Trouble with Rupes 4 inch pads

BSkip333 said:
I had a new 6" yellow microfiber tear when pulling it off the backing plate Sunday. Was only the 2nd panel I used it on and I had cleaned and dried it in between panels. Sucks because I was really impressed with the results. The foam tore from the backing material to the face and I wasn`t overly aggressive removing it. While using it I was thinking I will have to order more than the 4 I have but not sure now. Anyone else have this issue?
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I`ve had it start on both blue and yellow mf pads.

I have a ton of each, and what I`ve noticed is that some have a hard, dense substrate that holds the fibers and velcro. These pads hold up great, and are very durable.

Others have a more porous substrate, and are very soft. It`s as if it wasn`t "cooked" correctly, or was mis-formulated... With these pads, I`m more careful with how I remove them from the backing plate. I haven`t had one tear from normal operation though. It was from putting too much stress on then from removal.
 
Wing Commander said:
I just purchased a Rupes mini75 polisher and five types of Rupes pads and two types of microfiber pads. I also purchased all five types of polish to match the pads. Is there any cautions I should know about compared to using Menzerna polishes? I will mostly use this for only where the big machines do not fit.
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I think I remember seeing someone on AG post a gutted green pad after using Menzerna FG400.
 
I would only use Rupes polishes with Rupes pads. The chemicals in Menz polishes can/will cause the adhesive that binds the Velcro to the foam to dissolve. Grab some B&S pads for Menzerma products.
 
I`ve noticed that sometimes the red Rupes mark on the backing velcro is missing. Could this mean or be knockoff products ?
Sometimes I purchase from other Detail supply sites, and when they are low in product, where do they source an
emergency supply ? ? :hmmm:
 
Mary B said:
I`ve noticed that sometimes the red Rupes mark on the backing velcro is missing. Could this mean or be knockoff products ?
Sometimes I purchase from other Detail supply sites, and when they are low in product, where do they source an
emergency supply ? ? :hmmm:
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I have purchased almost 200 Rupes pads this year from PBMG 7",6",4" and all colors and micro pads have the red Trademark on them.
 
Mary B said:
I`ve noticed that sometimes the red Rupes mark on the backing velcro is missing. Could this mean or be knockoff products ?
Sometimes I purchase from other Detail supply sites, and when they are low in product, where do they source an
emergency supply ? ? :hmmm:
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Their older pads didn`t have the red logo.
 
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Todd@RUPES said:
This is also the first I have heard of such a problem. PM me your address and I will ship you out a box of 4-inch pads. If you don`t mind, please send the damaged pads to our US facility in Colorado. We would like have one of the engineers examine this problem.
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I used Rupes pads on 2 doors of my Ford Taurus SHO and they fell apart pretty quick. I`m already not a big fan of Rupes to begin with. But these I received as a birthday gift and didn`t even use them for about 2 hours...
Disappointed..
 
WaxManRonnie said:
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I used Rupes pads on 2 doors of my Ford Taurus SHO and they fell apart pretty quick. I`m already not a big fan of Rupes to begin with. But these I received as a birthday gift and didn`t even use them for about 2 hours...
Disappointed..
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What type of Polish did you use with the blue pads. I looks like the second pad is delaminating also. The blue and green pads seem to be the pads I have the most problems with. I have stopped using both blue and green pads and now use microfiber pads for compounding. Besides delaminating I also had problems with the blue and green pads deteriorating. I still use the yellow and white Rupes pads and I would put those two up against any manufacturers pads.
 
WaxManRonnie said:
I used Menzerna FG400.
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The Guz said:
See post 16

https://www.autogeekonline.net/foru...s-pads-input-needed-please-2.html#post1371096
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^ Guz linked the perfect thread about this.

Here`s the quote from Dylan@Rupes on that post specifically about FG400:
"EDIT - just saw FG400. We have identified a VERY specific pattern of that compound vs. our green foam that they do not play well together. I am unclear as to solvent content (or whatever other content there is in that formula) but I would discourage the use of FG400 specifically with the green or blue. Doesn`t seem to have issues with the others and the green seems to be the least compatible. As our compounds are all water based they foams were setup for that in compatibility - the issue between this specific compound and that pad is something that only manifested itself fully in the last 8-10 months and there is a definite pattern."
 
Rupes pads and solvent based compounds have been a problem for at least 3 years. I`m not sure how many water based polishes are on the market besides Chemical Guys polishes. I have a feeling Polish Angel compounds may be water based just due to their wonderful smell, though I could be wrong. It would be nice if Rupes would list which polishes that are known to be compatible with their pads. Saying only use Rupes polishes with their pads costs them money. I have gone almost exclusively to microfiber pads to do my cutting on hard paint systems. I have tried the Rupes blue pads with their matching polish and while they do the job I have yet to learn to control the polish "sling" due to the open cell quality of the blue pad.
 
The Guz said:
See post 16

https://www.autogeekonline.net/foru...s-pads-input-needed-please-2.html#post1371096
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Guz,
Thanks for the post. I still find it troubling that I can use any type of pad with that polish and never have an issue. Not sure what is so special about those pads that I got that just don`t work well with the fast glass 400. Lesson learned. I most likely will never use those again. Hell, I could go to Harbor Freight and use the cheap pads from there and never have a problem.
 
People forget (or don`t care) that Rupes Bigfoot was introduced as a * system *, with the intention of keeping it`s components in harmony with one another. Rupes never intended their tools to be used with after market pads or polishes, which is why they have no obligation to validate competing accessory products with their tools.

In my experience the system has a fairly significant learning curve. From understanding the anit-spin, to dressing / reloading the pads, to reducing the amount of pressure we place on the head of the polisher...

That being said, I find that Meguiar`s products seem to work very well with the Rupes tools and pads. Still, I tend to use it as a system, with no washer mod.
 
I`m thinking OP just got a bad pad? At least Rupes is going to fix it & realize the OP is an OG and knows what`s up & prolly didn`t cook his pads - and they aren`t saying "user error".

My experience is a bit different. I have been using the same Rupes pads as a Rupes system for years now. I bought these pads + a BF 15 from AG a day or so after they picked up Rupes as vendor - it was prolly 3 years ago? Maybe 4?

Granted, I only use them a few times a year. But I just used 2 yellow 6" pads to do the flat surfaces of my new truck with their fine polish on my BG Mk II yesterday with no problems. The white pads have been used the most (on my BMW - doesn`t really need correction), I`ve prolly used/washed them 30 times and they are still in excellent shape.

Still love this system, how easy it is to use, and how good it works. I also love the polish so much I started using it with my PC 7424 & 3" pads (don`t have the mini).

Anyway, I`ve cleaned them with LA`s Totally Awesome APC, WG & BF pad cleaners, & IPA - no problems.

So, here is a pic of some of the first Rupes pads AG sold, currently sitting on my washer clean & drying:

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danlc95 said:
People forget (or don`t care) that Rupes Bigfoot was introduced as a * system *, with the intention of keeping it`s components in harmony with one another. Rupes never intended their tools to be used with after market pads or polishes, which is why they have no obligation to validate competing accessory products with their tools.

In my experience the system has a fairly significant learning curve. From understanding the anit-spin, to dressing / reloading the pads, to reducing the amount of pressure we place on the head of the polisher...

That being said, I find that Meguiar`s products seem to work very well with the Rupes tools and pads. Still, I tend to use it as a system, with no washer mod.
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I know I`ve read in the past, that the polisher works best with its own pads. But I don`t recall anything that said our polish works best.
if someone Rupes sees this thread again hopefully they`ll reach out to me. On the brighter side, I used the CarPro CQuartz . It is absolutely phenomenal.
 
My experience with Rupes pads is that the blue and green don`t hold up as well as the yellow and white. There is a big difference between the foam cell size between the yellow and white and the blue and green. The huge open cell size of the blue and green must allow for polish to get inside the pad causing them to heat up more and faster. Rupes doesn`t want you to load up the blue and greens with polish, if you do the pads (ime) blow up. I may need to attend a Rupes class on how to use the blue and green pads, or reread Mike Phillips Rupes book, but until then I`ll just use microfiber pads to do the rough paint work.
 
WaxManRonnie said:
I know I`ve read in the past, that the polisher works best with its own pads. But I don`t recall anything that said our polish works best.
if someone Rupes sees this thread again hopefully they`ll reach out to me. On the brighter side, I used the CarPro CQuartz . It is absolutely phenomenal.
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When they say "system" I take that to mean every component of the polishing process.

I forgot to mention that I also really liked the now discontinued Lake Country HD Orbital pads.
 
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