how close is close enough?

M

matrix_808

New member
i just got my rotary, but i read people saying that the pad on the rotary doesnt need to be 100% centered by how close do you need to get, cause i can NEVER seem to eyeball it close enough. this is usually as close as i get, which is why im thinking of selling my CCS pads and switching to the Edge 2k system.



 
you will know if it is not centered enough. It will act like you just through a blanket in the washer and it starts walking. If you can handle it, it is close enough.
 
matrix_808 said:
i just got my rotary, but i read people saying that the pad on the rotary doesnt need to be 100% centered.
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I think it needs to be 100%, or problems could occur. Does your pad & backing plate have a hole in middle of each? If so, buy a pad centering tool (or a paint touch up stick) and you will have no problem centering your pad. When buffing with a pad out of center, it creates uneven pressure and could/will create holograms. An out of center pad will also hop more and could potentially cause damage on panel edges and/or moldings.
 
I have a centering tool that was with my Purple Foamed wool pads that I now use for all my LC pads, I cannot say for sure it makes a correction difference, but handling it does.
 
what is a pad centering tool? and how can i use a paint stick as one?

cause it is annoying it shaking bad.
 
I bet if you found a wool dowel that was 3" long and the right diameter of the hole in your backing plate, you would get centered much better.



The one that came with the Purple foamed wool pads is plastic.
 
you can see a pic of the pad centering tool I have at this link.. Comes with the foamed wool pads. Only problem is that your pads have to have the centering hole. Just slip the post into the notch in the backing plate, and slide the pad straight down over it.. Perfect centering every time..



Foamed Wool 6.5 inch Polishing/Buffing Pads
 
Yukon Cornelius said:
You could put a hole in the center of your pads if they didn't come with one couldn't you?
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thats what i was wondering, would it be safe though?



if you drill a hole or something through the center would it screw up the center of the pad where you made the hole?



has anyone done this?
 
u would have to mark the center in like 12 ways to make sure you are perfect.

i dont remember if i have a hole in my lc backing plate.
 
I like the MEgs backing plates with the button- perfectly centered every time and you can use different brand of pads. The megs yellow works pretty well for general purpose use.
 
ggk said:
u would have to mark the center in like 12 ways to make sure you are perfect.

i dont remember if i have a hole in my lc backing plate.
Click to expand...



You could make a pretty simple jig with some scraps of wood.



ie: We all know how easy it is to find the center of a square right? If you are using 7" pads, build a square with 7" long sides on the inside. Piece of plywood on one side of the square frame. Locate center of square and drill hole. Place your 7" pad inside jig and mark center through the hole in the jig.
 
I don't use my LC CCS pads very often, but when I do, I use the smaller ones that aren't beveled and don't have the hole in the middle. I can't ever seem to get them perfectly centered, either. I haven't ever had a problem running them slightly off center (about the same amount as in your video). I don't go over about 1200 rpm, though.
 
matrix_808 said:
thats what i was wondering, would it be safe though?



if you drill a hole or something through the center would it screw up the center of the pad where you made the hole?



has anyone done this?
Click to expand...



I haven't done it but I can't imagine it would mess up the pad. All your doing is simply cutting a hole about the diameter of a dime.



This thread has piqued my interest though and I like the jig idea. The drilling template jig would be used for all pads I might buy in the future that don't have a hole. Now I'm thinking of marking my non "button" BP's somehow. Should be easy to figure out.
 
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