Sonus Backing plates - How long are they supposed to last?

M

MaThGr82

New member
I got my Sonus velcro backing plate last week. I have used it on two vehicles so far and was using it on my third car when the plate tore off the base. Did I get a defective one and should I ask for a replacement or is this something I should expect to have happen and therefor should stock up on them.



Now I am in kind of a bind because I am doing two more cars next weekend and I kind of need a backing plate.



All I was applying was SSR1 and I had not even finished the car which made life a PITA finishing the car by hand.



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PS: This is the same one I ordered from the Autopia Store. I was going to call their customer service but they are not open until Monday.
 
Just give them a call and explain what happened, you should be okay. It definitely looks like a defective plate to me because I've never seen that happen, especially on the first use.



By the way, this has nothing to do with why your plate fell apart, but were you using that orange pad with SSR1?
 
oops...SSR 2.5 Wrote the wrong thing. I had some major marks I had to take off a hood, roof, and trunk lid. The people have cats that like to leap off the car onto other stuff.



I hope they will be able to replace it and try to get it to me by next weekend because otherwise, I will be doing two cars and my arms will be gigantic after that workout.



On a funny side note. When it shot off, it scared the crap out of me and flew across the garage and hit a pile of boxes which then scared the hell out of a cat on top of the boxes that was watching me.
 
But anyways, since this happened it has me thinking.



How long should these things last. 20 cars, 50 cars, 200???



Or do they pretty much last forever typically?
 
they shouldnt break like that... if anything the velcro would wear out. I dont know how long it would take for that though
 
Do most people have multiple backin plates in case something like this happens?? I am considering ordering an extra one in case something happens in the middle of a job again.
 
MaThGr82 said:
......I hope they will be able to replace it and try to get it to me by next weekend because otherwise, I will be doing two cars and my arms will be gigantic after that workout......
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They'll take care of you and get one right out.



It did get me to thinking and I ordered a "spare" with some pads today (just-in-case...).
 
MaThGr82 said:
Do most people have multiple backin plates in case something like this happens?? I am considering ordering an extra one in case something happens in the middle of a job again.
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I have quite a few but not because they break. I have them in different sizes and thicknesses, so if one did break, I'd be okay by default.



If you're going to order another one, I suggest getting a *different* one just to play with because I really don't think you will ever break one again. This is rare.



Here's just one example of a different *type* of backing plate that's available: http://www.topoftheline.com/polisher-back-plate.html
 
Well i got ahold of the Customer service and they are going to send me out one tomorrow. While it was a bummer this happened, I am glad that it got taken care of so quickly.



I will order another one just to be sure this never happens mid-detail again.
 
Well, I did receive a replacement for the Sonus plate but they sent me out a LC backing plate.



Now I was doing my second car with it today and the velcro melted and the backing plate cut right through my Sonus orange pad. I had the PC set at 6 and was applying about 10lbs of pressure.



What am I doing wrong??? This is very frustrating. :angry :angry



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MaThGr82: If you really are pressing down with around 10 pounds of pressure, that is way too much IMHO. Most users only press down with 1-2 pounds of pressure.



Scottwax described a very good method to get the amount of pressure right, press down until the motor just starts to slow down, then let up a little on the pressure, to allow the motor run at full speed.



Pressing down really hard on the PC may be causing the backing plate failures, I still have all my original plates including Sonus and LC plates and none have failed.



Hope you get this problem sorted out OK.
 
Hope you get this problem sorted out OK.
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Yeah so do I.



I just started applying more pressure because previously I had not been applying enough pressure from what many people had told me here in a different thread about removing swirl marks. Oh well. It is just frustrating at times.Expensive learning curve I suppose.
 
I'm sorry to say Mikes right.



From the photo I can see too much wear in the central foam ring. I use the Sonus orange frequently in our business and even after many vehicles of use it never gets that worn.



And of course, the velcro cutting. Sorry, it is frustrating sometimes with this sort of work. Don't get discouraged.



I use a similar technique for gaugeing pressure. Sometimes if I need a bit more bite I keep the pressure up at *just* the point I hear the motor labour. Maybe 3 or 4 pounds. Never more than that. But most of the time I back off just before it labours.



It looks like the LC plate is a bit bigger than the velcro pocket. My Sonus b/plates are similarly over-sized. I was concerned that it might cause the same velcro cutting you experienced but its never happened...not even velcro wear.



Just moderate the pressure, let the polish do more of the work, and you'll be right in no time. :up
 
Yeah I wonder why you got a lc bp and not the sonus one. If anything I think this had something to do with the latest problem.



Maybe see if you can get a sonus bp this time and go from there. I would try and use sonus bp and pads together. And lc bp and pads together. I wouldnt mix , just because im a freak like that.



But im sure as someone described there will be these slight differences which you really have no clue will work until these kinda things happen.



Im thinking your pad pressure has something to do with it. But maybe just a stroke of bad luck too.



Could even be your pad. Maybe its offbalanced or something odd oor the extra pressure and coarse pad putting a lot of friction on things. Im sure with a brand new pad and backing plate or a finer pad. You wont get these same kinda problems.
 
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