The ability of microfiber pads! Before Pics. Afters coming soon!

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In case there is any doubt out there about the ability of meg's mf pads. Here is a truck I'll be working on for the next couple days.

I'm working mostly on the interior today and prepping the outside. Correction will happen tomorrow.

My goal is to quickly remove 80-90% of the defects. I'm not trying to get show car results as my client's budgets (and needs) won't allow it. It is driven all over the country a lot. Including, windy, dusty, snowy conditions in Colorado.

I'm hoping (if test spot works) to show how well m100 (no wipe off) followed by d151 will correct. I will be mostly using meg's 5" mf pads followed by lc white or orange.
I'm using PC and Griot's DA's.

Obviously, if time and budget allowed I would most likely do a wipe off between steps and finish with m205. I would then IPA wipe and seal with power lock.

Let's just see what happens. Here's the before pics...
2013-08-29_11-32-20_132_zps89f0281a.jpg

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2013-08-29_11-30-12_999_zps94589ad0.jpg

2013-08-29_11-29-10_134_zps9b85142a.jpg
2013-08-29_11-28-47_599_zpsc6919397.jpg

2013-08-29_11-28-15_728_zps600ed41e.jpg

2013-08-29_11-27-32_608_zpsdc07091a.jpg

2013-08-23_13-50-23_412_zps830bd75a.jpg

This last pic is an example of what can be done with MF pads. This was a correction I did on an old GMC truck using m100 followed by d151
 
Microfiber is pretty good on surfaces but check out reused Surgical towels, they sell them in bulk, or a material called "Scrim." Other fields use them for buffing glass.
 
What is the difference in using a MF pad over foam? Your still using a cutting compound right? Why not use m105 with an orange pad?
 
What is the difference in using a MF pad over foam? Your still using a cutting compound right? Why not use m105 with an orange pad?

All products are pad dependent.

M105 on a finishing pad is NOT the same level of cut as M105 on a cutting pad.... makes sense, right?

For this reason, products like M105 can be used for things as severe as removing RIDS to something as moderate as a 1 step polish with a polishing pad. The product/pad relationship creates a vast combination of cutting ability even if you only have 1-2 products to work with. This is why doing proper test spots is crucial to achieving the best results, and is also why it pays a little bit to think outside of the box. IE using M105 as a 1 step polish rather than a cutting compound to remove severe defects.


MF cutting pads are capable of a significant amount of cut, and tend to finish down better than a foam pad with similar levels of cut. For this reason, MF pads have become the "go to" cutting pad for most professionals utilizing a DA system.

-Zach
 
I'm surprised many have not used the MF pads yet.

Advantages for me are the easy cleaning on the fly and I love the cutting power. I will still finish with foam as they are better in that aspect for me.
 
On hard paint, MF pads can also finish down amazingly well. If you clean the pad after each panel with compressed air, and use very slow rotation (just enough to rotate) you can achieve amazing results not only for cutting, but finishing as well. On my own Camaro hard paint, I don't use foam pads anymore for polishing.
 
Nice results. Looking forward to seeing the final results. I just picked up some MF cutting pads and will be trying them out soon.
 
Rupes 21+mf finishing pad and m205 or D151 yields a ton of cut and finishes awesome for a one step. Even on harder clears. Mf pads are expensive, but I enjoy using them much more than foam pads.
 
What size are Megs MF pads?
What size BP is required?
OK for soft paint?
 
Only microfiber pads I used is meguairs brand and like them a lot. What brand you going with for the truck?
 
On hard paint, MF pads can also finish down amazingly well. If you clean the pad after each panel with compressed air, and use very slow rotation (just enough to rotate) you can achieve amazing results not only for cutting, but finishing as well. On my own Camaro hard paint, I don't use foam pads anymore for polishing.

What would be the next best thing to clean a MF pad if compressed air is not available? Pad brush?
 
Pad brush probably but when it comes to finishing down with a MF pad it must be kept really clean and nothing cleans like air. However if you have a master blaster or a short snout blower of some kind they work great. I use a master blaster on occasion and nothing cleans a MF pad like that thing does.
 
What would be the next best thing to clean a MF pad if compressed air is not available? Pad brush?

IMO there is no exception to using compressed air. A brush can be used along with air, but not alone.

On a side not. I do not wash these pads in the washing machine. I spray them out with a spray nozzle on my hose and use a brush if needed.

I then extract the excess moisture out with my extractor.
 
What size are Megs MF pads?
What size BP is required?
OK for soft paint?

3", 5", 6"

Meg's sells backing plates that work well with these pads.

Kevin Brown custom makes "exact fit" backing plates, which I will be purchasing soon.

Having the backing plate fit the pad exactly is suppose to help the pad rotate more efficiently. It is also suppose to help with durability as it supports the edge of the pad better.

The main reason I'm buying them is that it helps with "edging."

Basically, angling the pad over a defect or scratch in a way that focuses the pressure on the area. Usually you do this on a higher speed and watch for heat build up. This allows you to correct defects that previously only a rotary could correct.

I already use this technique but it is hard on the pad, because it's not supported by the bp. It's also not as efficient as the pad gives on the edges.

Extreme care must be used with exact fit backing plates and in some cases they won't work (like on extreme contours).
 
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