Just to chime in...
The only time you need a pad rotating is if you're doing correction work, that's when paint is remove best and the way you remove or "correct" the swirls, scratches and water spots out of paint is by removing a little bit of it to level or flatten out the surface.
If you're using a
CLEANER/WAX and the purpose of using the cleaner/wax is to
correct the paint while leaving it sealed in one step, then
first you would want to use a cleaner/wax with abrading ability and
second you would want to use the 5.0 to 6.0 speed setting because for this type of procedure you want to use the cleaner/wax to remove a little paint, so you want the pad rotating.
If you're not correcting paint then just about every other process can be done at the 5.0 speed setting or lower. At this point is more about
personal preference than who's right and who's wrong. Of course paying attention to manufactures recommendations goes without saying, but from the point of view of what's taking place at the surface level, then find a speed setting from 5.0 or lower and you're good to go.
I like to apply my LSP's, whatever they may be, at the 4.0 to 5.0 speed setting depending upon pad size.
I like to apply non-abrasive polishes at the 4.0 to 5.0 speed setting.
I like to apply light cleaner/polishes or swirl mark removers at the 5.0 to 6.0 speed setting, just depends if I"m trying to
remove defects or
spread a product out, these are the two basic things a DA Polisher will do.
I rarely use anything below the 3.0 speed setting
not because of pad rotation issues specifically but because I feel/think/know the pad
moves-over-the-paint better and easier at a higher setting than a lower setting. At the low setting it always feels like the pad is lagging behind as I'm trying to move the polisher forward, I like the pad to keep up with me...
Test for yourself some day, put on a finishing or polishing pad and use either a non cleaning wax or paint sealant or non-abrasive polish and run your polisher over a horizontal surface at low speed and at higher speeds and see which speed settings the polisher seemingly seems to move over the paint easier. Make up your own mind.
