Of course you can run over the pavers with the plate compactor and no pad. It's done all the time.

The caveat is that you'll find no one who does this that will guarantee that a block or two or three (or more) won't be marked or scuffed or even cracked during the process.

I've done it without the pad...and taken the chance...and been lucky so far. But I often wonder when that day will come. One thing you might try, if you can get this, is use some old burlap instead of the pad. You wouldn't need enough to cover the whole patio, as you could move the burlap around as you go. I wouldn't try attaching it to the plate, as it will tear faster that way. But if you place it on the pavers and run over it with the smooth plate, it's better protection than nothing.

If part of your interest is having any kind of manufacturers guarantee work for you, with any product, then it's best to follow the directions. Deviate from the specified course with any product installation, and the manufacturer will have grounds to deny remediation of defects. But then again, how often are paver manufacturers taken to task over these kind of things?

Unfortunately, there are no guarantees for you here on this issue...just the product of experience. And like I said, I've been lucky to date. But I must admit to having heard about others who left the plate compactor sitting in one place too long or having scuffed up a number of pavers in the process.

There's good days, and bad. Good luck.

Thanks treebeard. I finally got a hold of someone at the stone company late yesterday where I purchased the pavers from. They said no pad is necessary. I also searched high and low yesterday to find a pad and found one online that was $200+. I gathered since I had such a hard time finding one, it must not be used very often.

I have plenty of pavers left over, as I still need to do the front walkway, in case of any breakage.

Thanks for your experienced comment.

I'll be finishing it tonight so I'll report back.

What a coincidence! My husband just went over our new stone patio with a plate compactor without a pad. A few stones cracked and a few chipped but other then that it turned out fantastic! We were able to replace the cracked stones and decided the few that chipped simply add a little "character" to the patio. I'd be glad to post a picture if you'd like. I hope you'll post one too! :)

Update...the compactor did scuff the pavers but only on the four corners. Some didn't scuff at all. But after misting the polymeric sand and pavers after everything was compacted, I no longer see the scuffs.

I only saw two pavers that chipped a little so I thought that was good.

I did do one oops, I misted twice and then used the shower setting on the water nozzle as I was getting a little impatient and so I now have spots of polymeric sand on the tops of the pavers. UGH! I'll keep spraying it and hopefully they will go away otherwise I'll probably have to pressure wash each paver individually.

We just spent 2 weeks laying pavers ourselves and used sand (non polymeric) to set them. We then ran them over with the smallest compactor we could find quickly and briefly. The pavers were high quality Cambridge with faux bluestone clefts. The compactor scuffed every single raised cleft, chipped 2 pavers and broke 3. It was only a small patio so that was a significant amount. Super annoyed. I'd never do it again. Next time I'd just hand tamp them and keep extra sand on hand to add as it works its way in.

I know this is really late, but we use tumbled pavers and run over them with a bare compactor. We also have a compactor with a pad. It seems the new paver trend is going towards stuff that needs the pad.

That's ingenuity at its finest @giannellicab!!

I had trouble finding a pad as well so I improvised and it worked like a charm. I used the two products one linked below. Easily attached if the plate compactor has a water drip system as well.

Ribbed floor cover from the bulk roll cut enough to cover the plate.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/G-Floor-7-5-ft-x-17-ft-Rib-Standard-Grade-Slate-Grey-Garage-Floor-Cover-and-Protector-GF55RB717SG/203450700

The other was just a rubber door mat and the cost for both was under $10. It attached perfectly by just loosening the water drip bar that was part of the compactor and sliding both mats in and tightening in back up. The bottom of the ribbed floor cover is what made contact with the bricks.

It also helps to sweep a little sand into the cracks first as well. Bricks are more likely to crack if the edges are too close and touch. A thin layer of the sand on the bricks will also help out with reducing the friction between the compactor and bricks.

Hope this helps anyone else in the future looking for a solution.