How to differentiate DA foam pads types?

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tedhw

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I have a pack of 6 different DA foam pads. They are generic, non-branded pads with different colours and thickness. And as far as I can tell they all have similar densities.

How do I differentiate which one is used for which level of cuts? (heavy cut, light cut, finishing, etc)

If you have branded pads like Megs / Lake Country, can you describe the difference between each pads (except the colors of course)?
 
There aren't really that many pad mfrs, can you tell us what colors you have? Or do you have a picture?
 
In my how to book I recommend taking the time to visit the manufacturer and learning their color code system.

Detailing How-To Book and Detailing How-To E-book by Mike Phillips


Since there is no universal color code system that is truly the only way to find out what type of pads you have outside of asking the on the AGO forum like you've done.

Like Mike aka Setec Astronomy posted, share some pictures and you'll get a lot more help...


:xyxthumbs:
 
Ok thanks guys, here are the pictures of the pads.. they are all 6"

As you see there are no reference of the mfg, model, etc. So how do I know which one is which?

Thing is those pads are quite affordable so I use them as practise for now and I can always step up to the better ones later!

View attachment 18170

View attachment 18171

View attachment 18172
 
From what I can gather from my LC pads, the cutting pads are firmer and the finishing pads are softer.
 
Ha ha, that's quite an assortment. What are those thick ones, like 2"?? Yellow pads like that are almost always cutting pads. Black are usually finishing pads, but for some mfrs black is cutting, if they seem really soft, as c8n said, they are probably finishing pads.

The blue and the pink...pink is pretty unusual, there is that LC pink, which is a very light cutting pad. Blue is usually a finishing pad, and white is usually polishing, although in the Edge system white is a finishing.
 
Yeah the thick one is 5cm so it's 2"

They all feels to have the same density and texture, and if so, do you think the thicker ones are likely for cutting (most aggressive) and thinner ones for finishing?

You can see the thin black one looks squashed and overused after I tried it once for cutting.. so I guess its just a finishing pad!
 
Are you in the US? If not that makes it a bit more difficult to figure things out, but usually thinner pads would be considered more aggressive.
 
Are they ZFE pads like the ones here Aliexpress.com : Buy 5x6"High Gross Polishing&Buffer Pad+1 Grip Backing pad from Reliable backing pads suppliers on ZFE Stores?

I got a bunch with my ZFE polisher in this kit Aliexpress.com : Buy New 710W Dual Action Machine Car Polisher/Buffer/Sander from Reliable car machine polisher suppliers on ZFE Stores

All I could do was feel/squash them for coarseness and firmness and check vs the pad descriptions in some of the other the store items. The waffle ones don't seem to cut as much as the flat ones.
 
tedhw said:
I have a pack of 6 different DA foam pads. They are generic, non-branded pads with different colors and thickness. And as far as I can tell they all have similar densities.
Click to expand...


I've seen pads like that before. I have know way of telling you what each one will do as far as cut and finish but in simple terms, the harder or stiffer the foam the chances are better it's for cutting.

The soft or less stiff the foam then it's for polishing or waxing.

Be sure to mark the back of your backing plate and make sure you see your pad rotating if you're trying to remove defects.

Those pads look like they are too thick to be of much use especially after they start to get wet with product. This is a sign the pad manufacture either doesn't know what they are doing or they are not up to speed with the industry because when it comes to DA Polishers like the Porter Cable..

Thin is in...


Video: Mark your backing plate to make it easy to see pad rotation


MarkYourBackingPlate01.jpg


Here's a quick video that show how and why to mark your backing plate to see and monitor pad rotation while doing any correction or polishing steps.



[video=youtube_share;QM8PnDooZP8&hd=1"]How To Check Pad Rotation on a DA Polisher -...[/video]​



It's also important to maintain pad rotation with PC style tools when using a one-step cleaner/wax or AIO type product on neglected paint.

It's not vital to maintain pad rotating when applying a finishing wax or finishing paint sealant to a finish that you've just buffed out.

Note: Finishing Waxes and Finishing Paint Sealants would be of the type that don't offer any cleaning or abrading ability.


See my article here,

The Difference Between a Cleaner/Wax and a Finishing Wax
Subtitle: How To Choose The Right Wax or Paint Sealant for your Detailing Project



Also see these videos...

Video: How to remove shallow RIDS and how to machine apply both a paint sealant and a finishing wax


Video: How to buff tight areas plus concave and convex curved panels by machine


Video: Tips for using a Rotary Buffer and the Flex 3401 on vertical panels



:xyxthumbs:
 
kaanage said:
Are they ZFE pads like the ones here Aliexpress.com : Buy 5x6"High Gross Polishing&Buffer Pad+1 Grip Backing pad from Reliable backing pads suppliers on ZFE Stores?
Click to expand...

Yes I got them from that same seller.

I was confused because it feels as if they are all made from the same density foam, the only differences are just the thickness and color. :confused:

Since they are not very dense they becomes much thinner when pressure is applied during use.

Anyway I have now switched to LC CCS foam pads and keeping it simple with just 3 colors: orange, white and black. And yes I can now tell the difference in densities between different pads. :thumbup:
 
tedhw said:
Ok thanks guys, here are the pictures of the pads.. they are all 6"

As you see there are no reference of the mfg, model, etc. So how do I know which one is which?

Thing is those pads are quite affordable so I use them as practise for now and I can always step up to the better ones later!

View attachment 18170

View attachment 18171

View attachment 18172
Click to expand...

You work with them in a test section while determining which ones finish nicely and if you get one that leaves a haze on the paint it's probably a heavier cutting pad, make a note of it and which color it is etc.

That's one way to figure it out. The other way would be to make as many phone calls as is necessary (to the vendor) until you get to the manufacturer or someone else who knows something about the product they're selling.

I personally think putting the pads to the paint is the best way to figure out what pad will do what on what job.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Ha ha, that's quite an assortment. What are those thick ones, like 2"?? Yellow pads like that are almost always cutting pads. Black are usually finishing pads, but for some mfrs black is cutting, if they seem really soft, as c8n said, they are probably finishing pads.

The blue and the pink...pink is pretty unusual, there is that LC pink, which is a very light cutting pad. Blue is usually a finishing pad, and white is usually polishing, although in the Edge system white is a finishing.
Click to expand...

They're probably made of whatever foam the manufacturer could get cheapest from a general wholesaler of foam, with no real testing of any sort behind any of the colors. It's probably the mindset that if it looks like a buffing pad it will sell to someone as a buffing pad.

Test section is the only way in my book. They'll probably all end up in the bottom of the least favorite pads bin after the OP tries some pads specifically designed for automotive paint.
 
tedhw said:
I have a pack of 6 different DA foam pads. They are generic, non-branded pads with different colours and thickness. And as far as I can tell they all have similar densities.

How do I differentiate which one is used for which level of cuts? (heavy cut, light cut, finishing, etc)

If you have branded pads like Megs / Lake Country, can you describe the difference between each pads (except the colors of course)?
Click to expand...
Different color-Pads usually have different amount of pores per square inch...as well as differently-sized pore wall thicknesses, pores that are "closed or open", and pad height/thickness, among other manufacturer specific factors.

If you can't determine the pad manufacturer, or their amount-of-cut color system,
I can only suggest to:
-Take a pretty good strength magnifying glass and try counting each pad's number of pores p/sq. in. (you may even be able to determine "closed or open");
-"Test Spot" these pads' colors against another pad manufacture's similarly colored pad.


Bob
 
Firstly i don,t know about it.But after read this thread i familiar with it.Your suggestion a good to take the pads of different densities and used it easily.The color differentiation helps a lot in this matter but the cutting is major problem but by the link it cut off easily.I like it.
 
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