How often do you change pads during a detail?

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bigdriver4u

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I wanted to take a quick poll on the number of pads people use while detailing cars with your DA's? Are you a single pad per panel type of guy, 1 pad per side or 1 pad per car. For the sake of converstation, lets assume you are applying a 1 step product like XMT 360. Personally, I use 2-3 pads per vechicle and have a pad washer to clean pads after every other panel.

Feel free to comment outside of the scope of a 1 step process.. IE... when compounding or applying a glaze. Thanks for the info.
 
Per step...on an average sized vehicle i'll usually use about 4 pads. Inbetween each pass i'll hit the pad with my conditioning brush to get excess product out.

In for other responses.
 
For each step in my process whether its compounding or polishing i try to use two pads per step. Its usually do one half and then swap pads to finish the other half of the car.
 
I average about four 5.5" pads and two 4" pads per car. I also clean them after every section.
 
It depends, when I was green I'd use the same pad per step for the entire car!

Depending what I'm using and how bad the car is, I've been using 2-3 pads per step.

For LSP I usually only need to use one pad- by now the surface is SUPER clean and the pad is loaded, no need to swap it out and waste product.
 
For polishing I use 3-4, 5.5" foam pads per car, plus a few 4" and maybe an MF pad or two.......I wipe them off after each section pass and keep an eye on buildup. May spritz a little conditioner too.
 
I usually use 5 or 6 5.5" CCS pads per step, or at least clean my pad thoroughly every other panel.

I find that it makes for a much easier time polishing as the pads cut faster and cleaner leaving less imperfections behind to go over again.
 
Now that I have a pad washer I generally use two of each type of pad. One pad is drying while the other is in use. Then I wash the one I am using and switch.
 
I use about 2-3 pads per step. I would probably use a new pad on every panel or every other panel if I had enough pads though.
 
oldmodman said:
Now that I have a pad washer I generally use two of each type of pad. One pad is drying while the other is in use. Then I wash the one I am using and switch.
Click to expand...

This is how I work as well. Usually I can get one pad out of half a mid size car.
 
Depends on the shape of the vehicle, the product being used, and the pads. When I'm doing an AIO I change very often because they seem to clog up pads quite quickly. On average I would say 4-5 pads per step.
 
Very interesting thread. So much to learn for the rookie (me)
 
Thanks everyone for their input. It's great to hear other peoples perspectives regarding a simple but yet important subject. We are all trying deliver a great end result.
 
I am cleaning the pad between sections ( panel or half hood / truck deck ).

From the posts in this thread, I would say I need to pull 2x the pads out of the Acro storage box and get my act together.

Would a truck or SUV be rotate the Pads through the wash 3 times or 4 ?
- If the drying while working is being used, is it do 1/3 or 1/4 of the larger vehicle ?

With that in mind, is this just for an AIO or Polish step ?
- or Compound and Polish steps if using something like Opti hyper products or Menz SIP & 106/83RD
For Glaze & LSP, there should be no reason to change out pads, at least that is the conjecture I have come up with now. Consider the source :laughing:
 
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