How to get your pad dry using the universal pad washer?

I would like 1 of these washers myself but only for the purpose of washing out my pads quickly. As far as drying, I can’t see it drying them out enough to satisfy me. What I have found in the past is that just a little moisture will cause my product to thin and sling into all the nooks and crannies and is very difficult to remove. (Especially M105) My current method of drying out my pads is after pressing between several layers of terry cloth towels to remove as much water as possible, mount the pad on a 3” hook and loop backing plate that was included in the 3M headlight restoration kit. I then run my drill motor wide open for about 3 minutes. You have to be sure it is centered pretty good and run it just inside the mouth of a bucket until most of the mist dissipates. The pad surface should be dry to the touch at that point depending on the rpm of your drill motor. (If it is a battery powered unit you will need to run longer) I keep 3-4 pads in rotation just to give a little extra air dry time. Keeping them clean and dry will keep you cutting in my opinion.

Craig

I use a rotary when washing both foam and wool pads. I'll wash them at 600 rpm spin them at 1200 or so for 5 seconds. Then squeeze then with a terrycloth towel for extra measure.....rops:

Mc'lovin said:

Thanks BoobyG!

Problem with this solution however, is that I don't have a rotary
Is the Griot's capable of drying the pad on the Grit Guard insert?

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My answer is YES with the little extension.

I use Mike's method of cleaning your pad on the fly. I get an all purpose towel and place it over the pad after you finishing running the machine in the pad washer. Then grip the pad and turn the machine on speed 1-2 and it will dry out fairly well.

Easy, what I do is after the pad is clean is make sure the pad is on tight, and turn the da on at speed six for about twenty seconds. The pad has never flown off in my experience. By then the pad is just about completely dry but squeezing it in a terry or microfiber cloth will get the last few drops of water out. I've done this method successfully many times.

Mc'lovin said:

Thanks BoobyG!

Problem with this solution however, is that I don't have a rotary
Is the Griot's capable of drying the pad on the Grit Guard insert?

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BoobyG..........Must be a new guy in town!! :laughing:

You can use an extension like Johny mentioned or just take the top off the bucket and work it without it. It will work just as good but without the cover you're apt to get a little wet....

BobbyG said:

without the cover you're apt to get a little wet....

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That's why you look like that in your avatar!?:laughing: :cheers:

Mc'lovin said:

:doh:

I sure hope that this is not the first time you encounter this typo online... if it is however, then it was bound to happen :laughing:

Thanks everyone for your advice, I'll report back!

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It does happen time to time and the responses I get are pretty funny!! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: rops:

Lift the pad up while still inside the pad washer and with the lid closed, run the polisher on the 5-6 speed setting and a lot of the water will sling out due to centrifugal forces.


Then do as Ryan states below...

rider9195 said:

I use Mike's method of cleaning your pad on the fly. I get an all purpose towel and place it over the pad after you finishing running the machine in the pad washer. Then grip the pad and turn the machine on speed 1-2 and it will dry out fairly well.

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Here's my article on how to clean your pad on the fly with a video...

How to clean your foam pad on the fly


Video: How to clean your pad on the fly

Here's a technique I've been showing for years on how to clean your pad quickly so you can get back to buffing out your car.









And here's even another option...

How to dry a foam pad after hand washing

After washing your foam buffing pads by hand the question often comes up,

How do I dry my foam pads?

Here's one way to dry your foam pads, please feel encouraged to find a way that works best for you.

Using a clean, dry cotton terry cloth towel or clean, dry microfiber waffle weave towel or any clean microfiber towel, roll your washed and rinsed pad up inside the towel.






Press the towel into the foam as you're folding the pad into the towel.







Then squeeze, squish and wring the towel which will force any excess water out of the foam and into the towel.






Afterwards, place your foam buffing pads upside down some place where they will stay clean where air can circulate around them and moisture can evaporate out of them.





And of course... more pads is better, after cleaning a pad, place it upside down someplace clean to dry and switch to a clean dry pad.


:xyxthumbs:

ihaveacamaro said:

Easy, what I do is after the pad is clean is make sure the pad is on tight, and turn the da on at speed six for about twenty seconds. The pad has never flown off in my experience. By then the pad is just about completely dry but squeezing it in a terry or microfiber cloth will get the last few drops of water out. I've done this method successfully many times.

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hi... im just curious.....wont the water hit the polisher and cause a short circuit?

Benziez said:

hi... im just curious.....wont the water hit the polisher and cause a short circuit?

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Good question and of course you want to be careful.

I have never had any issues with the pad washer and you should see Chris Lamb, the son of Doug Lamb, the owner and inventor of this pad wash at a car show as he washes pad after pad after pad all day long, all weekend long demonstrating how to use it.

Benziez said:

hi... im just curious.....wont the water hit the polisher and cause a short circuit?

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I use mine with the machine connected to a GFI outlet and have not experienced any problems. When used as directed there is not a lot of water that gets to the motor portion of the D/A or rotary machine as it is protected somewhat by the backing plate.
I think it is a good idea to have a towel handy to wipe the machine down on occasion to keep things as dry as possible.

Mc'lovin said:

Mike, Thanks for the amazing detailed response.
Could I ask, from your experience, have you tried cleaning a pad using the pad washer and then drying it and then use it immediately for polishing the next panel? Were you able to achieve a completely dry pad (or dry enough) so it could be immediately reused?
This is what interests me most.

Thanks as well to everyone I haven't thanked yet

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You can't get a pad 100% dry in that short amount of time, that is what you mean by the word completely correct?

You can get it dry enough to put it back into operation, I do what Ryan says he does, use the cleaning your pad on the fly method but not to clean the pad but to use a cotton terry cloth towel to absorb the water out of the foam.


Good question.

Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:

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What is that in the background Mike, a mop sink there at Autogeek?