How the pad protects from the edge of the backing plate

[lsanford]

Like many people here, I purchased the PC7336 at Lowes when they had the 20% off sale.



I've been looking at backing plates and foam pads.



When I look at the pictures of the Sonüs Dual-Action System Foam Pads (http://www.autopia-carcare.com/sondas.html), it looks like the velcro backing plate fits into a velcro recess in the back of the foam pad. This provides some protection by the pad to prevent the edge of the backing plate from contacting the painted surface.



When I look at the pictures of the Sonüs SFX Foam Pads (http://www.autopia-carcare.com/sonussfxpads.html), there aren't any pictures of the backing plate attached to the foam pads. So, I'm not sure how the velcro attaches.



When I look at the pitcutes of the Lake Country Mfg. Dual-Action Pads (http://www.autopia-carcare.com/lacomfdupa.html), it looks like the velcro backing plate attaches to the flat velcro back of the foam pads. This leaves it up to the user to center the pad on the plate to prevent the edge of the backing plate from contacting the painted surface.





Other brands of pads seem to have a similar mix of velcro attachment styles.





Is there real-world difference between these velcro attachment methods?

 

[JasonD]

You will find that most manufacturers/distributors are now going to full velcro backing on the pads now. The reason for this is not to protect the paint from the backing plate but to protect the pad from the backing plate. It really doesn't matter what *style* the velcro is, but more if the velcro goes all the way to the edge, otherwise you will soon have a pad that will fall apart all the way around the velcro. All of the pads you mentioned, now come with a full velcro back, so any will do just fine.



Since the PC is a DA polisher, it isn't all that necessary to *center* the pad. You can attach the pad anywhere you want and it still be balanced just fine.

 

[lsanford]

Cool.

Product progress is a good thing...and good to know all the pads are going to the same full velcro backing.