Colossal Mistake

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MoneyPit

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I decided to move to Edge pads a few months ago, and have loved them. I save up to 20 minutes per polish session from just flipping the pad instead of getting a new one or cleaning the old one. I haven't done any major correction as all the vehicles I see are relatively marr-free.



Background... did a little mini-detail with PB's new PwS and topped with AJT. Left town and came back. Was looking over the car and noticed some sort of residue on the rear bumper... Clay.. nothing. WD-40... nothing.... FPII on polish pad... nothing. This stuff was hard as a rock. So I got out the Edge orange and OC. Began working it in, medium pressure... no more than 15-20 pounds. Noticed the reside was starting to come off, so I kept the pressure the same and did a few more passes, on the last pass, I realized that that I was no longer polishing paint, but the bumper material.



DSCN0268.jpg




Super awesome. I'm extatic at this point. So much that I manage to break a few things around the garage.



I slow down, get ahold of myself, and take a gander at the pad:



DSCN0258-1.jpg




These might be a bit blurry.



DSCN0262.jpg




And one more for awesemely good measure:

DSCN0258.jpg




It seems that the pad was torn.. somehow. I'm still trying to wrap my brain around this one. I was on the edge of the bumper, but the pad was flat on the top of the surface. The pad is incredibly pliable, unlike when it was new... Its been used maybe four times. The pad material is burned like it touched the adapter, burned, then tore away from the weakened portion. The middle plate in there seemed to have gotten ahold of the paint and produced the results you see here.





So... user error? In all likelihood.



Defective pad? Perhaps.



Incredibly costly mistake? Absolutely.



Lesson learned? Yes.



Learn from me.
 
Aaron from Edge should see this. I am shocked. This was one of biggest fears. But I won't conclude anything until the experts see this.
 
Is this used on a rotary, because Ive burnt paint on every car Ive used a rotary on, usually wont happen on a flat surfaces.

Looks like too much pressure compounded by pressing into a corner cavity, caused to much compression of the pad, and scorched the paint and pad.
 
Just a PC, and what I wouldn't think would be enough pressure to get through the pad... but as you can see, I'm wrong all the time.
 
Huarache said:
Just a PC, and what I wouldn't think would be enough pressure to get through the pad... but as you can see, I'm wrong all the time.
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That sucks, I know how you must feel, I did it to my Tundra my daughters civic and my sons Jeep, I had to learn to paint its gotten so bad, recently I got a PC to stop this, I guess i better be careful. thanks for sharing this.
 
Man, I hate to see that happen, and can understand your frustration.



Please don't take my reply as a jab, because I'm not trying to do that at all.



This looks like an 'end user error' to me. Although I don't use Edge pads routinely, I have used them several times, and I can't imagine you hitting the center plate, without applying excessive pressure while running the polisher down the middle of the pad.



I have several 3M wool pads for my rotary that are attached by a metal bolt, through the middle of the pad, and have never had this problem, but I'm sure I could do this, if I tried.



We've all made mistakes.



My point is to consider your operation/use before pointing at the manufacturer.



Fair enough?
 
Absolutely fair, as you see, I mentioned that user error was the most likely culprit. I'm not pointing fingers at all. I'm honestly confused at how the pad ended up like that. All I have is that the pad was as flat on the surface as it could be, and I wasn't applying anywhere near what I typically deem to be excessive pressure. I've spent hours over the scale making sure I'm around 15-20 lbs when compounding.



I don't mean this as a jab at Edge, but this isn't the first, or even the 20th vehicle I've polished. I'm no where near an expert, but I've got a handle on what i"m doing.



So, what this boils down to, is merely a warning for those using edge pads, not a warning to avoid them, and certainly not a plea for "Pity me, edge pads ruined my bumper."
 
Does the center plastic 'backing' piece that you connect to the edge adapter feel loose between your pads?
 
I can't check on that right now as the pad is in my brother's garage where my supplies are housed until my house gets finished. I'll check on it, but from what I remember, that piece was intact and seemed to be in good order.
 
Wow! So sorry :(

This is one of the things I was afraid off when i was thinking about getting the edge system. I figured because i am a noob with the PC I may just make this exact kind of mistake, so I better go with the regular pads.
 
No matter whether it was user error, pad failure, or a combo of both, so sorry to see this happen to you.



I use the edge system for the rotary and have had success so far. But still, seeing something like this scares me a bit.
 
Huarache- What exactly happened here? Did the white center disc come through the pad and scrape against the paint???? If that is the case, from the pictures the damage on the bumper just looks like plastic transfer. Your pad doesn't show any green showing me that you went through the paint.



Check out this link:

Dedication to Detail - FAQ - The Edge Buffing Pads and Polishing Pads



I remember Aaron (President of Edge) saying even if the disc were to make contact with the paint, the plastic wouldn't damage the paint and it would wipe off...



So hopefully the disc rubbed some plastic on the bumper and you won't need a bumper repaint.



No matter what, let Aaron know about the problem and he'll take the pad issue into his hands.
 
mgm121499 said:
Does the center plastic 'backing' piece that you connect to the edge adapter feel loose between your pads?
Click to expand...

John ,the edge E2k 6" pads are abrassive and according to Edges site cut faster at lower speeds ,but you won't see the information posted on a sponsors site ..Many people are having problems with the pads splitting in the center just as the above picture shows..I tore up a few pieces of trim on my own vehicle where i had it taped off,also took off some pin striping.



I have used LC pads in the past with a rotory on many vehicles with no problems..I posted how abrassive the pads where to keep newbs from making the same error and received a nasty PM from Aaron..I have a right to speak of good experience as well as bad with any product i purchase,but Aaron beleives different..at the same time i purchased my pads i reffered the pads to another detailer here in chicago after a few uses he won't use them anymore..



The Quick disconnect adapter is the only advantage i see to the E2K 6" pads..I can't wait to try the new LC CCS..
 
joe.p said:
John ,the edge E2k 6" pads are abrassive and according to Edges site cut faster at lower speeds ,but you won't see the information posted on a sponsors site ..Many people are having problems with the pads splitting in the center just as the above picture shows..I tore up a few pieces of trim on my own vehicle where i had it taped off,also took off some pin striping.



I have used LC pads in the past with a rotory on many vehicles with no problems..I posted how abrassive the pads where to keep newbs from making the same error and received a nasty PM from Aaron..I have a right to speak of good experience as well as bad with any product i purchase,but Aaron beleives different..at the same time i purchased my pads i reffered the pads to another detailer here in chicago after a few uses he won't use them anymore..



The Quick disconnect adapter is the only advantage i see to the E2K 6" pads..I can't wait to try the new LC CCS..
Click to expand...





Yikes, Sorry to hear that Joe!



Lets hope the folks at 'The Edge' see this and correct the situation(s).
 
Not a smart move to OC and edge orange a bumper

They have thinner paint again than on the rest of the car.

Highest I go is 2000 grit and never a cutting pad. I don't care if I don't get every mark out, I have burnt through a bumpers paint (spare one so no dramas) with just the heat of the buff before finishing one pass with VM. They are extremely heat sensitive.
 
SVR said:
Not a smart move to OC and edge orange a bumper

They have thinner paint again than on the rest of the car.

Highest I go is 2000 grit and never a cutting pad. I don't care if I don't get every mark out, I have burnt through a bumpers paint (spare one so no dramas) with just the heat of the buff before finishing one pass with VM. They are extremely heat sensitive.
Click to expand...



I agree extra care should be taken with bumpers, and perhaps it wasn't the right combo, but it's still a bit scary the pad failed like that.
 
Edge Orange is a light cut pad and OC isn't really that aggressive from my experience. It wasn't just the pad that caused the error. I can't look at the pad as its at my brother's house right, now.. however I'll look and make sure the center plate has paint on it before I confirm it or the adapter caused damage.



I'm sure Aaron won't have a problem with this, this should just prevent others from making similiar mistakes. It seems to be an isolated problem.
 
Huarache said:
Edge Orange is a light cut pad and OC isn't really that aggressive from my experience. It wasn't just the pad that caused the error. I can't look at the pad as its at my brother's house right, now.. however I'll look and make sure the center plate has paint on it before I confirm it or the adapter caused damage.



I'm sure Aaron won't have a problem with this, this should just prevent others from making similiar mistakes. It seems to be an isolated problem.
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This I don't agree with and is why I don't have the orange pad labeled on aggressiveness on my site. I have seen it advertised as a light and as a heavy. MY opinion is it is a heavy cut.



Sorry about your bad experience.



Bob
 
Danase said:
This I don't agree with and is why I don't have the orange pad labeled on aggressiveness on my site. I have seen it advertised as a light and as a heavy. MY opinion is it is a heavy cut.
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This is another good reason why people suggest that all pads should conform to the same color coding (which of course will never happen). It certainly can be confusing and is maybe something we should think about when throwing around statements concerning pads of certain colors that new members (please, I'm not directing this at the OP, just making a general observation) don't get confused. IIRC some of the Edge colors/cuts are completely opposite most of the other pad color schemes.
 
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