Reddit mentions of Chemical Guys BUFX_106_HEX5 Hex-Logic Finishing Pad, Black (5.5 Inch Pad Made for 5 Inch Backing Plates)

You can look into these pads instead:

Chemical Guys BUFX_102HEX5 - Hex-Logic Medium-Heavy Cutting Pad, Orange

Chemical Guys BUFX_106HEX5 - Hex-Logic Finishing Pad, Black

Chemical Guys BUFX_104HEX5 - Hex-Logic Light-Medium Polishing Pad, White

Colors are not the same across brands, but these Hex-Logic are the same.

Multiple pads are used when your pad gets full of product or too dirty. You can clean them, but this slows you down and sometimes I feel safer using a newer (fully cleaned) pad. I often use 2 pads for compounding and 2 pads for polishing.

I would buy this DA:
http://www.amazon.com/PORTER-CABLE-7424XP-6-Inch-Variable-Speed-Polisher/dp/B002654I46/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407291588&sr=8-1&keywords=porter+cable+7424+xp

This backing plate:
http://www.amazon.com/Astro-Pneumatic-4607-Velcro-Backing/dp/B003CH3Z8W/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_img_y

3 of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Guys-BUFX_102HEX5-Hex-Logic-Medium-Heavy/dp/B0040MI9H0/ref=pd_sim_hi_6?ie=UTF8&refRID=0NJJRSFYV45X3EWAS3NA


2 of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Guys-BUFX_104HEX5-Hex-Logic-Light-Medium/dp/B0041MVQ4M/ref=pd_sim_auto_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=11TRQVZC789CNJ8EXED1


1 of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Guys-BUFX_106HEX5-Hex-Logic-Finishing/dp/B0042TTIYO/ref=pd_sim_auto_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=08HEKJEWM7H5NRFGAQNH

Pretty sure they are all compatible with the backing plate.

ALBUM (also at end of post)

I recently purchased a Rupes LHR15 MkII bundle from Detailers Domain during their Father's Day sale and I've been afraid to use it. But I didn't want my ~$400 purchase just sitting there... so I went and bought a Hex Logic Waxing Pad and the Nanoskin Autoscrub for DAs. Yesterday, I did a wash, clay and wax on my personal car and today I did the same for my girlfriend's car. I haven't started polishing yet because I'm still hesitant and have some questions. I've watched Junkman's video series on polishing and I've read the written guide here in the Wiki, but they don't go over specifics (e.g. how do you polish the A pillars, around badges, lower front bumpers [i.e. around and inside the Miata's 'smile']).

I messed up on my own car because the clear coat is failing and I underestimated the Nanoskin. I've clayed with regular clay and the small nanoskin sponge and nothing happened to my car. However, when I went over the same area with the Rupes w/ Nanoskin, it went dark grey. At first, I thought it was just super dirty but I stopped. After inspecting.. it looks like I may have ripped off loose clear coat haha.... I wish I had someone that I can talk to in person and ask questions on the fly as I work.

 

What surprised me the most was how loud the vibration sound is and it makes me question whether it is normal. Using the Nanoskin, it almost sounds like a deep vibrating sound and sometimes a slapping sound. Is that normal? I have watched youtube videos and it's hard to distinguish if the sound I hear is the same in the video.

 

Also, do you guys clean your backing plates? The Rupes manual says that the machine is lubricated enough for lifetime use, but the backing plate has turned black/dirty from the shroud. If I clean this backing plate, would I need more lubricant? Should I do the washer mod to this LHR15 MkII?

 

Do you guys have any recommendations for which pads to use with the Rupes? I read some posts saying that the Rupes is too aggressive for the Hex Logic pads, but I decided to try it out anyway. Those posts were right, at least in my experience. I've only used the waxing pad twice and it's starting to rip (please see the album at the end of the post). I was thinking of going for Lake Country Pads

 

I recently watched AMMO's video on how to wash pads, and I've applied that to my own waxing pad and Nanoskin pad (water in sink + hand scrub, put back on DA and spin at highest speed to get water out, rub against hand + towel while running it on polisher). How do you guys wash your pads?

 

Here's an album of everything mentioned above.