trlblazer3
04-07-2008, 09:17 AM
About a month or so ago I had made the decision to give the Edge system a try on the rotary. I wanted to spring for some wool pads to use strictly with the rotary for a multitude of reasons, and the Edge system fit my needs to a tee. The variety of wool pads, the double-sided factor, perfect centering all played into my decision. I've been an LC guy since I first picked up a PC, and this was my "toe in the water" with the Edge product line. This weekend was finally my chance to take them for the inagural spin. Here's what I found.
1. First and foremost, a little feedback about the Edge system itself. Anyone using a rotary should be using this system IMO. Not having to play with the pads to get them centered was awesome. Also, the vehicle I was doing (99 Jeep Grand Cherokee) was in need of a 2 step compound & polish, and switching the pad was a breeze. I was using the updated Heavy Duty adapter, and it was very nice to use. Initial feedback on the pads was positive -the construction and overall feel made me comfortable putting these pads to the paint. Very solid feel and very fluffy
2. Now onto the pads. Like I mentioned, the vehicle I was doing needed a compound, as it had only ever seen the car wash tunnels. I started using the yellow wool pad with OC. The yellow pad is a medium-cut, 50% wool/50% wool acrylic blend. It took 99% of the swirls out with one pass. Some of the heavier scratches required a second pass, but quickly vanished. The pads were VERY easy to contol -much easier than foam pads I've used with the rotary before. It just gave me better feedback while in use, which was a very nice feeling that I really wasn't expecting. Buffer swirls were minimal, even with using a heavier cut polish & medium cut pad. One thing of note -the pad shedded like mad the first few panels. I spurred the pad with a Duo-Spur and it seemed to help. After about the 3rd panel, the shedding subsided dramatically. About halfway through the detail I switched sides, and I experienced the same shedding issue with that side as well.
My final polish was the Edge blue and OP. The blue pad is a finishing pad, 70% acrylic/30% wool pad. The feedback is essentially the same as the yellow, but I was extremely happy and a little surprised with the gloss that the pad left behind. I was figuring since this was my first go that some holograming would remain, but not true at all. Removed the small holograming that I had from compounding and left the surface in pristine condition & ready for LSP. Shedding on this pad was a little less than on the yellow, but it was still present and worthy of note.
In my initial experience with these wool pads and the Edge system, I would have to say Edge made a new customer for a long time. The wool pads performed flawlessly and gave me amazing results, especially for a first time wool user. I thoroughly enjoyed the benefits of the Edge system on the rotary, and will probably make the swith on my UDM as well in the near future. In summary:
Pros:
-Pads feel well-constructed and built to last.
-Very easy to control. Gave me very good feeback while in use
-Perfectly centered, every time. Saved me time and aggravation.
-Double-sided. Saved me space in my detailing-kit-to-go.
-Very good overall value. Essentially 2 pads in one.
Cons:
-Shedding was the biggest downfall I could find. Upon my first pad spur, It looked like I went 5 rounds with a yellow sheep. It did subside upon use however.
Bottom line -for anyone looking for a wool pad system for the rotary, the Edge system is the way to go. I am very happy with my purchase and would absolutely recommend it to my detailing bretheren. At 2/$19.99 (currently), its a value thats hard to beat. If anyone has any questions that I did not touch on, just let me know. I will be happy to answer as best I can.
1. First and foremost, a little feedback about the Edge system itself. Anyone using a rotary should be using this system IMO. Not having to play with the pads to get them centered was awesome. Also, the vehicle I was doing (99 Jeep Grand Cherokee) was in need of a 2 step compound & polish, and switching the pad was a breeze. I was using the updated Heavy Duty adapter, and it was very nice to use. Initial feedback on the pads was positive -the construction and overall feel made me comfortable putting these pads to the paint. Very solid feel and very fluffy
2. Now onto the pads. Like I mentioned, the vehicle I was doing needed a compound, as it had only ever seen the car wash tunnels. I started using the yellow wool pad with OC. The yellow pad is a medium-cut, 50% wool/50% wool acrylic blend. It took 99% of the swirls out with one pass. Some of the heavier scratches required a second pass, but quickly vanished. The pads were VERY easy to contol -much easier than foam pads I've used with the rotary before. It just gave me better feedback while in use, which was a very nice feeling that I really wasn't expecting. Buffer swirls were minimal, even with using a heavier cut polish & medium cut pad. One thing of note -the pad shedded like mad the first few panels. I spurred the pad with a Duo-Spur and it seemed to help. After about the 3rd panel, the shedding subsided dramatically. About halfway through the detail I switched sides, and I experienced the same shedding issue with that side as well.
My final polish was the Edge blue and OP. The blue pad is a finishing pad, 70% acrylic/30% wool pad. The feedback is essentially the same as the yellow, but I was extremely happy and a little surprised with the gloss that the pad left behind. I was figuring since this was my first go that some holograming would remain, but not true at all. Removed the small holograming that I had from compounding and left the surface in pristine condition & ready for LSP. Shedding on this pad was a little less than on the yellow, but it was still present and worthy of note.
In my initial experience with these wool pads and the Edge system, I would have to say Edge made a new customer for a long time. The wool pads performed flawlessly and gave me amazing results, especially for a first time wool user. I thoroughly enjoyed the benefits of the Edge system on the rotary, and will probably make the swith on my UDM as well in the near future. In summary:
Pros:
-Pads feel well-constructed and built to last.
-Very easy to control. Gave me very good feeback while in use
-Perfectly centered, every time. Saved me time and aggravation.
-Double-sided. Saved me space in my detailing-kit-to-go.
-Very good overall value. Essentially 2 pads in one.
Cons:
-Shedding was the biggest downfall I could find. Upon my first pad spur, It looked like I went 5 rounds with a yellow sheep. It did subside upon use however.
Bottom line -for anyone looking for a wool pad system for the rotary, the Edge system is the way to go. I am very happy with my purchase and would absolutely recommend it to my detailing bretheren. At 2/$19.99 (currently), its a value thats hard to beat. If anyone has any questions that I did not touch on, just let me know. I will be happy to answer as best I can.