cleaning pads during use

M

MAXBKS

New member
Joined
Jan 16, 2019
Messages
80
Reaction score
0
Hello Mike

Just getting started on detailing with da polisher and only have one pad of each phase.
Seen the video on cleaning pads when you are done but not sure about like when you are part way
thru your project.
Do you dry clean it with just the brush or can you wash it out and continue to use it
a little wet. Love the info on here and can't wait to get started. Still waiting for all my supplies I just ordered.

Thanks, Max
 
Don't use the pads wet with the DA. They will get hot in the center quickly due to the moisture and cause pad failure. You can maybe do 3-4 panels with 1 pad if you are really cleaning the pad face with a brush and a towel well, but you have to worry about heat building up in that over worked pad as it gets more and more saturated with polish. Then a proper cleaning is warranted. You can press the pad in between 2 towels and then spin the pad on the DA, with a drill or a rotary polisher to get the pad as dry as possible. However, you will still need to allow some time for the inside of the pad to dry out. So schedule your work breaks around that.
 
Onr and mf towel, turn the polisher on speed 4, I usually do that after every panel or section


Sent from my iPhone using AGOnline
 
Max welcome to detailing.
You are going to need more pads.
Try different pads to see what you like. Also depends on the polisher you use.
I use i pad per panel and clean each after the panels use. Saves time and eliminates cleaning a bunch of pads at the same time.
There are many ways to clean the pads. I like compressed air the best for foam pads but a toothbrush does a good job, just spin up the pad and lightly run the brush across the pad.
 
yea, rmagnus, after a lot of reading I had come to realize that I would need more pads since it sounds like sometimes they don't hold together all that well and you can only clean a couple panels before they need to be cleaned. This is getting kinda pricey to get started compared to when I tried bar claying a couple years ago. Hope the results of detailing make me as happy as the results of bar claying.
 
MAXBKS said:
yea, rmagnus, after a lot of reading I had come to realize that I would need more pads since it sounds like sometimes they don't hold together all that well and you can only clean a couple panels before they need to be cleaned. This is getting kinda pricey to get started compared to when I tried bar claying a couple years ago. Hope the results of detailing make me as happy as the results of bar claying.
Click to expand...

Pads actually last quite a while but many factors come into play. The quickest way to kill a pad is over heat it by using too much speed and pressure and perhaps not enough product. You can start out with 2-3 pads for compounding and polishing and 1 for wax application. It really depends on what you need. What polisher do you plan to use?
 
MAXBKS said:
Hello Mike

Just getting started on detailing with da polisher and only have one pad of each phase.

Seen the video on cleaning pads when you are done but not sure about like when you are part way thru your project.

Do you dry clean it with just the brush or can you wash it out and continue to use it a little wet.

Love the info on here and can't wait to get started. Still waiting for all my supplies I just ordered.

Thanks, Max
Click to expand...


Hi Max,

Great questions.

I would have wrote what DBAILEY wrote below but probably would have been more long winded. :)


DBAILEY said:
Don't use the pads wet with the DA. They will get hot in the center quickly due to the moisture and cause pad failure.

You can maybe do 3-4 panels with 1 pad if you are really cleaning the pad face with a brush and a towel well, but you have to worry about heat building up in that over worked pad as it gets more and more saturated with polish.

Then a proper cleaning is warranted. You can press the pad in between 2 towels and then spin the pad on the DA, with a drill or a rotary polisher to get the pad as dry as possible. However, you will still need to allow some time for the inside of the pad to dry out. So schedule your work breaks around that.
Click to expand...


Big Picture

Foam pads buff best when dry. Pad saturation is a PROBLEM. This is especially true when doing any correction work or when using a AIO or cleaner/wax.

If you look at most of my write-ups, I ALWAYS show a picture of how many pads I used for any given project. I do this to try to teach others that buffing out a car fast and being efficient at removing defects means using lots of pads. Turning out pro quality results fast also means having lots of pads.


Let your budget be your guide.

Also - when you switch to a clean dry pad often your pads will last longer. When you buff and buff and buff with one or two pads you PUNISH the pads and they simply give up the ghost sooner than later.


None of the above is true with microfiber pads, just foam.


:)
 
A few more...



Look at the number of pads used for a cleaner/wax in this thread,

1965 Cadillac - Original Single Stage Paint - Slam job by Mike Phillips




Look at the number of pads used in for this old 2-door Plymouth

How to use Griot's Garage to detail your car - A detail job Richard Griot would be proud of!





For everyone that will read this into the future - every time I share one of my detail jobs - pay attention to the pictures. I always show how many pads I used plus most of the other tools and products.




:)
 
rmagnus said:
Pads actually last quite a while but many factors come into play. The quickest way to kill a pad is over heat it by using too much speed and pressure and perhaps not enough product. You can start out with 2-3 pads for compounding and polishing and 1 for wax application. It really depends on what you need. What polisher do you plan to use?
Click to expand...

Porter Cable 7424XP I'm going to get 3 more pads each of compound and polishing before I start anything. Thanks
When you scroll to the bottom of this thread there is a list of similar threads. Cleaning pads on the fly is what I was looking for. Dbailey and Dereksdetail had it right just didn't quite understand till video's and pic's
Thanks everyone
 
Last edited:
The correct answers have been provided. You can never have too many pads.

I have, in the long distant past, used 1 pad to buff out a car. One panel and a wet, soapy clean after makes for a loonngg cut/buff session. And that was a thorough fresh water flush, ring out, spin dry on my rotary and MF towel sandwich dry.

2 six packs, 1 orange LC thin pros and another of white LC thin pros should serve you well. You mentioned you already have a wax pad.
 
Paul A. said:
The correct answers have been provided. You can never have too many pads.

I have, in the long distant past, used 1 pad to buff out a car. One panel and a wet, soapy clean after makes for a loonngg cut/buff session. And that was a thorough fresh water flush, ring out, spin dry on my rotary and MF towel sandwich dry.

2 six packs, 1 orange LC thin pros and another of white LC thin pros should serve you well. You mentioned you already have a wax pad.
Click to expand...

This. If you have a large vehicle you might have to clean and reuse one on the fly, but you should be pretty good to go. Keep an eye out for a good sale (they just had a 25% off) and buy as Paul A suggests.

I started with a 6 pack. Next time I had 18. Now I have about 30 because I went from the CCS pads to the thin pros.
 
another way to clean pads..

after spent pad is pulled off the flex .. I hit it with several sprays of WG pad cleaner and they pile up on the worktable until end of day.

clean all pads at once in a 5 gallon bucket..toss them in ..dunk them ..squeeze fold them over ..repeat..repeat …
usually about 20 mins to clean a days worth of pads.
 
Friday night I took my 3 pad starter kit and did the hood on my wife's black Mazda CX-5 and man did it ever turn out nice.
Took some of the buyers remorse away that I was feeling about having almost $200 in this little adventure and still no having enough equipment to do much.

Today a small calvary came to the rescue in the form of 3 orange and 3 green ccs lake country pads.
So should have enough to do half a car at a time for a while until I spring for the 12 pack pick and choose sold here on
auto geek.

according to LC aggressive chart green is halfway between orange and the black wax pad. Is this a good choice or would white be better for the polishing as Paul A uses or is there much difference.

Thanks for all the input, all has been helpful, Max
 
Max
everytime I place an order with autogeek I pick up a new pad. most the time I wait for a sale or free shipping. but I always pick up at least one favorite pad. before you know it you'll have a pretty good supply. I keep them clean & let them air dry inside my cabinet. once I'm sure their 100 % dry I'll store them in plastic bin or bag. I don't let them dry in the garage or basement. you'd be surprised how much dust & dirt will settle on the face of your pads. I think I've only tossed out two pads in the last three years. good luck.
Carlo
 
My first gig with my new Porter Cable. Wife's 2016 Mazda CX-5

Always liked to keep the cars clean, discovered bar clay couple of years ago and that was a big improvement but this buffing is all new level.
841ba52c9998d9b30a0ac8b38c58070a.jpg
7af66fa4656cf56fae9088683677ccf5.jpg
6cf4223ac5cec1a6c02b25175c2e1b71.jpg
d029f68d0d6119804a1e5ff365801003.jpg


Sent from my XT1565 using Tapatalk
 
SWETM said:
Great work on the CX-5!

/ Tony
Click to expand...

Thanks for the compliment Tony but I'm sure if examined up close there is probably plenty still wrong with it.

Bought this car about 3 months ago from my daughter who bought it new while living at the beach. The car was parked right off the sand
and with the moist night air and steady breeze the car would look almost tan at times for lack of steady washing. It had some horrific
water spots/etching on front hood and top. Wish I had of taken some close up pics before I started.

products used...nanoskin 7x7" towel and wolfgang uber for lubricant...Griots complete compound-Griots complete polishing...
collinite 845 and uber as a quick detail. I'm happy with results first time out of the gate.

Oh, I started this thread whining and crying about having to buy more pads so here is my update on that.
Started with Meguires starter pack 1orange/1white/1black...since have added LC CCS 3orange/3green...LC flats 3/orange/3white
LC thin pro 2grey/5orange/5white and another black pad for waxing bought off the outlet LC hybrid i think. A real smorgasboard of pads. All 5.5"

Thanks to everyone for the help and suggestions
Max
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top