Pad discussion...

[SuperBee364]

For correcting and compounding, I still like wool. But things are kinda changing in the pad world now, what with Edge getting bought and dismantled by 3M, and the KBM method changing things up a bit.



So it's probably going to be necessary for those of us that bought in to the Edge 2k system to switch to something new when it comes to foam pads.



I really like 6 inch and smaller pads, and now with the KBM method becoming so popular, it's looking like the 5.5 inch pads might be an even better choice so the same pad can be used KBM/DA or just on a rotary.



One thing I've always liked about Proper Auto Care's LC pads is the "constant Pressure" two layer of foam system they use. The stiffer backing foam really just *works* for me. And now they have really hit the sweet spot: they are making the constant pressure foam LC pads in 5.5" (*perfect* for DA/KBM and just a *shade* on the small side to be perfect, IMO, for rotary), *flat* pads. Check them out here: <font color="red">NEW</font> Lake Country Classic Flat
5-1/2" Foam Pads constant pressure and flat (no CCS)! hard to ask for more than that, really.



But wait, there's more! Just when I'm thinkin', ok, I got my new pads figured out, I stumble on these: Lake Country Kompressor 6 Inch Foam Pads, foam buffing pads, slotted foam pads, Lake Country compressed foam pads The geek now has Kompressor pads in six inch! So now we sway a bit the other direction... perfect size for rotary, possibly a bit big for KBM/DA, but still close enough. They are almost half again as expensive as the PAC's, though. There hasn't been a whole bunch of stuff written here on Autopia about the Kompressors. What do you guys think of them? Now that they are available in six inch size, it's really tempting to get a couple to try out, but they are kinda pricey.



I *know* I'm gonna like the PAC pads, there's just nothing about them to not love... perfect size, they are constant pressure, flat, and priced right. But the Kompressors.... hmmmmmm. :think2



What do you guys think?



This would all be so much more simple if Megs would just make the Soft Buff 2.0's available in sizes smaller than 7". A 5.5" Soft Buff 2.0 would be perfect.

 

[Thomas Dekany]

You missed one other option - the new HD UNO polish. It is taking compounding/polishing to a new level. Otherwise I aggree with your post, except that those cma pads are very finicky when it comes to the velcro. Worst of all pads in my experience.

 

[Cleaning Fool]

From the little I've seen in the archives here and elsewhere, it doesn't seem to get top notch reviews, I personally have never used them.

 

[Cleaning Fool]

You missed one other option - the new HD UNO polish. It is taking compounding/polishing to a new level. Otherwise I aggree with your post, except that those cma pads are very finicky when it comes to the velcro. Worst of all pads in my experience.

Expound on that a little more Thomas, tell us about your experience with this polish..Thank You

 

[SuperBee364]

I had a bunch of CMA/PAC velcro failures a few years ago, too. Apparently, they had a bad run of glue. They did replace the pads at no charge and I haven't had a problem with their glue/velcro since then.

 

[SuperBee364]

Hmmmm... something else yet to buy... You really have my interest piqued on the HD Uno now.



I just did a search for posts by you, Thomas, and you tease a few places by recommending it, but no review posts from ya that I could find... I did see that BMW, but no halogen befores/afters, or "this is how it worked..." kinda stuff.



C'mon now, spill it!! I'm dying of curiosity here...

 

[Thomas Dekany]

It was very hard to capture the swirls/scratches on the 335. I gave up on trying.



Trust me, one pass with the uno and you'll know that it is a very different polish. Doesn't dust either.



I guess everything DavidB claimed with this product is true.



Did you finf the red acura before and after shots?



PS: have you tried the euro 3m? pads that Phill sells? Those suppose to be very different. In a good way.

 

[SuperBee364]

Your recommendation is enough to convince me to give the Uno a try.



I didn't see the Acura.. I'lll go look for it right now.



The only 3m pad I've used is the big 8" UF pad. Think I'll have a look at Phil's pads... LOL, I thought I was getting *close* to deciding what I was gonna replace my Edge's with... Darn you, Thomas!

 

[imported_Jakerooni]

Ahh yes just when you think you have everything figured out the munfactures go ahead and change up the game again. This is when knowing the basics of detailing come into play. There are a LOT of new flavors out there. But how do you decide what are nothing more than flash in the pans and what's legit? I remember 2 years ago the CCS pad's were all the rage. every top detailer had to have them and if you weren't using them then you weren't a high level detailer.. blah blah blah... Now look. companies left and right are just trying to give these things away basically. I don't know if these new pads do crap or not. The kompressor pads honestly to me look like they just wouldn't last too long. with all the little cuts in them I could see myself tearing them up in a heartbeat really. Dosen't mean their a bad pad.. Just not for me. I've always like flat pads in foam for polishing. I'm actually glad to see their coming back in "Fashion" I do like the smaller sizes too. much more variety this time around.



Same with polishes. There are new ones hitting the market everyday. What's really new and what's just re-labled "Brand X"? I will say 105/205 really changed things up a bit. I think Uno is going to. But... (and I haven't tested this yet because I can't get anymore yet) years ago I tested safty clean's cut-n-glaze and it did the exact same thing. 1 polish from compound all the way down to micropolishing. Just changed the pads and the technique but never switch the product. And it worked phenomenally well. So while Uno maybe a top notch product it's still nothing new. Dosen't make it bad it just dosen't really make it new either. Maybe some differnt properties to it. But in the end the jist of what it's about is rather old hat.



In the end don't forget the old adage.... no matter what the new flavor of the week is it's still 90% detailer/technique and only 10% product. Don't go broke buying up product. if you were getting great results before (as most of you guys are) why change a good thing?

 

[SuperBee364]

Ahh yes just when you think you have everything figured out the munfactures go ahead and change up the game again. This is when knowing the basics of detailing come into play. There are a LOT of new flavors out there. But how do you decide what are nothing more than flash in the pans and what's legit? I remember 2 years ago the CCS pad's were all the rage. every top detailer had to have them and if you weren't using them then you weren't a high level detailer.. blah blah blah... Now look. companies left and right are just trying to give these things away basically. I don't know if these new pads do crap or not. The kompressor pads honestly to me look like they just wouldn't last too long. with all the little cuts in them I could see myself tearing them up in a heartbeat really. Dosen't mean their a bad pad.. Just not for me. I've always like flat pads in foam for polishing. I'm actually glad to see their coming back in "Fashion" I do like the smaller sizes too. much more variety this time around.



Same with polishes. There are new ones hitting the market everyday. What's really new and what's just re-labled "Brand X"? I will say 105/205 really changed things up a bit. I think Uno is going to. But... (and I haven't tested this yet because I can't get anymore yet) years ago I tested safty clean's cut-n-glaze and it did the exact same thing. 1 polish from compound all the way down to micropolishing. Just changed the pads and the technique but never switch the product. And it worked phenomenally well. So while Uno maybe a top notch product it's still nothing new. Dosen't make it bad it just dosen't really make it new either. Maybe some differnt properties to it. But in the end the jist of what it's about is rather old hat.



In the end don't forget the old adage.... no matter what the new flavor of the week is it's still 90% detailer/technique and only 10% product. Don't go broke buying up product. if you were getting great results before (as most of you guys are) why change a good thing?

'Cause they're not making my "good thing" anymore... Edge pads, that is. After going around buying one pad here, one pad there, couple more of these, and toss in one of those, I got tired of throwing money at pads and settled on the Edge 2k and six inch PFW's as my pads of choice, and I bought large... lot's of each. But now my Edges are all getting long in the tooth, so I would like to settle again on one line of pads.



I got a good start down that road, but now it's lookin' like I might go back to one of these, one of those, couple of them...... And it's all Thomas! fault!



Seriously, though, I agree with your thoughts on the Kompressors; they don't look like they would last very long, and they are quite expensive. But there is something intriguing about them. I might get one just to give it a try.



Other than the velcro glue failures I had with CMA/PAC a few years ago, I always did like their Constant Pressure pads. I had them in all shapes and sizes, and yeah, i did bite into the CCS thing, too; all of em were CCS except for a few OEM freebies they threw in a long the way. I still have quite a few of the CCS pads, but I don't like them nearly as well as plain old flat pads.



Jake, what's your pad of choice right now?

 

[SuperBee364]

PS: have you tried the euro 3m? pads that Phill sells? Those suppose to be very different. In a good way.

Are these the ones? Uber Foam Buffing Pads I'm not seeing any other pads besides these, but they don't say Euro or 3m anywhere...



Edit: I just ran in to a very useful chart/post over on another board...Proper Auto Care: Understanding Lake Country Polishing Pads - Truth In Detailing Auto Detailing Forum I hope I'm not over stepping my bounds by posting a link to it, but it has some *really* useful information in it. Pretty much every possible question you could have about LC pads answered in one chart. it doesn't show the new 5.5 inch constant pressure flat pads in it, but other than that, it pretty much has it all covered.

 

[imported_Jakerooni]

Yea good points there. I hate loosing something that works. And on the dewalt i use the edge pads exclusively. Wool and foam.



But on the makita I've been using these Car Buffing Pads, Car Wash Equipment, Automotive Polishing Pad & More – Buff and Shine They have a large variety of sizes and selection. And apparently they whore themselves out like chemical guys and have a bunch of different guys re-brand them (unless they are re-braned themselves... Never sure where the origin is on these types of things) So I'm taking that as they have staying power. Their foam holds up extreamly well. I get really great finishes from them and I can pick and choose what I need from them. Plus next to the edge system it's the easiest centering pad I've ever used.

 

[Renew Detailing]

Have you guys ever tried system one? If you have, how does it compare to Uno? I currently use system one with either a foam cutting pad or a foam finishing pad on my dewalt rotary. I'm 90% happy with it, but I wonder if there is anything out there that does a better job for the same price or does the same for less. System one is $120 a gallon but I get it for $85.:thx

 

[a.k.a. Patrick]

Ive got some issues with the way they describe the Red foam compound though. IME, it should not be used with any type of abrasive polish. Its way to soft to actually roll abrasives out with. The softer the pad, the better the ability for the abrasive to take comfort in. Red should be left for sealants and liquid or soft nubas......

 

[Thomas Dekany]

Are these the ones? Uber Foam Buffing Pads I'm not seeing any other pads besides these, but they don't say Euro or 3m anywhere...



Edit: I just ran in to a very useful chart/post over on another board...Proper Auto Care: Understanding Lake Country Polishing Pads - Truth In Detailing Auto Detailing Forum I hope I'm not over stepping my bounds by posting a link to it, but it has some *really* useful information in it. Pretty much every possible question you could have about LC pads answered in one chart. it doesn't show the new 5.5 inch constant pressure flat pads in it, but other than that, it pretty much has it all covered.

The link to Todds's post is all about pads available in the USA. The Euro pads suppose to be much better pads. You might want to call Phill. I haven't tried them yet, but as my ccs pads wear out I'll get those from Phill. (The Euro UF 6.5" blue pad is also a better pad from the large one available here according to the guys who have tried both)

 

[getcha]

The Uber pads from Phil are just relabled custom colored LC flat pads



Green is LC white

Orange is orange

Blue is LC black



same porosity..

 

[Setec Astronomy]

But things are kinda changing in the pad world now, what with Edge getting bought and dismantled by 3M...So it's probably going to be necessary for those of us that bought in to the Edge 2k system to switch to something new when it comes to foam pads.

I'm not sure I agree with this premise. I was talking to the former Edge guys quite a bit last year because I waited to try to order my Flex Edge adapter until the day they stopped selling them. In the course of trying to get an answer from them about how/where to buy the adapter, it was pretty clear that they were still making the pads for 3M.



Since 3M didn't buy all of the Edge products (I think it was just the pads and adapters) it seems pretty silly that they would stop selling them. Perhaps this shortage is caused by a changeover to a different mfg. facility. Why don't you call the guys at getiapstuff.com and ask them what's going on?

 

[SuperBee364]

I'm not sure I agree with this premise. I was talking to the former Edge guys quite a bit last year because I waited to try to order my Flex Edge adapter until the day they stopped selling them. In the course of trying to get an answer from them about how/where to buy the adapter, it was pretty clear that they were still making the pads for 3M.



Since 3M didn't buy all of the Edge products (I think it was just the pads and adapters) it seems pretty silly that they would stop selling them. Perhaps this shortage is caused by a changeover to a different mfg. facility. Why don't you call the guys at getiapstuff.com and ask them what's going on?

None of the etailers that used to carry the Edge pads are restocking them once they sell out, and all of them are all on "close out" everywhere. I'll see if I can get in touch with the getiapstuff.com guys tomorrow. Any idea if Aaron is still one of the Edge guys?

 

[Setec Astronomy]

I'll see if I can get in touch with the getiapstuff.com guys tomorrow. Any idea if Aaron is still one of the Edge guys?

Last I talked to them was probably January or February, but IAP is Aaron's company that makes/sells what 3M didn't take from the Edge line, plus some new stuff. When I got my Flex adapter it shipped from the IAP address (old Edge address) and said "3M East" or something like that. It just doesn't make sense for 3M to buy just the pads and then stop selling them, unless it was eating into their own pad sales and they wanted to kill it.

 

[SuperBee364]

Yea good points there. I hate loosing something that works. And on the dewalt i use the edge pads exclusively. Wool and foam.



But on the makita I've been using these Car Buffing Pads, Car Wash Equipment, Automotive Polishing Pad & More – Buff and Shine They have a large variety of sizes and selection. And apparently they whore themselves out like chemical guys and have a bunch of different guys re-brand them (unless they are re-braned themselves... Never sure where the origin is on these types of things) So I'm taking that as they have staying power. Their foam holds up extreamly well. I get really great finishes from them and I can pick and choose what I need from them. Plus next to the edge system it's the easiest centering pad I've ever used.

That says a lot, right there.



The mounting system they use looks pretty cool, too. Can you use their backing plate with other pad brands, or would the centering mechanism get in the way?



Buff n Shine used to have a terrible shilling reputation around here and various other detailing boards, but they've been behaving for a while now.