TGO

The 5.5 pads are made to go with a 5" backing plate. I dont think theres anything wrong using them with a larger backing plate as long as they are centered perfectly so they dont vibrate like crazy.. Just be extra careful so that the backing plate doesnt touch the paint in those weird angles.

However, the backing plates are about 10-15 bucks, I would consider one just for convenience sake. 

The best I found was about $38 on amazon. 

Call Adam's Customer Service line there may be some 6" pads in the warehouse, check with dealers listed in the Find a Dealer link at the bottom of the page in the web store. Google for 6" pads.

 

Please don't try to use pads that are smaller than recommended, if there is not enough pad material to cover the backing plate, and the bare backing plate touches the paint, it will cut through the paint. The 5.5" pad will not fit the Flex backing plate.

I already bought the 5.5" pads. I had no idea they were even a different size. 

Honestly...It's a little upsetting that you spend hundreds of dollars on a machine + polish + pad and when you come back to re-up your supplies you can't. I guess I'll just get the new backing plate. 

Admittedly it's been a while since I've had to do a paint correction. But I decided I might as well get new pads for my Flex before I attempt. I didn't know what size the backing plate was on there. I just ordered the biggest pad they sell on the website which is 5.5". Well, apparently they used to be bigger because the backing plate on my flex is a little bigger than the foam polishing pad. I'm not sure if this is an issue. I think I could use it just fine like this but better safe than sorry. Do i need a new (smaller) backing plate? It doesn't seem like they are gonna go back to selling the bigger pads. 

So, basically my car popped an AC line and apparently some of the oil/refrigerant mix must have made it's way from the engine bay in to the vents and accumulated on the inside of the windshield just from regular use of the AC after repairing the line. 

So, when I try to clean the window I am left with a "sheen" from the oil residue that's being a real pain to get off. I've tried glass cleaner and rubbing alcohol to no avail. 

So my next step is maybe a mixture of Dawn and water but I am wondering if someone has any tips on something else that will break down the oil and be easier to deal with than soap/water and a sponge. 

sounds to me like you need errors and omissions insurance. 

So then ask for a credit. I'm sure they will work something out for you, all of the staff at Adams are stand up guys. 

You guys are right. It was really sunny today, and I can see the difference. Guess I know what I'm doing this weekend! 

thompson racing has them. just ordered them a few days ago. 

Seriously? I've actually had passers by comment on how awesome the detail spray smells! 

As far as the American car issue I think we have been down this road before.  You won't find very many American *assembled* cars that are 100% American made (parts from all over).  Also a number of American *branded* cars aren't made here.  Now add to the discussion that a number of foreign branded cars ARE made here, thus adding American jobs....

 

All of that aside, a bigger issue is trade balance.  Until the US forces countries like China to open their markets to us, and stop the outsourcing trend, our economy will continue to suffer.

I agree. I think the "foreign" cars that are built here are more "American" than the American cars. Does Toyota or Subaru have factories in Mexico? 

I managed to get some scratches down the side of my beautifully detailed and polished car while driving through some narrow roads with lots of vegetation on either side.

Anyway, I picked up a set of the 4" focus pads and went at it. I wound up only having to use the green with the SSH though. They came right out but there was no haze or swirls left behind, at least that I could see, that would warrant going at the spots with the haze remover and fine machine polish. 

Is that normal? 

If you're creative and careful, you can use the big pads to git r done. 

Well, if you're super cheap you could cut a regular USB cable and splice in some cat5 in the desired length. 

I've seen runs of over 100 feet for things like usb webcams for security cam duty. Power only wouldn't be an issue either way. 

The best part was the guy who said Plexus (plastic polish) is better. 

Here, on the main expressway, there's always traffic right in the middle of it. In both directions. Why? Because there's a hill...and people are too STUPID to realize that you need to give the car more gas to maintain your speed when going uphill. There's even brightly lit LED signs that say "incline, maintain speed" but people just don't get it. 

It's amazing the technology that goes in to creating your average car...yet the intelligence required to get a license to drive one is just above an amoeba. 

I didn't notice that problem when we used the kit on my buddies Boss about 2 months ago but it is White.  I'd have to say it worked well albeit the blob remover takes longer to remove the paint than they show.  All around still levels nice.  He had some large chips and on corners of the body lines so just applying the paint didn't come out smooth enough.  The kit worked as advertised.  And I mean for like $20 why not just try it.

I'm sure it has to do with the color of the car too. White is, well, white...whereas midnight blue metallic is pretty much a different color in every  light you look at it. 

The kit I bought at the time (2-3 years ago) didn't come with any clear. So, maybe that's something they've added. The blob eliminator didn't affect the factory clear so I would imagine it wouldn't affect the clear you will be using either. 

But, at the time the instructions were just to apply the touch up paint really thick, and then use the blob eliminator to level it with the factory paint. Once I did my first chip I was unsatisfied with the "dull" looking patch after the blob eliminator...so I resorted to applying the paint as carefully as I could with a paper match stick cut with a razor blade to a fine point. If you're careful, you can lay the paint in there really nice. No need to mess with it afterwards. I mean, it's a touch up, so it's never gonna be perfect any way...but the touch ups stood out more after using the blob eliminator IMO. 

One thing I didn't like about the Langka kit is when you hit it with the blob eliminator, it takes the shine away from the touch up paint. If you're careful with the application, it looks better if you just touch it up and leave it alone. No blob eliminator. 

Don't worry...once the XB1 flops and Microsoft is forced out of the console market, they'll become a software developer for all platforms just like Sega. XB1 is the most epic fail there has ever been in the gaming world. And that's saying a lot.

So I went outside today to tackle this issue and - the spot was gone! I have no idea how or why. I swear there was a visible "dip" in the surface where the turd was and you could feel it with your finger. I went out there today, wiped down the trunk and went to take some alcohol to it but decided to give a final inspection and to my surprise it was gone. 

I suppose baby Jesus has smiled upon my car today. 

Looks cool...but I can't believe anyone would buy the DRM box over the PS4. I am not a big fan of the PS3....but Microsoft's unveil of the XB1 was absurd. 

I'd rather an automatic gun turret, but...

I've seen those fake owls. They even have ones that move and make noise. I think I will try one although I've heard that eventually the birds realize that it won't attack them and stop fearing it.

Its mostly the hood,roof, and trunk that get nailed as the power lines run pretty much directly over the top of the car.

That's even worse than a stand alone canopy...it has to be attached to the house, which is not possible. 

I wish I could just buy hawks online or something and raise them to be my flying rat assassin's.

I know. I guess I must be one of those crazy people who plugs my phone and tablet in before I go to bed LOL! Well, the phone gets plugged in religiously every night. The tab I usually get a couple of days out of.