recommend me some new pads for a rotary

What pads do you use/recommened for the rotary? I have all 4" and 5.5"' flat lc pads I use with my DA. And a couple wool and flat pads to use when I was learning my to use the rotary now I plan on using it a lot more I need a good supply of pads.

 

Buff and shine or gloss it. I have had great luck and results with the GI pads and backing plate.

 

I've had good luck with Lake Country CSS pads, but I've recently used 3M Green/Yellow/Blue pads and I have to say I love them to pieces!

I also use the GI 3" and 5" backing plates.

 

ubers!!!!!

 

Nothing wrong with the pads you've already got, so they can stay. Regardless the BRAND of pad, keep in mind that larger diameter pads will be spinning at the outer edge much quicker than the smaller diameter pads. As an example, if wanted to know how fast the outer edge of the pad would be traveling, we would do the following:

• Define the diameter of the pad
• Multiply by 3.1416 (pi approximated)
• This gives us the distance around the pad (circumference)
• Then multiply by the RPM setting of the buffer
• This number gives us the amount of inches the pad would travel in one minute if it rolled on the ground like a tire.

Lets convert to MPH for us car guys!

• Multiply by 60 (60 minutes per hour)
• Divide by 12 (12" per foot)
• Divide by 5,280 (5,280 feet in a mile)

So, our formula is:
diameter x 3.1416 x RPM x 60 ÷ 12 ÷ 5,280 = MPH

Simplified:
diameter x 3.1416 x RPM x .0009469 (60 ÷ 12 ÷ 5,280)

Let's run some numbers! We'll use 1,000 RPM for comparison.

4" diameter pad
4 x 3.1416 x 1,000 x .0009469 = 11.90 MPH approximate

5.5" diameter pad
5.5 x 3.1416 x 1,000 x .0009469 = 16.36 MPH approximate

6" diameter pad
6 x 3.1416 x 1,000 x .0009469 = 17.85 MPH approximate

6.5" diameter pad
6.5 x 3.1416 x 1,000 x .0009469 = 19.33 MPH approximate

7" diameter pad
7 x 3.1416 x 1,000 x .0009469 = 20.82 MPH approximate

8" diameter pad
8 x 3.1416 x 1,000 x .0009469 = 23.80 MPH approximate

Perhaps more info than you needed right now, but it is good to know. Turn up the RPM a little, and things get moving pretty darned fast. Just some food for thought... Start slow. Most compounds these days work as well or better using lower polishing speeds. Unless you are trying to laser-level a surface after sanding, the slower speed will not be an issue. Even this point is a changin' !

Man,do I hope I got this right!! :graduation: :thud: :deadhorse:

 

I feel like the 5.5 inch pads are the best for regular polishing, and then 3-4 inch for tight spots. I think the 5.5 gives you enough control of the machine and covers a moderate amount of area, so you're getting the best of both worlds. Big pads like the 8inch are good for big areas like the hood of a car, but I find that most areas on a car aren't that easy to navigate.

 

Thanks everyone. Kevin Brown thanks for the great info. I use your method with m105, 205 and 151 and love it. I do find correction to be faster with rotar. Rotary pads are all 6.5" that I have and so far I like that size I don't think I would go bigger then 7.

 

Tremendous explanation as usual :applause: But, as usual you leave me scratching my head :shead:

Why would a larger diamiter pad make more rotations then a smaller pad :shead: I'm thinking in terms of lets say a circle race track :shead: the inside lane is always the quickess way around :shead: where are you losing me :help:

 

If I'm understanding correctly, a larger pad isn't making more rotataions than a smaller one. 1000 rpms is 1000 rpms, regardless of size. But the outside edge is moving more distance than the inner part of the pad, therefore it must be moving faster at the same rpms. I believe it's like going up a wheel size on a car, it skews your speedometer just a bit because the roll-out is longer.

 

Gee thanks, now I am thoroughly lost :thud:

I thought we were detailers, not mathematicians :what:

Oh well, thanks for the explanation anyhow aranoia:

 

It won't make more rotations. The inside lane is always faster because it is a shorter path.

Let's pretend that you are driving a car on a racetrack. The track is SUPER wide.
If you drive around the inner edge of the track, it measures 1 mile around.
If you drive around the outside edge of the track, it measure 2 miles around.

If you drive at 60 MPH:
It will take you one minute to complete one lap along the inside edge of the track.
It will take you two minutes to complete one lap along the outside edge of the track.

Exactly.

 

Yes I agree. The circumference at 1 inch from the center of the pad is less, so anything on that path (bead of polish) does not have to travel as fast as something two inches away from the center, which needs to compensate the difference in circumference with speed. This is why when you spot buff with a rotary, you generally want to kick the speed up on the machine to compensate for the speed lost on the smaller pad. The bigger pads aren't making more rotations, it is that the outer parts of the pad need to travel faster to stay in sync with the rotation speed of the machine. It's like how gearing works.

 

Now I understand. Thank you :headbang: