How many pads for a truck?

[Rebelranger]

In the next couple of weeks, I'll be correcting and getting my 08 Tahoe nice and shiny.
My question is how may pads should I have on hand...How frequent will I need to swap to a new one?
Should I keep pads specific to my vehicles? That is -- use dedicated pads only for my Audi then dedicated pads only for my Tahoe and Maxima? In other words these pads would only touch their respective vehicles????

Using Griots DA and/or Flex 3401

I'm using the Wolfgang twins
followed by sealant
followed by Carnuba

:buffing:

 

[PAR Detailing]

I dont think you need seperate pads for each vehicle. I would have enough for a pad designated specifically for each product used with the buffer. Pads will last a really long time if you care for them properly.... Wash them right after you use them and they will last forever and they will look like new for a long time. Thats my opinion.

 

[Harleyguy]

I don't have pads that i dedicate just to my own cars and then one's i use on other cars.But i also know guys that do.What i do i make sure they are good and clean between use.And i try to use the same pad for the same product.I mark the pad on the side 105/then ones that have 205 etc.As far as pads you can never have enough you have three cars and not knowing how bad the swirls are.I would get at least three of each color from Orange for heavy swirls to blue for jeweling.You may not need an orange one and get away with white.
Remember start with a test spot and use the least aggressive product first.

 

[sparkie]

I don't have pads that i dedicate just to my own cars and then one's i use on other cars.But i also know guys that do.What i do i make sure they are good and clean between use.And i try to use the same pad for the same product.I mark the pad on the side 105/then ones that have 205 etc.As far as pads you can never have enough you have three cars and not knowing how bad the swirls are.I would get at least three of each color from Orange for heavy swirls to blue for jeweling.You may not need an orange one and get away with white.
Remember start with a test spot and use the least aggressive product first.

:iagree:Very well said....:xyxthumbs:

 

[AeroCleanse]

I use one pad per product and clean them as needed.

 

[Rebelranger]

I use one pad per product and clean them as needed.

How often are you changing pads. And when you clean, must they be totally dry when using again?

After I run through my first complete vehicle I'll understand this better

I have 3 of each Lake Country CCS pads

Orange
White
Red
Black
Green

 

[DubinDE]

When polishing I like to split the car into sections. Personally, I use a fresh pad each section but you could also just clean your pad when finished one section then move onto the next. Your pad doesn't have to be completely dry before using it again but you don't want it dripping wet either. After you clean it spin it for 30 seconds or so on your DA at a med/high speed and you'll be good to go.

The sections I split my car into are as follows

1) Roof, hood and trunk
2) Front bumper, fenders, front doors
3) Rear doors, rear quarter panels, rear bumper

Obviously you'd have to modify for different types of vehicles but you get the idea.

 

[ICEMAN]

i would prolly end up using 2 orange with my SIP and 2 white with my Nano... if it needed 2 stages

 

[AeroCleanse]

How often are you changing pads. And when you clean, must they be totally dry when using again?

After I run through my first complete vehicle I'll understand this better

I have 3 of each Lake Country CCS pads

Orange
White
Red
Black
Green

I have a padwasher so I get them as dry as possible using it then reuse them.

 

[Rebelranger]

I have an interest in the pad washer but since I only do this as a hobby now, I may wait. I got into this to keep me from the computer which I was on daily for hours, working and overclocking....
So I'm going to begin my detailing tomorrow.. Will take pics as I work and post after.

 

[OCDetails]

You only need one pad... you just want to have one on multiple polishers. lol That's how I wish I could attack every truck anyway.

The pad washer is a very important tool. I seriously don't know how I ever got along without it. Here is a review I did for it last year. After a year of using it I am SOOOOOOOO glad I finally broke down and got one. It is one of the most valuable tools in my garage as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

In the next couple of weeks, I'll be correcting and getting my 08 Tahoe nice and shiny.
My question is how may pads should I have on hand...How frequent will I need to swap to a new one?

Using Griots DA and/or Flex 3401

I'm using the Wolfgang twins
followed by sealant
followed by Carnuba

:buffing:

Here's a post I made recently here that talks about how many pads I used when using a FIRST generation Porter Cable as it didn't have the power to keep wet pads rotating under pressure.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...illips/21942-wg-tsr-fg-pc-7335-technique.html

When I went to buff out a 1954 Corvette for Corvette Mike I took lots of extra polishing pads because at that time the only DA style polishers available were the first generation polishers and I knew as my pads became wet with product they would stop rotating and the job would take longer. This car had an antique lacquer paint job on it so I didn't want to use rotary buffer but instead play it safe and use the PC.


I count 7 yellow polishing pads in the below picture, as one pad would quit rotating effectively I would swap it out to a clean, dry pad.

I have extensive before pictures documenting how horribly scratched, swirled and water-spotted the paint was on this car but here's a few after shots...

I'm happy to say the Griot's, the PCXP and the new G110v2 have all over come this problem and can now easily keep most pads rotating under pressure even as they become wet with product.

That said, if the paint is neglected then you're be removing impurities and a little paint and your pads will get a build-up of spent product on them, so you'll want to clean your pads as you work around the Tahoe or switch to clean, dry pads.

To clean them you can use this technique,

How to clean your foam pad on the fly

Wash them in a bucket or in a sink and rinse them out

Get a pad washer and wash them on the fly

 

[Rebelranger]

Thanks Mike this really helps. I think I'm going to take the plunge and get a pad cleaning system..