6.5 vs 5.5inch pads

[AutoApollo]

I need to buy more pads but should I go with 5.5in or 6.5 in? Are there any advantages or disadvantages to one or the other

 

[Jaretr1]

What machine are you using? What backing plate do you have?

 

[Paul A.]

:iagree: Feed back please bingo!

 

[AutoApollo]

What machine are you using? What backing plate do you have?

Griots garage polisher, I have both a 6inch, 5inch and 3.5inch backing plate. I just vaguely remember reading something that 5.5inch pads are better for working with and are more effective

 

[Kamakaz1961]

Stick with the 5.5 pads as it will work better with you DA. The 6.5 might be too big. This is assuming you have the GG 6" DA

 

[custmsprty]

Stick with the 5.5 pads as it will work better with you DA. The 6.5 might be too big. This is assuming you have the GG 6" DA

:iagree:

 

[ski2]

And, the 5.5" pads are less expensive. The GG6 has plenty of power to handle the 6.5"pads, but I find them too be more difficult to polish on concave surfaces and in tight areas.

 

[vobro]

5.5, less stall more brawl

 

[StephenK]

Since you gonna buy new pads pick up some GG B.O.S.S. pads

 

[Paul A.]

5.5, less stall more brawl

I love that line! I like spinning the least amount of mass with my DA. Either a thinner pad or a smaller diameter pad.

 

[lawrenceSA]

I need to buy more pads but should I go with 5.5in or 6.5 in? Are there any advantages or disadvantages to one or the other

5.5"

There is less rotational mass so it will spin easier at the same machine speed, meaning it will stall less, plus, with less frictional drag this increases. Add to that, at the same machine speed which produces 'x force', by using a smaller diameter pad, the force is concentrated into a smaller area, again increasing the amount of comparative 'cut'.

And with the smaller diameter you are more likely to be able to maintain pad rotation in convex panel areas, which are more commonplace on modern vehicles. A larger pad would 'knock into' the panel outer edges of the curve before a smaller one, causing pad stalling issues earlier, making it harder to get the pad into the inner part of the curve.

Bear in mind that you will obviously load up a smaller pad with 'debris' (spent polish and bits of abraded paint ) quicker than a larger one, so make sure you clean on the fly often and switch out to new pads frequently.