3 inch pads...rotary or DA?

[DaveT435]

I did my first detail on my son's Lexus IS 250. I use a DA. It's obvious to me that you pretty much have to have 3 inch backing plate and pads. With a 3 inch pad in tight areas I really think a rotary would be much easier to use. Feed back please

[Kevin Cullen]

I use the DA since I can adjust the speed easily and the 3 inch rotate easier as well so you need to have it around 2 so you are not slinging product and overheating the pad.

Yes you do need the 3 inch pads for the tight areas, it's the easiest and only way to go. :)

[DaveT435]

Thanks Kevin. I'll give them a try on my DA.

[Bigbull2984]

Yea I figured out quick that smaller pads are a must. I went with them on a DA. I ended going with the 4inch Lake Country Hydro-Tech 4 x 1.25 Inch Foam Pads, Hydrotech foam buffing pads, spot polishing pads, dual action pads (http://www.autogeek.net/hydrotech-4inch-foam-pads.html)
and 3.5" Dual Action Flexible Backing Plate- porter cable 7424XP hook and loop backing plate 3.5 inch. (http://www.autogeek.net/lc-43085da.html)

[TimmyG]

Search "surgical buffing". Mike likes the Flex for this I believe.

I use my porter cable for 3" pads and keep the speeds much lower.

[DaveT435]

You found the 4" small enough? I used 5". Wasn't sure if 4 would be small enough. I didn't realize how many small and narrow places there were on that car until we were into it.

[DaveT435]

I watched that broadcast last night and there were two guys using rotaries with 3 inch pads and extensions it sure seemed like a great way to do it. The extensions seem like they would allow you to get better angles. The head of my Meguires DA is pretty bulky. Reading the "surgical buffing" forum it seems like Mike is a little partial to the rotaries too.

[bmwgalore]

I watched that broadcast last night and there were two guys using rotaries with 3 inch pads and extensions it sure seemed like a great way to do it. The extensions seem like they would allow you to get better angles. The head of my Meguires DA is pretty bulky. Reading the "surgical buffing" forum it seems like Mike is a little partial to the rotaries too.

The extension (http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-rotary-adapter.html)should be used ONLY on rotaries... Never on a DA.

There are no extensions for a DA because of how the machine works (hence the dual action).

[Mike Phillips]

Search "surgical buffing". Mike likes the Flex for this I believe.


Correct.




I watched that broadcast last night and there were two guys using rotaries with 3 inch pads and extensions it sure seemed like a great way to do it.

The extensions seem like they would allow you to get better angles.

Reading the "surgical buffing" forum it seems like Mike is a little partial to the rotaries too.




Exactly.


Surgical Buffing (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/47254-surgical-buffing.html)

Edging - Buffing the paint around edges (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/tricks-tips-techniques/37995-edging-buffing-paint-around-edges.html)



Also, check out some of the great uses for small pads in this thread...


Bumblebee - Testing out the NEW DeWALT DWP849X (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/off-topic/37831-bumblebee-testing-out-new-dewalt-dwp849x.html)


:buffing:

[Mike Phillips]

The extension (http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-rotary-adapter.html)should be used ONLY on rotaries... Never on a DA.

There are no extensions for a DA because of how the machine works (hence the dual action).

Very well said and correct.


:xyxthumbs:

[DaveT435]

I know...I was just thinking it might be worth buying a rotary. Depends on how much detailing I end up doing.