appreciate all the replies, going to order the Griots Grarage one.
Regarding the backing plates and pads, it lists that the polisher comes with a 6" backing plate, but ski2's reply mentions equipped
with a 5" backing plate? Is this a typo or is it a recommendation to purchase a 5" backing plate to use instead of the 6" that it comes with?
Looking at the lake country flat foam pads, is it recommended to purchase all 6 of the different color pads that they offer?
Are there any other brands / kinds of pads that I should pick up as well?
Up until now I have been using the meguiars DA power system that attaches to a drill with the different pads offered by meguiars, so im not very familiar with the different pads offered by lake country.
Thanks again appreciate it.
I'll try not to write too much since there's a lot (also from me as well) on that in this forum.
Those DA (PC, GG and Meg's, etc) are what we call free-spindle DAs. That means it oscillates, and in consequence of that, the backing plate will spin.
If you want it to work effectively to correct defects on paint, you need the pad spinning all the time.
For that, it's great to mark the back of your backing plate so you can always see if it's spinning or only jiggling.
Being those DAs free spindle, if you use too larger (and thick) pad, it'll absorb much of machine movement and pad will barely spin.
Also, to correct defects, you'll need to add some pressure in order to make the abrasives work on the paint. Adding pressure to a thick and large pad will bog down machine easily, and that will largely reduce the effectiveness of your process.
To solve that, using a smaller backing plate and pads will make the polisher spin the pad in a more effective manner, so you'll achieve better results with it.
This is more 'true' for cutting pads, reasonably true for polishing pads, and not so true for finishing pads.
Cutting pads are (generally) coarser, so they will absorb even more machine movement. Larger size and thickness will also difficult pad spinning. In correction step, pad spinning is crucial.
Polishing pads are somewhat softer (generally), and will absorb less movement, however you need the pad spinning as well.
Finishing pads are generally softer, so they will spin easily absorbing even less machine movement.
That means you can use a 6.5" finishing pad for finishing step or even applying wax without any noticeable loss. When applying a thin coat of wax, pad spinning may be desirable but is less of an issue than when you're correcting paint.
Not that you can't use 6.5" cutting pads and correct with a GG or PC or Megs DA (I've done that many times), but you'll have to be veeery patient if you are looking for huge correction, specially on harder paints.
To apply AIO polishes, you can use a 6.5" polishing pad and yet achieve great results.
So, it's a matter of you know what you will do, and how you'll do it. Then you choose the right pads and plates to get the job done.
We always have the microfiber discs options to use with DAs, and that may also increase correction power. Many times, MF cutting will not finish down very well, needing some improvement. That may be achieved with a second step using a foam polishing or even finishing pad.
Hope that helps.
