Problem: Melted Backing Plates

So...I currently have 2 backing plates from Lake Country that I've completely melted with the PC. I was wondering if any of you guys have also had that issue in the past. I don't consider myself a hardcore detailer that does this for cash (yet) so I basically use the machine like normal. Both plates have had no problems polishing my cars applause2 but they both failed on my friends e46 BMW, which is black. My cars are gold and bamboo pearl (Lexus ftw).

Is there something about black paint that super heats the PC and causes it to melt backing plates? I'm pretty sure it gets warm from use but yeah...

LC Plate #1 (Before they revised it)
Yellow pad with IP


LC Plate #2 (Revised Plate)
Orange pad with #83
Notice how the o-ring is compressed and welded to the BP and there is some of the plate leaking out into a little nub. It also tried to weld itself to my PC but I managed to tear it off before it cooled


Any suggestions? I'm quite curious of why this keeps happening, which is why I listed what I was using at the time. Yes I have talked to Eric at LC about these issues but hes stumped a bit too.

And another question...how is the EDGE system? I am willing to try anything as long as I don't melt anything now

 

That is strange...:what:...can't say that has ever happend to me...but what I find strange is that the PC is doing that.

I remember reading that you should use the PC with that washer that it comes with but I only read that

As for the Edge system, it works but it wasen't for me :shrug:

 

I think for sure the washer is there for a reason ,I'm not trying to sound smart of scientific but it seems to me that the washer transfers the stress point from the base of the threaded bolt of the BP to the the thick ,beefier stem of the PC's spindle making that whole part one solid piece.:shead:

But what if he used the washer and still tore the bolt off the BP? the only possibility is he may have pushed on the PC trying to add weight on it and that combined with the random orbital movement of the machine tore the bolt right off:shrug: I could only come up with these explanations may be others can come up with more convincing ones.

I'm now worried this might happen to me,but so far so good.

Sorry about what happened to you eyezack87 I know those BPs are not cheap.

 

That washer actually stopped the Bolt from melting out of the plate this time. Sure its "better" than the last version but I still expect them to fix it completely. Eric at LC even told me that this new plate was unbreakable, but seeing as it started boiling I'm not so sure anymore...

Actually, Greg at Detailed Image was very understanding. I've had the PC Starter Kit for less than 4 months and hes still helping me deal with this issue. I think hes been extending the warranty of both the PC and backing plate since the last email he sent me was to confirm that the PC was still in working order and if it needed replacing



I do have a quick and probably easy question for everyone. Is the PC supposed to get hot when you use it? Mines been almost burning to the touch sometimes and I'm starting to wonder if that is a factor or not...

 

i know it does get pretty warm, but not so hot where i cant keep my hand on it.

 

I'm not sure if you are over working your PC or if there's anything actually wrong with it:shead:
I think any PC gets warm but not hot to the touch ,I wonder if the over heating of the PC is causing the BP melting.

 

Since we do not know your/his polishing habits it is impossible to say for sure. The nature of the PC is the heat that is generated from the friction goes right up into the machine and backing plate, unlike a rotary, where the heat is sent down onto the paint (causing burns). If you put too much pressure on the PC or make it work harder, it'll generate more heat which is sent right up into the backing plate, causing premature failure. I personally do not like flexible backing plates with a PC or UDM and try to stick with a solid BP. The oscillations and speed from the UDM + a flexible BP + a body curve = pad not staying attached to BP = no good.

 

If the plate is a LC plate they had a bad batch that did just what yours did...contact who ever you purchased it from and get a replacement...or even call LC on it...

there was some info on it on AG site and I think Autopia also...I know AG was replacing them

Al

 

Its barely any pressure. At most its like 10 lbs of pressure on the machine. Most of the time its like 5-8 lbs :shead:

Anyway, a little update from Eric at LC. He asked me to send in the plate for analysis since he cannot come up with a valid reason why it started melting based on pictures alone. Hopefully this issue will finally be fixed with the 3rd revision, assuming I caused them to do it again :gasp:. Might as well keep you guys updated on how it turns out since this is an interesting issue that may affect other people in the future or something...

 

are you using a extension cord by chance..if so how long and what guage...it sounds funny but a cheap cord will cause a PC to over heat and the heat is transfered to the drive system...and then down the pad shaft.....

does the PC get hot while using it....

AL

 

I've had two from LC come apart like that. One lasted years and the other lasted 30 minutes. Although I don't use the PC very much I replaced the plate with one from another maker and also bought a spare.

 

Yes sir! I use it with a heavy duty one thats like many years old (dad bought it) but theres been no problems with my gear on my car (I don't count the first plate as an issue since it was the pre-revision version) :applause2:

My friends cord...I have no idea how long, what the gauge is, maybe he'll chime in if he made an account, but I don't think it was the heavy duty ones. That might be a cause too...I'll ask him later and find out for you...

The PC does get warm (sometimes very warm), but it doesn't get burning hot until something with the backing plate goes wrong lol. When I finish, yeah the machine is hot around the rotating bits but thats understandable. The only time I burned my fingers is in the cases above, where it took quite an effort to dislodge the plates...

 

Well, heres a slight update, sent the pad in today to Eric at LC. Hopefully he gets it sometime soon and he can make a better product for...me apparently haha

 

I've had the melting BP isssue as well with my PC. I have both a LC 5" BP and a 3" BP from chemical guys. Using my PC at speed 6 caused both BP's to get hot. The result was the velcro on the BP not sticking to my pad as well and the middle of the BP eventually melting the velcro permanently onto the pad. This only happens at the highest speed. Everytime I polish a car, I end up with a melted backing plate and destroyed pads. I apply barely any pressure at all to the machine and use a heavy duty extension cord. I'm not sure what the problem is?

 

So, I've finally got a chance to really use my PC + LC backing plate this past weekend after purchasing these a few months ago... I did noticed that the center of the pad, backing plate and the connecting metal bits getting quite hot.

I am quite fortunate to have not caused any damages that I know of yet. I worked on sections of approximately 24" x 24" (too big?) each time and at first I use speed 3 to spread the polish to cover the region. Then I turn PC off. Switch to speed 6 and turn it back on. I didn't think I have exerted exessive pressure, but probably on the too little pressure side. I move the PC about 1" per second and do 2 passes of the region with each sweep covering about 50% of the last sweep. Then I turn the PC off. Initially I was doing 4 passes and then noticed the heat so I backed it off to 2 passes.

I wonder if I'm doing something wrong.