What is proper method for cleaning pads while detailing?

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Grifftech

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I am wondering what is the best method to keep a pad at its optimal performance while polishing a car.

I am using LC CCS Pads and a Megs DA

Right now I use Ultimate Compound, SwirlX and a couple Megs polishes. But I am going to be trying the Chemical Guys v34, v36, v38 polishes.

Thanks,
Chris
 
I use a pad conditioning brush. The way I tell when my pad needs cleaning is when you scrape your finer nail on the pad and product gets stuck under your nail. With the machine off, brush the pad with the conditioner brush. You should notice a difference in the pad. Proceed with polishing! It's very simple.
 
Replace with a clean (new/used) pad as necessary, thoroughly clean all dirty pads after detail.
Seems to limit the occurance of pad damage due to cleaning on the fly with brush, IME.

Never get caught shorthanded on pad assortment or quantity.
 
I find that if I have alot of correction to do, I prefer to use a Pad Washer. Most compounds are water soluble and the pad gets very clean, very fast, and you can get back to work pretty quickly. It doesn't take much more time then changing pads. If I don't have alot to do or if I'm just lazy, I use the brush.
 
I spray my pads with XMT pad cleaner, agitate with a brush and then rinse until clean with water. I slap it back on the DA and spin it dry.

I do this after every panel
 
wgilles said:
I spray my pads with XMT pad cleaner, agitate with a brush and then rinse until clean with water. I slap it back on the DA and spin it dry.

I do this after every panel
Click to expand...

I always thought it was a bad idea to spin them without a load on them. I had thought about spin drying before, but I may just get an adapter and mounting plate and stick it in the drill and use that to dry
 
A terry cloth towel AND a brush for a DA...

A pad cleaner system is good and stuff, but cleaning up the bucket is dreadful...
 
When i need to just clean the pads in between panels i just get a terry cloth and clean the spent polish and abraded clear off the pad with it. Works well since most terry clothes are white and its easy to see what came off the pad.

After im completely done with a pad i will spray it with some APC and then let soak in a bucket with a mixture of APC and a few gallons of water (along with my micro towels). Then they go in the washer along with the microfiber towels and air dried.
 
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