Meguiar's microfiber cutting pads

**Calendyr** · 07-23-2017, 02:07 AM

So I am in love with these pads to do paint correction. They work so much better than anything I have ever tried before. I use them with the D300 cutting compound, which is very nice as well.

Today I did my 4th car with my pads and bottle of D300. The bottle is pretty much empty now, probably have enough for 1 more car but I would not bet on it.

I ran into an issue with the pads though. They are delaminating. The microfiber surface is getting separated from the foam interface on the edge, and I am pretty sure they will die on the next car I do.

So my question is: Is this normal?

One of the thing I find very odd about these pads are their sizes. I use a Rupes 5 inch backplate, and I purchased 5 inch cutting pads. But once on the backplate, there is about 1 inch of extra pad around the backplate. I am wondering if they put the wrong pad size in the package. The label clearly say 5 inch on the bag, but they are so big it's almost impossible for them to be 5 inches. Anyone had that experience?

So, off to order more pads, I don't want to do without them... and some more compound

**Eldorado2k** · 07-23-2017, 02:41 AM

The Megs 5" Microfiber pads are a tad bigger than the 5" backing plate, but not by whole inch...

They're just like LC Flat Foam Pads.

The exact measurement of the Meguiars 5" microfiber pad is 5 3/8"ths.
The measurement of the 5" backing plate is 4 7/8"ths.

**dlc95** · 07-23-2017, 04:08 AM

Which tool are you using? 12? 15? 21?

What speed?

What pressure?

Washer mod, or stock?

**Calendyr** · 07-23-2017, 05:02 AM

Using a Bigfoot 21 with a 5 inch backplate, washer moded. I use speed 5 to compound. Usually either no pressure or light pressure... I don't know maybe 3 pounds, never tested.

I will mesure the pads if I think of it next time I use them.

**dlc95** · 07-23-2017, 05:40 AM

I remember hearing that you want to be around speed 3 for the cutting step.

I used the xtra cut discs on a MKII 21 modded, and I was on speed 2.5 - 3 for that. We had the exact fit pad on the 5 inch BP. That's a pretty potent combo right there.

**goldendodo19** · 07-23-2017, 07:46 AM

Make sure you change the pad frequently allowing it time to cool. Those get hot quick and early on there was a delamination issue with those pads.

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**mc2hill** · 07-24-2017, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by Calendyr

I ran into an issue with the pads though. They are delaminating. The microfiber surface is getting separated from the foam interface on the edge, and I am pretty sure they will die on the next car I do.

So my question is: Is this normal?

Yes, they are easy to heat up with a long throw machine. My solution has been to rotate 2 pads, swapping after each section. And I rarely go above setting "4" on my Rupes 15 MkII with them.

Since you are purchasing more D300, I would suggest purchasing some M105 too, if you do not already have some. For harder paint, Mike Stoops recommends 2 dots of D300 and 1 dot of M105. I was able to do a one-step correction on my son's pewter colored Civic with this method. All previous attempts with other pad/polish combinations only made minimal corrections.

**idriveblackcars** · 07-24-2017, 10:16 AM

I love them too, they are my go to cutting pads. I don't even bother with foam when I need to compound.
But they can break down just like any other pad when heated

This was last July and my garage alone was almost 100 degrees! I use a Kevin Brown made to fit backing plate on a Rupes 15 mk2. Cuts like nothing else

**Calendyr** · 07-24-2017, 01:59 PM

Thanks guys. I will slow down the machine to speed 4 and see if it improves things. 3 seems a little slow for compounding, but if I still have issues at speed 4 I will try it.

Thanks for the tip on mixing M105 into the mix. I never use it anymore, I hate how dusty it is when working outside. But mixing it with D300 would probably solve or at least reduce significantly it's dusting problem. I have almost a gallon of the stuff so mixing a bottle for D300/M105 at 1:1 or 2:1 is not a problem. Could have used it on severelly damaged paint I worked on 2 days ago.

**dlc95** · 07-24-2017, 02:37 PM

I just received my LC microfiber cutting pads, and they feel a lot like the megs, with a stiffer foam backing.

They're also available in the HDO line for long throw polishers. The microfiber pad in that series has a center cooling hold, and a taper to the edge - sort of like the Rupes microfiber pads, but not as pronounced a taper.

Heat is a big detriment to pads, and these LC HDO pads might help you get longer service life from them.