This is aggravating

[Eldorado2k]

So I’m polishing a car just now and I start noticing some black specs on the paint as I’m going along… I’m not sure what it is or where it’s coming from but I have to keep dusting them off before buffing each section clean as I’m going along. This happened with 2 Megs microfiber pads.

Near the end of the 2nd panel it started getting worse with the specs until near disaster struck completely by surprise. Not just the pad, but the entire freakin backing plate flies off, and to make it even crazier I was doing a big horizontal panel so I was holding the polisher with One Hand when this happened!

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Fyi it’s a Griots Boss 21mm with a stock 5” backing plate. I left a small pigtail on the paint. It could’ve been worse, alot worse. But damn![emoji35] How does that even happen?!

[Rsurfer]

Wear and tear my friend. How old and how many hours on the machine?

[Rsurfer]

You say stock backing plate..that may be so, but not stock to the 21.

[Eldorado2k]

Wear and tear my friend. How old and how many hours on the machine?

I’m guessing somewhere around 6yrs. or so.

[Eldorado2k]

You say stock backing plate..that may be so, but not stock to the 21.

It’s a Griots Boss backing plate. This backing plate got less use than the 6” backing plate.

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[VISITOR]

any backing plate (on any machine) is a consumable product that at some point will need to be replaced. nothing lasts forever..

[Eldorado2k]

Ok, has anyone ever had this happen to 1 of their backing plates while polishing?

[Rsurfer]

Ok, has anyone ever had this happen to 1 of their backing plates while polishing?

I've had two flying around the garage.

[PaulMys]

Ok, has anyone ever had this happen to 1 of their backing plates while polishing?

Not yet, but that foam they use between the velcro and the hard rubber most definitely decays over time.

[Paul A.]

I've killed a few bp's over the years.

[Eldorado2k]

Alright, I understand.

[vobro]

Ok, has anyone ever had this happen to 1 of their backing plates while polishing?

Yes and luckily it didn’t do any damage to you or the car. I had a Rupes bp and pad literally explode once

[Danube]

Yes, I had original Flex BP flying off last year .. used for about 2yrs.

[Flash Gordon]

Ok, has anyone ever had this happen to 1 of their backing plates while polishing?

The black specks are a sign that your backing plate is disintegrating. A wise man would change out the plate when they start to notice this happening.
Yes it's happened to me

[John U]

Yesterday Amazon delivered a new backing plate for my 13 yr old 3401. I noticed the foam was splitting.

Using a Rupes Bigfoot to separate the pad from the velcro will help lessen the stress on the backing plate foam.