Buffer Pads?

[tom slick]

I just bought a bosch sander/polisher (1250) that is similar to porter cable 7424. I can use any 6" hook and loop pads. What pads would you recommend as a basic kit? both of my vehicles have good factory paint so I don't need to do any major reconditioning. I'd just like to try out some polishing to get out water spots, minor scratches and add some shine.

 

[bretfraz]

1. Does it come with a velcro backing plate? You will need one if it doesn't. Make sure the threaded post on the backing plate will screw into your machine. The plates that fit into PC7424's is 5/16-24.

2. At a minimum I'd recommend a couple polishing pads and maybe a couple finishing pads. The polishing pads will work with paint polishes that are made to remove swirl marks, oxidation, stains, etc. The finishing pads are good for light polishes or glazes that add shine and lightly clean the paint prior to waxing.

There are suppliers that offer pad kits for polishers. You may want to consider them to get you started. Check out CMA and Detailers Paradise for kits.
CMA: http://www.properautocare.com/ne65inccstef.html
Detailers Paradise: http://www.detailersparadise.com/View.asp?Id=233292004924022-2491365434

 

[tom slick]

Thanks for the info.
my buffer does already have a 6" velcro pad

 

[Shelby]

I use edge pads, two blue one white and one yellow. They are expensive but.. you get to use both sides and they hold up to washing better than anything. I'd wager you can polish twice the number of cars than with single edge pads.
http://www.autogeek.net/edge20006.html

 

[Dave H]

I'd throw in a cutting pad also (like Lake country's yellow pad). Even if your paint is in good shape, a cutting pad gives you a little more versatility for dealing with trouble spots when needed.
When I first outfitted my PC, I got Lake Country Variable Contact pads. I really like them. I got one yellow (cutting), two white (polishing), and one black (finishing). For starting out, this would give you everything you need. Now that I've been doing it for several years, I've accumulated more pads. My "go to" pad is an orange (light cutting). It's extremely versatile, depending on product used and speed/pressure. I also have a green (light polishing), which to me seems like a solution searching for a problem. I guess it could be good with a cleaner wax, but I typically don't use them. I like dedicated, single purpose type products better.
I'm a little interested in the Edge system, but have plenty of Lake Country 7.5" Variable Contact pads I really like. Maybe when they wear out....

Dave

 

[Shelby]

Definetly get Variable pads over Constant Pressure pads, good point Dave. Constant Prssure pads are good but can burn paint much easier than variable contact pads. I use a rotary and would never consider using constant pressure pads, they generate way too much heat.

 

[Mike-in-Orange]

Quote:

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Definetly get Variable pads over Constant Pressure pads, good point Dave. Constant Prssure pads are good but can burn paint much easier than variable contact pads. I use a rotary and would never consider using constant pressure pads, they generate way too much heat.

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He's using a dual action orbital so burning through the paint is a non issue.

The pads you use and how you use them depends in large part which polishes you plan on using. For example, Meguiar's M80 polish on a yellow Meguiar's polishing pad works best with a fair amount of pressure, while Prima polishes on a Lake Country polishing pad seem to work best with light pressure.

I'm not big on using a cutting pad with a DA polisher as they can haze the paint, depending on how soft or workable your paint is. If you aren't prepared for the simple fact that you would then need to follow this step with a finer pad (but perhaps even the same polish) - and a lot of people are NOT prepared for this - then you can potentially be let down by the results.

 

[Shelby]

It's not a non issue, constant pressure pads can burn paint whatever machine you are using, it's just less likely with a PC or equivalant. The good news is most constant pressure pads have been changed to include groves that take away some of the heat, just make sure if you buy a CPP that it has grooves of some sort. If you need a cutting pad you need a cutting pad, depends on how severe the paint is to level. You just have to be prepared to be a two or three step process. The online detailing industry biggest diservice was to promote DA polishers over Rotary's. It is a waste of time and energy to use them, and they do not finish as nice as a rotary in 90% of the time. With a few precuations Rotaries are as safe as a DA polsiher, but you have a nicer look in less than 1/3 of the time. Just my opinion on that.