Lake Country Pad Failure? or User error?

[Maxima Mom]

Hey Mike its Maxima Dad, I finally got to finish my ML detail and the paint looks great now...my 9+ year old paint still has a few "deeper" swirls in some cases but overall it came up awesome...

While using my Lake Country pads however I noticed the edges coming apart and a tear forming along the edge between the velcro backing and edge of the pad...I noticed while using them the edge of the pad would "curl" over the edge of the backing plate...is this an indication of too much pressure on my part or a defect in the pads?

We only used them on the Maxima and then I used them on the ML so they are new...

[Rob T]

What machine are you using these with, what size are the pads, and what size is the backing plate?

[Setec Astronomy]

I'll add to the questions...have those been washed? The orange pad it looks like the backing plate dug into the edge, the cyan pad looks like it's been heat damaged, or that could be washing damage. I haven't used my Hydro pads yet, but certainly others have said that the velcro doesn't seem to hold up so well on these.

[BobbyG]

Hey Dad,

Are you using them on a rotary or DA polisher?

They look like pretty new pads and since it's two I'm wondering if it's technique.

[StephenK]

i heard when the Hydro's first came out there was an issue with the velcro not lasting but people that have recently bought them have not had this issue.

[zliegen]

I have the same issue on a couple of my 5.5" Lake country flat pads from another vendor. The velcro shrunk ever so slightly after being washed and drying (I wash with warm water and simple green solution by hand and air dry so I don't get why they shrunk). This caused the backing plate to have just the slightest amount of overhang from the recessed edge velcro and it tore into the foam under pressure. In the future I'm only considering pads where the velcro covers the entire back because of this, and it worries me to buy the new Hydrotech thin pads because they have the recessed velcro.

[Rob T]

I'll add to the questions...have those been washed? The orange pad it looks like the backing plate dug into the edge, the cyan pad looks like it's been heat damaged, or that could be washing damage. I haven't used my Hydro pads yet, but certainly others have said that the velcro doesn't seem to hold up so well on these.

I've read a few such comments, but I have not had the problem myself, and I've been using the HT pads since they were first released..using them on my Flex 3401.

[zliegen]

I'll add to the questions...have those been washed? The orange pad it looks like the backing plate dug into the edge, the cyan pad looks like it's been heat damaged, or that could be washing damage. I haven't used my Hydro pads yet, but certainly others have said that the velcro doesn't seem to hold up so well on these.

I had the same problem myself and can definitely confirm its from the backing plate digging into the pads on both of them, probably because the velcro shrunk and caused the backing plate to overhang, just like mine.

[StephenK]

i am also worried bout this issue cause i am in the market for new pads and the Hydro pads work so well but i can not afford to replace them if they are gonna keep coming apart

[Maxima Mom]

Ah yes the important details...they are 5.5" pads on the Griots DA polisher, backing plate is same size as white velcro area...

pads were washed in DP Pad Rejuvenator and scrubbed ever so lightly with pad brush then air dried...