re: Solo foam pads...

I can respond two ways; with a question and a comment about the Solo pad/s specific use.

(1) What liquid product/s are you using with the Solo foam pads and with what tool/speeds? (OK, so that's 3 questions really )

(2) Solo Diamond foam pads took 8 months of intense work to develop, all for one very narrow and specific use. Everything about those pads; the foam material itself, the diamond cut design, the shape/size, was made for one purpose...the So1o One-Liquid Polishing System. They were made for M86, rotary application, at slow speeds (under 1800 RPM's, but best results are at 1000 RPM's.) M86 and the pads were made to work with each other.


Durability - I have early production pads from Nov 2006 still in use in our lab, at test shops and pads from the same batch that I use regularly. These pads are over a year old and still going strong. But they have been specifically used with M86 at slow rotary speeds.

If you are using the Solo foam pads for a purpose other than the one it was designed for, I don't have research, lab work, or field testing to support that use. The Solo WDFF7 black foam pad does exactly what it needs to do with M86, I can assure you of that.

[RDVT4ME]

Re: Solo foam pads...

Jason,

I use the foam pads on the rotary at speeds around 1200 using M86 only.

Can you let us know what's the best way to clean the solo foam pads?

BTW, I do apreciate all the testing work you do. I know there have been some long days and nights during product development and it shows with the many awesome products you guys produce. M86 & M105 are great additions to our toolkit.

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Solo foam pads...

Thanks for the reply Jason.
I'll get a picture of one of my pads today. I just finished a 55 chevy, and used Solo and the finishing pad on this car. RPM's were right at 1000rpm. And the pad is almost gone after just one car.

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Solo foam pads...

Alrighty....lets try this again

Jason,

Here is the pad in question. Process was...

M105 on a wool pad. Dewalt buffer at 1400rpm's.

Solo on this foam pad. Makita buffer at 1000rpm's(one click past the #2 setting on the Makita).

The pad was brand new when I used it on this vehicle on Monday(5-12-08). The pad has not been used since that vehicle. Other than using a nylon brush, this pad has never been cleaned. Really not sure why these pads do this to me. All of my Solo Finishing pads end up like this after 1 or 2 vehicles.

If you need anymore info, please contact me(Mike Phillips has my phone #).


Anyhow, here are the pictures...

Thanks!!
Nick

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Solo foam pads...

Do you think this wear is caused by the nylon brush being held against the face of the foam pad when you're cleaning it and in essence ripping the leading edges off as you bring the RPM's up?

That's what it looks like.

[RDVT4ME]

Re: Solo foam pads...

If that was the cause...what is the proper technique for cleaning these pads when you are using a rotary buffer?

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Solo foam pads...

Do you think this wear is caused by the nylon brush being held against the face of the foam pad when you're cleaning it and in essence ripping the leading edges off as you bring the RPM's up?

That's what it looks like.

Could be. But how else are we supposed to clean it? I use hardly any pressure at all when applying the nylon brush to the pad.

[Jason Rose]

Re: Solo foam pads...

[QUOTE=n737nc;216019]Alrighty....lets try this again

Other than using a nylon brush, this pad has never been cleaned. Really not sure why these pads do this to me.


Thanks for providing the pictures, that's helpful. It's a soft foam, but you should be getting more than 1 or 2 cars out of them for sure. Our test shops and our experience tells us that they are much more durable than what you are stating (I believe you! I'm just saying we are getting different results.)

I'd like a picture of the exact brush you are using to clean the pads with.

And are you using the W66 Solo backing plate?

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Solo foam pads...

Thanks for providing the pictures, that's helpful. It's a soft foam, but you should be getting more than 1 or 2 cars out of them for sure. Our test shops and our experience tells us that they are much more durable than what you are stating (I believe you! I'm just saying we are getting different results.)

I'd like a picture of the exact brush you are using to clean the pads with.

And are you using the W66 Solo backing plate?

Yes, I am using the Solo backing plate. I actually use that backing plate for everything aside from the double sided wool pads. LOVE THEM!!!

The brush is the yellow handled nylon brush that Rick was selling over at ADS. I can't seem to find a picture of it on his site, and I don't have a picture of it myself.
I'll try and get a picture of the brush later this afternoon/evening, and post it up.

Thanks Jason!

Nick

[Jason Rose]

Re: Solo foam pads...

Jason,

I use the foam pads on the rotary at speeds around 1200 using M86 only.

Can you let us know what's the best way to clean the solo foam pads?

BTW, I do apreciate all the testing work you do. I know there have been some long days and nights during product development and it shows with the many awesome products you guys produce. M86 & M105 are great additions to our toolkit.

I know my own method of maintaining these pads...and happy to share with you. But I'm making some calls to our test sites (all over the world, so I am dealing with different time zones and such.) Sorry for the delay in my response, but I want to give you more than my opinion & my experience. I want to tell you what is actually working for a larger group of shops. Give me a little bit...I'll get back to you...