A rotary polisher usually has 5/8-inch (14mm) diameter shaft / 11 UNC. An
orbital polisher has a 5/16-inch (8mm) female thread.
The type of backing plate is
even more important than most detailer’s realize, as an incorrect choice can
cause overheating, contribute to swirls, compromise a pad, or add to its
durability or help it to stay cooler
The backing plate directly transfers
the kinetic friction (energy) of the machine to the paint surface via the pad. The
foam pad will absorb the amount of orbital movement produced by the machine
polisher unless sufficient pressure is applied to compress the pad (to approx
50%). Using a properly sized backing plate allows for the equal distribution of
pressure across the entire face area of the pad; making it more efficient; as
a backing plate only compresses the area of the pad that is directly
underneath it.
A polishing system is more efficient when used with the correct
sized backing plate. Using a backing plate that is the same size as the pad
uses utilizes the whole surface area of the pad, you should not use an
undersized backing plate. If the backing
plate is too small for the pad, you reduce the
effective contact surface area of the pad that is able to polish effectively,
there is also a possibility that the backing plate will ‘cut’ the foam
causing it to fail.
Allow a maximum of ¼-inch as
a safety margin (i.e. 6.5 -inch pad- 6-inch backing plate, 5.5-inch pad
-4.75-inch backing plate) this will
allow the maximum pad surface contact area, and equal pad compression over the
pad contact surface ensuring efficient polishing
A hard and inflexible backing
plate will affect the performance of a foam pad; by making it slightly more
aggressive (stiffness) and may cause swirl marks. The inflexible plastic on
many backing plates has zero give and therefore will not adjust to the
contoured body panels. The exception would be a plate bonded to a thick layer
of dense cellular foam Lake
County (LC) CCS pads.
Always use the recommended sized backing plate for the pad you
are using. Do not use a backing plate that is larger than the foam or wool pad
Flexible backing plates
Lake County (LC) mfg Grip Easy™ Edge
·
Easy plate removal for quick pad changes
·
Prolongs life of loop material on pads
·
Moulded
polyurethane construction
·
Hook material moulded into plate eliminates delamination
·
Flexible edge
·
Flexible
plastic centre hub
·
Ideal for transitions from flat to contoured surfaces
·
Reduces risk of spot heating
·
Plated
steel threaded insert(5/8-inch or 14mm)
·
Will not cross-thread
·
Reinforced
inner construction
·
Steel struts moulded into centre hub for superior strength
Polish / Compound application - 5.5-inch
pads (LC Moulded Urethane 5-inch baking plate) and 4-inch pads (LC Moulded
Urethane 3.5-inch backing plate). A lightweight backing plate is ideal for a
random orbital as offers less resistance and there more rotational speed.
Coatings / Sealant application- 6-inch
pads (LC Moulded Urethane 5.5-inch baking plate)
Lake County (LC) high strength moulded urethane grip-easy edge
for fast, easy pad changes, durable moulded polyurethane construction, flexible
centre hub ideal for surface contours, plated steel threaded insert (5/8 -inch
11 PI female thread or a metric size 14mm)
and steel reinforced inner construction
3M 125 mm (4-inch) Perfect-it III Rotary Backing Plates [are made from an impact resistant synthetic
nylon plate bonded to a 25 mm thick layer of dense cellular foam, and are ideal
for use with threaded rotary machine polishers such as the Makita
9227CB
The highly flexible design
allows for very easy transitioning from flat to contoured surfaces, and the
hook and loop backing material enables quick and easy pad changes (M14 metric
& 5/8th – inch US)
Adam's Premium PC Backing Plate - by reducing the weight and
increasing the flexibility this backing plate is slimmer and far more flexible
than its predecessor. The new, lower profile design and improved flexibility
allows the backing plate to hug those awkward curves and body lines better than
ever before. The reduced weight also equals a reduction in vibration making
extended use of the Porter Cable a little easier on your hands and wrist. Still
perfectly balanced and constructed of high quality, durable, materials
Interface Pads
Interface pads are placed
between the backing plate and sanding disc. They increase the flexibility of a
disc and help to evenly distribute machine movements and applied
pressures. The right interface pad can
also increase comfort while you sand. An interface pad can buffer abrupt
machine movements through its cushioning action.
Lace County Constant
Pressure™ Foam Pads have a layer of engineered, instant rebound foam between the
pad and the backing plate. This layer acts as a cushion or shock absorber
between the machine, the operator and the surface being worked on. It absorbs
off-axis motion while maintaining a constant and uniform pressure on the
surface; Lake County Constant Pressure™ technology allows even a neophyte
detailer to achieve professional-like results.
Always use the recommended size backing plate for the size pad
you are using. Use caution if using a backing plate that is larger than the foam pad or
disc.
I would like to think that
these articles become an asset to anyone who is new to detailing and to
professionals alike, as well as industry experts who seek to advance their
knowledge.
I hope the
above article was informative. By having some understanding of the ‘What’ and
‘Why’ as well as the ‘How’ along with a little science to help you understand
how the chemicals we use react, you can achieve the results you desire.
I would appreciate it if you would share
this article as it helps other detailers further their knowledge.
Questions and/ or constructive comments
are always appreciated.
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© 2002 - 2012 TOGWT® (Established 1980) all rights reserved
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