How do you know whens pads are worn out?

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Hey guys,

I have a Griot's that I use the Lake Country 5.5" Flat Pads (blue, white, orange, yellow). I have a new truck so I only ever need to use the white and blue pads. I am just wondering how you guys know when the pads are worn out? How much use do you guys typically get out of pads? I have an F-150 four door so it has A LOT of surface area and probably wears out pads quicker than if I was detailing a little car. Pads aren't exactly cheap so I like to make sure I am using them up before I throw them out.
 
The more often you rotate them out during a paint correction the less heat build up and the better the results. This also extends the longevity of the pads. Heat kills pads.
 
I would think they should last you a while if you do as said above. Keep them clean, rotate, and do not over saturate with product which will contribute to heat build up.

Try to stay away from raised letters and badges with sharp edges as they can take chunks of foam off. It won't effect their performance though.
 
Do foam pads ever really "wear out"?

I know they can become damaged, cooked, shredded, de-laminated, contaminated, etc...

But do they wear out?

IMHO, to a significant degree - No.

If the Velcro is good, and the pad is clean and true (no chunks missing) it should work fine.

Maybe not as good as day 1. But a significant difference? I doubt it.
 
Thanks a lot for the feedback guys!
 
For me, it's when the velcro doesn't stick, and/or the center caves in.
 
I watched 1 of Gary Deans vids and he said something about how he gets about 6 good uses out of a pad before he chucks it... At the same time he raves about how Buff & Shine pads are the only ones he uses because in his experience they are the most durable, longest lasting pads compared to all the others... That doesn't make any sense to me though.. It could just be that he is extra picky for his own reasons about pads, but if that's not the case and those pads show noticable degradation after just 6 uses, then they sure must suck.
 
Eldorado2k said:
I watched 1 of Gary Deans vids and he said something about how he gets about 6 good uses out of a pad before he chucks it... At the same time he raves about how Buff & Shine pads are the only ones he uses because in his experience they are the most durable, longest lasting pads compared to all the others... That doesn't make any sense to me though.. It could just be that he is extra picky for his own reasons about pads, but if that's not the case and those pads show noticable degradation after just 6 uses, then they sure must suck.
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he states that he uses 1 pad for the entire car. Once its caked with product, he'll stop to clean it and then continue on with the car. He said in one of his videos that he can do an entire 4 door sedan washing the same pad 3 times. So he gets 6 total cars out of a single pad. That's pretty good if you ask me.
 
wn1998 said:
he states that he uses 1 pad for the entire car. Once its caked with product, he'll stop to clean it and then continue on with the car. He said in one of his videos that he can do an entire 4 door sedan washing the same pad 3 times. So he gets 6 total cars out of a single pad. That's pretty good if you ask me.
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Oh ok... I didn't know all that.
 
wn1998 said:
he states that he uses 1 pad for the entire car. Once its caked with product, he'll stop to clean it and then continue on with the car. He said in one of his videos that he can do an entire 4 door sedan washing the same pad 3 times. So he gets 6 total cars out of a single pad. That's pretty good if you ask me.
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I personally don't agree with that method. Once the pad is loaded up, like these I used on a 4 door Chevy truck, you can only get so much out of the pad. The pad becomes less effective and your basically scrubbing your paint with junk and gunk. The cleanliness and freshness of the pad has everything to do with the effectiveness of the pad and product. I get a lot more than 6 uses out of my buff and shine and or LC pads. But too each there own.




Look at the junk built up on this pad, and it was cleaned on the fly. Would you really want to be rubbing that stuff all over your clear coat?

 
He states that he fully cleans the pad then spins it dry and then continues to use it. Not just clean on the fly.

I personally like to use 4-6 cutting pads and wash them all at the end. Usually can get away with 1 or 2 polishing pads after a cut step or 4-6 for a single step correction.
 
David Hayward said:
He states that he fully cleans the pad then spins it dry and then continues to use it. Not just clean on the fly.
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I think I had that video on while I was organizing my stuff back into the cabinets or something.. I totally missed out on those details. The main thing I do remember is how he sprays his pads with his Infinite Juice Cleaner and then sprays them clean with the hose.. Very similar to my method of cleaning pads except I use the DP/McKee's Pad Cleaner.. I find myself agreeing with just about everything he says. He seems like a really cool dude in my book.
 
I've found that when they launch themselves from the machine and end up somewhere unexpected, it's time to let them go.
 
Eldorado2k said:
I think I had that video on while I was organizing my stuff back into the cabinets or something.. I totally missed out on those details. The main thing I do remember is how he sprays his pads with his Infinite Juice Cleaner and then sprays them clean with the hose.. Very similar to my method of cleaning pads except I use the DP/McKee's Pad Cleaner.. I find myself agreeing with just about everything he says. He seems like a really cool dude in my book.
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Yea he has some very real world practical info. I agree on most of his stuff. He's not out there spending all his effort to sell things. He's being realistic and showing you it can be done without a lot of extras. I can't stand all these pad washers. None of them work anywhere near as well as doing it by hand. That's my biggest purchase regret. A pad washer.
 
My pads seem to last for a complete polish of the car. I clean after each section and make sure they are properly lubed. The one exception is on plastic bumpers. The heat on the center is enough to make the glue release from the backing plate in short order. I switch to fresh pad to do plastic and reduce force and speed accordingly.
 
^Ahh...metal spikes imbedded in the pad!!!

"When the pad is worn out, the foam breaks down, then the metal spines penetrate the cloth, and leave a visual indication on your vehicle, so you know when it's time to replace the pad!"

Oh, and ahh....outside links!!!
 
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