Follow-Up Backing Plate Question...

[alko]

Ok this is a continuation of this discussion from this thread:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/flex-polishers/46930-backing-plates-pe14.html


I'm hoping Mike will chime in here too...

**Caveat** sorry for the crappy pics.

I just got the 3" HD backing plate today. The loops on the back of the plate are very similar to the loops on the yellow backing plates. They're small and nice and tight.

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m629/alk0/IMG_5642.jpg

Here's a top view:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m629/alk0/IMG_5646.jpg

Here is the 5" HD backing plate
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m629/alk0/IMG_5628.jpg

Here it is top view:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m629/alk0/IMG_5623.jpg

Here they are side by side:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m629/alk0/IMG_5637.jpg

Here's the yellow backing plate:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m629/alk0/IMG_5648.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m629/alk0/IMG_5641.jpg

So...my question is, why are the loops larger on the 5" HD backing plate vs the smaller loops on the 3" HD backing plate?

I'm going to go grab my pads to see if they're are any differences in grip.

Feed back please

[rider9195]

My guess would be that since bigger pads would have more friction when rotating because of their larger surface area, the loops would need to be larger to accommodate the increase of resistance when rotating. It sounds reasonable to me, but I would like to see what others have to say.

[alko]

My main concern is, I got the 5" HD backing plate to work with Kompressor pads. I've read a few people use this setup. If you look at this picture, you can see that the bottom is nice and uniform, and in theory, flatens out the pad to cause that "sweet spot" in the middle of the Kompressor pad (per the description).

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m629/alk0/IMG_5658.jpg

But when I put it on the HD backing plate, it doesn't look as uniform and looks to still have that arc which is supposed to flatten and compress the middle of the pad:

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m629/alk0/IMG_5659.jpg

Is anyone else using the 5" HD backing plate with the 6" Kompressor pads?

[Kaban]

You know, it's a very good question.

A while back, I picked up a few Gloss-It 3" foam backing plates and the hook and loop on those backing plates is also VERY small compares to all the larger backing plates I've used in the past. Because of this, there is much less grip. It's almost effortless to take a pad off because it doesn't hook well at all. Initially, I though the pad would fly off the backing plate at speed, but it's never happened and I've used them many times.

[alko]

yeah man...I can pull the pad off with ease...I'm afraid its gonna fly off!

[alko]

:bump2: I'm hoping others will chime in here.