Trend: Flexible Backing Plates for Rotary Buffers

[Mike Phillips]

Trend: Flexible Backing Plates for Rotary Buffers (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/wool-foam-buffing-pads/33907-trend-flexible-backing-plates-rotary-buffers.html)


Flexible Backing Plates provide,

An extra level of cushion when using a rotary buffer which helps you when buffing on curved panel and over body lines.


The flexible foam interface heps to distribute pressure more evenly over the face of the buffing pad.


They can also make the buffing process less aggressive as compared to using a stiff backing plate which can help to reduce swirls.



Currently we have two flexible backing plates besides the flexible backing plate in the 1-Pad system, which is specific to the 1-Pad buffing pads.



The Flex-Foam Heavy Duty Rotary Backing Plate (http://www.autogeek.net/hd-rotary-backing-plate.html), which has a 5" Diameter
The Meguiar's Easy-Buff Solo Backing Plate (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-solo-easy-buff-w66-rotary-backing-plate-6-inch.html), which has a 6" Diameter



Below are some pictures to show the size of the backing plates relative to some popular buffing pads to help you get an idea of the fitment of the backing plate to the hook-n-loop interface on the back of the buffing pads.

Flex-Foam HD Rotary Backing Plate (http://www.autogeek.net/hd-rotary-backing-plate.html)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/715/FlexFoamBackingPlate.jpg



Flex-Foam Backing Plate on a 5.5" CCS White Polishing Pad
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/804/FlexBackP001.jpg


Flex-Foam Backing Plate on a 5.5" Cyan Hydro-Tech Pad
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/804/FlexBackP002.jpg


Flex-Foam Backing Plate on a 5.5" Blue Finishing Flat Pad
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/804/FlexBackP003.jpg


Flex-Foam Backing Plate on a 5.5" on a Super Soft Gold Jewelling 6" Pad
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/804/FlexBackP004.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/804/FlexBackP005.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/804/FlexBackP006.jpg


Meguiar's W66 Solo Backing Plate (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-solo-easy-buff-w66-rotary-backing-plate-6-inch.html)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/722/w66backingplate.jpg



http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/804/FlexBackP007.jpg


W66 Flexible Backing Plate on a 7.5" DuroWool 100% Twisted Wool Cutting Pad (http://www.autogeek.net/75inholodu10.html)
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/804/FlexBackP008.jpg


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/804/FlexBackP009.jpg

W66 Flexible Backing Plate on a 7" Kompressor Orange Light Cutting Pad (http://www.autogeek.net/lake-country-kompressor-pads1.html)
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/804/FlexBackP010.jpg

W66 Backing Plate on a 6.5" CCS Red Ultrasoft Finishing Pad (http://www.autogeek.net/lc-ccs-6inch-pads.html)
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/804/FlexBackP011.jpg


Note in this picture and all the above pictures the extra backing and or foam that sticks out past the outer edge of the backing plate. You want this extra material as a safety margin to help prevent running the outer edge of the backing plate into any painted areas, or around trim or other components like side view mirrors, rear wing spoilers, etc.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/804/FlexBackP012.jpg


Both of these flexible backing plates are excellent backing plates to have in your tool chest to go along with your rotary buffer.

All of the above backing plates and pads work great with all the rotary buffers on Autogeek.net

Rotary Buffers (http://www.autogeek.net/circular-polishers.html)


:xyxthumbs:

[Mike Phillips]

***Bump for a buddy***


:)

[BobbyG]

Lots of great information and pictorials to go along with the thread..

Thanks for putting it together Mike! :props:

[Mike Phillips]

***Bump**

For Jorgen who I have on the phone...


:D

[opie_7afe]

hey mike got a question, what about the yellow lake country flexible backing plate? why is it not on this thread? my guess is thread was wrote before the lc flexible ones came out...maybe you can update the original post to include them? great thread though

[richy]

Mike, I have had the white one for a few months and absolutely LOVE it. Any chance you can talk them into making a 3.5" one too???? Pleeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaassssssseeeeeeee.

[C. Charles Hahn]

Mike, I have had the white one for a few months and absolutely LOVE it. Any chance you can talk them into making a 3.5" one too???? Pleeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaassssssseeeeeeee.

The new rotary plates that are coming out along with Optimum's MF system look very similar to these (I suspect they're sourced from the same place) and there is a small one, I think 3"

[Mike Phillips]

hey mike got a question, what about the yellow lake country flexible backing plate? why is it not on this thread? my guess is thread was wrote before the lc flexible ones came out...maybe you can update the original post to include them? great thread though


The reason it's not included is because while some of the Lake Country Rotary Buffer Backing Plates do have a outer skin as a portion of the plate itself, the two backing plates in this article take that idea a step further and have a foam interface between the actual backing plate and the Velcro Hook-N-Loop material.

It's a major difference in "types" of backing plates which in turn creates two distinct "categories" of rotary buffer backing plates.

Make sense?

Good question though...



Mike, I have had the white one for a few months and absolutely LOVE it. Any chance you can talk them into making a 3.5" one too???? Pleeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaassssssseeeeeeee.

It always feels good to be vindicated by someone like Richy as I too love the flexible rotary buffer backing plates. As to your question... see below...




The new rotary plates that are coming out along with Optimum's MF system look very similar to these (I suspect they're sourced from the same place) and there is a small one, I think 3"



Correctamundo...

Here's a picture of the three flexible backing plates of which at this time we have the to larger versions in stock.


Dimensions

7" backing plate measures 6 15/16" in diameter, basically it a hair under 7"

5" backing plate measures 4 7/8"

3" backing plate measures 2 7/8"


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/804/FlexibleRBBackingPlates001.jpg



:)

[CEE DOG]

Excellent and EXTREMELY useful thread Mike!! :dblthumb2:

I purchased a foam bp just to find it was only 5" and doesn't fit my pads!! :( I need a 6"... Hoping I can trade the 5" one back since I never used it.

Optimum has a 6" dia. foam bp coming out for the system as well don't they? I could have sworn they did because I was planning on getting it.

[C. Charles Hahn]

Optimum has a 6" dia. foam bp coming out for the system as well don't they? I could have sworn they did because I was planning on getting it.

I have seen that as well; it's listed as "Coming Soon" on another vendor's site so I'm betting AG will probably get it soon too.

[richy]

The new rotary plates that are coming out along with Optimum's MF system look very similar to these (I suspect they're sourced from the same place) and there is a small one, I think 3"

Thanks Charlie and thanks Mike for the pics. I have got two of the Opt ones on order with a buddy that we're splitting an order together. Yippee!!

[CEE DOG]

I have seen that as well; it's listed as "Coming Soon" on another vendor's site so I'm betting AG will probably get it soon too.

Thanks Charlie! I'm happy to know I'm not crazy! Errrr, I guess this doesn't prove that :( But thanks anyway! :)

[opie_7afe]

thank you mike for answering my question. now i know why i thought it would be more flexible then what it is, still a good bp but at times something with more flex would be good...ill order the foam one you have in the thread..should have gotten that one to begin with.but thanks for the clear explanation of why its not listed.

[Dr Oldz]

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/804/FlexibleRBBackingPlates001.jpg



:)


The extention/adapter pictured I can't seem to find on the AG store. Can you post a link please, Mike?

[C. Charles Hahn]

The extention/adapter pictured I can't seem to find on the AG store. Can you post a link please, Mike?

I'm not Mike, but:

Optimum Double-Sided Rotary Adapter, double sided pad adapter, optimum center adapter (http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-rotary-adapter.html)