How long before switching pads?

Alansr

Alansr

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A friend of mine just had his Challenger wet sanded and the body shop left some areas that needed to be cleaned up.

We washed and clayed it to start.
Then I used a GG6 with an
Orange pad/M205
White pad/Mcguires Ultimate Polish
Gold pad/Mcguires Ultimate Wax

I stopped and cleaned off the pads after each section (hood, Doors, Roof, Fenders, etc) with a brush and absorbent towel.
The pads got dirtier in some sections than others....

How often do you guys recommend changing the pads out when working on a vehicle? Also how many of the same color pads to you use on a single vehicle?

I forgot to get permission to put some of the pictures on here so I can't post any yet.
 
Usually 2-4 foam pads, 2 microfiber pads. You can notice the pad no longer wants to absorb product and becomes saturated, dusting greatly increases, or it's not cutting or polishing as it was before.

As for when to switch? Usually every 2 panels or so to let the other pad cool down as well. Or if you have a pad cleaner you can use it to let it dry.
 
I did a full correction today and used 3 cut pads total. I used the third and went back to the first since it was getting warm but wasn't dirty. I got into the habit of cleaning the pad after every pass. It is more time consuming, but it has eliminated the pad heat up issue i had in the past. I am no complete pro, but if my pad gets extra dirty after doing the roof or side pillars, I usually just end up not using that pad for the remainder of the detail. I usually try to keep at least 4 cut pads ready for use.

If I am just polishing after compound, I may just use one polishing pad, but sometimes I polish with a light cut pad to get correction and I would generally go through 2-3 pads depending on the damage.

Cleaning after every pass along with moderate use of product has helped my pad life a lot.
 
I watched a Mike video recently whereas after a lengthy pass he used a white mf towel in his left hand and put the buffing pad in the cloth and turned on the PC...it was amazing what came of in the mf cloth...then he reprimed and continued....looks like a great tip to me..I certainly will try it...it gives ya a good idea of whats coming off in real time.

:)
 
RPM said:
I watched a Mike video recently whereas after a lengthy pass he used a white mf towel in his left hand and put the buffing pad in the cloth and turned on the PC...it was amazing what came of in the mf cloth...then he reprimed and continued....looks like a great tip to me..I certainly will try it...it gives ya a good idea of whats coming off in real time.

:)
Click to expand...

Terry cloth towel not MF...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...ideos/53611-video-how-clean-your-pad-fly.html
 
i have about 4 orange pads which i use for a lot of vehicles and i find myself using 3 for a small car, and 4 for a full size sedan or suv/van.

I only have 2 white polishing pads so i need at least 1 more.
 
I feel kinda silly now reading the responses here, but I will usually go through 6 to 8 cutting pads on a detail depending on the size of the vehicle.

I clean on the fly after every section and work with 2 pads at a time, both primed and ready to cut. I work a section (say half the hood) swap to another pad (to allow pad 1 to cool down) and complete the hood. I then alternate between these 2 pads until they are too dirty/saturated.

Prime up another 2 and continue.... usually have to switch to 2 new pads 3 or 4 times per car
 
I have a mid size sedan and I usually go thru 3 cutting pads to do the entire car.

However, I think it depends on the chemical you are using. With Meg's UC, the pad tends to stay wetter and has a tendency to get caked (in the hands of an amateur that is) when compared to something like Chemical Guys #3. It also depends on how well you clean your pads on the fly.
 
Not silly at all--I follow the same process (never had a pad melt with this technique) and usually use 4-6 cutting pads per car with minimum of 4.


lawrenceSA said:
I feel kinda silly now reading the responses here, but I will usually go through 6 to 8 cutting pads on a detail depending on the size of the vehicle.

I clean on the fly after every section and work with 2 pads at a time, both primed and ready to cut. I work a section (say half the hood) swap to another pad (to allow pad 1 to cool down) and complete the hood. I then alternate between these 2 pads until they are too dirty/saturated.

Prime up another 2 and continue.... usually have to switch to 2 new pads 3 or 4 times per car
Click to expand...
 
It depends on the shape of the car. The first step is always the worst.
The other day I used 6 orange b&s pads for the first step, 3 white pads for the second step. 1 black pad for the last step. On a full correction
 
greatwhitenorth said:
It depends on the shape of the car. The first step is always the worst.
The other day I used 6 orange b&s pads for the first step, 3 white pads for the second step. 1 black pad for the last step. On a full correction
Click to expand...

How would you compare the performace of the B&S white pads compared to the B&S orange pads?? I use B&S orange and green and was contemplating the whites for heavy polishing on hard clears like VW.
 
I have never machine polished a car before but has anyone managed to do a full car on 1 cutting pad, 1 polishing pad, and one finishing pad? The Meg's soft buff 2.0 pads cost about $40 USD each here in New Zealand. I could go with CC pads as they are half the price here.
 
On most cars I use two cutting pads and two finishing pads.
I do clean them on the fly often though.
 
Oh that's not so bad. I will buy two of each and see how far that gets me.
 
lawrenceSA said:
I feel kinda silly now reading the responses here, but I will usually go through 6 to 8 cutting pads on a detail depending on the size of the vehicle.

I clean on the fly after every section and work with 2 pads at a time, both primed and ready to cut. I work a section (say half the hood) swap to another pad (to allow pad 1 to cool down) and complete the hood. I then alternate between these 2 pads until they are too dirty/saturated.

Prime up another 2 and continue.... usually have to switch to 2 new pads 3 or 4 times per car
Click to expand...

No, ur good bro. Pads are your friends. The more the merrier and you cant have enough. I always wash and clean mine almost every panel and swith it out to wash it and dry it. If I am lazy I will go through all my pads and wash them in the washing maching. it works good and cleans em up well. U are not silly but smart in using so many. I bet ur cut is quick and well. :xyxthumbs:
 
kiwi said:
I have never machine polished a car before but has anyone managed to do a full car on 1 cutting pad, 1 polishing pad, and one finishing pad? The Meg's soft buff 2.0 pads cost about $40 USD each here in New Zealand. I could go with CC pads as they are half the price here.
Click to expand...


Try looking up the LC Hydro pads. I like them better than Megs pads. I have both and many other brands that are not up to par. Don't like the hex or pitted pads anymore. Hydro is the ticket!:props:
 
kiwi said:
I have never machine polished a car before but has anyone managed to do a full car on 1 cutting pad, 1 polishing pad, and one finishing pad? The Meg's soft buff 2.0 pads cost about $40 USD each here in New Zealand. I could go with CC pads as they are half the price here.
Click to expand...
I have, I clean mine often though using the "on the fly" method. Guess I will be using at least two from now on :-)
 
stilltipping3 said:
Try looking up the LC Hydro pads. I like them better than Megs pads. I have both and many other brands that are not up to par. Don't like the hex or pitted pads anymore. Hydro is the ticket!:props:
Click to expand...

I'll give those Hydro's a go. Thanks for the suggestion!
 
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