I searched and found bits and pieces on these guys, but thought I'd bring it up again. Only other pad I've used is Meguiars (with great results) but these things seem to have good reviews also...what say ye??

I've recently switched to Mothers products for my paint care (which I absolutely love the results of every product I've tried thus far, BTW) and they highly (and (seems like almost exclusively) recommend the Lake Country pads for their stuff.

Just curious, and felt like bringing it back up.

...oh yea, and where to buy??

 

My first DA was a G110 and I always felt the Meguiars pads were too large for the machine and the backing plate at +6". I was also having problems with the pads separating from the velcro so I started ordering 5.5" and smaller LC pads from
Obsessive Detail
and
Detailed Image.

I like the pads and the indentations seem to make the product last longer as you slightly press on them but I have since moved on to Uber pad and gone back to Meguiars 3½" and 4"

I also have been really getting the hang of and liking the Purple Foam Wool pads especially for heavy correcting and headlight restorations.

 

Just started using my PC. Got an assortment of LCs when I bought it. Decided to go with the 5.5's after reading several comments on here. Ordered some LC 4" spot buffs from tools-plus.com last week. A couple other places were out of the white ones and I didn't want to wait. The 4"ers were real nice for working the smaller areas. Being a newbie, decided to go with PBW products based on several comments about being very easy to work with. I've been pleased with the results so far. Like everything else, I'll learn as I go along.

 

I use them because of the separation issues the older Megs pads used to have (the LC pads are much better made). Also, because they came in 5.5 size, which worked better for my g100.

Now I just use them cuz I'm used to them since the new Megs stuff seems to have improved in quality.

 

Not trying to change anyone's mind - LC pads are high quality - but Megs has new machine washable pads.

 

Never had an LC pad's velcro separate from the foam. When I got my DA last summer the backing separation issue was supposed to be resolved but I have a 2.0 maroon pad starting to separate after maybe 4 washings and my yellow 2.0 pad bought last spring did this.


But I think it had something to do with the pad size and backing plate (that came with the Meguiars G110 being too small.

I really like the performance of Meguiars pads and could call them the best, but the durability issue with the new pads is still questionable.
Their 4" pads have been problem free.

Im pretty hard on my pads when I wash them and ball them up in my fist over and over to get all the soap and product out but never had a separation issue with any other brand.

 

Are you referring to Smart Pads like these?



I sold them and bought Megs pads. I didn't care for the pockets. I was wasting too much product with it being left in the pockets when finished. Also the way the pockets are cut on the pad there may be a few pockets on the edge of the pad creating a half pockets so the pad face isn't flat with the surface. If there is any product in those half pockets it's now flung all over.

 

If you look at my Detailed Image link you will see that there are also flat LC pads.

If you are having fling problems...
It sounds like you are using too much product and you should always smear the product around the area you are working before you start the machine.
You can also start out slow and then bump up the speed to avoid fling.

 

Yes, I realize there are flat pads. That's why I was asking the OP if he was inquiring about Smart Pads. If he was, then I gave my opinion on them. My response was to his post not yours. I guess I should have quoted him.

Yes, I smear the product. No, I'm not using too much product. Actually, LC states in their description of the pad the holes will hold product until the user applies more pressure to release it. You don't have to release it when it's in a half pocket. It'll release itself.

 

I had the same problem and have read many complaints about fling in the outer half holes of the dimpled pads but after many suggestions on the open forums my problem was resolved because someone suggested I use less product and started smearing the product over the area first and little if any product was left in any of the holes to fling before I started the machine.

I was giving suggestions not just to your comment but anyone with the same problem I encountered that may read the post and learn something new. More or even repeat info is never bad. Besides personal experience, this is how I learned most of what I know on open forums.

 

It was just an annoyance to me, personally, is all. No need to deal with it when there are flat pads available that get the job done. I'm married with 3 kids, I have enough annoyances.

 

I hear ya on the family annoyances since I too have more than my share most days.
I was dumb to detailing when I bought them in an attempt to use smaller pads with my DA. My learning curve and reading was extensive before I had success. There was much less selection of smaller pads and people using them at the time. I have since also moved on to and prefer smooth pads that are more predictable.

A post like this would have saved me money and time.

 

Did someone say lake county?


JK, I use to only use Lake after having very bad quality issues with megs pads but I have found myself using megs from time to time. The black megs finish pad isn't really a finish pad to me, it is kind of in between a white lake CCS/VC polish pad and a black lake pad.

I prefer to use Lake b/c I prefer the wider pad selections and sizes.

Products react differently on pads, (duh right) having choices is NEVER a bad thing when testing.

Just my .02