Gen 4 pads = Dusting

[ab3ence]

So i just tried out my new Gen 4 pads on a beat up, NYC street parked Audi A6. Serious defects, and an obvious mediocre repaint with serious orange peel on the hood, so it was a good candidate to try out the new pads.

 

I also just got a new Flex, so it was a one two punch if you will.

 

I switched to a pretty much all Adams polishing line-up about 4 months ago. I mainly work on VWs and Audi's, and was having serious dusting issues with other product/pad combos on my PC. I picked up some of the last gen Adam's hex pads -- both 6 and 4 inch -- and was amazed at both the finish, ease of working the polish in -- and yes, the lack of dust. Like none, ever. Needless to say I was sold.

 

So when the new pads were announced, I am like no-brainer. Placed my order, and since they work with the PC and Flex, figured they were ideal. I changed my backing plate on the PC to the 4 inch in plans on it just being a small detail DA machine.

 

So, prepped the car (washed/clayed/washed again/dried/ taped up), got the Flex and an orange pad to see what I would end up needing to do to get some results, did my normal X, primed the pad with two shots of QD, dabbed and smoothed it on, and then feathered up the RPMs.

 

and DUST EVERYWHERE. like nothing I've seen. I tried less product, more product, repriming the pad, nothing. Dust everywhere, Just throwing it.

 

What was really weird was that I switched back to the PC to some fine scratch work on the trunk lid, using the older 4 inch hex pads, and yes -- no dusting at all.

 

Not sure whats happening here. Anyone else had issues, or tips on what I might try to mitigate the snow fall I seem to be developing?

[ab3ence]

Also, the car was under a 10x15 pop-up canopy, so the paint was cool.

[BlueGenCoupe]

Dusting normally occurs when there is to much product on the pad or when its dry and needs to be primed.

 

For it to dust on your first pass is odd.

[Doug123]

How much polish are you using on the Flex? Are you giving a spritz of DS when you add polish to the pad? It does take a bit more polish than the PC. Was it very hot and or dry outside? Sometimes the heat or low humidity makes the polish dry out pretty fast. Did you use the same size area (2'x2')? Also, were you going over tight curves with the flex vs what you were doing with the PC?

[ab3ence]

How much polish are you using on the Flex? Are you giving a spritz of DS when you add polish to the pad? It does take a bit more polish than the PC. Was it very hot and or dry outside? Sometimes the heat or low humidity makes the polish dry out pretty fast. Did you use the same size area (2'x2')? Also, were you going over tight curves with the flex vs what you were doing with the PC?

 

i was using the same as I did on my PC with the hex pads -- roughly a 3x3 inch X. + yes, primed with detail spray. same rough 2x2 foot area.

 

it was hot here yesterday (for May in Brooklyn). maybe 75-80. pretty humid.

 

i started with the hood, which does have a body line on each side. i did notice that the the gen 4 pads seemed to 'catch' on the body line when i was doing my side to side pass (versus the vertical passes which followed the body line). the pad kept pulling down the body, versus allowing me to keep a perfect 90 degree pass.

 

this was my first time using the Flex, so I know there is a bit of a learning curve, but I never had the dusting issues, or the 'catch,' on the hex pads.

[gencoupe3dot8]

Ab3ence,

A few things. When you switch from a PC to the Flex you will need to add both polish and mist more often... as you will use polish up faster... you can't use the same amount or polish in the exactly same way... the flex will flash faster and use polish faster... Look at your pad and see how much polish appears to be on it.. or if the pad is "clogged". I typically just hit it with some DS and move on until it appears I need to add polish.

 

Are you seeing the polish flash?

 

With the Flex you need to make sure you keep it as parallel as possible to the panel. As for catching on the body line you might want to be careful not to polish over the body line if you can avoid it, especially of it is a sharp line, as that is where the paint is thinner.

 

Good luck... maybe you can post some pics to show us a little more....

[ab3ence]

I'd post pix if I could. Alas the car is already off.

 

When I said 'catching,' it was not hanging up, more like a pulling. It is just a very different feel with these pads, or maybe the Flex, then the hex pads, or my 'other' flat 6" pads.

 

For the flashing part, it was, but also leaving these weird polish tracers in the shape of the pad pattern. Not hologramming or anything -- it all wiped off. Very strange behaviour all around. I'm not a pro at this, but also not a complete newbie, and am pretty baffled.

 

Max speed on the Flex was 5, an that was feathered into gradually after a couple passes, though in looking at the RPMs that is way higher than the PC at 5. I did this based on the rec for speed, but is it right that the Flex should be spinning that much faster to work in the polish than the PC?

[the1inblue]

The flex works in a 3rd of a time as a PC. Your overall movement should be faster and a speed of 5 should be the speed you need to work at. You don't not need to feather it into top speed. Just pull the trigger and go with it. If you are getting a little bit of grabbing then I suggest a shot of DS and it should smooth right out. You gotta remember that this force rotation. Alot different than the PC.

 

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

[ab3ence]

yep, its plenty primed. i even over primed to see if that would help, and no.

 

maybe i just need to switch back to the hex pads

[the1inblue]

yep, its plenty primed. i even over primed to see if that would help, and no.

 

maybe i just need to switch back to the hex pads

 

 

I wouldn't use the hex pads on the flex lol. Plus I've had the same issue with 3rd gen flex pads and hex pads. Only with SSR not SHR.

 

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

[ab3ence]

I wouldn't use the hex pads on the flex lol. Plus I've had the same issue with 3rd gen flex pads and hex pads. Only with SSR not SHR.

 

Haha. My bad. Meant the flat Gen 3 pads for the Flex.

 

Yeah, I really only got it on the SSR as well. Do you have any issues with the weird pattern it leaves in the polish residue? Maybe I am using too much pressure?

[Team Adam's]

You don't need to be putting much pressure behind the flex when you're polishing, just enough to keep the foam in contact. Its not like the PC where you're trying to slow the rotation caused by the orbital movement. Its going to spin at a constant speed regardless of the pressure you put down, so by pressing on it like you would the PC you're wasting effort and in all likelihood beating the pads up more than necessary.

 

On the dusting... if anything you should see LESS dusting with the Gen4 vs. Gen3 as the pads have more surface area and places for the polish to retreat rather than outward.

[ab3ence]

Thanks Dylan. I think I was applying too much pressure. Gonna ease up a bit on it for this 2002 Ford Ranger that hasnt been touched in like 5 years and see what happens.