Wrong pads causing excess heat?

jcedorjr

jcedorjr

New member
Joined
Mar 15, 2012
Messages
82
Reaction score
0
About a month or so ago I picked up the bogo 5.5 inch Hydrotech pads that were on sale knowing I was going to get a 7424XP. I got the machine and put it to use this weekend for it's trial run on two hood's. On one hood I used the four inch CCS white pad with Black Fire polish and it came out great and the machine was awesome. On the second hood, I used the Hydrotech pads and used the Cyan pad with the polish (later realizing I should have used the Tangerine for polish) and the machine itself got extremely hot. Should I be concerned?

From reading more after purchasing the pads I learned that maybe the 7/8" pads would be a better option for this machine, is this true? I don't want to use these thicker pads on an entire car if I'm risking damage to the machine or a car by generating so much heat. That would be a bummer since I have five unused pads, but I'd rather fix it before it's a problem and pick up the new pads before tackling an entire car.
 
Also, I was using a speed setting of six and pad conditioner on the pads prior to applying the polish to the pad and would also spread the polish throughout the small section I was working on. The second hood where the machine got hot ended up coming out really nice so the machine definitely did some great work, it is just the heat that concerns me. I can't imagine it's supposed to get that hot.
 
I can't remember a time when a Porter Cable got so hot I couldn't hold it or it was a concern.

Is it hot where you're working?

The plastic body insulates your hands from the heat that builds-up normally with any tool. Are you saying the body of the tool is getting hot?

Here's Tyler holding the PC correctly.

1965Plymouth035.jpg






:confused:
 
Thanks for the reply Mike. I was holding the machine similarly, just with my hand rounded over the nose of the machine. I watched a bunch of your videos (which were extremely helpful, thank you!) so held the machine on top rather than installing handle and throwing off the pressure distribution. I'm wondering if I was using too much pressure and/or not enough product and that was causing too much friction. It was my first time ever using a machine so I have a lot of learning to do hence my question about the heat.
 
And yes, the body of the machine was getting hot. Sorry, missed that in my initial reply.
 
jcedorjr said:
I'm wondering if I was using too much pressure and/or not enough product and that was causing too much friction. It was my first time ever using a machine so I have a lot of learning to do hence my question about the heat.
Click to expand...

jcedorjr said:
And yes, the body of the machine was getting hot. Sorry, missed that in my initial reply.
Click to expand...

There's some difference between warm and hot. Warm is okay but if the tool body is so hot you instincts are to get your hand away from the heat source then that's too hot.

The heat from buffing normally build-up at the backing plate not the tool body.

I can't ever remember using a PC that got hot enough that it bothered me and I've used a lot of these tools over the years.

Read through the below two articles and try doing some buffing again,

How to prime a foam pad when using a DA Polisher

DA Polisher Trouble Shooting Guide

Wet Buffing Technique



If the body is still getting hot or you smell electrical fumes that smell like melting plastic covered wires then there's probably an issue but if there is an issue it's certainly the exception not the rule.

:buffing:
 
Thanks Mike, I appreciate it. So basically, while these pads are thicker, they would not be 'straining' the machine to the point I'd need to oust them entirely, right?
 
jcedorjr said:
Thanks Mike, I appreciate it. So basically, while these pads are thicker, they would not be 'straining' the machine to the point I'd need to oust them entirely, right?
Click to expand...

Not at all...

Meguiar's has been selling thick pads for these tools ever since these tools were introduced to the paint polishing world. See pictures and what I wrote last week here,

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...d-polisher/50266-just-got-my-flex-pe14-2.html


W6000_03.jpg




Thinner pads rotate better as they become wet with product, I cover this in my how-to book...


Paperback



:xyxthumbs:
 
Awesome, I really appreciate your insight Mike. Have a great day!
 
Just to ask/add...The washer IS on the backing plate?

Bill
 
I looked at the machine more after reading more posts and realized that the washer is not on there so will fix that before it's next use and see if that is the problem. I found another post listing washer sizes so was going to go to a plumbing store and get some extra's as well.
 
jcedorjr said:
I looked at the machine more after reading more posts and realized that the washer is not on there so will fix that before it's next use and see if that is the problem. I found another post listing washer sizes so was going to go to a plumbing store and get some extra's as well.
Click to expand...


Good to hear that we may have found a possible cause for the heat.

Here's a visual reference...

The Compression Washer

I wrote an article about Compression Washers explaining how important it is to the function of DA Polishers here,

Don't use your polisher without it!

There were some further follow-up questions about compression washers so here's some more pictures and information to make sure everyone's clear on what the compression washer is, where it goes and why it's important.


The common Compression Washer used with popular DA Polishers is about the size of a U.S. Quarter.
CompressionWasher001.jpg






:)
 
Sorry for not having an update sooner, we've had a bit of rain up in CT and haven't been able to get the car out for a good washing. Once the rain stops and things slow down I plan on giving it another attempt and will update after.

Those links you shared Mike are the one's I had seen and were very helpful. Thanks for the replies!
 
Washer is installed, now just for some dry weather and time to bond with my machine...
 
There are a few cooling vents near where the black and gray housings meet that allow the the motor's armature fan to expel normal operating heat from the electric motor. Is it possible that your hands were obstructing these vents thus preventing the polisher from cooling properly?

If these vents are obstructed the machine (any power tool) will overheat with extended use.

Just a thought.
 
Thanks Dave, I think it could have been a bit of the way I was holding the machine as well.

So I decided to give the hood a waterless wash in the garage and try this out on my lunch break. I used the Blackfire Total Polish and Sealer and didn't experience the same heat as I did this past weekend so whether it was the washer or the way I was holding it, I had a totally different experience. Thanks for the guidance everybody and getting me on track!
 
So yesterday I gave the machine a run on my GLI (Deep Black with Metallic Flakes). I started by doing a full clay bar and then used the Blackfire Gloss Enhancing Polish and polished the entire car and followed that up with a coat of Blackfire Wet Diamond All Finish Paint Protection followed by a second coat this morning. I haven't taken the car out of the garage yet however the machine never got hot and did an awesome job. The application was easy, time consuming, but easy and for somebody new to machines, I was very impressed. I've always done detailing by hand and have always had a good looking car but the amount of old wax and 'stuff' that this polish took off was unreal. I'm going to top it with some Fuzion in the next little bit but for now, I'm sealed for the next little while!

Thanks again for the help!
 
jcedorjr said:
Also, I was using a speed setting of six and pad conditioner on the pads prior to applying the polish to the pad and would also spread the polish throughout the small section I was working on. The second hood where the machine got hot ended up coming out really nice so the machine definitely did some great work, it is just the heat that concerns me. I can't imagine it's supposed to get that hot.
Click to expand...

The same thing happened to me with a 5.5" Cyan HT pad on the PCXP speed six while I was compounding a black AMG.

I didn't notice it until after I washed the pad but it had started to come apart around the edges I guess from the glue melting or something. I will try and post some pics later.
 
Interesting, that's the same pad I was using, only with the polish but the pad looked alright after I cleaned it. I think it was a combination of me not having the washer installed and also the way I was holding the machine. I haven't used that pad since but plan on it soon to do a test compound run on my brother's older Neon.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top