CMA pads uneven on paint?

L

Lore

New member
Hi everyone,



I bought some constant pressure CMA pads last week. These pads have a little pocket in the middle and are concave.



I used a few pads with some different materials on my friend's hood this past weekend and I noticed that only the outer ring of the pad was really collecting any of the compound. This led me to think that only a ring around the pad is truly effective. Is this true, or does the entire pad (including the middle of the pad where the pocket is) contribute to the paint transformation?



Thanks for any insight any of you more experienced Porter-Cable users might provide! :) :up
 
These pads only contact at the outer edge. You can increase the contact area by applying pressure to the PC, but I personally like the splatter control of the pocket. Some say that only a flat pad gives you enough surface area for proper polishing, but I have not found this to be the case, although I have only compared the CMA pads to Meguiar's, and the Meg's seem to be a little less agressive anyway.
 
Hi,



Yeah, there was no splatter at all, which was a pleasant surprise, but I guess that's what the pocket was designed for.



So if it only contacts at the outer edge, what movement pattern should you use to adequately cover a 2' x 2' area? (Figure 8? back and forth? parallel like you're mowing a lawn?)



Maybe I should look into buying regular flat pads too... What are most people using these days? Since CMA was such a popular place to get pads I was under the impression that's where most people got their stuff, but it seems like all of their pads are designed this way. CMA pads _are_ Lake Country pads right?
 
I've become a fan of Lake country pads. I guess I just like the way they "feel" as I apply the product and run it across the paint. I apply up & down then left to right. Works for me,



CMA came out with new pads recently but I don't think they are made by LC. ????
 
Dr Groove said:
I've become a fan of Lake country pads. I guess I just like the way they "feel" as I apply the product and run it across the paint. I apply up & down then left to right. Works for me,



CMA came out with new pads recently but I don't think they are made by LC. ????
Click to expand...



Hmm, based on their tour of the Lake Country manufacturing plant I thought they were. I'll email them and find out. where are you getting your LC pads?





edit: yep, they are. See this page: http://www.properautocare.com/hi612infopaa.html



"We often refer to these as our "standard" pads but they are the very latest Hi-Gloss Professionalâ„¢, Constant Pressure Pads from Lake Country, Mfg."
 
The pads with the pockets are called variable contact pads. The variable contact pads are made to be a little more agressive cutting wise than a falt pad. Some people perfer a flat white pad for light polishes or glazes. I have used both and to honest i dont think there is a great deal of difference. The variable contact pads with their concave surface are not quite as messy. I do like the orange and yellow variable contact pads over the flat one. Again with the white pad its a toss up
 
Lore, I've gotten my pads from CMA. However, I see that SMP (specialty motoring products) is now carrying them. I've done business with Scott @ SMP and he's a great guy.
 
Did you buy the Hi-Gloss ones from CMA or the single color flat ones?



Thanks for the recommendation on SMP. I'll check em out.
 
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