alternative pads for LHR15 MARK III

[irshad]

Hi fellows,
i bought this machine to polish my cars. i bought the machine includind rupes pads and rupes compounds(coarse, medium, fine and ultra fine). the pads didnt last too long.
what are the alternatives for the following rupes pads:
1. blue wool coarse pad
2. yellow foam pad
3.green foam pad
4.white foam pad
regards

[Dan Tran]

What speed are you using your machine on?

Their pads are phenomenal. I am hard pressed to find any issues at all with the set up you have. It is a proven system. I used it almost exclusively— including the pads minus the green one. Their yellow pad is one of their most popular pad out there.

The only other pad I have is Meguiar’s Microfiber Cutting Disc. It’s cut is more than the Blue Wool Coarse Pad. Although, that wool pad can do some serious cutting as well. But still. An amazing pad to work with.

[TMQ]

I'm with Dan..

Rupes pads are one the best there is...And lasts a long time!

Something not right----Need more info re what and how you are using your pads.

And just how many pads do you have?

Tom

[noorth]

I have pads from 6 different manufacturers. The 2 that stand out are rupes DA yellow and buff and shine uro-tech maroon in quailty. Rupes being the top IME.

[The Guz]

How many pads of each variation did you have? The green pads were not that durable out of the colors you have listed.

[Mike Phillips]

Hi fellows,

i bought this machine to polish my cars. i bought the machine including rupes pads and rupes compounds(coarse, medium, fine and ultra fine). the pads didnt last too long.





Just to double check, did you get the OLD RUPES pads or the NEW RUPES pads. The new yellow and white RUPES CP pads are bullet-proof as far as foam goes.

The new RUPES DA pads are also as bullet-proof as you can get.


If you're wearing out these new pads then you're either using too few pads for the job or something else is going on. There are other brands of pads on the market and they are also high quality but I don't think I could say any other brand is better than the RUPES pads.

If you're destroying RUPES pads you're going to destroy all pads.

Just my 2 cents and I've used ALL the old and new RUPES pads and also all the pads from Buff and Shine, Lake Country and Griot's.


:dunno:

[Mike Phillips]

For reference,


Here's a write-up I did with lots of pictures on the new RUPES CP foam pads

Review: RUPES NEW Contour Profile DA Foam Pads (https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/product-reviews-by-mike-phillips/127110-review-rupes-new-contour-profile-da-foam-pads.html)


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/4092/Profile_Countour_001C.JPG












At this time - I'm not convinced the new blue foam pads are for most people. But here's something I wrote for them...


Review: RUPES NEW D-A COARSE Foam Pads - Boat Polishing (https://www.autogeekonline.net/)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/4096/New_VS_Old_RUPES_Blue_Pads_003.JPG


:)

[Mike Phillips]

More...


Here's OLD RUPES pads. The blue and green don't have the same tensile strength as the yellow and white foam formulas and as such - they tear easy and don't last as long. But that doesn't mean they don't work GREAT because they do. Getting an AGGRESSIVE cutting foam comes with shorter longevity.

Keep in mind, nothing lasts forever - not even you or I.


RUPES BigFoot Foam Pads on the FLEX BEAST - Supa BEAST and CBEAST (https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/product-reviews-by-mike-phillips/126644-rupes-bigfoot-foam-pads-flex-beast-supa-beast-cbeast.html)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/4039/BEAST_Pads_001.JPG





Also - NO brand of foam CUTTING pad is going to last as long as foam polishing and finishing pads due to the constraints that go with creating sharp foam.


:buffing:

[irshad]

thank you for your response.
what is your advice for a beginner like me? how to avoid destroying the pads in less than expected?

[Mike Phillips]

thank you for your response.

what is your advice for a beginner like me? how to avoid destroying the pads in less than expected?



Swap out pads often. I talk and write about this topic more than anyone in the car detailing world. My guess is I also have more articles on the topic too...


This is from 2015

How many pads do I need to buff out my car? (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/88109-how-many-pads-do-i-need-buff-out-my-car.html)

How many pads do you need with an AIO or cleaner/wax? (https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-to-articles-by-mike-phillips/122968-how-many-pads-do-you-need-aio-cleaner-wax.html)




Lots of info here...

Here's what you need to get into machine polishing - Recommendations for a beginner by Mike Phillips (https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-to-articles-by-mike-phillips/111332-heres-what-you-need-get-into-machine-polishing-recommendations-beginner-mike-phillips.html)



This Corvette had super hard "factory" paint - look how many foam pads I used to compound it.

Review: 3D Paint Coating and 3D One Cutting Compound and Finishing Polish (https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/product-reviews-by-mike-phillips/126024-review-3d-paint-coating-3d-one-cutting-compound-finishing-polish.html)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/4000/3D_Ceramic_Paint_Coating_001.JPG





:)

[Mike Phillips]

Just to add...


When foam gets wet with product - it becomes SOFT and loses its cut.

When foam gets wet with product - the liquid IN the pad hold HEAT into the pad and this plus the violent action of an orbital polisher, plus pressure plus TIME destorys pads.

Your pads will last longer if you swap to a fresh pad often - at least for any paint correction steps.

For machine waxing - totally different. You only need ONE pad.


High speed machine waxing - Kissing the Finish Technique by Mike Phillips (https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/109261-high-speed-machine-waxing-kissing-finish-technique-mike-phillips.html)


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3388/Jay_Leno_Wax_Camaro_012.JPG



Wax on, wax off!

Okay - now that the entire car from top to bottom, side to side and end to end has a layer of wax on it, let me share a few tips for removing a show car wax or finishing wax.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3388/Jay_Leno_Wax_Camaro_024.JPG



Inspect your wipe-off towels
First, inspect your microfiber towels by look at them and also feeling them. A lot of the time your hands will detect contaminants lodged in the microfiber nap that your eyes cannot see. If you do not inspect and catch these contaminants you risk instilling scratches back into the paint. So always inspect both visually and tactically. (You should actually inspect all your towels, clearcoat paints scratch easily)


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3388/Jay_Leno_Wax_Camaro_025.JPG



Next - fold the towel 4-ways and then press it down on the paint and twist it in a circle back and forth....

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3388/Jay_Leno_Wax_Camaro_026.JPG



This will create a shiny spot.

This is called,

Breaking the wax open

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3388/Jay_Leno_Wax_Camaro_027.JPG



Then, place the towel back down on the shiny spot and creep out. I don't mean get weird on me... I mean move out from the shiny spot using small, overlapping circular motions to gently and safely remove the layer of wax. Flip your towel to a clean side or re-fold your towel to a clean side and swap out to a fresh, clean, dry INSPECTED towel often to make wiping the wax of effortless.


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3388/Jay_Leno_Wax_Camaro_028.JPG



Almost done....

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3388/Jay_Leno_Wax_Camaro_029.JPG



http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3388/Jay_Leno_Wax_Camaro_033.JPG

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3388/Jay_Leno_Wax_Camaro_035.JPG

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/3388/Jay_Leno_Wax_Camaro_038.JPG


That's what I'm talking about!






But yeah, generally speaking, more pads are better.

The new RUPES yellow and white in 7" on any of the BEASTS are two of my favorite pads. And after use I wash and dry them in the washing machine and dryer and they are VERY durable. But I swap out to fresh dry pads often.



:)