I have the 6in backing plate that came with my PC when I bought it. I'm looking at buying a 4" or a 6.5" pad.

Can someone explain what are the benefits of matching the backing plate with those pads?

Or can I just get buy using the 6" backing plate with the 4" pad?

I want to get a 4" yellow pad to see if I can get some scratches out that I wasn't able to do with the 5.5 orange pad matched with OP Hyper Compound. Trying to justify spending more money for a backing plate and another pad.

Thanks

 

I'd advise against using a 4" pad on a 6" backing plate. One slip up and you cause some major damage to your paint with the exposed velcro. Spend the money to pick up a the proper backing plate and minimize any risks of potentially damaging your plate. Also, a well fitting backing plate will allow you to properly distribute the pressure applied evenly to the pad you use. You'd also lose some of the control and maneuverability to tight areas by mismatching the backing plate with the pad.

Hope this helps answer you question.

George

 

Along with Georges comments, the 4" pads offer a more concentrated work area, zero fatigue on the machine. You now have all the weight of the machine spread out over nearly 1/3 less area as compared to a 5.5". Careful while polishing with 4" pads, especially yellow. Keep your speeds at a safe level, an do not let the machine polish in one area too long.

 

Thanks for the responses, couple more questions.

If I get the 6.5" Yellow pad then I should be okay with the 6" backing plate correct? But since it's a bigger pad I wouldn't get the concentrated efforts compared to the 4" right?

 

You got it. Your creating the same amount of energy with the Porter Cable 7424 (assuming you are running the same speed and pressure), so by making the size of the pad smaller, that energy is more concentrated.

Keep in mind, this is valid only for random orbital buffers, the opposite is true for rotary buffer since the outer edges will spin the fastest.

If you have any other other questions, let us know.

George

 

On a similar question, what are the risk of using a 6.5" pad on the 5" backing plate. Would it sling stuff out when using it on PCXP speed 4 or more as the extra 1/2" pad which extends beyond the plate may nothave enought presure?

 

To add to the above ?

I currently have a 5" BP which works with my 5.5" pads. However I have been wanting to check whether the 6.5" pads will be more suitable for applying LSP products. without wanting to spring for a new BP for experimenting, I want to try the 6.5" PAD on 5" BP.

 

When using a 6.5" pad with 5" BP, your pad is not supported. With centrifugal force, there is fatigue to the pad on the outside edge. Not good for pads.......
Match pads with BP's................

 

Patrick thanks for you response.

The 5.5" setup seems sufficient by iteself for me. so before clunking (I mean investing) $ into 6.5" setup, could you advise if there any significant benefit in applying LSP via 6.5" blue (w/proper BP) over a 5.5" Blue pads (which work just fine). The only other use for 6" BP I can think off is PFW which I have not considered using yet as I think I can handle some of the swirls I have with an orange pad/SIPS combo.

 

The only real differences between the two setup is concentrated work areas. LSP's with 6.5 are fine provided they accommodate the body styles of the surfaces your working on. 5.5"s and 4"s are real nice when applying products between emblems and wheel wells, below mirrors, door handles and window frames etc.....