Question about MF pads???

runrun411

runrun411

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I want to get MF pads to cut. But:

Which pads are best Megs or optimum or LC?
Should I get 5 or 6 inch?
Can I use m105 or m101 with them?
How many do I need for an SUV? (careful, this is my wallet we're talking about).
Can I wash them in the washer?
How often do I need to clean them while using them?
 
I've only used the Megs ones so far.

5in pads will probably be best on the Megs and gg DAs.

I would say 4 for an SUV and change them every few panels to make sure they don't get too hot. Cleaning them should be done after every panel to make sure pads are clean and the fibers are fluffed up. You can use them with any compound, experiment with works best on your paint. And yes you can put them in the washer, actually have some in mine as I type this. Hope that helped.
 
I bought a 2 pack of each 5in and after each panel I would blow out good with compressed air set in the sun and after the next one I'd blow the first one out again and keep rotating like that. Did a large truck like that just fine.
Then tgat night put them in the washer.

Sent from my SCH-L710 using AG Online
 
runrun411 said:
I want to get MF pads to cut. But:

Which pads are best Megs or optimum or LC? - I like the Megs ones, very durable. I have had the LC foam rip when pulling it off the BP.
Should I get 5 or 6 inch? - Depends, I would say 5 because I like smaller pads, but the 6'' work great too!
Can I use m105 or m101 with them? Of course!
How many do I need for an SUV? (careful, this is my wallet we're talking about). 2-3
Can I wash them in the washer? Compressed air works best!
How often do I need to clean them while using them?Every 2-3 sections keeps them optimal
Click to expand...

:dblthumb2:
 
runrun411 said:
I want to get MF pads to cut. But:

Which pads are best Megs or optimum or LC?
Should I get 5 or 6 inch?
Can I use m105 or m101 with them?
How many do I need for an SUV? (careful, this is my wallet we're talking about).
Can I wash them in the washer?
How often do I need to clean them while using them?
Click to expand...

Megs
5"
Yes to both (101 still works a LOT better)
I'd say if you keep it COOL and clean you may just be able to do it with only TWO. I'd still have 4 though.
Washer? Dunno, I do mine by hand, (have seen some talk about a dryer though)
Clean then after EVERY SECTION PASS!!!
Do NOT think you can do an entire hood without cleaning a MF pad!!!
You clean MF with compressed air, once from the outside in, inside out. Then hit it in reverse.
Trying to do the 'clean on the fly' with a terry towel like with foam pads doesn't work. I found you'll use a LOT of air keeping the boogers clean. OTOH, if you DO keep it clean (after each section pass) you can do half the hood easily before it starts to heat up. Swap to the next pad and let the first one cool. Finish the hood with the 2nd pad. This way it's possible to do the entire vehicle with 2 pads. (Which for ME is something amazing as I'll have no problems using half a dozen foam pads on a SUV.) ;)

Keep in mind with MF the biggest enemy you have is heat. (all MF pads are picky about the backing plate) The pad itself builds heat on the Velcro side BECAUSE of the torque being applied on the paint side. Meguiar's engineers have stated that they want you to use their backing plate, they claim it grips the pad better thus causing less heat buildup. I have a LC backing plate and a couple of Meg's plates. The Meg's plates do seem to grip their pads better. ;)
 
runrun411 said:
I want to get MF pads to cut. But:

Which pads are best Megs or optimum or LC?
Should I get 5 or 6 inch?
Can I use m105 or m101 with them?
How many do I need for an SUV? (careful, this is my wallet we're talking about).
Can I wash them in the washer?
How often do I need to clean them while using them?
Click to expand...

Hope this helps:

1) I like my Optimum ones, but haven't tried the others

2) Personally would go with 5.5 inch

3) Yup

4) 3-4

5) Yes

6) After every section pass
 
I have all three MFs and here is my observation.

For Meg, GG, and PC = Meg MF
For Flex = Optimum MF
 
primo spaghetti said:
im looking forward to my Buff and shine MF's coming in!!!
Click to expand...

Me too. I had to buy them because my megs mf pads were delaminating and I have had similar problems with other mf pads (lc was the worst). Plus I've been using them quite a bit the past six weeks and I clean them with a brush instead of a compressor.

If I had a compressor, I probably could've stretched them out a bit longer. I've heard that the bns mf pads are the best so I hope so. Maybe I should pick up a portable compressor that I can take with me when I'm helping friends.

I hope they come in today as the california festival of speed is this weekend and I am going to help out 3 elderly members in my local pca chapter getting their cars ready on wednesday and thursday.
 
You guys are giving me great feedback. Which also leads me to ask...

Based on your answers it seems that using MF pads will take even longer because you need to clean them more frequently. Is it still worth it by ratio of time with MF vs. time with foam?

Also, what if you don't have compressed air? Or do I need to get an small compressor (uh-boy, more $$$).
 
Google Kevin brown method.. You will never be the same..
 
I heard that there's new megs mf pads that have much stronger glue. I probably threw the ones I had in the washer along with mf towels 1 time too many. If I had a compressor, I could've kept them much cleaner without having to throw them in the washer. Brush cleaning just doesn't clean as well as air imho.
 
vegas911gts said:
Me too. I had to buy them because my megs mf pads were delaminating and I have had similar problems with other mf pads (lc was the worst). Plus I've been using them quite a bit the past six weeks and I clean them with a brush instead of a compressor.

If I had a compressor, I probably could've stretched them out a bit longer. I've heard that the bns mf pads are the best so I hope so. Maybe I should pick up a portable compressor that I can take with me when I'm helping friends.

I hope they come in today as the california festival of speed is this weekend and I am going to help out 3 elderly members in my local pca chapter getting their cars ready on wednesday and thursday.
Click to expand...

If you call Megs they'll send you new pads
 
How do the MF pads compare to wool pads on a DA, specifically a Flex 3401?
 
The Key to mf pads........keep them cool!.......Megs are the way to go for a traditional da IMHO.

Forced rotation ( ie flex) Opitimun would be my choice.

Have not dialed in the LC pads yet.....so the jury is still out on them, but I would not rule them out yet.

Any mf pad NEEDS compressed air to clean on the fly,which will help in keeping them cool.

once you get the procedure dialed in using compressed air, its second nature and really does not take much time at all, just a few seconds.

Foam and wool still have their place in my arsenal but I allways reach for mf first.
 
runrun411 said:
...

Based on your answers it seems that using MF pads will take even longer because you need to clean them more frequently. Is it still worth it by ratio of time with MF vs. time with foam?

Also, what if you don't have compressed air? Or do I need to get an small compressor (uh-boy, more $$$).
Click to expand...

IMHO the MF pads make the job much faster. Yes, with foam you can work longer without cleaning, AND you can just work till the pad is full, throw it in the cleaner bucket and grab another one. BUT... you have to clean on the fly at the very least, which takes longer than blowing out a MF pad does.

I find I use less compound however when using a MF pad. And what you do use seems to work better. They do NOT like being wet with material.

Don't need a big compressor, but there is NO WAY I'd do MF pads without one. One of the little pancake types will work, although it'll run and refill with every pad cleaning. Mine is a little bigger than the small pancake ones, (dual tanks - stacked) and it runs down with every pad cleaning. It does keep up though and has no problem doing the job.

Can you do the same (level of) correction with foam as MF?
I'd say so. (but it'll take yellow pads, and I've got a TON of them!) :)
Can you do it in the same amount of time?
I'd say NOT! (Might take twice as long) ;)

Clean is a relative thing with MF pads vs. foam. It's possible to blow them out good and just put them back in your bag. Next time you need it, slap it on and hit it with some fresh air and you're good to go. As long as they don't have crud in them they'll perform. Try storing a foam pad with ANY compound in it and it's useless next time you start.

That being said, I always wash mine at the end of the day. Foam however I'll wash DURING the day to keep material from drying in the pad(s).

JMHO of course. ;)
 
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