Using microfiber cutting pads on a Rupes Bigfoot 21

[Calendyr]

I am curious,

do any of you guys use Microfiber pads on any long throw DA like the Rupes Bigfoot or the Boss 21?

I would like to improve my cutting ability to remove scratches with compounds and I am thinking that this combo might work well.

I am not sure how microfiber pads would react to the long throw action.

If you are using it with Rupes, what brand and model of pads are you using? I have had issues in the past where the interface material of B&S pads wasn't compatible with the Bigfoot's backplate and pads went flying off
when I pulled the machine from the surface. So obviously I would like to avoid that ;)

Also, what compound have you had success with? I read in a thread earlier that the D300 system by Meguiar's was a great product even when used with other machines and pads than what it was designed for. Currently the two compounds in my arsenal are M105 and Ultimate Compound. So is there anything better for the combo I am planning to use?

The other option would be to go to a rotary, which I own... but I am really not comfortable using that machine, I am always scared of burning the paint or going through the clearcoat since just about every vehicle I work on has super thin paint in the range of 80 to 120 microns. I dream of the day a client will want me to fix his paint and the gauge will show me 300 microns LOL!

[lane5515]

I use MF pads on my MKII 15 and GG 21 all the time. The GG Boss MF pads are great paired with GG Fast Correcting Cream. With my MKII I usually use Megs DMC MF pads with Menz FG400 but have also used the GG MF pads with good success also. I don't use M105 or UC so I can't comment on those compounds.

[Sean M at ShowShine]

I've used a Megs microfiber cutting pad with Menzerna FG400 on my rupes 21 using speed 4/4.5 and it works amazingly for defect removal and finishes good enough for 80% of people. Keep in mind that combo is really agressive and can burn/cut through clear coat pretty damn quickly.

[Deje]

MF pads are design for machine whit long throws.

[dlc95]

Most of my experience with microfiber pads, is with the blue and yellow Rupes variety. They work great with Zephir, and Keramik, which they were designed to be used with. I've used the blue with M105, M100, FG400, and ultimate compound, all of which performed well. Ultimate Compound was really nice on those pads for some reason.

I've used the yellow microfiber pad with M205, and Ultimate Polish. Again, they were outstanding.

Over all I think I prefer M100/M205, or Ultimate Compound/Ultimate Polish over anything else available on those pads with any tool available.

[Calendyr]

Thanks guys. Looks like Meguiar's pads are what I am looking for. Hope they have a 5.5 inch size available, I switched the backing plate on my Bigfoot 21 to 5 inch when I purchased it.

Might have to give Menzerna a try at some point, but for now I think I will try Meg's D300.

Thanks for the warning, I will keep an eye on paint thickness the first few times I use it to see how quickly it reduces clearcoat. Right now with a lake country foam cutting pad and Meg's 105 I barelly remove a micron or two on a standard 5-6 pass step.

[idriveblackcars]

Most of my experience with microfiber pads, is with the blue and yellow Rupes variety. They work great with Zephir, and Keramik, which they were designed to be used with. I've used the blue with M105, M100, FG400, and ultimate compound, all of which performed well. Ultimate Compound was really nice on those pads for some reason.

I've used the yellow microfiber pad with M205, and Ultimate Polish. Again, they were outstanding.

Over all I think I prefer M100/M205, or Ultimate Compound/Ultimate Polish over anything else available on those pads with any tool available.

M100/M205 is where it's at. Love using M100 with microfiber cutting pads on my 15 mkII. My favorite microfiber cutting pads are Meguiars though. They hold up the longest in my experience. I even use an exact fit custom backing plate with the Rupes for better cutting ability.

[dlc95]

Thanks guys. Looks like Meguiar's pads are what I am looking for. Hope they have a 5.5 inch size available, I switched the backing plate on my Bigfoot 21 to 5 inch when I purchased it.

Might have to give Menzerna a try at some point, but for now I think I will try Meg's D300.

Thanks for the warning, I will keep an eye on paint thickness the first few times I use it to see how quickly it reduces clearcoat. Right now with a lake country foam cutting pad and Meg's 105 I barelly remove a micron or two on a standard 5-6 pass step.

The Meguiar's da microfiber correction system is very tough to beat, especially the D300/DMC5 compounding element.

[dlc95]

M100/M205 is where it's at. Love using M100 with microfiber cutting pads on my 15 mkII. My favorite microfiber cutting pads are Meguiars though. They hold up the longest in my experience. I even use an exact fit custom backing plate with the Rupes for better cutting ability.

I have a ton of the Rupes pads, but have found the Meg's pads to be very well constructed, and when handling, they just feel like quality. Even their foam pads share that characteristic.

The Meguiars are the industry standard, and they'll be hard to knock off that spot.

[jkrig]

I use LC MF Cutting pads on my 21 with great results, I've been leaning on the Boss Creams alot lately....but have used Megs MF pads with FG400/MC2500 with no issues

[Calendyr]

I have some Lake Country MF pads somewhere from before I had a pad washer. Only used it once, without a means to clean them during the work, they become useless after a single panel. Never really thought about trying them again after I purchased my pad washer. Glad to read they are compatible with the Rupes backplates.


Larry has a video where he is compounding a red car, I think it was a Ferrari but I can't remember and he is explaining how important it is to clean the mf pads often, and at the end he empties his pad washer and the water is completelly red from the single stage paint ;) That was a great video, will have to try finding it again ;)

[dlc95]

I have some Lake Country MF pads somewhere from before I had a pad washer. Only used it once, without a means to clean them during the work, they become useless after a single panel. Never really thought about trying them again after I purchased my pad washer. Glad to read they are compatible with the Rupes backplates.


Larry has a video where he is compounding a red car, I think it was a Ferrari but I can't remember and he is explaining how important it is to clean the mf pads often, and at the end he empties his pad washer and the water is completelly red from the single stage paint ;) That was a great video, will have to try finding it again ;)

I had some of their initial pads too. They did great with D300, but seemed to cake up with M105, and FG400.

I wonder if I was maybe using too much product?

I have some HDO pads coming tomorrow. I have high expectations for the microfiber version.

[Calendyr]

Just want to thank you guys for suggesting Meg's Microfiber cutting pads and D300. That combo is simply amazing. I could not believe how easilly it was removing damage on the paint. Even the areas that I had wet sanded with 1500 grit sandpaper were completelly corrected in a matter of seconds. I have never seen anything like that with any foam pad and other compounds before.

I will definatelly switch to that combo for compounds and paint correction from now on.

[dlc95]

Just want to thank you guys for suggesting Meg's Microfiber cutting pads and D300. That combo is simply amazing. I could not believe how easilly it was removing damage on the paint. Even the areas that I had wet sanded with 1500 grit sandpaper were completelly corrected in a matter of seconds. I have never seen anything like that with any foam pad and other compounds before.

I will definatelly switch to that combo for compounds and paint correction from now on.

I could see myself following suit with that.