MF pads on the Flex 3401?

[psnt1ol]

What is the difference between these two? I am building my cart for my future Flex Purchase, so some help would be great.

Thanks

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The 2 products are very similar. There might be some slight differences in the density of foam. I went with the purple wool foam because they are available in various sizes.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

What is the difference between these two? I am building my cart for my future Flex Purchase, so some help would be great.

Thanks

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Here's something I wrote on the topic of what's the difference betwwen the purple and blue foamed wool pads.


Lake Country’s Foamed Wool Pads combine the polishing ability of foam with the cutting ability of a wool pad. The wool fibers help to cut or abrade the paint to remove defects fast while polyfoam particles encapsulate the base of the fibers providing a dense backing to support the outer portion of the wool fibers.

These pads are not as aggressive as a traditional wool cutting pad but are more aggressive than foam cutting pads. They are also able to withstand dramatically more punishment than foam by itself. Foamed wool pads last a long time and like wool pads are pretty much indestructible. They also leave a nicer looking finish that can easily be maximized by following with a foam polishing pad and suitable polish.

Foamed Wool Pads work great on the Flex 3401 for restoring neglected paint where you want to remove below surface defects quickly so you can move on to the polishing step using only foam for a show car finish. Generally speaking, any type of fiber pad has the potential to instill its own fiber scratches into paint thus providing abrading power.

This is normal but it’s also why it’s a good idea to always plan on following any step that uses a fiber pad with a foam pad. Because foam pads offer a consistent, uniform surface they tend not to leave behind any fiber induced swirls and in fact are the normal pad option to remove fiber induced swirls. Historically, quality paint polishing means cutting with wool pads and then finishing with foam pads.

What’s the difference?

Many people wonder just what the difference between the blue and the purple foamed wool pad.


Here’s Lake Country’s official answer:


Question: What’s the primary difference between the purple foamed wool pad and the hybrid blue foamed wool pad?

Answer: More dense and more nanofoam particles than the purple foamed wool pad.

The blue hybrid pad was just recently introduced using a new manufacturing process used with the foam hybrid pads. The purple foamed wool pad was our original entry into this category and it has a strong and loyal use base that trusts and uses this original version.



Here’s what Lake Country says about their foamed wool pads in general:

What is Foamed Wool?

Patented nanofoam process encapsulates the base of the lambswool fibers with microscopic polyfoam particles.


Benefits:
Performance - Cuts like natural sheepskin but finishes like a foam pad. Aggressively removes P1500 grit scratches, leaving a lustrous finish with no hazing by reducing compounding swirls.

Dense Body - Foamed fibers resist caking and matting. Foaming process also creates minute air pockets at the base of the fibers, which improves cushioning and retention of compounds and polishes.

Consistent Quality - Manufacturing process produces a uniform material, resulting in consistent pad performance ... unlike performance reducing variances that can occur with natural sheepskin pads.

Minimal Linting - Foaming process locks in the lambswool fibers, significantly reducing linting.

Appearance - Distinctive color for easy identification.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

As for using Microfiber Pads on gear-driven, forced rotation tools like the Flex 3401, the thicker pads work better because they glide over the surface better.

Thin micorifiber pads are grabby, that is when buffing it will feel like the polisher is grabbing the surfce and yanking your around.


I PURPOSEFULLY had two experienced detailers test out both thin and thick LC MF Pads when we did the extreme makeo er to a 2012 Dodge Challenger and then asked them to post thier experience for all to read.

There's so much information in the Thursday night project write-ups, a person just has to know where to look... here you go...


2012 Dodge Challenger + Menzerna Color Lock Makeover




Test Spot
Next up we did some testing and I had Robert and Paul compare the Lake Country Ultra Microfiber Pads on identical tools, the Flex 3401.

The difference was that one polisher had the THICK LC Ultra Microfiber Pad and the other polisher had the THIN Ultra Microfiber Pad.

If you want to know which one works best I'll let you post the question and I'll let Robert and Paul tell you their opinioins...

After some testing we buffed out the car using Menzerna SI 1500 with Lake Country Ultra Microfiber Pads on both the Flex 3401 and the Griot's DA Polisher and then followed that using Lake Country 5.5" white foam polishing pads with Menzerna SF 4000 and then sealed the paint using Menzerna Color Lock machine applied using Lake Country 5.5" Blue Finishing Pads on Griot's DA Polishers.


Here's Robert testing out the thick LC Ultra MF Pads and Paul testing out the thin LC Ultra MF Pads

Robert is very good behind any polisher and always focuses on using good technique...

Look at the THICK foam core for this MF Pad...

Below is the thin MF pad as the foam core is much thinner than the thicker version...

NOTE: The linting is normal when breaking in a new LC Ultra Microfiber Pad

Then I had both guys switch keeping all other variables the same except the thickness and thinness of the foam backing of the pads.

Robert with the thin pad...

Paul with the thick pad...

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

And here's what Robert and Paul had to say...

The thicker pad seemed to glide right over the paint and even with the forced rotation of the Flex 3401 it was a pleasure to use!

Thumbs up to LC for coming up with that one

Thanks Mike, I found that the thick pad from LC was much easier to work with while using the forced rotation of the Flex 3401.

The LC pad was not grabby and contoured nicely with the body lines on the hood, front valance, plastic hood nose and wheel area.

Conversely the thin pad though nice was very grabby with any contour change in the body panel.


So if safe is the game I would opt for the thick pads, since I saw no real difference in the thick (LC) pads and the thin pads ability to cut into the clear coat.

And of course... the car came out beautiful...

 

[KS_Detailing]

can you only use the thick LC MF pads on a rotary or do they work on a DA also? The site says that the thin ones are for a DA and thick for a rotary.

 

[theparmachine]

MF on the flex is a nightmare.