First Impression: Optimum Microfiber Polishing Pads

Harleyguy said:
Chad I used them on a DA only we had four machines running at a time and matter of fact now that you mentioned it I didn't try them on the Flex 3401 when you get into that zone correcting paint you know how hard it is to stop LOL also I forgot mention these pads seemed to fit the LC backing plate that was on the PCXP better then the Megs .
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Just looked at the yellow truck thread after I asked that question. :D
 
I need clarification. Somewhere on another forum I saw a picture of a pile of new optimum MF pads. There were three types shown..all with different foam types... One yellow (polishing), one maroon (cutting), and a third had blue foam. If anybody saw the same picture, what were the MF pads with the blue foam? Is there an Optimum MF finishing pad?
 
The picture I saw posted had two different types of optimum pads and some surbuf pads in a stack. Is this what you are referring to ?
 
Perhaps that is what I saw (blue foam in the pile was a surbuf pad). I didn't think there was an Optimum finishing pad.
 
Chris@Optimum said:
Ok, first I would never advocate selling/tossing all your pads because you will find that for OEM finishes the MF will perform better in two steps than foam will in three, but you will run into some paint finishes that you may need to use a different approach on and then you may need the multiple choices of foam to dial in the perfect finish. Basically, on 95% of your details, you will benefit by saving time...and time is money. Another benefit is reduced cost per car by means of product usage. These pads are considerably less absorbant than any foam pad. Combine that attribute with the Hyper sprays and you'll be using a fraction of the product you would with the pad priming techniques we've grown used to over the past few years. As an example, only one spray is needed to prime the Optimum MF pad and then a single spray for each of the following sections (18"x18" to 24"x24" on average). Our foam choice is not closed cell like Meg's but open cell which runs cooler and will certainly enhance longevity. They can be cleaned on the fly with a pad conditioning brush, or a pad washer and are washing machine safe too. Another benefit is price point especially when buying in 3 or six packs.

I will provide more info as needed, just realize that these were pushed out a little early and all the pieces aren't in place yet. Come November, we'll have DA and Rotary Backing plates in all sizes as well as the cutting pads. Also, while we will be marketing this as a complete system using the Hyper Sprays, you can certainly use our pastes and Poliseal, too.
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great much appreciated :P
 
RaskyR1 said:
I do wonder about the use of them on a rotary polisher. It was my understanding that the Megs pads can be used with a rotary, while not recommended, as it's not really beneficial to do so. I know of several people who have tried it, but the pads simply cut better via DA on 95% of the paints out there. With a rotary the MF fibers will lay flat and pack down tightly because of the direct rotation. On a DA the random orbit movement causes all those fibers to twist around, constantly expose new/more abrasives, this resulting in a greater cutting area. With the MF material being the same on both pads, I don't understand the benefit in using them on a rotary, but I guess time will tell. ;)
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Im wondering the same thing. I know that the fibers lay flat and pack down (not that I have tried it on the rotary, but they seem to do this on the MG DA kit with the flex. I found myself constantly fluffing the pad with the air hose... Maybe I wasn't doing it right, but I found myself stopping every few passes just to fluff up the fibers. I thought the results were better after fluffing the fibers than when they were laid flat and packed... If that is the case, I imagine i'd be spending almost as much time fluffing the pads as I would be buffing...? That or maybe you're just supposed to leave the fibers flat and packed when using the rotary? Any experience on how the results vary?
 
The mf pads allow the product to do the work...the mf its self has no cut. That's why they finish so well.The only reason to fluff the fibers and blow out the pads between panels is to work clean and cleaning on the fly is what you're doing that for...you're removing spent polish, removed paint, and contaminants. Keeping the fibers fluffed is not the goal...working clean is the goal.
 
Chris@Optimum said:
The mf pads allow the product to do the work...the mf its self has no cut. That's why they finish so well.The only reason to fluff the fibers and blow out the pads between panels is to work clean and cleaning on the fly is what you're doing that for...you're removing spent polish, removed paint, and contaminants. Keeping the fibers fluffed is not the goal...working clean is the goal.
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What aspect of the mf keeps diminishing abrasive polishes from working effectively?
 
Bunky said:
No idea. I just asked why they would not work with these polishes out of technical curiosity.
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I'm sorry that I'm not following...who said that they wouldn't work? They may not, but if they don't that's news to me.
 
this may be a bit off topic but rather than start a new thread I figured what the hey

I'm looking to get a small bp and pad setup for doing mainly my car. Since the smaller pads spin faster by virtue of their size, can I properly jewel with a small pad setup using the Opt mf polishing pads?

I want the smaller pad setup to finish polish less accessible areas of my car in the spring but if I can jewel with them, then all the better (even though it may take more time with the smaller pads)

Or is it not about speed but more the forced rotation/orbital action that allows you to jewel with a rotary but not a DA?

I don't really need or want to buy a rotary at this time.
 
has anybody gotten their hands on the new opt mf pads and used them ? what are your thoughts.
 
flatstick said:
has anybody gotten their hands on the new opt mf pads and used them ? what are your thoughts.
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We used the polishing ones on one of the Extreme Makeovers we did the cutting pads aren't out yet . I was very happy with the results they seem to run cooler the the Megs pads they also seemed to finish better but then again we were using the OPT polish and not the Megs polish .
 
wonder how well these will work with 85RD..thinking about giving my car a light polish before its put away..I usually do it with the HT Crimson pad and 85RD as I didnt have very good results with my soft paint with the Megs Finishing pad and the finishing wax.
 
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