Thursday, 4 June 2015

Wool Pad Cleaning & Care


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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