Todd@RUPES
Just a regular guy
I recently received a PM from a forum member about a question about are our Hi-Gloss pads and what makes them different regarding LC CCS pads... Hopefully this will help clear up any information or misinformation regarding our Hi-Gloss line of pads.
These pads are manufacturered by Lake Country and made to our specifications. Why is this important?
Lake Country offers many different grades of foam per color. Not all orange foam (light cutting/power pad) pads are the same. Not all white polishing foams are the same. Just because a product is made by Lake Country and features a similar color (orange for example) does not mean it is identical to an orange pad they make for another company.
Our Hi-Gloss pads feature the best (in each color range) foam available. Here is the key, all of our Hi-Gloss foam pads use the highest quality foam for each size and we are the ONLY ones who do this. If you buy a white or orange foam from another vendor, you may be surprised to find out that the larger, 7.5 inch orange and white foam they use is of much lower quality then the white or orange foam they use on their 6.5 inch pads. It doesn't look the same, it doesn't feel the same, and it certainly doesn't perform the same.
So if you want the best Lake Country foams, regardless of pad size, the truth is that the Hi-Gloss series of pads is the only that offers this.
Regarding the Constant Pressure, dual foam backing... This is a unique foam designed to keep the pad flatter to the surface, while allowing it to contour to curves and changes in the body. It is a soft, yet 'instant rebound' foam that makes polishing with a rotary polisher (and to a lesser degree with a DA) easier, the same as a flexible backing plate does, but with more benefits. This is a Hi-Gloss pad exclusive.
Hi-Gloss pads also feature a back cut backing material. That means the backing material does not stretch across the entire face of the pad (which can cause problems if that edge is rubbed against the paint) but rather cut back a small amount to provide clearance. As you can imagine, it is far less expensive to produce a pad with backing material across the entire pad, as the material can be fitted before the pads are cut. With a back cut, the material has to be centered and fitted to each individual pad.
Hi-Gloss pads also feature a raised backing material point, which means the Velcro area is raised above the rest of the pad. This increases the safety margin of the pad and allows the pressure from the backing plate to be more evenly focused around the pad.
You can use any size (smaller then 6 inch) backing plates with the Hi Gloss pads, this is not a problem at all. The problem is that when you use a smaller backing plate (with any pad) you focus the machines potential over a smaller area and create a ring of relatively unused foam around the perimeter of the pad. For best results, you should use the largest backing plate that will fit the pad, so that more of the surface area of the pad can be used for polishing.
Of course if you where to use a cheaper pad design, it might make sense to use a smaller then ideal backing plate, since this artifically creates some of the benefits that Hi-Gloss pads have from the factory. You will loose efficiency, but that is the trade off.
The edges of all Hi-Gloss pads are beveled, or rounded. This is done for two reasons: One, on a rotary, having a sharp edge can lead to an increase in surface marring (IE holograms) if that pad is tilted the slightest degree. Two, on a dual action polisher the sharp edge can cut into adjacent panels and cause scouring.
Hi-Gloss pads are like a fully loaded luxury car with every option checked off. However, if you like the features of other Lake Country pads, IE, sharp edges, backing material that runs across the pad, etc you can always look at our OEM style pads. These pads also feature a 7/8th thick pad diameter which makes them ideal for polishing with a dual action as well, and the price on them is amazing.
These pads are manufacturered by Lake Country and made to our specifications. Why is this important?
Lake Country offers many different grades of foam per color. Not all orange foam (light cutting/power pad) pads are the same. Not all white polishing foams are the same. Just because a product is made by Lake Country and features a similar color (orange for example) does not mean it is identical to an orange pad they make for another company.
Our Hi-Gloss pads feature the best (in each color range) foam available. Here is the key, all of our Hi-Gloss foam pads use the highest quality foam for each size and we are the ONLY ones who do this. If you buy a white or orange foam from another vendor, you may be surprised to find out that the larger, 7.5 inch orange and white foam they use is of much lower quality then the white or orange foam they use on their 6.5 inch pads. It doesn't look the same, it doesn't feel the same, and it certainly doesn't perform the same.
So if you want the best Lake Country foams, regardless of pad size, the truth is that the Hi-Gloss series of pads is the only that offers this.
Regarding the Constant Pressure, dual foam backing... This is a unique foam designed to keep the pad flatter to the surface, while allowing it to contour to curves and changes in the body. It is a soft, yet 'instant rebound' foam that makes polishing with a rotary polisher (and to a lesser degree with a DA) easier, the same as a flexible backing plate does, but with more benefits. This is a Hi-Gloss pad exclusive.
Hi-Gloss pads also feature a back cut backing material. That means the backing material does not stretch across the entire face of the pad (which can cause problems if that edge is rubbed against the paint) but rather cut back a small amount to provide clearance. As you can imagine, it is far less expensive to produce a pad with backing material across the entire pad, as the material can be fitted before the pads are cut. With a back cut, the material has to be centered and fitted to each individual pad.
Hi-Gloss pads also feature a raised backing material point, which means the Velcro area is raised above the rest of the pad. This increases the safety margin of the pad and allows the pressure from the backing plate to be more evenly focused around the pad.
You can use any size (smaller then 6 inch) backing plates with the Hi Gloss pads, this is not a problem at all. The problem is that when you use a smaller backing plate (with any pad) you focus the machines potential over a smaller area and create a ring of relatively unused foam around the perimeter of the pad. For best results, you should use the largest backing plate that will fit the pad, so that more of the surface area of the pad can be used for polishing.
Of course if you where to use a cheaper pad design, it might make sense to use a smaller then ideal backing plate, since this artifically creates some of the benefits that Hi-Gloss pads have from the factory. You will loose efficiency, but that is the trade off.
The edges of all Hi-Gloss pads are beveled, or rounded. This is done for two reasons: One, on a rotary, having a sharp edge can lead to an increase in surface marring (IE holograms) if that pad is tilted the slightest degree. Two, on a dual action polisher the sharp edge can cut into adjacent panels and cause scouring.
Hi-Gloss pads are like a fully loaded luxury car with every option checked off. However, if you like the features of other Lake Country pads, IE, sharp edges, backing material that runs across the pad, etc you can always look at our OEM style pads. These pads also feature a 7/8th thick pad diameter which makes them ideal for polishing with a dual action as well, and the price on them is amazing.
