but they seem so aggressive with such large cells that the only result I've ever gotten from them is that they create so much marring that I just put them back in the cabinet after a test section with them.
They are aggressive and on most paint systems they will leave micro-marring or DA Haze just like abrasives can do when used with a DA Polisher.
But for when you want to remove some oxidation quickly and do so in one-step using a one-step cleaner/wax, on the right car they can be the right pad.
For any kind of quality work, a person would want to do a second polishing step using a less aggressive pad and product. You being an experienced professional know how to remove defects faster while leaving a nicer finish thus saving time while working forward in the process.
For this white Toyota Highlander, it was in horrendous shape due to lack of care. The owner, a nice guy and all is simply
not a "Car Guy" and that's why the paint was horrendous in the first place and I knew that the paint would only return to this same condition down the road.
Knowing the above, I knew since the paint was white and wouldn't show micro-marring (if any), that just getting the paint clean and shiny would be more than enough to make the owner happy and would still be doing the paint a HUGE favor versus nothing at all. Plus, doing a multiple-step to this Toyota would not be matching my services to the customer since a show car finish would never be maintained or appreciated in the right way.
I talk about this here,
A few tips on starting a part-time detailing business
Match your services to your customer
Would you say they work best with an all in one product containing a wax or sealant, or with an aggressive compound? If they can be of good use to me, I'd like to learn how to use them.
The way I used them for the Toyota was using a very aggressive pad with a non-aggressive one-step cleaner/wax, the result was via the pad and the abrasives in the cleaner/wax enough abrading power to chew off the dead, oxidized paint, remove a majority of the swirls and scratches and still leave a very nice looking, high gloss finish. Being white, it wasn't going to show any dulling that might have been left by the aggressive pad. To be honest I didn't see any dulling but I also didn't chemically strip the paint.
As for you're business model and work style, it could be they just won't work for you. They are a "tool" just like any other tool in your detailing arsenal of products and sometimes they can be the right tool for the job.
Next time I use this style of pad I'll remember this pad and chime back in...
