Review: NEW Lake Country Microfiber Pads - 2 step swirl destroyer and shine maker!

[Mike Phillips]

Review: NEW Lake Country Microfiber Pads - 2 step swirl destroyer and shine maker!


Lake Country is not only one of the largest and oldest buffing pad manufacturer on the planet they also have the reputation of developing and introducing the most innovative and high performance pads on the market.

Here's their latest pad introduction to the market the Lake Country Microfiber Pads. These new pads are available in both cutting and polishing versions and available in 6 1/4" - 5 1/4" and 3 1/4" sizes.

David Patterson sent me samples of all their new Microfiber Pads and I put them to the test on a horrendously swirled out 1940 Pontiac 5-Window Coupe Streetrod.


SWIRL DESTROYER
Here's my test car and for the testing I'll be using a simple and easy to use Porter Cable 7424XP dual action orbital polishers. This is the safest and easiest tool there is to learn how to use to machine polish paint. When fitted with thin pads like these new Lake Country Microfiber Pads and a high quality compound like the SONAX EX 04-06, you turn this dual action orbital polisher into a SWIRL DESTROYER!

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3248/LC_MF_Pads_001.jpg



Microfiber as an abrasive booster
Fibers are a gentle form of abrasive. Working in conjunction with the abrasives in the SONAX EX 04-06 you get 2 things working for you to remove swirls, scratches, water spots and oxidation.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3248/LC_MF_Pads_002.jpg



Always center the pad onto the backing plate for maximum performance with the least vibration

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3248/LC_MF_Pads_003.jpg



Apply the SONAX EX 04-06 directly onto the face of the pad.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3248/LC_MF_Pads_004.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3248/LC_MF_Pads_005.jpg




To show the before and after difference I've placed a strip of painter's tape on the hood.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3248/LC_MF_Pads_006.jpg



Machine compounding

Holding the pad flat to the surface, make slow overlapping passes in a crisscross pattern using the LC Microfiber Cutting Pads

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3248/LC_MF_Pads_007.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3248/LC_MF_Pads_008.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3248/LC_MF_Pads_009.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3248/LC_MF_Pads_010.jpg




Machine polishing and sealing
For the second step, instead of using a polish I've chose the SONAX Paint Cleaner which is NOT a paint cleaner but an AIO or cleaner/wax. It has the cutting power of a medium cut polish but it includes synthetic and natural protection ingredients to make this a great one-step product or in the way I'm using it here to clean up any haze left by the compounding step to leave the paint protected as well as glossy and shiny. Thus a great 2-step approach to de-swirl cars using the power and effectiveness of microfiber in the equation.


First I'll apply some product to prime the face of the pad...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3248/LC_MF_Pads_011.jpg



After priming the pad add 5-6 more drops of product in order to have enough product to refine the results from the first step while polishing the paint to a high gloss and leaving behind a layer of protections.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3248/LC_MF_Pads_012.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3248/LC_MF_Pads_013.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3248/LC_MF_Pads_014.jpg



Make 5-6 section passes...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3248/LC_MF_Pads_015.jpg



Wipe off the residue...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3248/LC_MF_Pads_016.jpg


Remove the painter's tape...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3248/LC_MF_Pads_017.jpg



Now let’s inspect the results using a FLEX Swirl Finder Light


Before - Swirls throughout the finish

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3248/LC_MF_Pads_018.jpg



Cropped out section from the original above pictures...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3248/LC_MF_Pads_019.jpg



Here's the light on the tape-line...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3248/LC_MF_Pads_020.jpg


Cropped out section from the original above pictures...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3248/LC_MF_Pads_021.jpg




Here's the side that was buffed using the 2-step swirl destroyer and shine maker process...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3248/LC_MF_Pads_022.jpg



Cropped out section from the original above pictures...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3248/LC_MF_Pads_023.jpg




Reduce time, labor and steps while maintaining pro quality results

Leveraging the performance of Lake Country microfiber pads you can turn out show car quality results in two steps.




On Autogeek.com


Lake Country Microfiber Cutting Pads (http://www.autogeek.net/dual-action-microfiber-buffing-pads.html)

Lake Country Microfiber Polishing Pads (http://www.autogeek.net/microfiber-rotary-buffing-pads.html)


:)

[Mike Phillips]

***Update***


New product announced at SEMA


:)

[jkrig]

Awesome review as usual Mike. My full array of foam pads are all LC and can't wait to get my hands on these MF pads. Curious as to what speed you used on the PC for both pad/products. For my PC and MF combo I usually use 4-5, on my Rupes I stay around 3-4......

[Mike Phillips]

Awesome review as usual Mike.

My full array of foam pads are all LC and can't wait to get my hands on these MF pads.



I'm not normally a user of microfiber pads for the type of car detailing I tend to do but I will say these new microfiber pads worked great on the hard custom paint job this car had.







Curious as to what speed you used on the PC for both pad/products.

For my PC and MF combo I usually use 4-5,

on my Rupes I stay around 3-4.....





On the Porter Cable like you see in the pictures I tend to run this polisher full-out, that is speed 6 just to ensure good pad rotation and simply for speed as in getting the job done quickly.


To date, when I use the RUPES orbital polishers or the Griot's BOSS I tend to stick with each companies matching foam pads.



:)

[mitchoi]

Great review, Mike! I've only detailed twice in total using orange LC flat pads and I've been looking to add a microfiber pad to my small but growing collection.

[Mike Phillips]

Great review, Mike!

I've only detailed twice in total using orange LC flat pads and I've been looking to add a microfiber pad to my small but growing collection.




I type this all the time...


Fibers are a form of abrasive


So for extra cutting power, especially when using free spinning dual action orbital polishers, use microfiber pads.

Because fibers are a form of abrasive I tend to like to always finish out with foam.


:)

[dlc95]

Great review, Mike!!

Looks like it's time to order some pads!

[VISITOR]

looks like another nice offering from lake country... :props:

[DBAILEY]

They look better than the original LC MF cutting pads they put out with the yellow MF. They were terrible.

[ShineDoc]

Can these be used on a rotary?

[Mike Phillips]

Can these be used on a rotary?


In the context that anything is possible and where there's a will there's a way.


Microfiber pads are really best when used with free spinning orbital polishers.

The term for how the buffing experience FEELS when using any gear-driven tool, which includes the FLEX 3401 and any brand of rotary buffer is,


Grabby

I highly recommend everyone try a microfiber pad on either a FLEX 3401 or a rotary buffer and as you're buffing along pay attention and wonder to yourself if the experience doesn't feel grabby.


I have a Thursday night class where I let a number of experienced detailers try microfiber pads on both types of tool and asked them to share their opinions and they agreed and vindicated what I've said above.

Dated December 4th, 2012, read about it for yourself... see post #2


2012 Dodge Challenger + Menzerna Color Lock Makeover (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/pictures-autogeek-s-car-week/58125-2012-dodge-challenger-menzerna-color-lock-makeover.html)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_003.jpg




IF you want to try to use microfiber pads with gear driven tools then I highly recommend finding pads that have a THICK foam core, not a thin foam core. OR use a thick foam interface pads. AT some point you will come to the conclusion that there are simply better pad options for gear-driven tools than to try to take pads that work best on free spinning tools and make them work on gear driven tools.

I still highly encourage everyone to try for themselves so they can have their own REAL WORLD experience and thus an opinion that actually matters.


So much information on this forum, half of my forum work is simply remembering where everything is at. :laughing:


:)

[adolfitovr6]

nice pads make special for flex polishers why not make them in 6" and 5"

[Mike Phillips]

nice pads make special for flex polishers



Not sure what you're trying to say?

Did you mean,

nice pads MADE special for FLEX polishers?


I'm guessing you meant to type the word MADE instead of MAKE? Please correct me if I'm wrong - just trying to figure it out and also make sure there's no confusion for anyone that reads this into the future.



Regardless, just so there's no confusion, these new microfiber pads from Lake Country are NOT specifically made for FLEX polishers they are made for ANY ORBITAL POLISHER.

And from experience, microfiber pads work best on FREE SPINNING orbital polishers but of course, your mileage may vary...





why not make them in 6" and 5"




Um.... they are available in 5" and 6"

More specifically, they are offered in

3 1/4"

5 1/4"

6 1/4"

The extra 1/4" in diameter is to help with centering and also provide a little safety margin to the EDGE of the backing plate is not immediately close to the paint you're buffing on in-case you buff into curves or go up on edge...


Make sense?


Here's the link to these pads on the AG store


Lake Country Microfiber Cutting Pads (http://www.autogeek.net/dual-action-microfiber-buffing-pads.html)




:)

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Awesome!

[Jimmy Vegas]

Is there an ETA as to when they'll be available?