Do you need to maintain pad rotation when machine waxing?

Jacob Harrod AUTOCLEAN

Jacob Harrod AUTOCLEAN

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Do you need to maintain pad rotation when machine waxing?


I personally think it may depend on the product you are using. The waxing pad has absolutely no cutting ability so maybe some products work better with pad rotation? Do you think that for the most part you just turn the machine on and spread it out utilizing either the rotation and / or oscillation to apply a thin coat of product to the paint?

The reason I came up with this question is because I noticed my pad stalling on the lowest speed the other day when machine waxing a car and then I was like well maybe you and need pad rotation and oscillation

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Hey Jacob, you don’t NEED pad rotation when waxing, but I think you’ll find that when it is rotating, the polisher simply glides across the surface and lays down a uniform thin layer of wax.

When it’s not spinning, it’s not putting the full face of the pad to use to spread the product out. I also find that the pad will “stick” to the panel and the polisher won’t glide so nicely anymore.

I find myself using speed 2.5-3 generally with my DAs when applying waxes or sealants.
 
DMiglio said:
Hey Jacob, you don’t NEED pad rotation when waxing, but I think you’ll find that when it is rotating, the polisher simply glides across the surface and lays down a uniform thin layer of wax.

When it’s not spinning, it’s not putting the full face of the pad to use to spread the product out. I also find that the pad will “stick” to the panel and the polisher won’t glide so nicely anymore.

I find myself using speed 2.5-3 generally with my DAs when applying waxes or sealants.
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That's a pretty legit answer, and makes a lot of sense to me. Thank you brother!

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If the pad isn't spinning, it's dragging.

Think of when you hand-apply wax.

Do you load the applicator, then drag it across the paint?

No, of course not. You make small circles as you move your hand along.

Either way, hand or machine, rotation is the key. :)
 
You know what, I've never thought about this question before. I think I just prefer hand waxing. Like.. literaly.. rub wax (natural carnauba only) on my hands and do it by hand on the paint. :S
 
WillSports3 said:
You know what, I've never thought about this question before. I think I just prefer hand waxing. Like.. literaly.. rub wax (natural carnauba only) on my hands and do it by hand on the paint. :S
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I don't like where this is going, Will................ ;)
 
When machine applying a finishing wax or finishing sealant, this means any NON-CLEANING product - you don't NEED pad rotation.

You WANT a little pad rotating ONLY because it makes it easier on you to move the buffer over the paint.

See what I wrote in post #18 of this thread way back in 2014


https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101-a/83408-applying-lsp-da-2.html#post1142252

Mike Phillips said:
Pad rotation is not important all as far as applying and spreading out any finishing wax or finishing sealant, that is any non-cleaning LSP to a polished surface.

It has no effect at all as to the application of the product.

Having the pad rotate a little helps you to move the pad over the surface. With the Porter Cable, you need the speed setting to be the 4.0 to the 4.5 to get the pad to rotate a little while move the polisher over the surface. With the G110v2 I'd have to check but probably the same range. With the Griot's Garage probably around the 2 setting.


Here's the deal... using the Porter Cable as the example. If you have the speed setting below the 4.0 speed setting, say the 1, 2 or 3, when you try to move the polisher over the finish it will feel like the polisher is lagging or dragging behind. That's because the pad has too much grip to the paint.

By speeding up the polisher just enough so that the pad is rotating a little, you'll find the pad and thus the polisher in your hand, will more easily glide over the paint and this is what you want when trying to quickly spread out a thin, uniform layer or wax or sealant.

So pad rotation isn't important for the actual application of a non-cleaning LSP but it is helpful to make the pad glide over the paint easier.

Make sense?


I asked this same question back around 2004 or so to Mike Pennington at Meguiar's and it was he that shared the above with me as his experience when machine applying Gold Class Wax. Due credit where credit is due.

I tried the 4.0 speed setting like Mike Pennington said he used and I found he was correct so I 've been sharing that little tid bit on speed recommendations ever since.


As far a cleaning wax, that is a Cleaner/Wax or a Cleaner/Sealant, or a product that,

  1. Cleans
  2. Polishes
  3. Protects
Because you're relying on the chemical cleaners and/or the chemical cleaners plus abrasives to do the cleaning and abrading aspect of the one-step process, NOW pad rotation is necessary.

In fact, without pad rotation on a dual action polisher like the PC "type", when using a one-step cleaner/wax or AIO as some like to call them, you won't get any work done.


We go over both styles of machine waxing in my detailing boot camp classes. That is we always apply our waxes by machine and we do both type, machine waxing with a non-cleaning wax and with a cleaner/wax as I cover both show car detailing and production detailing.

Show Car Detailing = Machine applying a non-cleaning wax.

Production Detailing = Machine applying a cleaner/wax
​
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Note I give DUE CREDIT to the person I learned this info about - I never presented it as my own.



:cheers:
 
Mike Phillips said:
When machine applying a finishing wax or finishing sealant, this means any NON-CLEANING product - you don't NEED pad rotation.

You WANT a little pad rotating ONLY because it makes it easier on you to move the buffer over the paint.

See what I wrote in post #18 of this thread way back in 2014


https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101-a/83408-applying-lsp-da-2.html#post1142252




Note I give DUE CREDIT to the person I learned this info about - I never presented it as my own.



:cheers:
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Excellent!!! I'll definitely check it out! I genuinely appreciate the response!!!

Thanks Mike!

Cheers brother.

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Mike Phillips said:
When machine applying a finishing wax or finishing sealant, this means any NON-CLEANING product - you don't NEED pad rotation.

You WANT a little pad rotating ONLY because it makes it easier on you to move the buffer over the paint.

See what I wrote in post #18 of this thread way back in 2014


https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101-a/83408-applying-lsp-da-2.html#post1142252




Note I give DUE CREDIT to the person I learned this info about - I never presented it as my own.



:cheers:
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Mike Pennington sounds like an awesome and intelligent guy!

I went back and read your post and also thank you for sharing my post there.

I machine waxed a big silver Expedition the other day and my arms were turbo smoked after. I guess detailing gets you into shape!


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