Got my Makita in the other day, some questions

A

airjames

New member
Finally got my 9227c from Coastaltool.com the other day. I installed the overhead handle and put on the factory backing plate. I am very impressed of how smooth and quiet it is. You can feel it that it is indeed a quality piece of machinery.



So my old man and I were talking tonight. He made a suggestion if I wanted to save a few bucks is stick with the factory backing plate. Then buy a few 8" pads and practice with those. He said by summer, I will be able to control 8" pads with no problem. This was new to me and I never really thought of it that way. Now I'm mixed up weather to buy a smaller backing plate for 6 or 6.5" pads or go with Dad's suggestion. On a side note, hows the quality of the Makita backing plate? Seems like to me it's pretty well built unless some of you have otherwise to say about it. Please no bashing the factory plate, I'm just looking for facts. Seems like for me anyway, 8" pads can't be that hard to control unless you start getting the RPM's around 1800-2000 which I won't do. Not for a long time anyway. I know ultimately this is my decision but at least some of you can clear me up alittle and then I can go from there. Thanks,,,,,,,AR
 
RPM's are not the danger pressure is. 1800 rpm's is a mild range for polishing I wouldn't be afraid if it. Just don't apply too much extra pressure, the weight of the machine is fine. The factory plate is very good and I would get some concave pads to go with it, you can always shell out more dough for another plate and pads later. You can use the edge only with the concave pad and you will not get any wobble, just tilt the machine. The only thing about the factory backing plate is that it has no give, so next purchase you might want one of those backing plates that are slightly flexable, but that aint no big deal. I'd get one orange, two white, and a finishing to start with, lake county is a good concave pad. Again, don't worry about RPM just keep the machine moving with little or no pressure and you can even go 1000 rpms over that and still be in safe range.
 
Hi Airborne,



I have just purchased a rotary as well and have spent a few hours this week practising on a few old bonnets (hoods) we have lying around the place. So far no swirls or holograms so I am pretty pleased.



I have used 7" and 8" pads and after a tentative start have found I can control the machine pretty well.



Sorry I cant offer any help in regards to the Mak backing plate.



I think using quality products and foam pads has made rotaries a lot easier to use than they used to be with wool pads and cheap compounds.



Just one item of advice, wear an apron or old clothes and have plenty of area around you, eliminating splatter is so far proving a lot more difficult than avoiding swirls etc. :D



Cheers

Dave.
 
I just got 1 thing to say ordering where places do stock LC pads. I'm not mad I just find this very stupid. Why do you have to have a yahoo account to order from Autogeek or CMA? I like Autogeek alot and having a yahoo account just so you can order from there is downright stupid,,,,,,AR



P.S I'll keep doing my homework in the meantime
 
Airborne Ranger said:
.............Why do you have to have a yahoo account to order from Autogeek or CMA?...........
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I don't have a Yahoo account and I've ordered from both Autogeek and CMA w/o any problems.
 
Anyone know any company besides LC make 7-8" pads with the holes in the center of them? I've given up on finding LC and don't try and persuade me to buy them, not gonna work. I'm not mad, just frustrated. Everyone seems to have everything you don't need and not enough what you do need, makes no sense.



Probably just buy another backing plate and go with the 6.5" Megs pads,,,,,,,AR
 
Burlyq said:
Cool, what do you want to trade for your backing plate? A bottle of SG or Wolf?? A few Stoners Tire Shine?? I gots lots a stuff.
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Thanks Burlyq for the offers but I would like to keep my factory backing plate around for several reasons. Say If the rotary fails for some reason and I need to send it back. I'll probably upgrade to the bigger dogs when I get some experience in. That's really a bummer for me I can't find any,,,,,,,wait a minute. Dumbass attack, what about the 7.5" Advanced pads from CMA? There not flat, so not my favorite flavor. But how well will they do the job??



My other option is buy some 8" Megs pads. However 2 drawbacks of that move is A.) they don't have the hole in the center of them for using a centering tool(came with my Makita) and B.) The Makita factory backing plate don't have that little knob thing for centering the pads. The Megs backing plate does. Decisions, Decisions:wall :wall :furious: :furious: :furious:



P.S I do apologize Burlyq if I got your hopes up for you,,,,,,AR
 
Something else I was reading right from CMA's site. Is this true about breaking in pads??



Polishing Tip: Season foam pads before "flat" polishing. Seasoning refers to breaking in a pad. If you were to apply polish to a body panel, place an Advanced, Hi-Gloss Pad on the surface and turn the machine on, it would be very squirrelly or difficult to control. This is due to most of the pad being "dry". To season a pad, lightly mist it with water, slightly raise the back of the machine so you are working with the top 1/3 of the pad. After polishing for a minute or two the pad will become more evenly saturated with product and actually become softer from heat build-up. At this point, you can safely transition from a tilted up to a flat polishing position. Every time you put a fresh, Advanced, Hi-Gloss Pad on your machine you should season it for a minute or two before "flat" polishing,,,,,,,,AR
 
I purchased the Mequiar's backing plate because I already had some of their large pads. I also purchased a 4" backing plaate so I could have a couple of really small pads for spot scratch removal. This is a nice ability to have. I also purchased a Mequire's backing plate to fit my 6" Meguiar's pads as I have a fairly large collection.



So I have a plethora of backing plates and pads of many sizes. I would say if ediate ease of use is the goal get a backing plate for 6" pads. It is much easier to control the rotary with the smaller pad. I just do not get enough practice with my hobby to really master using the larger pads.
 
While there isn't a hole in the Meguiar's pad, there is a "notch" that indicates the center. Get the pads from them and have fun.
 
My Makita backing plate seems to have a slight wobble to it. Like the plate is not square to the base/threaded tube. Seems to work OK but I don't use it much.



Myself, I like the flexible backing plates. I have one for the smaller 6.5" pads and one for the larger 8.5" pads.



Also, you can buy LC pads from Top of the Line w/o any type of Yahoo account.
 
JohnnyDaJackal said:
The Edge rotary pads have a hole in the center.
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Don't they make them in 8.5" diameter?? Too big for a rotary noob like me.



I've came to a conclusion. I've been thinking about the VBP-6C backing plate from CMA and I can still use that in conjuction with my 6.5" Megs pads. Anyone have experience with this brand of backing plate?? I don't see it mentioned to often on here so thought I would ask. Thanks everyone for helping :xyxthumbs AR
 
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