Announcement

**Michael Stoops** · Jan 28, 2010, 09:08 AM

Re: Megs 7207 Cutting pad on DA.... Do's and Dont's

We don't recommend use of the W7xxx pads with a D/A for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, this pad can lead to marring of the surface when used with a D/A because of how aggressive it is. The action of a rotary buffer is much better suited to this pad. Having said that, this pad won't always cause marring, but it will do so more often than not. What it can do, however, is help to remove more severe defects simply due to it being more aggressive. Odds are that you would need to follow it with a polishing pad to remove this marring. Now, it may well be that you've only got really severe defects in a few specific areas on a vehicle, and the cutting pad might help in those isolated cases. Fine, use it briefly and then follow those areas with the polishing pad.

Under prolonged use, however, this is potentially greater issue. Because of the way the D/A moves the pad (ie, a random pattern) the hook and loop attachment of pad to backing plate can get hot. In the case of the cutting pad, it can get really hot and potentially cause a break down of the back side of the pad. This can lead to complete failure of the hook and loop backing of the pad, which you obviously don't want to experience. For short term use it shouldn't be an issue, but if you're going to aggressively polish a full sized car using one, be warned. Either use several pads for the job to minimize this heat buildup or, better yet, don't use the cutting pad at all.

**cnfowler** · Jan 28, 2010, 12:58 PM

Re: Megs 7207 Cutting pad on DA.... Do's and Dont's

Mr. Stoops hit the nail on the head. Each car's paint will respond differently to the cutting pad also. I worked on a mid-90's Bronco with hammered paint. The cutting pad and my G100 did a great job. I followed with a polishing pad and M80 and the result was beautiful.

You'll hear it preached often - DO A TEST SPOT. There's a reason for this. Work a small area and see if is doing what you want. If not, you've only covered a very small portion of the paint and won't have much to correct.

Here's a before and after spot on the hood of the Bronco I did. This was after 2 passes with my G100 and a maroon cutting pad. No polish yet. This was also BC/CC paint, not single stage.

**Mark80z28** · Jan 29, 2010, 09:03 AM

Re: Megs 7207 Cutting pad on DA.... Do's and Dont's

Is this the pad we're talking about?

autodetailingsolutions.net/w7207.html

What would be a good cutting pad alternative?

I'm hoping to order the Flex 3401 soon, and I was planning on getting a couple of pads in the above link, but not if it's going to cause me problems.

**Michael Stoops** · Jan 29, 2010, 09:56 AM

Re: Megs 7207 Cutting pad on DA.... Do's and Dont's

Yes Mark, that's the pad. The Flex 3401 is a forced rotation machine so it shouldn't be an issue using this pad with that tool.

**Greg W** · Feb 6, 2010, 03:07 AM

Re: Megs 7207 Cutting pad on DA.... Do's and Dont's

Originally posted by cnfowler View Post

Mr. Stoops hit the nail on the head. Each car's paint will respond differently to the cutting pad also. I worked on a mid-90's Bronco with hammered paint. The cutting pad and my G100 did a great job. I followed with a polishing pad and M80 and the result was beautiful.

You'll hear it preached often - DO A TEST SPOT. There's a reason for this. Work a small area and see if is doing what you want. If not, you've only covered a very small portion of the paint and won't have much to correct.

Here's a before and after spot on the hood of the Bronco I did. This was after 2 passes with my G100 and a maroon cutting pad. No polish yet. This was also BC/CC paint, not single stage.

WOW!! Nice work!!

**Desmo888** · Mar 25, 2010, 11:30 AM

Re: Megs 7207 Cutting pad on DA.... Do's and Dont's

Originally posted by Michael Stoops View Post

Yes Mark, that's the pad. The Flex 3401 is a forced rotation machine so it shouldn't be an issue using this pad with that tool.

Hi mike,

What cutting pad would you recommend with the PC? I too bought the maroon pad, but now don't want to use it with my 7424

Thanks

**Michael Stoops** · Mar 25, 2010, 01:16 PM

Re: Megs 7207 Cutting pad on DA.... Do's and Dont's

Desmo, welcome to MOL!!

Actually, you shouldn't really need a cutting pad with a D/A. We've seen some really remarkable work on pretty hard paint done with a polishing pad and some Ultimate Compound - give this thread a read and see what we mean.

That said, if you find some specific areas that are just screaming for a little more oomph, you can use the W7xxx cutting pads for sort of "spot work" but odds are you'll need to follow with a polishing pad to remove any pad hazing caused by the cutting pad.

**BrianPow84** · Mar 25, 2010, 01:24 PM

Re: Megs 7207 Cutting pad on DA.... Do's and Dont's

I bought and used the maroon pad it works great with some ultimate compound on the DA but Mike is right after about half the car the back of the pad started to break away so guess that was a waste of money. but results were good as long as it lasted.

**J. A. Michaels** · Mar 25, 2010, 01:54 PM

Re: Megs 7207 Cutting pad on DA.... Do's and Dont's

The only thing I use the Maroon pad for is. Placing a microfiber bonnet on it to remove my lsp.. I never used it for paint correction.

**Desmo888** · Mar 25, 2010, 07:48 PM

Re: Megs 7207 Cutting pad on DA.... Do's and Dont's

Thanks for the help and advice.

**TH0001** · Mar 26, 2010, 05:52 AM

Re: Megs 7207 Cutting pad on DA.... Do's and Dont's

Originally posted by Michael Stoops

Under prolonged use, however, this is potentially greater issue. Because of the way the D/A moves the pad (ie, a random pattern) the hook and loop attachment of pad to backing plate can get hot. In the case of the cutting pad, it can get really hot and potentially cause a break down of the back side of the pad. This can lead to complete failure of the hook and loop backing of the pad, which you obviously don't want to experience. For short term use it shouldn't be an issue, but if you're going to aggressively polish a full sized car using one, be warned. Either use several pads for the job to minimize this heat buildup or, better yet, don't use the cutting pad at all.

Awesome, open, and honest answer Mike. It is AMAZING to see how truthful Meguiar's and you are with your answers in order to better serve your customers. This is how a business should be run IMO and why I am proud to be a Meguair's customer. Many retailers/manufacturers (in any industry) would never openly cite a durability issue as a potential problem, but you do to help those who are going to 'miss use' the product anyways (like myself

.

Thanks!

**Michael Stoops** · Mar 26, 2010, 08:26 AM

Re: Megs 7207 Cutting pad on DA.... Do's and Dont's

Thanks, Todd!

It should be noted that this is not any type of design flaw with our W7xxx cutting pads, nor an indication of poor quality. The pad is simply not designed for aggressive use with a D/A polisher due to the forces generated by that tool.

Many of you have used Meguiar's products in ways that we either don't recommend, or even in ways we've just never even thought of. Generally when we recommend against using a certain product on a non-specified surface it's because we know there are better choices for that application. We'll also tell you that, while your product/surface choice isn't going to hurt anything, you most likely won't get the results you're looking for.

There are a few cases, however, where we tell you flat out - No, don't do it. Chrome Wheel Cleaner on bare aluminum wheels comes to mind - when we say NO here, it is not a suggestion! There are no "well, it might work" exceptions to that one.

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Megs 7207 Cutting pad on DA.... Do's and Dont's

Megs 7207 Cutting pad on DA.... Do's and Dont's

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