Lake Country Microfiber Pads used with flex 3401

R/TED · Nov 9, 2019

Hi all, has anyone used Sonax Cut and finish with microfiber one step pads on the Flex3401. What were your results? Thanks for the input. Looking to do some correction on a black 2012 Dodge Ram.

rlmccarty2000 · Nov 9, 2019

Microfiber pads are not recommended for use with the Flex 3401.

R/TED · Nov 10, 2019

Was not aware of that. I know microfiber pads aren’t recommended for rotary Polishers but according to lake Country rep that did a video with Mike Phillips said they can be used on any DA polisher. Are you sure. Reason I’m asking is I just purchased 4 microfiber pads and if they’re not recommended then I’ll cancel the order. I’ve used the Lake Country hybrid foam pads with great results but, wanted to try microfiber pads. Thanks for the help.

Mike Phillips · Nov 10, 2019

R/TED said:
Was not aware of that. I know microfiber pads aren’t recommended for rotary Polishers but according to lake Country rep that did a video with Mike Phillips said they can be used on any DA polisher.

Are you sure.

I'm totally NOT trying to sound like a smart butt when I say this, just letting you know ahead of time.

You can use any pad on any polisher if you like. I't just some "types" of pads work better on some "types" of machines than others.

So "yes" you can use a microfiber pad on a FLEX XC 3401 VRG and it will work. When I say,

it will work

That doesn't mean your physical buffing experience will be "good". But yes, microfiber pads can be used on ANY brand of gear-driven orbital polisher.

A few years ago I coined the term,

Grabby

To describe the "feeling" of buffing when using a microfiber pad on the FLEX XC 3401 VRG aka the BEAST. That's because that's how it feels when moving the pad over the surface, it feels like the pad is GRABBING the paint and then pulling the polisher around.

The above all said - there's a SLEW of new microfiber pads on the market that I have not used with the BEAST yet. So anyone reading this PLEASE - if you use any of the new fiber pads, (microfiber or wool), share your experience.

How's that?

BudgetPlan1 · Nov 10, 2019

Buff n Shine Uro Fibre pads work well with 3401. Decent cut, nice finish. Works well w Griots Correcting Cream for a 1-step in many situations.

Dr Oldz · Nov 10, 2019

Well here’s my opinion and to note, I use the Beast(3401) a lot.

I don’t prefer to use MF pads on the Beast. When I do a one step as you mentioned, I prefer a foam pad.

If I’m doing some heavier cutting, I use the LC hybrid wool pads on the Beast with great success.

I also have use Cut and Finish with Buff and Shine 50/50 pads which are a MF pad. It worked really well but there is definitely a different feel from the polisher. The grabby feel Mike describes is perfect. So if you are planning on trying the combo you mentioned, I suggest priming the pad and using the buffing liquid a bit heavy or wet. This will provide extra lubrication between the pad and the paint and give you a smoother feel while polishing.

I hope this helps you a bit.

spazzz · Nov 10, 2019

I tried the microfiber pads once on the 3401.

It was a bouncy, physical experience.
They do work great on my PC7424

R/TED · Nov 10, 2019

Thanks everyone for the info, it’s greatly appreciated. I have the PC7424 as well. If I don’t like the experience with the 3401, I will use with the pc.

Mike@DedicatedPerfection · Nov 11, 2019

IME, these pads have been pretty grabby with the 3401.

If you are looking for more cut than a foam pad I would look into a wool pad. The hybrid wools are great on this machine

R/TED · Nov 19, 2019

Finally had a chance to use the Lake Country microfiber cutting pads on the Flex 3401.

Polish i used was Sonax EX 04-06. Using these pads on the 3401 does take some getting used to. I found that if you tilt the polisher up just a tick instead of perfectly flat on the panel works pretty well.

used speed setting 4. Pictures are of drivers side door of my 2018 Hyundai Sonata. No lsp has been applied, 6 section passes. Very pleased with the results. Paint was in good condition before polishing.

No finishing polish or pad was used after polishing with microfiber pads.

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PaulMys · Nov 19, 2019

R/TED said:
Finally had a chance to use the Lake Country microfiber cutting pads on the Flex 3401. Polish i used was Sonax EX 04-06. Using these pads on the 3401 does take some getting used to. I found that if you tilt the polisher up just a tick instead of perfectly flat on the panel works pretty well. used speed setting 4. Pictures are of drivers side door of my 2018 Hyundai Sonata. No lsp has been applied, 6 section passes. Very pleased with the results. Paint was in good condition before polishing. No finishing polish or pad was used after polishing with microfiber pads.

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Any particular reason you chose to use MF pads over foam on paint that was in "good condition"?

R/TED · Nov 19, 2019

I bought these pads to use on my nephews black Dodge Ram pickup truck. I wanted to try these pads on my car first to see how well these pads worked with the 3401. Also wanted to see how well the pads finished using a medium-fine polish.

dcjredline · Nov 20, 2019

I did a 12 Black Ram pick up in the past with XMT360 and an Orange pad with my 3401...turned out GREAT.

I also have used the 3401 with my Meguiars Cutting MF pads and D300 as step 1 of a 2 step process and dont remember them being overly grabby. I can see how it WOULD be possible though. Very little pressure and let the pad and machine do the work.

BadgerRivFan · Nov 20, 2019

R/TED said:
I bought these pads to use on my nephews black Dodge Ram pickup truck. I wanted to try these pads on my car first to see how well these pads worked with the 3401. Also wanted to see how well the pads finished using a medium-fine polish.

I would “practice” on my nephew’s used truck before experimenting on my own car given the choice

...

Just say’in

Mike Phillips · Nov 20, 2019

Just to throw this into the mix....

I don't use traditional wool pads on the BEAST very often but they do cut really well. They also leave micro-marring. I know they'll leave micro-marring so I would only use a traditional wool pad on the BEAST when I'm already planning on doing a second step using foam pads.

Here's an example from an epic project here at Autogeek - See post #5

How to restore a Barn Find - 1969 Ford Thunderbird - #7 Rub Out + FLEX = 3D products

Comment about wool pads
Like I mentioned previously in this article, fibers are a type of abrasive. For faster cutting for this project I chose a wool pad over a foam cutting pad as the simple fact that individual fibers would be worked against the paint adding to and increasing the cutting power of the abrasives in the 3D ATT Rubbing Compound.
The specific wool pad I chose and recommend in my 3-day Competition Ready car detailing classes and my boat detailing classes as well as my how-to books is the Lake Country 7.5” Electrified Wool Polishing pad. Don’t let the word polishing]/i] fool you this is still a fiber pad and close enough in it’s cut to a wool cutting pad that in my book it’s a non-issue. Regardless of the name of this wool pad, why I choose and recommend this pad is because Lake Country puts the wool fibers through an extra step to send an electrical current through the fibers to burn off the natural barbs on the fibers. The result is a wool pad that cuts fast with less scouring of the paint finish. The practical difference to you and mess is a finish that will require less time and less aggressive pads, products and even tools to clean up or perfect.