My Lake Country Pads

route66detail

route66detail

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Hey guys its Rob (Route 66 Mobile Detail) again. I hope you have all had a great weekend. I had drill (with the Navy Reserves working on the Boeing 737) this weekend so my weekend was pretty jammed up.
I have a question about my pads. So far I've detailed 2 vehicles with the white pads. (One for each vehicle). I'm concerned about the condition of the pads as I progressed with the jobs.
As I was towards the end of the process (one step cleaner wax XMT 360), I noticed the pads were looking a bit darkish. You could see the pink spots where I placed the pea sized dabs of product after I of course PRIMED the pads. BUT....throughout the pad otherwise.... there seems to be darker (grayish) something going on all over the pads. Ill put a picture on here asap.
I'm curious as to what I've done wrong if anything. Have I completely botched the exterior cleaning to get these results on my pads? I thought I did a pretty good job cleaning the vehicle but I'm not naïve to think I may NOT have.

Anyone get these results on your pads after using them on a DA polisher? Please help. I couldn't help but feeling like a turd bag when I saw this.

Rob- Route 66 Mobile Detail
 
To me it seems like it could be two things

A. You Over loaded the pads and the color is from the excess amount of dried up product?

B. The Cleaner wax was doing its job and cleaning the surface and what you saw on the pad was coming from the paint.

I copied and pasted the below content from mike article.. http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...erence-between-cleaner-wax-finishing-wax.html


Cleaner/Waxes
A product that cleans, polishes and protects and contains natural protection ingredients like Carnauba.


Finishing Waxes
A product that offers no cleaning ability with the focus on maximizing beauty with the protection based upon naturally occurring ingredients.
 
Your pads are eventually going to dis-color from use. If you have cleaned the pad and it is not falling apart (eventually it will), IMO you are OK.

If you are polishing (AIO) with one pad IMO you are saturating the pad and eventually their is too much product on the pad and soon you will lose the effectiveness in polishing (AIO). Instead of putting the "pea size" drops of polish (AIO) on the pad for the next pass; just spritz the pad with a QD or RW and do a section pass. It would be like you put pea size drops on it when you are working.

If it were me I would be using more pads per vehicle. Maybe 2 per car with AIO. That way you will have less "pad saturation". BTW, you will know when your pad is near the end of its life...it will start shredding and the glue on the backing plate side starts to fall off. It will take a while for that to happen but it will (it has happened to me).

I hope this helps. Have an awesome day and pleas post pics when you are done!
 
Perfectly normal, pads get dirty and wear out over time. Don't be concerned about it, just clean them well between each use and they will last a long time. Getting them too hot is much more of a concern than them being dirty/stained.

I have a ton of CCS pads that I have literally used on 100+ vehicles and they are still going like a boss.
 
As usual... You guys amaze me with your help. Thank you! I will post pictures. I was worried about it but now... Not at all. I was ready to get rid of the pads. You all have a great, successful week!

Rob- Route 66 Mobile Detail
 
I have to ask (nicely)...You are using more than 2 pads aren't you?

If not, you might REALLY want step up to using more. They will still get stained, but won't get loaded down with product and whatever. Easier for you that way also.

As to staining...I've have few that could pass for gray vice white. Came from kissing the black rubber trim(s) on sun roofs mostly.

Bill
 
What's up Bill. Actually no. Been using one per vehicle. So I should be using at least 2? Please help. That's why I'm on here. Lol.... How many should I be using for an RV (say 35 foot with decent paint or gel coat), Boat (25 ft consol)? Thanks for your help.

Rob- Route 66 Mobile Detail
 
route66detail said:
What's up Bill. Actually no. Been using one per vehicle. So I should be using at least 2? Please help. That's why I'm on here. Lol.... How many should I be using for an RV (say 35 foot with decent paint or gel coat), Boat (25 ft consol)? Thanks for your help.

Rob- Route 66 Mobile Detail
Click to expand...

I've never done an TV, but I use at least 5 pads a step (3x 5.5 inch and 2x 4 inch pads).

People say pads are expensive, but they'll last a long time - especially if your use more and don't let the heat build up.

Clean on the fly after EVERY pass and rotate pads if they get hot and the pads will finish and cut faster. This leads to getting the job done faster as well.
 
route66detail said:
What's up Bill. Actually no. Been using one per vehicle. So I should be using at least 2? Please help. That's why I'm on here. Lol.... How many should I be using for an RV (say 35 foot with decent paint or gel coat), Boat (25 ft consol)? Thanks for your help.

Rob- Route 66 Mobile Detail
Click to expand...

IMO you should be using at least 2 per car. Possibly 3. That way you will actually finish the job faster as the pads will be more effective in doing what they are supposed to do. Less chances of Pad saturation which will actually slow your detailing down.

As for that RV and boat...at least 4 to 6....my guess. Never worked on either...but IMO the same concept applies as to a car...less pad saturation is a good thing!

Again, please post pics when you are done!!

:dblthumb2:
 
CJ.... Won't I be able to use these pads again? For another job? What will they be good for? I've been told they can be used until they break apart. Is it that they are too saturated at the moment? Use again as normal when they dry? Honestly asking.

Rob- Route 66 Mobile Detail
 
route66detail said:
CJ.... Won't I be able to use these pads again? For another job? What will they be good for? I've been told they can be used until they break apart. Is it that they are too saturated at the moment? Use again as normal when they dry? Honestly asking.

Rob- Route 66 Mobile Detail
Click to expand...

You will be able to use those pads again no problem. Just clean them real good for future use. I have used the same pads for at least 6 to 10+ times. The dis-coloration is the only thing you will notice. My White pad has some grey spots in it (Menzerna SF4500). That will be normal as you will not get a pad 100% clean IMO. You will get it clean enough for the next job...again normal usage.

You will know when the pads are near its end of life. The pad itself will literally start falling apart. Bits and pieces of foam will start coming off when you are polishing. The glue on the back of the pad will start coming off too. In my experience, it is the White Pads that seem to fall apart. The Orange pads I use are still going strong.

The only thing that I can think of is that pads do have a limited life especially if you are doing quite a bit of detailing. Maybe the White Lake Country Pads more so...either way when it happens I just buy more. Lake Country is happy when I do...LOL.
 
Pads can last for years if taken care of and rotated regularly. I just counted up, I have 55 misc pads, and am ordering about 14 more for the Boss. I have used up to 15 pads on one car. It just goes faster if you can swap them out regularly.
 
route66detail said:
What's up Bill. Actually no. Been using one per vehicle. So I should be using at least 2? Please help. That's why I'm on here. Lol.... How many should I be using for an RV (say 35 foot with decent paint or gel coat), Boat (25 ft consol)? Thanks for your help.

Rob- Route 66 Mobile Detail
Click to expand...

I see that the guys have answered your question(s)...that's a good thing!

When doing and RV/boat...for me it was at LEAST half dozen pads just for the initial 'cutting.' Heat is the bane to foam pads and when doing RV/boats heat will build FAST! You need to stop, do a 'clean on the fly' and swap out for a fresh one.

Have you noticed that most of the folks here have a boat load (no pun intended) of different pads. It's just one of those things where one needs a lot of 'something' to accomplish the job at hand.

Make sense?

Bill
 
Yes thank you to everyone. More pads. Makes total sense. A saturated pad will loose its cutting ability. I did my first boat the other day and it presented LOTS of challenges to me that I have to start a new thread on. Man.... I need some advice... Ill put it on the "Making money detailing...." thread for anyone willing to take a peek at how it worked out.

Rob - Route 66 Mobile Detail
 
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