Foam Pads
Under a microscope,
foam pads look like a bee's honeycomb, small uniformly shaped cells. The
smaller the cells the more densely the construction (higher PPI), this type of
foam pad would be considered less aggressive, thus it would be considered a
finishing pad. The opposite effect takes place if the foam cells were larger,
or less dense (lower PPI). This construction will cause the foam pad to be more
aggressive, as in a compounding pad.
Pads made of high
strength reticulated (artificially broken-in) foam. In other words, the cells
are open; this allows air to flow through the foam. Chemical compounds and
polishes require the right amount of air flow through the foam. Open cell foam
is ideal for this process to succeed. Not only is closed cell foam not ideal,
but it is structurally weaker.
The features that
distinguish quality foam pads; the use of various, engineered polyether
polyurethane reticulated foams imported from Europe, that are specifically
designed for machine compounding, polishing and buffing Engineered refers to
various levels of abrasive ability or grit number rating.
As a result of
improved foam manufacturing technologies, foam pads have made great advances in
performance and durability. Like their wool counterparts, foam pads must be
properly cared for to insure consistent performance. The vast majority of
domestically produced foam is designed for air filtration, not machine
polishing.
Foams from third
world countries that supply low cost foam cannot match the quality, performance
and consistency of European specialty foams that are manufactured to ISO 9000
quality standards.
The pads used at
the OEM level worldwide (Audi, BMW, Daimler-Chrysler, Ford, GM, Porsche, VW, etc.)
including those produced by 3M are all made from European foam (the majority of
which is supplied by Reisgies Schaumstoffe, Global Minority Business Network
(GMBN) Leverkusen, Germany) In most cases, these foams are substantially more
expensive than domestic foams due to currency fluctuations, ocean shipping, and
customs duty and import tariffs.
If you're looking
at a modestly priced pad at your local auto parts or department store, it’s
highly unlikely that they are made with quality European foam.
Foam pads perform
differently from each other on the basis of how they're constructed. Under a microscope, foam pads look like a
bee’s honeycomb, small uniformly shaped cells.
The smaller the cells the more densely the construction, this type of foam
pad would be considered less aggressive, thus it would be considered a finishing
pad. The opposite effect takes place if
the foam cells were larger, or less dense.
This construction
will cause the foam pad to be more aggressive as in a compounding pad. There are various grades of foam pads on
either side of the aggressive or finishing scale.
The
face of a polishing pad should be designed to efficiently use its surface
contact area. If a foam pad has lines, squares, circles, or dimples cut out of
(or pressed into) the pad face, less actual surface area is available compared
to a flat pad. Usually these foam patterns are designed to increase buffing
performance by the slower release of product, operator comfort or ease of use
as they decrease the contact area and the pads efficiency
Periodically
inspect the face of your foam pads, eventually you will have to replace the
pads as they will wear and lose their abrasive ability just like finish paper
A flexible backing
plate and a foam pad with a cut-out design can be of benefit when dealing with
surface contours and angles as they tend to conform to these shapes better than
a plain flat pad, they also tend to transfer less heat. They also provide an extra
level of cushioning while polishing curved surfaces, distributes pressure evenly
over the contact area of the pad, they are less aggressive than a more rigid backing
plate and will help to reduce swirls
When
trying to remove deep sanding scratches, especially if they are close to an
edge or a seam a stiffer backing plate is advantageous
The most efficient
polishing method is a flat pad applied with consistent pressure; this ensures
the surface area of the pad is used efficiently, in a similar way to
wet-sanding with finishing paper and a sanding block
Lake Country CCS Dual Action Foam Pads
CCS stands for
Collapsed Cell Structure. CCS Technology is Lake Country’s innovative pad
design that saves product by controlling product release onto the work surface.
Dozens of dimples in the foam collect excess polish and reserve it until it is
needed on the pad’s face (the area that is in contact with the paint). This
design prolongs your working time and reduces product waste, it will hold more
water and take longer to dry then comparable open cell foam pads
·
Slows
rate of polish absorption – as discussed above, the pads are slow to absorb products and
therefore the paint benefits from a longer working time. The same is true of
liquid waxes and sealants.
·
Improves
operator control – these pockets gradually release polish as needed by the
operator. Since these areas are not absorbing polish, they serve as little
reservoirs until the excess polish is needed.
·
Prevents
pad skipping – the pockets reduce surface tension allowing the operator to run
pad flat on a working surface. Basically, the pockets break up the smooth
surface of the foam to eliminate the sticking and skipping that occurs when two
perfectly flat surfaces meet.
·
Creates
less heat –pockets provide several points where the foam is not completely
touching the paint, this reduces friction and therefore heat generated between
the pad and the paint.
·
Original
equipment (OEM) approved - tests confirm CCS pads out-perform convoluted pad designs
Notes:
1.
It is preferable to polish 2-3
times to restore the paint film surface than to use an unnecessarily abrasive
polish / foam combination
2.
Wool
pads are not recommended for random orbital machines (Porter Cable 7424, etc)
as wool pads nap / fibres works more efficiently with a centrifugal motion Foam
cutting pads tend to be much’ stiffer’
than wool fibres and thus will transfer the movement of the machine to
the paint surface more efficiently than a comparable wool pad on an orbital
polisher
3.
The Flex
3401 is the exception to (1) above
as the forced rotation supplies a centrifugal motion to the pad
4.
Natural wool
is most aggressive - 50/50 wool/acrylic blends intermediate - lamb’s wool
the least aggressive
5.
Always
use the least aggressive product first, evaluate the surface, then only if
necessary `step-up' to a more abrasive product and / or pad.
Pad cross contamination
·
Clean and / or replace pads as often as is necessary; a clean,
primed and seasoned pad will enhance the abrasive abilities of the compound /
polish and make the process not only more efficient but less time consuming.
·
Do not use the same pad to apply differing products as cross
contamination will reduce the effectiveness or completely negate their purpose
altogether.
·
If you thoroughly clean pads right after use you shouldn’t have
any problems with contamination from different grades of polishes or compounds.
However do not use the same pads for different sealants, or use a pad that has
applied a sealant as a polishing pad or vice a versa.
·
Some polishes or sealants may be difficult to completely remove
product residue. It is good practice to use a new or freshly cleaned pad with
each type of car care product.
Identifying Foam Qualities
There are eight
factors that rate in foam quality; Density (or rebound), Compression, Sag Factor, Fatigue loss, Hysteresis, Tensile, Elongation and Tear resistance. However it is compression, hysteresis, and
tensile strength that have the most to do with the abrasive or cutting ability
of a pad.
These factors all
play into how much give the pad has under pressure and torque. Density, (not a
measurement of compression) has a lot to do with the amount of polish the pad
will accept (see also pores per inch (PPI)) a pad that holds a good volume of
polish allows the polish to do the cutting job instead of the pad.
Velocity
and applied Pressure are also factors that affect a foams abrasive (cutting)
ability, all of these factors affect the flexibility of the foam under pressure
and torque
The abrasion or
cutting ability of a foam pad relative to its composition, the work is
approximately distributed, 60% product, 30% foam composition (density, pores
per inch (PPI)) and 10% pressure applied and/or speed of rotation or
oscillation.
Pad Dependency
All abrasive
polishes are ‘foam
pad and applied pressure dependant’ as far as
their paint correction abilities are concerned. Any abrasive / pad combination
is reliant upon its most abrasive component.
If we consider the Lake County (LC) White foam
(50 PPI) polishing pad as the baseline; any polish used will derive help from
the abrasive abilities of the foam. Then consider the
LC Blue (70 PPI) finishing pad has no abrasive ability and will contribute
nothing to the cutting capability of a polish.
What is derived
from this is that a polishes abrasive ability can be ‘fine tuned’ by using
different combinations (abrasiveness) of polish and foam (the same thing is
true of wool pads) and of course differing the amount of downward pressure
(10-15 Lbs is the usual range) applied will also have an effect on the
abrasives capability
Different pad / product combinations (least
abrasive pad / polish first)
a)
Base pad / product
(least abrasive pad / product) if this combination does not provide the desired
results, increase the aggressiveness of the technique or product selection.
b)
Step-up 1 - using the
same pad with a more abrasive product
c) Step-up
II – use a less abrasive pad and the same product as used in step-up I
d) Step-up III- using the same pad with a more
abrasive product
As can been ascertained from the above the total
abrasive ability of a polish / foam pad combination is subject to many
variables, the polishes abrasive ability is just the starting point
Factors that increase abrasion ability Increased speed (Velocity)
·
Increased pressure (Compression)
·
Use smaller pad(Reduced surface Area)
·
Using a slower panel transition speed (Increased surface contact
time)
·
Reduce the working area
The key to the
polishing process is to know how the paint will react with each pad / polish
combination you consider using. You must know your product and what its
capabilities are before using it. This is why a ‘test’ spot is so important.
The factors that
affect the outcome -speed, friction (kinetic energy) applied pressure, foam pad
actual surface contact area, pad grit number (abrasive ability) amount of
surface lubrication available, the surface area and heat conductivity of material
All pads have a
performance cycle, meaning you will get the desired results only to a certain
point on that curve. The point of declining performance is typically reached by
polish / compound pad being overloaded with product; you should always be able
to see the individual cells or texture of the pad, with proper, regular
cleaning pad overload can be avoided.
Clean (or replace) you pads frequently: pads
are easy to clean; the slotted pad face actually makes it easy to clean. Do not
use the same pad to apply differing products as cross contamination will reduce
the effectiveness or completely negate their purpose. A new or freshly cleaned
pad must be used with each type of car care product.
Foam Pad Design
a)
Non-reticulated [:foam membranes are completely
sealed to prevent fluid absorption or air penetration] (closed-cell) which means less product absorption, and less air flow, reticulated foam are relatively less
abrasive and less dense than polymerized foam; due to this density the polish
provides the abrasive ability as opposed to the foams composition (use when
thoroughly dry as they tend to retain water) with
polymerized foam your polish stays wetter for
longer, which extends the products work time This pad design is
relatively firm so that none of the machines action (rotational or orbital) is
lost, as is the case with soft foams. Due to their lack of airflow the foam
doesn’t drain that well they are harder to clean, and take longer to dry
b)
Reticulated [: foam which is a linked network or matrix of small squares or
shapes] its composition varies with pore size. Their open-cell construction allows for fluids
to permeate the pad to a greater degree than closed-cell materials, such as
non- reticulated foam and their lower tensile strength allows them to conform
to contours more easily.
Reticulated foam, which is a less dense than
polymerized foam, therefore your polish provides the abrasive ability as
opposed to the foam. Porosity is typically 95%, but can be as high as 98%,
typically resistance to compression is decreased while tensile properties like
elongation and resistance to tearing are increased. This pad design is
relatively soft so that some of the machines action (rotational or orbital) is
lost
Compression / Rebound - compression load deflection is the measurement of how long the
foam takes to regain shape after under certain pressure, foam pads should be
compressed to no more than approx 50% of its thickness
Tensile strength – the strength of a
material refers to the material's ability to resist an applied force
Density - provides a
protective cushion allowing foam compression to maintain constant surface
pressure and it also lessens machine vibration. It also affects the amount of
polish the pad will hold; foams that hold a high volume of product allows the
polish to do the cutting, as opposed to the abrasiveness of the foam.
Velocity - pad velocity is
substantially increased with a larger diameter pad, increased velocity will
increase abrasive capability at the outer edge of the pad.
Foam Pad Thickness
Standard
foam pads - 1.25 inch pad thickness was set as an industry standard because
it prevented solvent residues and provided insulation from friction heat from
reaching the backing plate, either of which could compromise the Velcro®
(delaminate from the backing material). They have a rounded outer edge for easy
transitions over seams and edges, and there is also a safety margin between the
edge of the baking material and the foam with a ‘standard’ foam pad.
This foam density
provides a protective cushion allowing foam compression to maintain constant
surface pressure and it also lessens machine vibration.
OEM-style
7/8-inch foam pads - due to the reduced foam thickness tilting a 7/8 inch pad will
change the polishing pressure on the surface. These foam pads are flat cut on
the top edge, as opposed to a standard 1.25-inch, which have a rounded outer
edge for easy transitions over seams and edges and the backing material is cut
back 3/8 of an inch around the perimeter of the pad to ensure a safety margin.
On the 7/8-ich foam
pads the backing material extends to the edge of the pad where it could scratch
the paint when working in close corners or around mirrors and wings. OEM-Style
pads are designed for high volume pad users where cost is a significant factor
Like all
things related to tools, pad thickness comes down to personal preference.
Pores per inch (PPI)
As an example you could purchase two seemingly similar pads
based upon their PPI rating, but one pad may have thicker walls between each
pore, be made of softer material, feature a reticulated or non-reticulated foam
structure (basically open or closed cell), or simply be a thicker (1.25 or
0.75-inch) foam, which can affect the machine's movements.
Compressible, open
cell polyether polyurethane reticulated foam is usually specified by pores per
inch (PPI).The greater number of pores per inch generally equates to foam that
is softer; and has less abrasive ability, less density, more porosity and easier
compression.
There is no
recognisable standard for the abrasive abilities of foam, other than a colour
assigned; most foam manufacturer’s that supply foam to detailer’s product
vendor assign their own colours to donate abrasion. On this basis a PPI rating
allows abrasive ability comparisons between different foams
Remember the
flatter and more uniform you make the surface, the greater the light reflection
.While most enthusiasts understand this principle when applied to polishing,
the same is true of finishing. The more uniformly you apply the final wax or
sealant, the greater the shine
Scale 30
– 100 PPI
·
Abrasive Cutting Foam (40 pores per inch)
·
Medium Cutting Foam (50 pores per inch)
·
Light Cutting Foam (60 pores per inch)
·
Finishing Foam (70 pores per inch)
·
Fine Application (80 pores per inch)
·
Ultra-Fine Finishing (100 pores per inch)
The thicker consistency products (i.e. a
hard wax) seem to work best with a more porous pad; a very tight pad used with
these types of products seems to load up and clog the pad, which in a turn
leads to product clumping. When applying light
consistency products (i.e. liquid polymer) a more porous pad will absorb
and waste product
Equivalent Abrasive Rating
The grit rating on
an abrasive or polishing pad is an indication that a product is designed remove the surface scratches left
by finishing paper (i.e. 2500 grit scratches are removed by a 2500 grit rated
polish) it doesn't mean that it is a
2500 grit level abrasive.
·
The coarser the abrasive, the faster the cut
·
The more aggressive the pad, the faster the cut
·
Wool cuts faster than lamb’s wool, foamed wools are next, then
foam.
·
Foam pads generate more friction induced heat than wool pads
Transfer of Kinetic Energy
Dependant on pad choice though
the downward pressure though the backing of the pad. The denser the backing the
more cut and abrasive ability the polish has and vice versa.
Open cell pads have varying cuts, due to the sharper edges being created, this
type of pads absorb the lubricate from the polish and leave the abrasives
within the open cells; effectively increasing the abrasive ability of the pad.
When you add pressure you also reintroduce the lubricant to the abrasives,
which results in a higher cut.
Closed cell pads - have very little cut on their own, as the lubricant sits on
the surface as well as the abrasives, by adding pressure the denser nature of
the foam will deliver a higher cut.
Microfibre pads - work in a similar way to a closed
cell pad, foam pads distort, stretch and compress while being worked on a
polishing machine. The greater the thickness of the foam between the backing
plate and the car surface, you have one surface that stays rigid, being driven
by the polishing machine, while the foam acts as somewhat of a shock absorber.
The thicker the shock absorber the more kinetic energy will be lost, reducing
the abrasion efficiency
Due to their very
thin construction every little kinetic energy is lost; most of it being transferred
from the machine to the paint surface, making the abrasive work more
effectively.
Comparison of Pad Types
Here's a brief
guide to help you select the correct product for your needs, all of these pads
have a hook and loop fastening system. The Velcro™ on both
the pad and backing plate allows you to quickly and easily install and remove
the pads listed below:-
Non-Reticulated
Pre-polymer with Collapsed Cell Structure (CCS) Technology™ quality foam pads
are made from specially engineered European foam, a blend of thermally
reticulated polyurethane with a partially closed foam cell structure, created
specifically for compounding, polishing and finishing.
This foam allows
air to circulate through the pad to reduce heat transfer to the paint surface
or product, while maintaining friction; the secret to successful machine
polishing is using the correct type and size of foam pad, and the proper
machine operating rotational and linear speed.
Thin firm foam
would work more efficiently than a thick pad at transferring the eccentric
motion of the orbital offset motion to the paint surface.
Thick foam allows
more downward pressure, and therefore foam compression, which is not necessary
with forced rotation, except when negotiating contours. One of the drawbacks
when applying downward pressure a forced rotation it tends to ‘self’ steer the
machine
Flat pad- provides an even pressure so it will takes more pressure to
stop the random orbital buffers motor, so the finish is more even. They also
produce a ‘feeling’ for the surface that you can gauge better than the variable
contact pads, this style pad is best for medium polishing and finishing work.
Flat foam pads were
the original pads before the introduction of Closed Cell Structure foam,
although they share the same advanced foam compositions. Flat pads have a
slightly different feel compared with closed cell structure foam especially
when used with a rotary polisher.
Once mastered, flat
pads break down the polish quicker since fresh polish and their lubrication
oils are not being constantly re-introduced to the surface; this allows a
skilled technician in a high-volume detail shop or paint and body shop to
accomplish more in less time. They are very efficient when used with non-diminishing
abrasives as they increase the total surface area of the pad, allowing pressure
to be uniformly applied.
It also increases
the pad's rigidity against the backing plate, which is very similar to block
wet sanding (finishing paper and a sanding block) the most effective tool for
paint defect removal because you can abrade the paint surface flat until the
defects are removed. Non- diminishing abrasives and a flat foam
pad are similar in application to the block wet-sanding process
Collapsed Cell Structure (CCS) Technology™ - foam
pads were developed to use on newer clear coat paints. These harder paints
require longer polishing times to remove defects. They also help solve the
problem of premature "drying". Conventional foam pads absorb
water-based formulas, instantly.
This reduces polish
and pad performance because most of the polish is trapped below the working
surface of the pad. Closed cell structure foam solves this problem with
partially closed foam cells, which slow the absorption of liquid, keeping it on
the working surface.
(CCS) foam, which means the stiffness of the pad, is focused on
to the contact surface, while the rest of the foam remains soft. This type of
foam uses intermittent pockets that have been sealed and can no longer absorb
polish. This technology was designed to reduce pad absorption at the OEM level,
where thinner pads are typically used. This not only
extends the workability of water and solvent-based polishes, levellers and
compounds, it reduces chemical usage, saves time and makes the polishing
process a lot easier. CCS Pads are flat faced. They have dimples across the
surface which reduce surface heat at high speeds, and prevent pad skipping.
Foamed Wool (Purple) pad - a patented foam
process encapsulates the base of the lamb’s wool fibre with microscopic
poly-foam particles. Cuts like natural sheepskin but finishes like a foam pad.
Aggressively removes 1500 grit scratches, leaving a lustrous finish with no
hazing by reducing compounding swirls. The foam has a dense body and the fibres
resist caking and matting, the foaming process also creates minute air pockets
at the base of the fibres, which improves cushioning and retention of compounds
and polishes. The manufacturing process produces a uniform material, resulting in
consistent pad performance, the Foaming process locks in the lamb’s wool
fibres, significantly reducing lint
Constant pressure foam pad- this is
essentially a flat pad which uses a patented technology layer of engineered,
instant rebound foam between the pad and the backing plate to absorb off-axis
movements while keeping the pressure of the pad on the surface constant.
It allows even beginners to achieve
professional-like results, the curved 6- inch pads outer edge makes
transitioning seams and uneven panel breaks easier and the concave
"dish" in the centre of the pad reduces product splatter, and gives
the operator greater pad control. They
are very easy to control, and forgiving of less-than-perfect technique.
Variable contact foam pad- provides focused
pressure on a reduced surface contact area using the edges of the pad, making
this pad ideal for machine polishing. Be aware that increased surface pressure
may cause a PC motor to stall. Variable
contact pads are more suitable for use with a high-speed rotary polisher
Tufted foam pad-are made from pre-polymer foam with a 50% open cell structure.
This 7.5-inch pad has nine- times the surface area of a flat pad. This
dissipates heat, spreads polish over a larger area and reduces polish build-up.
This pad is ideal for large surface area
polishing, such as the removal of oxidation
Contoured Edge pad- these - 7.5-inch pads have a
graduated, concave polish pocket similar to the variable contact foam pads, but
with a contoured edge and a recessed area for the backing plate. These pads
have four distinct working surfaces
(1) flat for polishing
(2) they can be ‘lifted’ using the outer
1/3rd of the pad for areas that are tight
(3)The
outer edge of the pad can be used for seams or corners
(4) the underside can be
used for polishing around mirrors, badges, emblems or other thigh areas.
A curved edge foam pad- is ideal for working in tight spaces
or a surface with lots of curves. Apply the polish to the outer edge of the pad
and the PC can be used at more of an angle, the PC generates very little heat
so this application method can be used safely, it’s halfway between a flat and
VC pad with surface contact.
This pad can also be used flat, apply more polish on the peak
between the curve and recess, utilizing it like this assimilates a variable
contact pad.
Meguiar’s DA Microfiber Cutting Discs
Meguiar’s DA
Microfiber Cutting Discs are made for maximum efficiency. Their engineered foam
interface offers controlled conformability. As you move the polisher over the
paint, the microfibers adapt to the curves and contours of the paint,
distributing the abrasives evenly for efficient cutting.
The Meguiar’s DA
Microfiber Correction System is designed for a dual action polisher! While it
won’t replace Meguiar’s 105 and 205 for the removal of wet sanding scratches,
this system will work to remove swirls, many scratches, acid rain spots, and
other mild to moderate defects on factory paint.
Meguiar's backing
plate (W67DA) should be used with their DA Microfiber system as it has shorter
Velcro™ hooks Use a pad conditioning brush to clean Meguiar’s DA Microfiber
Cutting Discs periodically during use. This will keep the microfiber
separated. Meguiar’s DA Microfiber
Cutting Discs are machine washable.
Velcro®
Is a registered
trademark of Velcro Industries B.V. it is what George de Mestral named his
invention Velcro [: a portmanteau of the two French words velour’s,
meaning 'velvet', and crochet, or 'hook']
Generic terminology
for these fasteners includes "hook and loop", "burr" and
"touch" fasteners. Velcro® is a registered trademark in most
countries.
Foam pads are
attached to a backing plate (flexible or semi-flexible) with a 5/8" x 11
thread spindle (or a 5/8" x 5/16" adaptor for a Porter-Cable random
polisher) and a hook and loop attachment. Velcro® is a
brand name of fabric hook-and-loop fasteners.
It consists of two
layers: a "hook" side, which is a piece of fabric covered with tiny
hooks, and a "loop" side, which is covered with even smaller loops.
When the two sides are pressed together, the hooks catch in the loops and hold
the pieces together
When removing the
foam pad from the backing plate do not just grab the foam and pull or you may
find it separates, hold the Velcro and gently pull the pad to prevent any
damage. A 5-ich diameter backing plate when used with a 61/2-inch foam pad
allows a ¾ -inch `safety' margin' between the
edge of the backing plate and the foam pad. To ensure compatibility of fit with
a Porter-Cable the post adaptor should be 5/16inch-24.
The
foam pad is attached to the machine with a Velcro
backing plate; product is then applied to the foam pad. Clean foam pads soon
after use, if left saturated for extended periods of time the chemicals used in
polish will cause the foam to deteriorate.
Between wool and
foam pads, in general, wool pads are considered "cutting" in nature,
they also produce less friction induced heat than foam. That is, the fibres of
the wool pad "cut" into the paint, removing top layers of paint much
more rapidly than foam pads, which do a relatively small amount of cutting but
instead rely on greater kinetic friction to do their work.
Purple Foamed Wool (*Purple) - these cutting foam pads
are typically used on rotary buffers, but can also be used on a dual action
buffer or random orbital. What makes them so effective on a rotary buffer is
that it offers lots of cutting power with less risk of damaging the clear coat
Compound/ Heavy Cutting Pad (*Yellow) - a harder more dense open cell pre-polymer
foam (70 PPI) composition with an abrasive cutting action, for use with a medium abrasive polish
Light Cutting /
Polishing Pad (*Orange) - a middle
range, high density open cell
pre-polymer foam (75 PPI) composition
with a medium abrasive light to heavy polishing cutting action
Medium Cutting /
Polishing Pad (*Green) - high
density open cell polyurethane foam
(80 PPI) composition with a medium abrasive cutting action
Polish / Waxing Pad (*White) - a softer less dense blended pre-polymer
foam (75 PPI) composition with a light abrasive cutting action
Light Polishing Pad (*Black) - an ultra-smooth open cell polyurethane foam
(75 PPI) composition that has very minor abrasive cutting ability
Finishing
Pad (* Red) - this
open cell
polyurethane foam (80 PPI) pad has no cutting or cleaning action but is softer
foam than the black pad. It should be used for paint burnishing or to apply a
glaze or a finessing polish.
Finessing Pad
(* Blue) soft enough
composition (85PPI) for
applying glazes, sealants and liquid waxes or burnishing paint
Jewelling Pad (* Gold)
-this foam is 40% softer than the red making it the best pad for applying your
finishing wax or sealant, and for use as a jewelling pad with a fine finishing
polish.
Difference between these pads (Red, Blue and
Black) is their compressibility
*These colour identifications are for Lake County
Manufacturing (LC) foam pads.
There is no common standard colour system used to identify
the abrasiveness of foam each manufacturer uses their own colour identification
system.
(See also article “Backing Plates”)
General
Rules
- 1. Porter Cable 7424 random orbital polisher; the limiting factor
to pad size is the actual power of the machine. Using larger pads on these
machines actually reduces the amount of polishing power due to the surface
resistance of the pad, which will cause the motor to slow down or stall.
Conversely using a smaller pad will increase the power available by reducing
the surface resistance by concentrating motor power on a smaller area.
- 2. With smaller pads you gain increased control and manoeuvrability.
Smaller pads generate more kinetic friction (and subsequently, increased heat)
with a PC, which breaks down polishes by generating energy (and applied
pressure) over a concentrated area. The random orbiting motion of the PC
generates the most power in the centre of the pad (i.e. area of a 6.5 – inch pad is 33 – square inches compared to the area of a 4 – inch pad, which is 12.5 – square inches) This additional pressure / cutting power will facilitate the
removal of deeper imperfections
- 3. The opposite is true with rotary buffers. The speed of the outer
edge of a smaller (radius) pad is slower than that of a larger (radius) pad.
This helps reduce the amount of friction generated, which makes polishing
tighter areas much safer.
- 4. Do not use the same pad to apply differing products as cross
contamination will reduce the effectiveness or completely negate their purpose
altogether. A new or freshly cleaned pad must be used with each type of car
care product.
- 5. Water will increase the abrasiveness of a polish; but unlike
wool, a foam pad has no fibres to twist, bend, and reshape, therefore helping
to loosen the abrasive, so water tends to cause abrasive-clumping, which is
detrimental to its performance, it can also cause the pad / abrasive to
aquaplane, negating the abrasive
- 6. There is no recognizable standard between manufacturers that use
colour as an identification of the abrasiveness of a foam
- 7.
Apply pressure to
the foam; if it springs back the pad is fine. If it stays compressed the foam
core is damaged and it’s time to replace the pad.
