Mike
You have in the past recommended 5 pads for compound and 4 for polish, what is your recommendation for microfiber pads?
That's a good mix. The compounding pads take the most punishment.
In a perfect world, you would use one pad per panel for the compounding step assuming the paint is in need of major correction. The better the condition the paint the more area you can compound and still maintain efficient defect removal.
Microfiber is a very different animal compared to foam because the fibers themselves are a form of abrasive. This is also why you will tend to get micro-marring when you try to FINISH wit a microfiber pad on softer paint systems.
This article here was written with foam pads in mind and when using orbital polishers.
How many pads do I need to buff out my car?
I'm not a huge microfiber pad user as it simply doesn't fit my style of work. If I need to cut heavy and fast I use a wool pad on a rotary or a wool pad on the FLEX 3401.
Remember - the microfiber pad was taken from the OEM and introduced to the car detailing world by Meguiar's as a way to move the "production industry" away from rotary buffers and switch them over to much weaker dual action polishers. To make up for the lack of brute power provided by a rotary buffer FIBER pads were tailored to work with both oscillating action and specific abrasive formulas.
Meguiar's did a GREAT job with their attempt to change the industry and Jason Rose and his old team at Meguiar's should get the credit for this accomplishment. Their efforts paved the way for microfiber pads to be introduced by other companies and that's kind of where we're at now... lots of microfiber pad options on the market.
The key to using microfiber pads can be whittled down to two MAJOR factors.
1: Clean you pad often. This is vitally important as it 100% completely affects the performance of the entire buffing action - that is pad/product/tool/technique
2: Use GREAT abrasive technology. You can't get great results using mediocre products.
When using a fiber pad - the use of GREAT abrasive technology is even more important. I'm always surprised by how many guys think it's all about them and their technique as it relates to getting great results when it's really about the abrasive technology.
Currently in my poll, 58% of the people that answer the poll think it's them and their technique.
POLL - What's the number one most important factor when it comes to polishing paint?
Yet I show people, kids, girls, senior citizens and people of all ages in-between, that have NEVER used any machine to buff out paint and yet their very first time they get perfect results. Results that are just as good as the 58% that say it's all about "their" technique.
:laughing:
