LC CCS 5.5 or 6.5 pads?

Kris R

Kris R

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Can anyone tell me their experiences with using LC CCS SMART PADS size 5.5 vs 6.5?

I know the 5s are thinner but what is the benifit of that? Does it get scratches out better? less pressure required? Any help would be great. Is one faster?

Also a side question: If I were to take a stab at wet sanding, would I be able to bring back a scratch free gloss with say XMT products and CCS pads?

thanks guys...

Kris
 
Yeah I'm curious, too. What about the 4" pads? Can you still work on a 2x2 area at each time? Do the smaller pads gum up faster, and maybe take longer to get each 2x2 area done?
 
Just spur after each section. Wouldn't hurt to change pads after a few panels.
 
I'm sorry... I'm using an ultimate detailing machine.
 
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Getting 4" pads with a UDM will help getting out sanding marks. I don't think the XMT line has enough bite to get out sanding marks without great effort. Get the Menz polishes, you will need a 2 step process.
 
I prefer the smaller pads, as I find the larger ones a bit tougher to work with
 
Rsurfer said:
Getting 4" pads with a UDM will help getting out sanding marks. I don't think the XMT line has enough bite to get out sanding marks without great effort. Get the Menz polishes, you will need a 2 step process.
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even with the number 4? which is rated as a true compound??
 
Go ahead and try it since you have it. I tired the xmt line up and think Menz is better and easier.
 
yeah try it, but also take a look at optimum compound, maybe even the hyper. i never tried hyper but people i trust have said it leaves a similar finish as their compound but requires less work.

5.5 will give you a little more movement and a little more control in your area vs. the bigger pads. lower pro pads seem to waste less product and they tend to not disintegrate as easily, esp in the middle which can be a problem with a tall pad IMO.

smaller 4" pads will yield even more heat, err...movement, so they are nicer for correction. if i were you, i'd get the small backing plate, and trim it accordingly to fit the smaller than appropriate velcro back on the LC low pro 4" pads. it's like 3.5" or maybe even less, you'll see- the velcro doesn't go to the edge of the pad, not even close. even tho the spot buffs have complete velcro backing, so you would not have to trim the backing plate, the spot buffs are not suitable for use longer than just what they say, a spot. they can get hot and disintegrate in the middle if you use them for extended periods. yes, you will hack up your backing plate a bit to assure that it wont dig into the foam on the LC low pro 4", but it will be well worth it if you trim it properly as i like those pads way better than the spot buffs.
 
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I used the 4" CCS Orange Cutting Pads (the flat ones, not the Spot Buffs) on my trunk lid yesterday and I found they were not as good at correcting as the 5.5" pads but they stayed surprisingly cool to the touch!!

I read on another site that because the 5.5" pads are so much thinner, they are a bit harder and can possibly do better correction-work but I would imagine the thinner pads would clog up with polish much sooner than the thicker 6.5" pads.
 
Emile said:
I used the 4" CCS Orange Cutting Pads (the flat ones, not the Spot Buffs) on my trunk lid yesterday and I found they were not as good at correcting as the 5.5" pads but they stayed surprisingly cool to the touch!!

I read on another site that because the 5.5" pads are so much thinner, they are a bit harder and can possibly do better correction-work but I would imagine the thinner pads would clog up with polish much sooner than the thicker 6.5" pads.
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i'm very surprised you found the small pad to be less effective than the larger pad. that goes against physics, but, hey- whatever works for you! also, i find the smaller pads heat up easier, which i don't mind, esp with my yellow spot buffs. that thing makes taking a major defect out a breeze!

i read about people clogging pads...i've never had this happen with any of the optimum products and i use all low pro pads sans my yellow spot buff pads.
 
Emile said:
I used the 4" CCS Orange Cutting Pads (the flat ones, not the Spot Buffs) on my trunk lid yesterday and I found they were not as good at correcting as the 5.5" pads but they stayed surprisingly cool to the touch!!

I read on another site that because the 5.5" pads are so much thinner, they are a bit harder and can possibly do better correction-work but I would imagine the thinner pads would clog up with polish much sooner than the thicker 6.5" pads.
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Wow the 5.5" pads corrected better than the 4" pads. Just the opposite for me.
 
The 4" ones are the flat pads whereas the 5.5" ones are the Smart Pads.

I just used the 4" Orange Spot Buffs Pad tonight to do my mirrors and they corrected very nicely and very quickly, but they heated up very quickly also. The 4" flat pads were not so good at correcting my trunk lid but they didn't heat up at all, in comparison to the 4" Spot Buffs and 5.5" CCS Smart Pads.
 
Emile said:
The 4" ones are the flat pads whereas the 5.5" ones are the Smart Pads.

I just used the 4" Orange Spot Buffs Pad tonight to do my mirrors and they corrected very nicely and very quickly, but they heated up very quickly also. The 4" flat pads were not so good at correcting my trunk lid but they didn't heat up at all, in comparison to the 4" Spot Buffs and 5.5" CCS Smart Pads.
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spot buffs will def heat up and that only will help you if managed properly. just don't get them too hot or they will disintegrate in the middle (don't mean to sound like a broken record!). i love my yellow spot buffs, they are so awesome for hardcore spot correction.

i still am suprised about the 4" low pros...i find mine will get warm easier than even the larger CCS pads, which means IMO they will be offering more mechanical correction. i like the low pro pads because they are inbetween a spot buff and large pad. you can get into smaller areas, offer more correction capability, and use them constantly without destroying them nearly as easily as a spot buff. like i've said though, the only bummer is the little low pro LC pads need to be used with a trimmed-down small backing plate or else good night pad!
 
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