Disappointed with Flex Tools

[Mizzoutiger]

Looks like the backing plates are failing from over saturating the pads, constant heavy pressure, and not cleaning them enough and switching out to fresh pads after each panel.

Any tool will eat backing plates if subjected to this abuse.

I have/love Flex tools (3401VRG & 14-2)!!!

[Flash Gordon]

18 months = eternity if this tool is used on a daily basis

On your next backing plate be more cautious when removing the pad. What I do (that seems to have helped me) is with 1 thumb hold the area of the backing plate that is being pulled. With the other thumb I gently pull the pad

Yanking a pad off a hot backing plate is a recipe for the picture you've posted

[dlc95]

a made a bucket with dp polishing pad rejuvenator and the do the method with a terry towel to squeeze water and left upside down to get dry

So, is the face of the pad "up", facing the sky when drying?

[allenk4]

So, is the face of the pad "up", facing the sky when drying?

Should be Velcro UP, right?


I hate that I just used "Up Talk"

[weeecho]

sorry for my bad english the face of the pad down and the side of the velcro up

[Mike Phillips]

sorry for my bad english the face of the pad down and the side of the velcro up

That's what I show in my how to book plus I think 3-4 other ways to both wash and dry buffing pads.

The idea is

1. Allow water and other liquids to drain "out" of the pad and away from the adhesive that holds the pad to the Velcro.

2. Prevent dust, dirt and other air-borne contaminants from landing on the face of the pad.

[expdetailing]

I am a newbie, so take w/ a grain of salt. I agree the issue is not checking the temperature of the center of the pad often enough. Just two days ago, I had a yellow 4" lc pad litteraly fly apart as I lifted the pc off the paint at speed six (I was fatigued and not concentrating). Little yellow bits flew everywhere. As soon as it happened, I thought of this forum and wondered how the members here would react if they saw it happen in real time. Consequently, I kept checking the pad's center temp w/ my index finger. It was getting hot, believe me. I had steam on one, no, two occasions. Also, the center of the pad seemed to be collapsing, or losing support, as if the center material was vanishing. So, I learned to buy more pads. Since two days ago, I've ordered 16 pads. Big lesson learned. Did I mention it was w/ a porter cable too? Imagine if your flex wasn't powerful enough to desrtoy pads or it"s own backing plate. That would be even wearse.