Best LC pads to work with PC7424XP?

[Charleston]

Wanting to stick with 5.5 or 6inch.

Looking at the LC pads. I see several different kinds. Smart, CCS etc.

What type do you like or suggest, and why?

Wanting an orange and white. All suggestions are apreciated!

[RZJZA80]

Those pads are a little big to get effective correction IMO. I'd use the 4" with a PC. But any LC flat pad will work fine, I'd stay away from CCS personally as they don't seem to last as long as the flat pads and the little pockets fill up with product which is annoying to me.

[Mike.Phillips@Autogeek]

Originally Posted by RZJZA80

Those pads are a little big to get effective correction IMO. I'd use the 4" with a PC.

Millions of cars have been de-swirled using pads from 4" to 7" on the Porter Cable over the years and now with the Meguiar's and Griot's versions. Heck I removed #3000 Grit Sanding marks with a Meguiar's 7" pad on the Meguiar's G110v2 with Ultimate Compound and couldn't get the pad to stop rotating and I pushed pretty hard, hard enough to bend sheetmetal which is harder than anyone should be pushing down on a tool like this.

Originally Posted by Charleston

Wanting to stick with 5.5 or inch.

Looking at the LC pads. I see several different kinds. Smart, CCS etc.

What type do you like or suggest, and why?

Wanting an orange and white. All suggestions are appreciated!

What I always post about this topic is your product choice, that is your compounds and polishes are a more important factor than the pad you use. Sure pads are important but I can use just about any foam pad and get the job done.

I cover this in detail in my book but if you're looking to do major correction work on multiple paint systems, (a has a "paint system on it, so multiple paint systems is a way of saying multiple cars), then stick with the thin 5.5" LC Flat, Hydro-Tech or CCS pads.

Check out these three articles,


The short how-to guide for using a DA Polisher
How to maximize the ability of the 1st Generation Porter Cable Dual Action Polishers


Thin is in... New Lake Country Hydro-Tech Low Profile 5 1/2 x 7/8 Inch Foam Pads


5 1/2 inch and 6 inch Buffing Pads on Autogeek's Online Store


Paperback

[RZJZA80]

De-Swirl yes, but for serious correction, I've found that the PC just doesn't have the power to do it "efficiently" on anything bigger than a 4" pad. I can completely bog down a PC to where you can barely tell it's even wiggling at all (a la KB method).

[Buckskincolt]

The LC 5.5" Low profile Hydro-techs are my favorite goto pads.
Lake Country Hydro-Tech 5 1/2 x 7/8 Inch Foam Pads 3 Pack - Your Choice!

My close second choice is the LC 5.5" 7/8" flat pads
Lake Country 5 1/2 x 7/8 inch Beveled Edge Pads 6 Pack, foam pad kit, build a kit, buffing pads, curved edge pads
I think the Ht pads finish better (for me) but the flat pads seem to be a bit more durable!

I'm not a real fan of the CCS pads, they seem to absorb more product and get saturated easier.

I disagree with the above statement that anything bigger than a 4" pad is not "efficient" for correction on a PC/XP. IMHO Correction is not all about how hard you can press down on any given pad size without stoping rotation. Pad selection, product selection and technique all work together to make a successful project.
Sure smaller pads turn easier than larger ones but also cover a smaller area.