LC HT Pads for Rotary or DA?

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nubaseal

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I noticed that Lake Country offers separate Hydro Tech pads for Rotary and DA in the UK. But I can't figure out if the ones available in the US are for rotary or DA.

This is all I could find in the US and they just that these are "low Profile" but does not mention whether these are for rotary or DA 5 1/2" Low Profile Hydrotech Cyan Heavy Polishing Pad - www.CarPro-US.com

In UK, they offer separate range for both machines
LC HT Rotary Cutting Pad Lake Country Mfg Hyrdo Tech Rotary Cyan Advanced Cutting Foam Pad

LC HT DA Cutting Pad Lake Country Mfg Hyrdo Tech DA Cyan Advanced Cutting Foam Pad

Is it possible that the LC HT Rotary pads have not made it to the US yet? If not, what are my other options for a rotary as I already have CG Hex and Scholl Concepts pads. Are Buff & Shine in the same league as LC HT pads?
 
Makes sense, I think they were called hydro shred(mostly Cyan) because the ones we get are maybe for DA and NOT ROTARY. Just my opinion.
 
Hydro-tech pads can be used with both a rotary and a DA. The links you provided are just how they sell the product.

They have a DA pad listed in a 1.25" thickness and a rotary as a 7/8" thickness

Personally I would prefer the low-profile or 7/8" thick pad on the DA like how AG sells them but its all user preference.
 
Thanks David. I know we discussed this a while back but just wanted to confirm what should be the preference on a rotary - 7/8" or 1.25" ?
 
David@LakeCountry said:
Personally I would prefer the low-profile or 7/8" thick pad on the DA like how AG sells them but its all user preference.
Click to expand...


Actually, I think it's user confusion... THIN pads rotate better on the Porter Cable type polishers better than THICK pads.

This is a fact.

I think the guys in the UK use the DAS line of dual action polishers which I think are the same type Griot's sells?

This means they have a lot of power so they have the ability to rotate thicker and larger diameter pads but while they can do this they'll still rotate thinner pads better.

Correction from a dual action polisher comes from the rotation of the pad. The oscillation helps too but it's the feature that prevents holograms.

I have my own section on Detailing World.co.uk and I was asked about this just this week and I have to tell you the question surprised me as I thought it was pretty much common knowledge by the year 2014 that thinner pads work better on Porter Cable DA Polishers and all the knock-offs of the Porter Cable type polishers?


Here's the thread where the discussion came up on DetailingWorld.co.uk. It's my article on the Rupes aggressive blue foam cutting pads.


Mind Blowing - Rupes Blue Foam Cutting Pad and Zephir Gloss Coarse Gel Compound


See the question by Flakey in post #12 and my reply in post #13


Part of reason larger and thicker pads don't perform or rotate as well on the Porter Cable type dual action polishers has to do with the total surface area of the pad but also the thickness for two reasons.

1. Thick foam absorbs the power or energy coming out of these types of tools and dissipates it. This shows up as a lack of pad rotation.

2. Thick foam absorbs and holds more liquid than a thinner pad and a saturated wet soppy foam pad will not rotate very well.
​
So while a clean, dry large, thick foam pad will rotate well as you work around a car and pad saturation takes place pad rotation will fall off and it will take the user longer to get the same work accomplished.

I cover all this in my how-to book.

Proof that thin pads are the way to do is to look at the 1/8" THIN Meguiar's Xtra Cut Microfiber pads. Jason Rose and team do their homework before launching products and the Meguiar's DA Microfiber Correction System is designed to take the place of the rotary buffer in the PRODUCTION detailing industry and the only way to MAXIMIZE cutting ability of a dual action polishers is to ensure maximum pad rotation and oscillation and this is accomplished best with a thinner pad, not a thicker pad.

:)
 
Thicker pads and thicker, flexible backing plates work best for rotary application.

I learned about the thicker, flexible backing plates from Claude Sevigny (due credit where credit is due), and this is the guy that invented the Meguiar's microfiber pad and has probably forgotten more about polishing paint then the rest of us will ever know.



:xyxthumbs:
 
Thanks Mike. I was indeed talking about LCHT pads on a rotary as I don't have a DA.
 
Absolutely on my mind and trying to decide between the Meg's DA, PC, GG and the Flex 3401 at the moment. Can't figure out what's best for somebody like me who does maybe 10 cars a year. Just a hobby, nor a pro.
 
Thanks for the explanation Mike! I may have misunderstood the direction of the OP. I definitely agree with using a thicker pad on Rotary polishers, and thinner on DA's. I apologize for my confusion and lack of response, since I have been out of town.


David@LakeCountry said:
Hydro-tech pads can be used with both a rotary and a DA. The links you provided are just how they sell the product.

They have a DA pad listed in a 1.25" thickness and a rotary as a 7/8" thickness

Personally I would prefer the low-profile or 7/8" thick pad on the DA like how AG sells them but its all user preference.
Click to expand...
 
David@LakeCountry said:
Thanks for the explanation Mike! I may have misunderstood the direction of the OP. I definitely agree with using a thicker pad on Rotary polishers, and thinner on DA's. I apologize for my confusion and lack of response, since I have been out of town.
Click to expand...


Thanks David. I will try the thicker pads on my rotary next.
 
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