Where does everybody stand on priming their pads?

[sudsmobile]

And different types of pads? Microfiber, LC wool, regular foam? A watch a few internet videos and it seems that everybody has a different opinion. I'm curious as to what the general consensus is for different types of pads and/or compounds, polishes, waxes. Thanks in advance.

 

[Route246]

I don't do it in most cases.

 

[sudsmobile]

I don't do it in most cases.

That's Scott from Dallas PC. He says he only does it on microfiber.

 

[UncleDavy]

I definitely prime my Lake Country CCS foam pads for swirl removers and polish. I like to fill in all of the pores of the foam with some product. Is it necessary? I'm not sure but I like the idea of not having dry foam rotate on the paint.

 

[Chopper280]

I put a little product on foam pads. Don't like the idea of a completely dry foam pad.

 

[PaulMys]

I just use a circle of product on foam to start, then 3-4 pea-sized dots after.

I find that the pads gum up a little quicker when primed. Just my opinion.......

 

[BudgetPlan1]

Used to when I started but no longer except for microfiber on occasion.

 

[sudsmobile]

I just use a circle of product on foam to start, then 3-4 pea-sized dots after.

I find that the pads gum up a little quicker when primed. Just my opinion.......

That has been my finding as well. To a tee.

 

[Finick]

I don’t personally prime my foam pads. I will prime my microfiber pads though.

I’ll keep a QD nearby to give the pad one spray before I apply product for the first time.

In the start it’s 4 pea sized drops, then 3 moving forward. I’ve never used a circle around the pad, but I suppose I could try that sometime.


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[PaulMys]

I put a little product on foam pads. Don't like the idea of a completely dry foam pad.

Yes, but the foam and product will quickly interact over the first section pass.

I'm just a DIY guy, but I found out very quickly that too much product = reduced cut, heat build up, and PITA cleaning.

 

[rlmccarty2000]

I’m in the used to, but not anymore except for microfiber group.

 

[dlc95]

Only for microfiber.

"Priming" the face of a foam pad for me only wastes product, and hastens saturation.

I usually start with four drops of product around the outside circumference of the pad, and reload with anywhere from one to three drops.

Of you look at how Rupes describes how to prime their pads, It's a similar approach to what I've done since day one with my PC. The dry foam eventually self primes during the initial set of section passes.

For the traditional orange and white foams, they seem to work better fully primed. I'm not a fan of those foams, so I don't often use them. The more open porous American foams, and closed cell European foams tend to work better with the dots.

 

[Mike@ShineStruck]

I don't prime foam pads

Just 4- 5 dime drops initially, than 2-3 after on fresh spot

Priming just means you'll saturate pad quicker which results in heat which Accelerate pad wear and reduces cut..

 

[sudsmobile]

OK, a consensus seems to have been reached. Thanks for all the input.

 

[cleanmycorolla]

I don't prime pads often, maybe a spritz of QD but hardly. Maybe on the first application I'll do a circle than dime size drops thereafter.

 

[Dan Tran]

Funny timing for this topic.

I stopped priming foam pads last month. I told myself this morning that I am going to start priming again.

Obviously it varies case-by-case.

But it seemed to have worked awesome for me in the past.


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[DBAILEY]

Just for MF pads. For foam pads, after I have kissed the panel 10x or so to prime the 2x2 area ( or whatever size) the pad is pretty primed as well by then.

 

[JCDetails]

MF pads only though I see the potential benefits with the wool pads being made for DAs now.

foam pads I don't see a need as I'll typically apply to the pad, dab/swipe over the surface, and spread on low speed before actually running sections so I figure that distributes the product well enough to prevent dry foam from hitting paint.

 

[Dan Tran]

If memory serves me correctly, I was watching video online in regards to Jescar Correcting Compound.

I believe I saw them pairing it with Meguiar’s Microfiber Cutting Disc. He mentioned 6 drops to start is all you really need and a couple of drops after. No priming was needed.

And I also want to believe the gentlemen mentioned that withthis product a little goes a long way.

To summarize it all up, I don’t know the science behind all this, but test spot, test spot.

I tried with this a different compound recently and thought it did fine, inspected in the sun and all.

Results as far as I can tell were achieved by untraditional microfiber pad practices.


Dan Tran
Car Care Specialist
The Buffing Moose Detailing: High-Quality Car Detailing

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Microfiber pads definitely benefit from priming. Then again, it also depends on what product you're using.