Apparently I had left the building instead!

Excellent question! The general concept is correct... you're thinking along the right lines. You're right- the smaller pads do focus the pressure a bit due to less surface area. However, you're still using the foolproof PCDA so you don't have to worry about marring the finish.

The only time that the increased pressure from that small pad can give you "trouble" is if you use it on open flatter areas. If you try to move the 4 inches of foam back and forth across the main open area of your bonnet, for example, you will get some waviness in the paint (although rather surface level waviness in most cases). It's the combination of moving the wee pads across a large open area that can cause this. It's not a problem at all in the curvy or narrow spots.

Yes, the pads you have are the 6.5" pads. You can imagine how the 4" pads would be helpful in the area you're concerned with.

It looks like you're just going to have to come down and buy more stuff. LOL. Seriously though, I would try the technique explained by OctaneGuy (along with my tick mark tip) first and see how you do. If you want to come down, we can give you a demo of how the 4" pads work, as well as how to angle the 6.5" pads for that matter. You know you don't want to stay away from here for too long!

-Heather

 

Wow...you get so much more than you pay for ($zero) in this place!

Asking a simple question and octane goes out and gives you a long writeup with pictures.

And then heather comes in with the excellent mark-the-backing-plate tip. Freakin' great!

I read through a couple detailing specific forums and they're not nearly as good as this place is. Even though I think we're missing some of the older contributers.

 

yes, ive heard they went into counseling...

 

Okay, Heather. I received my order on Tuesday. I opened the package and took a look. I thought... well, those towels look high quality but neither monstrous nor super fluffy. So...

I washed the MINIs today and following their baths, I broke out one of the MF towels and I was A M A Z E D at just how soft those towels are. So, they passed the feel test (unlike ImagoX, I didn't have the urge to stick one down my pants) but how would they do on the functional exam ?

I sprayed some Speed Shine on Bergey (the CR MC) and went to work. It was like a rolling a marble on ice ! The towel glided over the bonnet easily and left a very glossy finish. Sure, some of that is attributable to the Speed Shine but your towel seemed to glide easier than my Griots towels and seemed to leave a deeper shine. A +

The Epic Prima will be tested in a month or so... I have three coats of NXT on The Twins right now. More to come.

 

You're right... the Monster Fluffies don't look as thick and soft in the packaging. We "squish" them down to get the air out of the packaging before sealing them. They look rather strange like this! Then, when you pull them out they immediately fill out and look & feel as monstrous and fluffy as they are supposed to.

Of course, most important is their function! I'm glad to hear you like how well they work too!

Thanks for the review!! (and I'm glad you used them on your car and not down your pants like poor, deranged ImagoX!)

-Heather

 

ImagoX might be on to something, Heather. I've already decided that, if and when the dreaded time comes, I'm going to wear these MF towels instead of Depends.

For now though, I'm going to stick to their intended purpose.

 

Ah the future marketing opportunities for the monster fluffy!!

-Heather

 

I have this vision now of being asked to be the "Detailers Paradise Mascot", a 6-foot Velvateen Rabbit suit made of Monster Fluffy towels... Mmmm... MF bunny suit...

I called it first!

 

Hey, Heather... if your company starts marketing those Monster Fluffies as adult diapers, I want a 15 percent cut !

ImagoX, you can strike your own deal as the mascot. I think wearing the Monster Fluffy Bunny suit is going to pull you down some large bucks though.

 

How about a lifetime supply of MFs instead??

ImagoX won't need a cut... no amount of money could top the thrill he'd get from just being able to wear the suit! (not that just anybody would find this as thrilling as ImagoX would!)

-Heather

 

Considering how often I detail my MINIs, I think it would be cheaper for you to just give me the 15 percent, Heather.

 

Oh alright then. But remember you may one day need Monster Fluffy diapers!!

-Heather

 

I'll make enough money in royalties to buy Monster Fluffy Diapers for myself AND all my friends down at the Old Folks Home ! I'll be more popular than the guy who calls out the bingo games.

 

 

You could just wear the monster fluffy bunny suit and roll around on your car...

 

That would be much more acceptable than just shoving it down your pants and buffing it that way.

"You can love your MINI, but you shouldn't LOVE your MINI!"

 

Here in Colorado we just past an amendment to our constitution that prohibits that kind of fornication. (was that too political for NAM?)

 

Maybe, but it sure got a laugh out of me!

 

which size backing plate should one use with the 6 1/2" pads....I read somewhere to use 6" but another site said 5" ? and flexible or stiff....does that depend on which diameter you choose?

 

The correct size is 5". You want sufficient margin around the foam pad so you don't dig the backing plate into your paint. The main difference between backing plates is the stiffness of the plate. Meguiar's is rigid with a piece of foamrubber against the velcro. Other plates are flexible all the way through which is great for working on curves. Either works well. I tend to think the stiffer plate requires a bit less effort to use since it's not working against you when you are applying pressure to the PC. I have both types of plates on each of my PC's.

For the Meguiar's backing plate options you have:

W64DA ..........5 (For use with 6.5" pads) $18.99
W65DA ..........6 (For use with 8" pads) $20.99

Richard

 

i think my Griots one has a 6" backing plate for its 6.25" pads...

i should get a 5" one per octanepower for doing curves.