It is
very important that you keep your working pad clean; as you go over the surface
the removed polish and oxidation is being absorbed, which will become large
abrasive fragments and will interfere with the cutting ability of the abrasives
During the polishing process, trace amounts of paint and / or oxidation is
removed; this can cause the debris and the polish to ‘load-up the foam’. This
can cause a haze to the paint surface, or the hardened polish could cause
scratches, a wipe-down or a paint cleaning product will eliminate this.
Most
car care products contain polymer or oils that serve as surface lubricants.
Even if you rinse the pad immediately after using it, the oily residue remains
because oil and water are not miscible. To properly clean the wool or foam
pads, you need to use a fairly strong cleaner that contains a degreaser;
especially for pads that have been used for wax or sealant application as they
are formulated to be detergent resistant
Pad
Cleaning and Care
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 altogether. A new or freshly cleaned pad must be used with
each type of car care product.
Pad Conditioning
Brush
These
brushes clean and restores the texture of foam buffing pads that have become
caked with oxidized paint wax and / or polish. The texture of foam results from
thousands of tiny hollow compartments. This varied texture provides polishing
and buffing power as the buffer spins.
Wax
and polish get caked in the hollow compartments, making the texture of the pad
smooth and therefore ineffective. Very inexpensive and a worthwhile investment
as pads will last longer and by cleaning lessens the risk of hard wax
scratching the paint surface
After
polishing 2-3 panels you will need to clean the pad to remove oxidized paint
and polish debris, by using a Foam Pad Conditioning Brush. Place the brush (this brush does not work with
dual-action polishers) onto the face of a foam pad spinning at 1200 RPM on a
rotary polisher, slowly starting at the centre and working outwards towards the
outside edge. Repeat until the foam is free of polish dust and etc. Once the
pad becomes overly saturated w/ polish clean with warn water and some APC. Spin
to dry. The pad does not have to be totally dry to use it again. After about 4
or 6 panel sections switch out to a fresh, clean pad.
Cleaning Pads
A
common misconception is that a regular all purpose cleaner (APC) or detergents
can be used to clean pads. While they do clean the pads but they also leave a
soapy residue that doesn't completely rinse out. This residue will reactivate
the next time you use the pad.
Using
(P21S®®
Total Auto Wash or Optimum Power Clean ™) diluted
2:1 (or stronger) soak the foam pads in hand-hot water for about an hour. Then
gently work the surface of your pads with your thumbs for a minute or two.
Compress the pads individually (do not wring as this may damage the Velcro®)
under the water with the flat of your palms a few times.
Drain
the water and rinse thoroughly with warm water and compress the pads to drain
the excess water. Place pads between two terry cloth towels and compress to
remove water. You can also put them in the dryer using the setting for air dry
(no heat) or spin them on a rotary by placing the pad in an empty bucket until
excess water is removed.
Using Compressed Air
This cleaning method is very effective
when used on fibrous e type pads i.e. Microfiber,
Purple Foamed Wool, SurBuf, TufBuf, Wool, and etc
With
the machine off and the pad face upwards hold the air nozzle close to the outer
edge of the pad and allow the pad to spin, working from the outer edge to the
centre. It takes very little air pressure to do this as you should avoid
causing high RPM as the foam may delaminate from the Velcro®
A clean
or fresh pad will restore the intended abrasive ability, were as a saturated
foam pads abrasive ability will decrease (note dried or caked on polish will
increase risk of surface scratches) clean often with a soft fairly stiff brush
or pad spur.
It is
very important that you keep your working pad clean; as you go over the surface
the removed polish and oxidation is being absorbed, which will become large
abrasive fragments and will interfere with the cutting ability of the abrasives
1.
Clean and / or replace pads as often as is necessary; a clean seasoned pad will
enhance the abrasive abilities of the compound / polish and make the process
not only more efficient but less time consuming.
2.
During the polishing process, trace amounts of paint and / or oxidation is
removed; this can cause the debris and the polish to “load up” the pad (you
should always be able to see the pores of the foam pad) This can cause a haze,
or holograms on the paint surface, a wipe-down or a paint cleaning product will
eliminate this.
3.
Use a brush to clean the pad after each time you polish a section, as it keeps
the pad from accumulating too much polish on the paint surface but the pad
remains saturated, avoiding the necessity of adding as much polish as the first
panel or two.
4.
After using foam pads place in some water with P21S®® Total Auto Wash or
Optimum Power Clean™. This keeps your pads moist and begins the cleaning
process while you finish detailing. Never allow a used pad to air dry before it
is washed.
5.
When you are ready to clean them, rinse well, re-wash, squeezing out reside
between a folded towel (do not wring as this may weaken the Velcro™ )and then
‘spin’ drying them on the polisher or leave to air-dry Velcro™ side up on a
grit guard or drying rack
6. Duospur™
Cleaning Tool, this patented tool is effective for
"on the fly" cleaning of both foam and wool pads. Features large
non-staining nylon spurs for fast cleaning while spinning on the buffer. Also
has an abrasive plate on both sides of the tool for reshaping and rebalancing
damaged foam pads. Foam pads will "load-up" with product at different
rates, and will require wiping with a coarse towel. If the pad becomes dry or
caked with compound/polish, spur the pad with a foam cleaning tool.
7.
You can also use a terry cloth towel, fold it in two and then simply hold the
towel against the face of the pad and then turn the polisher on and push the
towel into the foam. This will remove excess liquid and clean any residue from
the face of the pad.
8.
Store cleaned, dry wash media (wash mitts, sponges, etc), foam pads, micro
fibre towels, foam applicators in plastic zip lock bags (only 90% close if
contents are damp to avoid mildew / mould formation) and place the bags in a
plastic storage or wall cabinets
Foam Pad Maintenance
/ Care
Don’t
use the same pad for different products, dedicate a pad for wax, one for
polish, one for machine polish, and etc unless they are washed first When
working in close proximity to hood ornaments, metal trim etc avoid forcing the
pad against them as it may cause the foam to tear.
•
Pads must be kept free of dried-on product residue to ensure their flexibility
and to ensure that they can maintain complete contact with uneven surfaces.
•
Clean residue from pads often with a soft horse hair brush, nylon or metal may
damage the foam
•
Don’t clean pads that have been used with polishing or compound products in a
washing machine. The grit will compromise the seals.
•
Wash pads after use and air dry them
•
Don’t store pads in an airtight container as this causes mould
•
Store pads where they can expand unrestricted
•
Don’t stack pads where other objects could deform or crease them.
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
Cleaning and Care
Clean
and / or replace pads as often as is necessary; a clean seasoned pad will
enhance the abrasive abilities of the compound / polish and make the process
not only more efficient but less time consuming.
Polishing
pads can "load-up" with residues reducing their effectiveness; you
should always be able to see the pores of the pad. Don't let polish residues
dry in the pad as dried hardened polish can cause scratches. If you don't want
to stop in the middle of polishing to clean pads, plan on using 2 or4 pads for
each polishing step on the average vehicle. Don't let polish residues dry in
the pad.
When
you remove a dirty pad from your polishing machine, immediately place it in a bucket
of water with a d-limonene (citrus) based cleaner (P21S®® Total Auto Wash or
Optimum Power Clean)
Avoid
allowing residue from drying in the pores. When you are ready to clean them,
rinse well, re-wash and leave to air-dry Velcro side up on a grit guard or
drying rack
After
polishing and waxing, foam pads should be washed in warm water and allowed to
air dry. When dry, pads will often contain a fine, powder residue which should
be removed before using the pad again.
Duospur™
Cleaning Tool - this patented tool is effective for "on the fly"
cleaning of both foam and wool pads. Features large non-staining nylon spurs
for fast cleaning while spinning on the buffer.
Also has an abrasive plate on
both sides of the tool for reshaping and rebalancing damaged foam pads.
The
Duo-Spur has three side-by-side wheels with raised teeth. The agitation of the
Duo-Spur and the buffer make cleaning fast and effortless. If your pad becomes
caked while you are polishing, use the Duo-Spur to quickly remove some of the
excess product and then continue polishing
•
Only clean dry pads.
•
Hold machine firmly on floor or counter top with pad facing up. Set machine to
lowest speed. Turn on machine and run spur over the pad in a back and forth
motion.
• Do
not press down with excessive force. Let the wheels on the spur do the work.
Edge® Pad
Conditioner - Engineered in consultation with
auto-finishing pros, the Edge® Pad Conditioner answers the need for a better
way to keep buffing pads in top condition. Ergonomic in-line design and angled
head optimize both power and control—use right or left handed
Safer
long neck and angled grip keep fingers well clear of the spinning pad to
prevent skinned knuckles less fatigue ample, knurled pistol grip and thumb pad
allow you to adjust hand position for comfort
Never
mix polishes on a foam pad and never use a pad that been used for compounding
for polishing unless it’s been washed.
Product Saturation
– it is very important to keep polish build-up to a
minimum on the pad. If polish / compound are repeatedly applied the oils /
solvents will saturate the foam / wool, changing its composition thereby
altering its abrasive abilities.
Cleaning foam pads
(by hand) – use a spur to clean of excess polish
debris. Mix a scoop of Optimum Power Clean in 3-4 gallons of water before you
begin polishing. When you've finished with each pad, place it in the mixture
and allow pre-soaking, mild agitation will release the ingrained polish
residue. Intense cleaners and degreasers break up oily deposits left by car
care products so the pad rinses completely clean.
Drying Foam Pads
With
the foam pad on a circular polisher, place the pad in a bucket and spin dry, or
machine dry on low until damp-dry. Allow to air-dry with Velcro™ side up on a
rack or Grit Guard® insert
Cleaning foam pads
(by machine)
The
GritGuard® Universal Pad Washer works with (Orbital, Rotary, Cyclo, and etc) a
combination of agitation and detergent. The agitator wheels do all the work.
You just hold the polisher. You’ll not only have clean pads, you’ll have clean
hands. Once you've washed the pad, simply tilt the machine so the pad is out of
the water. Continue running the polisher to remove the excess water. All the
sling-off is contained within the bucket so there’s no mess.
Not
only does the Grit Guard Universal Pad Washer wash pads, it dries them. Simply
lift the pad out of the water and raise the speed setting slightly. Allow the
pad to spin until the excess water has been removed. When you dry them, make
sure you lay them face down, Velcro side up so that the water doesn't seep into
the Velcro.
One
of the biggest problems with pads today lies in their backing pad and its
likeliness to tear off of the pad. The major cause of this failure is from hand
washing your polishing pads. When you hand wash pads, the backing pad gets wet,
over saturating the foam. The Universal Pad Washer keeps the backing pads dry
and extends the life of your pads. No more throwing away perfectly good pads
because the backing pad has torn off.
If
you've ever used a brand new wool pad, you can appreciate the convenience of a
tool that conditions the pads. By conditioning your new wool pads, you extract
the loose fibres from the pad, keeping your paint free of excess wool fibres.
GritGuard® - The Universal Pad Washer is not an inexpensive system, but it’s a
small investment considering what you probably have invested in pads.
The System
comprises;
1.
Main Agitator Housing – this sits inside the bucket and houses the 9 agitator
wheels. You can adjust the height of the housing to suit your polisher by
removing the three adjustable screws from the legs and replacing them at the
desired height. The agitator housing is factory-set at 3 inches below the lid
opening.
2.
Lid with Closable Covers – Swing the covers open to insert the pad (while
attached to the buffer). Close the covers to keep sling-off from the pad inside
the bucket. At the bottom of the lid’s opening is a cradle for the polisher.
Rest the polisher on this cradle when drying the pad. The lid itself is held on
the bucket with two housing clamps. To remove the lid, push the clamps out and
lift the lid off (avoid lifting the lid by the clamps.)
3. A
five 5 Gallon Bucket – the entire cleaning process is contained within the
bucket to keep your garage, and your freshly detailed vehicle, clean. Note; Do
not overfill
Cutaway view - http://www.gritguard.com/index.php/c.../id/7/image/8/
Directions
1.
Pour approximately 1 ounce of pad cleaning powder into the bucket and fill it
with 3-4 gallons of water. The amount of water may vary according to the height
of the pad cleaning plate. The water level should be about 3-4 inches below the
top of the pad cleaning plate (do not overfill). The grey pump wheel shown in
the picture brings water up to the pad. Reattach the lid.
2.
Place the used pad (while attached to the polisher) in the opening in the lid.
Close the lid covers.
3.
Operate the polisher at a low speed while holding the pad flat against the pad
cleaning plate. Set your rotary polisher to a maximum speed of 1500 to 2000
RPM. Slowly rotate the polisher as it runs.
4. To
dry the pad, lift the pad so that it’s not resting on the agitator wheels.
5.
Rest the polisher’s belly on the cradle on the lid. Tilt the pad slightly so
it’s not touching the pad cleaning plate
6.
Continue running the buffer for 15 seconds.
7.
Stop the buffer before opening the covers. The pad should only be slightly
damp. A few minutes in the sun will completely dry the pad
8.
Warning: Always use ground fault protection interruption (GFPI) when using any
electrical device around water
Microfiber Pads
During
use - clean the pad and fluff up the fibers using a foam pad Conditioning Brush
before moving on to the next area. Microfiber Pads
During
use - clean the pad and fluff up the fibers using foam pad Conditioning Brush
before moving on to the next area.
Machine
wash - with warm water using a suitable liquid detergent,
A
common misconception is that a regular all purpose cleaner (APC) or detergents
can be used to clean pads. While they do clean the pads but they also leave a
soapy residue that doesn't completely rinse out. This residue will reactivate
the next time you use the pad.
Using
(P21S®® Total Auto Wash or Optimum Power Clean ™) diluted 2:1 soak the foam
pads in hand-hot water for about an hour. Then gently work the surface of your
pads with your thumbs for a minute or two. Compress the pads individually (do
not wring as this may damage the Velcro®) under the water with the flat of your
palms a few times.
Drain
the water and rinse thoroughly with warm water and compress the pads to drain
the excess water. Place pads between two terry cloth towels and compress to
remove water. You can also put them in the dryer using the setting for air dry
(no heat) or spin them on a rotary by placing the pad in an empty bucket until
excess water is removed.
Using
Compressed Air - with the machine off and the pad face
upwards hold the air nozzle close to the outer edge of the pad and allow the
pad to spin, working from the outer edge to the centre. It takes very little
air pressure to do this as you should avoid causing high RPM as the foam may
delaminate from the Velcro®
Wool Pad Care and
Cleaning
Periodically
rake pad with buffing spur or air nozzle to remove excess rubbing compound or
glaze. If pad becomes clogged with either polish or oxidized paint residue use
a spur to remove. Washing wool pads can cause shrinkage of fibres; use only
cool (60–80°F) water.
Do
not use hot water, strong detergents or solvents. Use washing machines with
gentle agitation only. Machine drying is not recommended, air drying is
preferable. (See also The Lake County (LC) System 2000 pad washer)
The
fibres on a wool pad are what give wool its cutting power. But over the course
of a detail job, the wool fibres become caked with polish and lose their
effectiveness. You have a couple of options when this happens: stop the
polisher and replace the pad with a clean one OR quickly run the Lake Country
Wool Pad Spur over the pad and continue working.
Recommended Pad
Cleaning Tools
a) Hand
Washing Pads - mix a scoop of 'DP Polishing Pad
Rejuvenator' in 3-4 gallons of water before you begin polishing. When you've
finished with each pad, place it in the mixture and allow soaking, a mild
agitation will release the ingrained polish residue. After washing, do not dry
pads with high heat as this promotes wool shrinkage. Instead, let pads air dry
or spin them using the buffer.
To obtain
the best results, rinse the pads and allow them to dry by placing them foam
side down, thus allowing the water to drain out of the foam.
b) The Lake
County (LC) System 2000 - eliminates hand scrubbing
and soaking soiled buffing pads, while the pad is still on the polisher, just
insert it into the pad washer and run the polisher for several seconds. The
motion of the polisher agitates the pad against the Grit Guard Insert inside
the pad washer. The Grit Guard Insert removes car care products and restores
the texture of the pads, and your hands stay clean. The Pad Washer works with
all polishers (Porter Cable 7424, Makita, DeWalt, and Cyclo) the pad washer’s
opening is adjustable to accommodate orbital and rotary machines.
c) Edge®
Pad Conditioner - Engineered in consultation with
auto-finishing pros, the Edge® Pad Conditioner answers the need for a better
way to keep buffing pads in top condition. Ergonomic in-line design and angled
head optimize both power and control—use right or left handed Safer long neck
and angled grip keep fingers well clear of the spinning pad to prevent skinned
knuckles Less fatigue ample, knurled pistol grip and thumb pad allow you to
adjust hand position for comfort
d) Citrus
Pad Cleaning Powder - specially formulated cleaning/degreasing
solution keeps pad clean, soft and supple. This water soluble solution is
biodegradable and comes in convenient 1.25 oz. packets.
System 2000™
Padwasher - Patented buffer powered pad washer
cleans and conditions both foam and wool pads. Eliminates wool blow-off and
lint in work areas, portable and easily adjustable to fit any pad/buffer
combination Built to last with 1 year limited warranty works with a combination
of agitation and detergent, the agitator wheels do all the work. You just hold
the polisher. You’ll not only have clean pads, you’ll have clean hands. Once you've washed the pad, simply tilt the machine so the pad is out of the water.
Continue running the polisher to remove the excess water. All the sling-off is
contained within the bucket so there’s no mess. The System comprises;
1.
Main Agitator Housing – this sits inside the bucket and houses the 9 agitator
wheels. You can adjust the height of the housing to suit your polisher by
removing the three adjustable screws from the legs and replacing them at the
desired height. The agitator housing is factory-set at 3 inches below the lid
opening.
2.
Lid with Closable Covers – Swing the covers open to insert the pad (while
attached to the buffer). Close the covers to keep sling-off from the pad inside
the bucket. At the bottom of the lid’s opening is a cradle for the polisher.
Rest the polisher on this cradle when drying the pad. The lid itself is held on
the bucket with two housing clamps. To remove the lid, push the clamps out and
lift the lid off (avoid lifting the lid by the clamps.)
3. A
five 5 Gallon container – the entire cleaning process is contained within the
bucket to keep your garage, and your freshly detailed vehicle, clean.
Directions
•
Pour approximately 1 ounce of pad cleaning powder into the bucket and fill it
with 3-4 gallons of water. The amount of water may vary according to the height
of the pad cleaning plate. The water level should be about 3-4 inches below the
top of the pad cleaning plate. The grey pump wheel shown in the picture brings
water up to the pad. Reattach the lid.
•
Place the used pad (while attached to the polisher) in the opening in the lid.
Close the lid covers.
•
Operate the polisher at a low speed while holding the pad flat against the pad
cleaning plate. Set your rotary polisher to a maximum speed of 1500 to 2000
RPM. Slowly rotate the polisher as it runs.
• To
dry the pad, lift the pad so that it’s not resting on the agitator wheels.
•
Rest the polisher’s belly on the cradle on the lid. Tilt the pad slightly so
it’s not touching the pad cleaning plate
•
Continue running the buffer for 15 seconds.
•
Stop the buffer before opening the covers. The pad should only be slightly
damp. A few minutes in the sun will completely dry the pad Drying wool pads
After
washing, do not dry pads with high heat as this promotes wool shrinkage.
Instead, let pads air dry or spin them using the buffer. Do not store damp
pads. This will promote mildew.
Always be
willing to learn; because the more you learn, the more you’ll realize what you
don’t know.
It is said that knowledge is power, with the caveat that
it includes access to a reliable information sources. I would like to think that these articles become an asset to
anyone who is new to detailing and to professional’s alike, as well as industry
experts who seek to advance their knowledge.
I hope the
article are informative. By having some understanding of the ‘What’ and ‘Why’
as well as the ‘How’ along with a little science to help you understand how the
chemicals we use react, you can achieve the results you desire.
I would appreciate it if you would share
these articles as it helps other detailers further their knowledge.
Questions and/ or constructive comments
are always appreciated.
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© 2002 - 2012 TOGWT® (Established 1980) all rights reserved
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