Can the Meguiars Unigrit 3" foam interface pad be used with 3m products.

[oldmodman]

I have most of the 3M Hookit II foam sanding pads and I would like to use a foam interface pad.
Is the Meguiars hook & loop on their foam interface pad compatible with the 3M hook and loop on their 3" adapter and on the 3M Trizact Hookit II foam sanding pads.
I'd just get the 3M pad but it's only available here in the 6" size.

[Mike Phillips]

Can be used together
3M 3" Hookit Backing Plate
Meguiar's 3" Interface Pad


Cannot be used with the Meguiar's interface pad
3M 3" Hookit II Backing Plate




Full article here...


The difference between 3M's Hookit and Hookit II Hook-N-Loop Interface Systems



On the left hand side is the 3M 3" Hookit Backing Plate and just above it is the Meguiar's 3" Interface Pad, these two items are Hook-n-Loop Compatible. You must use Hookit discs with the Hookit Backing Plate. The Hookit system follows the industry standard for hook-n-loop interfaces.

On the right hand side is the 3M 3" Hookit II Backing Plate, the Meguiar's 3" Interface Pad will not work with this backing plate. You must use Hookit II discs with the Hookit II Backing Plate. The Hook-n-Loop is reversed on this 3M system.




Hookit II Backing Plate with "Loops" on the backing plate
(Reversed Hook-n-Loop System)




Close-up of the "loops"



3M 3" Hookit Backing Plate with "Hooks" on the face of the backing plate
(This is the industry standard system for hook-n-loop interface)



Here you can see the J-Hooks - Note there are different designs of hooks, not just the shape of a "J".





Note: If you've ever noticed over time that your pad and backing plate don't attach as firmly as when they were first new, it's because over time the "hooks" will tend to straighten out from use and thus won't hold the loops as tightly.


Probably more than you ever wanted to know about hook-n-loops...

[daveinsweethome]

some of the close ups look like an alien movie bad guy.

[oldmodman]

A second question just dawned on me.

Hook and loop has a "male" side, and a "female" side.

If the Meguiars interface pad has a male and female side can't you just turn it over? Since the Hookit II has a male & female side also. Unless the actual hooks and loops of the two different manufacturers are incompatible it "should" work. Kinda like wife swapping, it's frowned upon, but the parts should still work just fine when traded around.

[C. Charles Hahn]

A second question just dawned on me.

Hook and loop has a "male" side, and a "female" side.

If the Meguiars interface pad has a male and female side can't you just turn it over? Since the Hookit II has a male & female side also. Unless the actual hooks and loops of the two different manufacturers are incompatible it "should" work. Kinda like wife swapping, it's frowned upon, but the parts should still work just fine when traded around.

Except that you'd have a problem connecting any abrasive discs to it other than Hookit II discs.