Hydrotech pads problems : Bad batch? Bad Pads?

[R4IDER]

Hey geeks

upon recomendations got the HT pads both 3" and 5.5" ones

Used both with griot's mini and griot's 6.

With the 3 i had no issues until today , used them for a set of wheels and worked really well.

Now onto the 5.5......

Used 1 cyan , half a small hood, half a door , then while i was starting to use it on the rear quarter panel.... thousends of blue dots start to fly...

the result :





so... had to switch to a new one...

Wich i think its gone baby gone too.. because it looks like this



and some more issues with the top



it HAS BEEN NOT used on emblems or any other thing except flat paint.

this are NEW first time use pads..

Used for maybe 2 panels total. Few passes

now both cyan pads after being properly cleaned are MORE soft thant a tangerine pad... think actually even the crimson one wich i didnt use yet feels more stiff than both cyans.

now that i searched for negative reviews found many posts about this issue so im guessing im not alone..

One of the post said u are supposed to not use pressure with these pads?? where's does it states that?

No issues with the tangerine so far but haven't used it much at all.

3" ones are perfect so far , except for 1 cyan that i blow-dried with the da using the 1 setting on the mini griots and it started delaminating.

 

[Pureshine]

I would return them for sure new pads should never do that.

 

[StangFan25]

Why not just contact them? I'm sure they will take care of it.


Edit: I just noticed another thread of yours asking about backing plates. What plate were you using with the 5.5" pad?

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Edit: I just noticed another thread of yours asking about backing plates. What plate were you using with the 5.5" pad?

The 5.5" Hydro-Tech pads should be used with a 5" backing plate.

The Griot's Garage 6" DA Polisher comes with a 6" backing plate.

Just to note, I cover the need to purchase a 5" backing plate no matter which dual action polisher you purchase, (PC/Griot's/Meguiar's), if you want to use 5.5" pads in my article here,

5 inch Backing Plates on Meguiar's, Griot's and Porter Cable DA Polishers

And in my how-to book.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

To the OP...

While I have TONS of information on this forum, I don't think I have everything I know and share.

In my how-to book I explain the characteristics of open cell foam and closed cell foam and what it says in my how to book,

Elasticity - Tensile Strength

Elasticity is another way of referring to the tensile strength of foam.

Tensile strength is a measurement of how far foam will stretch before it will tear.

Open cell foam pads tend to have higher tensile straights than closed cell foam.

Example: Hydro-Tech pads (closed cell foam), have lower tensile strength and will tear and wear more easily than Lake Country CCS pads and/or Lake Country flat face foam pads, both of which are open cell foam.

Besides the above, the tearing shown in your pictures is common when doing correction work on high speed with firm downward pressure. The Griot's DA polisher is like a safe version of a rotary polisher, that is it has the most power of all the dual action polishers modeled after the Porter Cable.

People love it for this reason but it's for this reason it can be very hard on foam pads as it's not just rotating the "foam" it's oscillating it and at high speeds this is a violent action that tends to wear out pads like you show in your pictures.

 

[StangFan25]

The 5.5" Hydro-Tech pads should be used with a 5" backing plate.

The Griot's Garage 6" DA Polisher comes with a 6" backing plate.

Just to note, I cover the need to purchase a 5" backing plate no matter which dual action polisher you purchase, (PC/Griot's/Meguiar's), if you want to use 5.5" pads in my article here,

5 inch Backing Plates on Meguiar's, Griot's and Porter Cable DA Polishers

And in my how-to book.

Thanks Mike!

I knew(from a previous article of yours) that you need a 5" plate with 5.5" pads. From reading the OPs post and other threads he created on the subject, I had a feeling they were using 5.5" pads on the stock 6" plate. This could have an affect on the pads negatively.

 

[R4IDER]

Thx mike , so what i gather from your info is that open cells pads handle pressure and speed better.

Still i think that a pad cant be worn out after a few passes on a small car panels.

Thanks Mike!

I knew(from a previous article of yours) that you need a 5" plate with 5.5" pads. From reading the OPs post and other threads he created on the subject, I had a feeling they were using 5.5" pads on the stock 6" plate. This could have an affect on the pads negatively.

Im using a 5" inch BP

Wich also i believe its an issue because , not like the 3" ones where the WHOLE pad equals the size of the BP , with the 5.5 u get all the edges out and not in contact , so the pressure its not uniform.

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Cyan pads EASILY have the worst durability of any pad I've ever used. Honestly, I think the should be taken off the market.

 

[The Pad Man]

You can contact me here at the factory by email or phone. I have Hydrotech pads that are 5 years old and are holding up.

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

I have Hydrotech pads that are 5 years old and are holding up.

Eric, that's fine and dandy, but let's be realistic here. There have been COUNTLESS threads of HT's failing and quickly(mainly Cyan), so there IS something wrong.

 

[The Pad Man]

Mark, It is a characteristic of the foam. There are many factors which could cause a foam to fail. Heat, pressure, solvents in chemicals, machines, machine operator. Also, the strength of the foam.

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Mark, It is a characteristic of the foam. There are many factors which could cause a foam to fail. Heat, pressure, solvents in chemicals, machines, machine operator. Also, the strength of the foam.

I really like a lot of LC Pads, don't get me wrong, but if the foam is THAT sensitive, it's a problem. Not everyone is gonna use them EXACTLY how they're supposed to be used. Many other pads don't have near the sensitivity. The cyan pads are failing way too much, and it's needs to be addressed, however that may be.

 

[swanicyouth]

I really like a lot of LC Pads, don't get me wrong, but if the foam is THAT sensitive, it's a problem. Not everyone is gonna use them EXACTLY how they're supposed to be used. Many other pads don't have near the sensitivity. The cyan pads are failing way too much, and it's needs to be addressed, however that may be.

You just have to not buy the pads. I have two 3" cyan pads that fell apart as well. I have red 3" pads that de-laminated as well. So, what LC is saying is the foam isn't durable, or - you have to be trained by them in some special way to use them that is different than other pads. So, I won't buy them anymore. Problem solved (for me anyway).

The other major pad manufacturer has this to say on open cell ("regular" pads) and why they are superior:

..."All of our pads are made of high strength reticulated foam. In other words, the cells are open; this allows air to flow through the foam. Chemical compounds and polishes require the right amount of air flow through the foam. Open cell foam is ideal for this process to succeed. Not only is closed cell foam not ideal, it is weaker structurally"

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Of course I won't buy the pads, but what about the tons of other people that are clueless about this? Good chance they'll be wasting their money. It's not fair to have a pad on the market that fails so easily.


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[swanicyouth]

Of course I won't buy the pads, but what about the tons of other people that are clueless about this? Good chance they'll be wasting their money. It's not fair to have a pad on the market that fails so easily.


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True. Hopefully they will Google "Lake Country Hydro Tech Pads" and read this post.

 

[The Pad Man]

There is a lot of misinformation out there.

 

[R4IDER]

You can contact me here at the factory by email or phone. I have Hydrotech pads that are 5 years old and are holding up.

Thx pad man, i bought these at AG will they send me replacements or do i have to contact u directly

 

[The Pad Man]

R4IDER, Which ever is easier and more convenient for you. I apologize for any inconvenience.

 

[R4IDER]

Of course I won't buy the pads, but what about the tons of other people that are clueless about this? Good chance they'll be wasting their money. It's not fair to have a pad on the market that fails so easily.


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Hey mark

thx for the responses

wich pad does not have this problems?

looking for 5,5 pads for a griot's that will hold up well and give me some power to correct quick

 

[R4IDER]

R4IDER, Which ever is easier and more convenient for you. I apologize for any inconvenience.

Thx pad man , i have some CSS hope i get a better experience with them

will contact AG to see what they offer

thx!