Which backing plate for Makita?

K

kleraudio

New member
Hey guys,

I am ordering the Makita very soon and am looking at some backing plates. A very trustworthy Autopian recommended the 5 3/4" BP to use with my 6.5" pads. Problem is I cant find that size anywhere.



Autogeek recommends the 4 7/8" BP for use w/ 6.5" pads. Has anyone here used this combo and how do you like it?



If you dont like that combo, what do you guys suggest for use with 6.5" pads. Again, if you know where I can get 5 3/4" BP's please let me know, but if not what do you prefer with 6.5" pads.



Ive done some searching but most posts were a bit outdated and wanted to see what everyone uses today.



Thanks in advance!



Jim
 
I have the 4 7/8" BP and 6.5 pads on my rotary.



If I could do it all over again, I would just go edge. It's so hard to center pads with a normal bp on a rotary, and the edge is so balanced and smooth.
 
Brandon1 said:
I have the 4 7/8" BP and 6.5 pads on my rotary.



If I could do it all over again, I would just go edge. It's so hard to center pads with a normal bp on a rotary, and the edge is so balanced and smooth.
Click to expand...



Took the words right out of my mouth :D If I ever use up the majority of my current pads I'm sure gonna switch to Edge.



But if you want to go with the conventional system, IIRC I got my 5 3/4" flex plate from either Top of the Line Auto Detailing Supplies or Classic Motoring Accessories - Car Buffers, Car Waxes, Car Polishes, Car Covers, Car Accessories , can't remember for sure.
 
Thanks guys. I have been seriously considering the Edge system but I dont want big 8" pads. Some have said the ones they market for PC work nice but those pads are only 6". I will have to think about it some more...



Jim
 
FWIW, I like 6" pads on the rotary just fine, but everybody's gonna have their own preferences. The difference between the 6"/6.5" seems pretty negligable, but that's just my impression....seems like I really only notice the difference when the 6" ones barely fit on a certain backing plate.
 
Good point Accumulator.



One more question, those 6" Edge pads seem pretty thick. I really like the 5.5" low profile LC pads on the PC, it seems that they do more correction than the thicker pads. Does the thickness of the pad matter on the rotary since essentially I'm not really putting much pressure on the head of the machine?



Jim
 
Yeah, I tried to use 8" pads on my rotary today and hated it and actually drove back to my house just to get my 6.5 " pads and BP for the makita.



Just get the 6"edge pads, you will be much happier in terms of centering and quickness of attaching it to the machine.
 
kleraudio said:
Does the thickness of the pad matter on the rotary since essentially I'm not really putting much pressure on the head of the machine?
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I think this'll be another personal preference thing, but no, IMO the thick pads are actually a little nicer on the rotary.



And when I switch to the Edge system, you can bet I'm gonna pick up some wool pads. Even with the rotary/cutting pads/aggressive products/high rpms, I can end up spending hours on certain hard clears.
 
Thanks for the help everyone, Im still tossing around ideas, but right now leaning toward the Edge system, I will probably make a decision tonight.



Jim
 
Anyone ever use the Megs pads and backing plate? They have that centering "nipple on the BP and the back of the pad has a small hole in it too...



Jim
 
I was going to ask about pad thickness. I have edge, sonus, LC in various sizes and the thickness is about normal. However I bought one pad from a mob called GPI bodyfix in Victoria. This yellow cutting pad has it's own backing plate (not my style but oh well) is two and a half inches thick and cuts beautifully and I can put plenty of pressure on the panel and no probs



Whats everyone's thoughts on thickness?

Are thicker safer and better than half inch and one inch pads



Back to plates



I bought the 2 3/4 inch, 4 7/8, 6 inch and 6.5 inch LC plates for my 9227 from AG



I find the 4 7/8ths are too small for 6.5 but fine for 5.5 and 6 inch, although a little too small for 6 inch if you wanted to get technical

The 6 inch plate is just ok for 6.5. Its a very tight fit but you can get away with it



clean your car in UK has a 5 inch plate but it's a 14mm one so you guys need the 14 to 5/8ths adaptor



AG has meguiars 5 inch and a DA adaptor (LC-46-230DA) I don't know if the adaptor is for putting PC and DA plates onto your rotary but if so, that will supply what you need
 
Thanks for the tips SVR, the more I think about it the more I lean toward the 6" Edge system. I cant find 6" LC pads online only 6.5".



Plus I like the fact that my pad will ALWAYS be centered. Ive never used the Edge system so I dont know if I'll like it. Seems like an awful lot of money to try something. I know if I get some other traditional pads that if I dont like them I can delegate them to PC duty.



I dont know, this is all too confusing once again. Feels like im starting over, but I LOVE it!



Jim
 
I have the LC 4 7/8" bp from Autogeek, but I haven't used my rotary enough yet to really comment on whether I like it or not.



In a way though, I kinda wished I had gotten Edge pads to begin with. I currently have 6.5" foam pads from Meg's and LC. I find that with the rotary, it's much more important to have it completely centered and it's more difficult doing that on a rotary. At least with the PC, you have a little room of error to play with since it oscillates anyway.



FWIW, I don't mind it being off-centered slightly and using a 4 7/8" backing plate if it means I get to use all my 6.5" pc pads.
 
kleraudio said:
Is their performance comparable to the LC pads though?
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Identical. I'll bet that if you changed the colors of the EDGE/LC pads, each manufacturer wouldn't know the difference *when buffing*.
 
No probs mate. To be honest, I don't like edge foam pads anymore

The open cell absorbs the polish quickly and that reduced the working time and I hate how they feel on the paint. I'm an LC lover, especially with menzerna.



Yes having a pad centered is a must with a rotary but so far I've never had much trouble with that.



Basically if you go with some edge 6 inch and LC 6.5 to 7.5 you should be all set to buff away
 
Noting that we're veering a bit off-topic :o



SVR said:
To be honest, I don't like edge foam pads anymore

The open cell absorbs the polish quickly and that reduced the working time and I hate how they feel on the paint. I'm an LC lover, especially with menzerna...
Click to expand...



That's interesting, thanks for posting it. Not all that much negative feedback on the Edge pads, so I appreciate the differing view.
 
Thanks everyone, I took your advice SVR and bought some of each. I have some LC pads already so I just bought a 4 3/4" BP to use with my 5.5" CCS pads and I also bought some 6" EDGE stuff. Got the adapter and a blue pad, and the orange/green pad.



We will see, hopefully I get this stuff in by Friday!



Jim
 
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