Microfiber pads with the Porter Cable....

[Doyle4281]

Hello all, I recently purchased a set of microfiber cutting and finishing pads, and I am interested in hearing from those you have experience with them using the PC. Most of what I have seen has been focused on their use with Meguars products. Thanks guys

Speed settings?

Arm Speed?

Pressure?

Section passes?

Polishes?

 

[Evan.J]

This video is a great review and how to

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhJYFLgIjhE]Meguiars Microfiber DA Correction System - YouTube[/video]

 

[Doyle4281]

Thanks Evan, I watched that video earlier, I just wish they hadn't edited most of the polishing process out of the video. Even though they noted that he used a slow arm speed, from what I saw, it looked like he was actually moving relatively fast. I had also read somewhere that the first 3 passes should be moderate to hard pressure, and the last 3 should be light to moderate. They mentioned speed setting 4 and 3 for the tool they were using, but how does that translate to the PC? I will be working with Menzerna polishes, most of the reviews I have seen have been with the Mequiars system. I know that there will be some trial and error, I just wanted to educate myself, and hear some experiences with Microfiber pads with the PC, and different polishes. It seems there are some technique differences between the microfiber and the foam. Thanks for the response

 

[Evan.J]

Thanks Evan, I watched that video earlier, I just wish they hadn't edited most of the polishing process out of the video. Even though they noted that he used a slow arm speed, from what I saw, it looked like he was actually moving relatively fast. I had also read somewhere that the first 3 passes should be moderate to hard pressure, and the last 3 should be light to moderate. They mentioned speed setting 4 and 3 for the tool they were using, but how does that translate to the PC? I will be working with Menzerna polishes, most of the reviews I have seen have been with the Mequiars system. I know that there will be some trial and error, I just wanted to educate myself, and hear some experiences with Microfiber pads with the PC, and different polishes. It seems there are some technique differences between the microfiber and the foam. Thanks for the response

After you prime the pad and apply there small dots of working product you will want to spread the product over your working area. Speed setting on the PC should be in between 4-5 but no more than 5.

The first three section passes should be be with pressure but make sure to keep the pad spinning. The next three to four section passes should be a little lighter on the pressure.

You should also know that heat will make these pads fail fast so its very important to clean the pads after every section. Cleaning the pads is best done with compressed air. The compressed air gets all the product out of the fibers and fluffs them back up.

It is also import to change you pad after every panel of whenever you feel that heat starts to build up. The pads will fail if there is too much heat transferred to the pad.

As with any pad and product you always want to do a test spot. You will get a haze from that pads and product but its easily removed.

The more pads you have the easier things are when using these pads. I hope I was able to clear up everything for you.

 

[The Guz]

Evan that's some good info. A couple weeks ago I gave the Meg's cutting pads a try with the porter cable. They worked really well. I used a speed of 4.5. My arm speed was about the same as with using foam and moderate pressure. I did about the same amount of passes as with foam.

 

[parttimer]

I find after blowing my pad out it is ice cold. I buff, blow out the pad, set my polisher down and wipe. Then move to the next spot.

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[Doyle4281]

Evan that's some good info. A couple weeks ago I gave the Meg's cutting pads a try with the porter cable. They worked really well. I used a speed of 4.5. My arm speed was about the same as with using foam and moderate pressure. I did about the same amount of passes as with foam.

Good to hear the microfiber worked out for you. It sounds like you used them the same as a foam pad, just slightly less OPM. What compound/polishes were you working with?

 

[The Guz]

Yeah for the most part I used them similar to foam. I was very impressed with the cutting ability of the MF pads. I had two pads that I switched between. The important thing is to prime the pad right. I had acess to a pad conditioning brush and a compressor. The compressor did a better job cleaning the pad. The brush still worked but air was the way to go. As far as compunds and polishes, I went with megs D300 with the cutting pad and a white LC polishing foam pad with M205. The next time I polish I want to try the MF finishing pad.

 

[silverfox]

You can get stellar results finishing down with MF pads on harder paints. The trick is keeping the pad clean and by that I mean really clean..as in cleaning after every section using either compressed air or a master blaster air stream which does an amazing job.

There are so many strands it's important to keep that pad fresh otherwise you can mar the paint especially on soft paint like black.

The other trick is slowing down the speed so that the pad is just barely rotating. Keeping the pad clean coupled with slow rotation really works when finishing down with MF pads and the PC DA polisher works wonderfully for this because you don't want lots of power or rotation speed when finishing down with MF pads.

Thus the popularity of finishing down with foam pads because you can use just about any polisher and speed and cleaning the pad less.

 

[Doyle4281]

Hello guys, I gave my Buff and Shine microfiber pads a go today with the Porter Cable on my Black BMW. It was a brief trial, and I can't say it was a success, but I will work at it until I get it right. Right out of the gate, I had a tough time figuring out if the pad was primed because the microfiber is black, and you cant see the polish on the pad. I applied a generous amount of polish on the pad , put the pad on the body panel, and gave it some rotation, as they did in the Meguairs video. After that, I applied 3 pee size drops on the pad, as they advised in the video as well. I used speed setting 4.5 and I noticed right away that the machine was bogged down quite a bit, and moderate pressure would nearly stop rotation. I was using Menzerna FG400 and the Buff and Shine cutting pad. To avoid causing more defects that I started with, I figured I would get on here and see what you guys think I am doing wrong, or is this really how they are supposed to work. I was told that these pads like a good amount of pressure, and less speed than a foam pad, however, even with moderate pressure on speed 4.5 the pad nearly stops rotating. Thanks guys

 

[Vegas Transplant]

Hello all, I recently purchased a set of microfiber cutting and finishing pads, and I am interested in hearing from those you have experience with them using the PC. Most of what I have seen has been focused on their use with Meguars products. Thanks guys

Speed settings?
6. My PC doesn't differentiate between 5.5 and 6...and I only use OMF finishing pads for cutting. I use between 6-8 5.25" MF pads on sedan sized vehicles rather than clean after each section pass. I never leave home w/o a dozen or so MF, and the same in foam.

Arm Speed?
Same as foam.

Pressure?
Same as foam.

Section passes?
Determined by test spot.
Polishes?
Also determined by test spot.

 

[techaview]

Hello guys, I gave my Buff and Shine microfiber pads a go today with the Porter Cable on my Black BMW. It was a brief trial, and I can't say it was a success, but I will work at it until I get it right. Right out of the gate, I had a tough time figuring out if the pad was primed because the microfiber is black, and you cant see the polish on the pad. I applied a generous amount of polish on the pad , put the pad on the body panel, and gave it some rotation, as they did in the Meguairs video. After that, I applied 3 pee size drops on the pad, as they advised in the video as well. I used speed setting 4.5 and I noticed right away that the machine was bogged down quite a bit, and moderate pressure would nearly stop rotation. I was using Menzerna FG400 and the Buff and Shine cutting pad. To avoid causing more defects that I started with, I figured I would get on here and see what you guys think I am doing wrong, or is this really how they are supposed to work. I was told that these pads like a good amount of pressure, and less speed than a foam pad, however, even with moderate pressure on speed 4.5 the pad nearly stops rotating. Thanks guys

Hi I am using the same mf cutting pad and compound as u used. I used them on my a4 at speed 4.5 and 4 section pass with moderate pressure and last 2 section pass with light pressure. As my paint is harder I used fg400 as my single stage polish as they did not caused any marring.... Maybe I will try sf4000 to get a higher gloss.

Anyway back to ur bogged down of pad, u need to ensure that the pad is level on the panel else the pad will be bogged down or stop spinning altogether. I will normally use one hand on the PC head assembly and the other hand to slightly lift the tail end of the PC to ensure the angle is correct to bring the pad to level against the panel. Try it, it will rotate slowly even under moderate pressure unless you are a big guy with big muscle!


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[WRAPT C5Z06]

You can get stellar results finishing down with MF pads on harder paints. The trick is keeping the pad clean and by that I mean really clean..as in cleaning after every section using either compressed air or a master blaster air stream which does an amazing job.

:iagree:

Keeping the pads clean is VERY important!! Clean the pad after every section. Compressed air is the best, but a pad conditioning brush works well, too.

With the Porter Cable being a bit under-powered, I'd use speed 5 with the cutting pads. Speeds 3-4 with the finishing pads. Use firm pressure with the cutting pads. Do not let us on the last few passes. You can use little pressure with the finishing pads. Stick to using SMAT polishes(M101, M100, M105, D300, Ultimate Compound, HD Cut, HD Polish, D301) with MF pads.

 

[Doyle4281]

Thanks fellas, I am going to give it another shot when I have some better lighting the garage. I probably should have chosen to do my test spot on a fender, as the hood would have been an easier start. Great information though. It sounds like firm pressure and slightly less rotational speed is the way to go with the microfiber. Cleaning and extra pads seem like a must as well, so I have that covered. Ill give it another tomorrow.

 

[techaview]

Thanks fellas, I am going to give it another shot when I have some better lighting the garage. I probably should have chosen to do my test spot on a fender, as the hood would have been an easier start. Great information though. It sounds like firm pressure and slightly less rotational speed is the way to go with the microfiber. Cleaning and extra pads seem like a must as well, so I have that covered. Ill give it another tomorrow.

I have no access to air compressor but i made it a point to use nylon brush to clean the mf pad after every section.