Just bought a rotary...what to start with

[Ryan R]

I just won a slightly used DeWalt 849 on Ebay for $112.50!
No accessories. Just the machine and backing plate that I believe is the standard plate.

I have plenty of body panels and junked cars to practice on which is a huge plus.

Main question is what would be a good pad and backing plate and size combo for a beginner rotary user? Thanks!

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Main question is what would be a good pad and backing plate and size combo for a beginner rotary user? Thanks!

Flexible Backing Plates - Pick the size for the pads you want to start learning with. Smaller pads are easies to learn how to use and master the rotary buffer, but not too small.

See article below,

Trend: Flexible Backing Plates for Rotary Buffers


Flexible Backing Plates provide,

• An extra level of cushion when using a rotary buffer which helps you when buffing on curved panel and over body lines.

• The flexible foam interface heps to distribute pressure more evenly over the face of the buffing pad.

• They can also make the buffing process less aggressive as compared to using a stiff backing plate which can help to reduce swirls.

Currently we have two flexible backing plates besides the flexible backing plate in the 1-Pad system, which is specific to the 1-Pad buffing pads.

1. The Flex-Foam Heavy Duty Rotary Backing Plate, which has a 5" Diameter
2. The Meguiar's Easy-Buff Solo Backing Plate, which has a 6" Diameter

Below are some pictures to show the size of the backing plates relative to some popular buffing pads to help you get an idea of the fitment of the backing plate to the hook-n-loop interface on the back of the buffing pads.

Flex-Foam HD Rotary Backing Plate

Flex-Foam Backing Plate on a 5.5" CCS White Polishing Pad

Flex-Foam Backing Plate on a 5.5" Cyan Hydro-Tech Pad

Flex-Foam Backing Plate on a 5.5" Blue Finishing Flat Pad

Flex-Foam Backing Plate on a 5.5" on a Super Soft Gold Jewelling 6" Pad

Meguiar's W66 Solo Backing Plate

W66 Flexible Backing Plate on a 7.5" DuroWool 100% Twisted Wool Cutting Pad

W66 Flexible Backing Plate on a 7" Kompressor Orange Light Cutting Pad

W66 Backing Plate on a 6.5" CCS Red Ultrasoft Finishing Pad

Note in this picture and all the above pictures the extra backing and or foam that sticks out past the outer edge of the backing plate. You want this extra material as a safety margin to help prevent running the outer edge of the backing plate into any painted areas, or around trim or other components like side view mirrors, rear wing spoilers, etc.

Both of these flexible backing plates are excellent backing plates to have in your tool chest to go along with your rotary buffer.

All of the above backing plates and pads work great with all the rotary buffers on Autogeek.net


:xyxthumbs:

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Read through this too...


New Flex PE14 - How to use ONLY a rotary buffer to finish out hologram free?



And watch this,

Video: Tips for using a Rotary Buffer and the Flex 3401 on vertical panels


Tips and techniques for using rotary buffers on vertical panels as well as the Flex 3401 Forced Rotation Dual Action Polisher plus surgical buffing using small pads for thin panels.

Also shown is how to use a Spur to clean a wool pad plus how to use both the System 2000 Pad Cleaner for cleaning wool pads on a rotary buffer and the Universal Grit Guard Pad Washer for cleaning any buffing pad.

Tips for using a Rotary Buffer and the Flex 3401 on vertical panels
[video=youtube_share;gc_umhlote4&hd=1"]Tips for using a Rotary Buffer and the Flex 3401...[/video]​

Related topics...

Surgical Buffing

:buffing:

 

[Ryan R]

Great info and reading! Thanks a lot Mike!

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

This is kind of a how-to for using a rotary buffer from start to finish...


Bumblebee - Testing out the NEW DeWALT DWP849X


For some reason when I look at the new DWP849X I think of Bumblebee

Flex PE14 and DeWalt DWP849X

Before

After

Long read though...

 

[Ryan R]

Gonna have lots of reading this evening!
The unit I bought doesn't say it's an 849X though. Any major difference between being an X vs not?

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Gonna have lots of reading this evening!
The unit I bought doesn't say it's an 849X though. Any major difference between being an X vs not?

Yes, the 849X dials down to 600 RPM it weighs less and has lots of cool features but they both will rotate the pad and get the job done.

 

[Ryan R]

Yes, the 849X dials down to 600 RPM it weighs less and has lots of cool features but they both will rotate the pad and get the job done.

Ok cool. Well for lower speeds I have my DA's
It was a good but for the price so once I master it I'll upgrade

 

[bmwgalore]

Ok cool. Well for lower speeds I have my DA's
It was a good but for the price so once I master it I'll upgrade

No need to move up from the 849 since you already have a DA...


Sure the 849 is heavy and noisy, but it WILL always get the job done.. I still have one and it's great!

By the way, the newer model 849x is going for $155 on eBay right now... hehehe

 

[Ryan R]

Aw didn't even see it. To be honest I didn't know the difference between an 849 the 849X until afterwards.
Oh well. Noise I can deal with

 

[Danube]

.. ear plugs ;-))

 

[BobbyG]

I just won a slightly used DeWalt 849 on Ebay for $112.50!
No accessories. Just the machine and backing plate that I believe is the standard plate.

I have plenty of body panels and junked cars to practice on which is a huge plus.

Main question is what would be a good pad and backing plate and size combo for a beginner rotary user? Thanks!

Congratulations Ryan!! rops:

 

[Ryan R]

Congratulations Ryan!! rops:

Thanks bobby!
Can't wait to get my hands on it and give it a whirl!

Still haven't gotten around to buying that second DA but I will soon!

 

[Ryan R]

I usually use LC 5.5 flats with my PC.
For the rotary I'm buying the flex foam backing plate and LC hydro tech 5.5 pads.
Did some more reading and seen a lot of rotary users using these pads.

 

[Ryan R]

Got my toys today!
Yes I got two... i placed my first bid on one,decided the other one looked better cosmetically so I bid on that...assuming I'd get outbid the first one but noooope!