Pad size

[Bkins]

I just got a 7424XP and with it being my first polisher/sander I have quite a few questions.

I need to buy pads for this 7424xp. Some of the articles say to go with a smaller pad, as in 5.5" opposed to 6.5" or larger. Does the 7424 xp not have enough power to use the larger pads like the 6.5"? Are the references for the smaller pads in reguards to the 7424. To me the larger pads means getting done quicker. I have a small car, a large truck, and a large fiberglas sided trailer that I wish to work on. The trailer in particular needs a fair amount of work to get the oxidation off of it and then waxed.

Is it still reccommended to get the 5.5" pads even with the 7424XP?

Another question is with dealing with the backing pads. Is smaller better here also. If I get 6.5" pads then I would get a 5" backing pad and if I get the 5.5" pads can I use the 5" backing pad or should I go down to the 4" size?

Any info is appreciated.

 

[A-train]

Congrats on your new purchase! I would personally recommend 5.5 inch pads. When I had a PC I thought those worked better than the 6.5. If you go with the 5.5 inch get a 5 inch backing plate and a 6 inch backing plate for 6.5 inch pads.


Sent from my iPhone 4S using Tapatalk

 

[DiPaoro]

I have the original PC and started with the 6.5 pads. However, I am finding the 4 inch pads to work the best for my needs. Especially on bumpers. Over the weekend, I worked on my hood and only used the 4 inch guys. I have every color and do like the yellow for deep scratches.

 

[dad07]

Using the pc I would use 5.5 pads with a 5" backing plate. The pc can handle the larger pads but it takes a bit getting use to.

Sometimes bigger is not always better.

 

[Johny B]

Congrats on your new purchase! I would personally recommend 5.5 inch pads. When I had a PC I thought those worked better than the 6.5. If you go with the 5.5 inch get a 5 inch backing plate and a 6 inch backing plate for 6.5 inch pads.


Sent from my iPhone 4S using Tapatalk

I agree. But 6.5" pads are not recommend with the PC.

 

[Bkins]

Thank you for the quick reply's. I would very much like to hear from others although it seems there will be a common answer here and that is to go smaller rather then larger. Is this because the polishers slow down that much?

 

[Johny B]

Thank you for the quick reply's. I would very much like to hear from others although it seems there will be a common answer here and that is to go smaller rather then larger. Is this because the polishers slow down that much?

I would consider the purchase of a Griot's polisher instead of the PC. The PC is underpowered.

 

[umi000]

People generally recommend 5.5" pads for the PCXP and its fellow DA cousins because the smaller size is easier for the machine to spin - and rotation ensures better correction. You can use 6.5" pads with the PCXP, but it does require a bit of experience and technique to ensure that you're able to keep the pad rotating.

For backing plates, you generally want to get the biggest plate you can get, without exceeding the size of the pad. You want as much support for the pad as possible, so you maximize the pad's working surface; the reason why backing plates smaller than the pad are recommended is to ensure that your plate does not hit the car while polishing because it overhangs the pad.

 

[atoy]

I have the original PC and started with the 6.5 pads. However, I am finding the 4 inch pads to work the best for my needs. Especially on bumpers. Over the weekend, I worked on my hood and only used the 4 inch guys. I have every color and do like the yellow for deep scratches.

I agree.:xyxthumbs:

 

[primo spaghetti]

i used 5.5 and 4 inch without any issues...

i tried the 6.5 and they worked ok, but found i preferred the 5.5 when i got them...

 

[Bkins]

Thanks for the input. I already have the PC. I will start off with the 5.5" pads and 5" backing plate.