Pad Usage Questions

[hughfree]

I am learning the ropes as a new detailing enthusiast. My first detailing project was a black 1999 Accord that I gave to my son and new daughter-in-law as wedding gift. I used a newly purchased Griotts, 5.5" CCS pads, Megs Gold Class wash, WG TSR, Megs NXT 2.0. I was extremely pleased at the results in a short the short period of time that I had to work on the car. I used about half of the 16 oz bottle of TSR on the project. I have my next project lined up (my daughter-in-laws old 1999 Ford Explorer). The car has been neglected. I am trying to clean it up to sell.
I decided to order additional product to make sure that I had enough to complete this project. While ordering more TSR I decided to take advantage of a sale on the Meg twins purchasing both 105 and 205. I plan to use these products on my 3rd project (my black Tundra, daily driver).
My question is regarding pad usage...should I have pads dedicated for the Meg twins and different pads dedicated to the WG products?

Also, after my first project using the WG product, I hand washed my pads using hot water and dish washing soap and left them standing on edge to dry. Is this a acceptable method for cleaning pads? If so. should I use the same method when using the Meg twins?

Thanks!

[Mike Phillips]

My question is regarding pad usage...should I have pads dedicated for the Meg twins and different pads dedicated to the WG products?


Generally speaking, if you wash the pad and remove the majority of whatever was on the pad initially then it would be safe to next use the pad with a different chemical line.

This is especially true for products that are approved for use with DA Polishers as they will tend to be less aggressive than products that are recommended only for use with rotary buffers and this would just have to do with your ability to remove 100% of any of the aggressive products left on the pad by the RB only products. Since everything you've listed is DA safe then it shouldn't be a problem.

Some really D.O. people might argue otherwise but notice I started with, generally speaking....

In a perfect world you would dedicate all you pads to single products so if that's in your budget then that's the purist way to go. If you thing you're going to be doing a lot of buffing over the years then definitely get a Grit Guard Universal Pad Washer (http://www.autogeek.net/grit-guard-universal-pad-washer.html) and some DP Polishing Pad Rejuvenator (http://www.autogeek.net/dp730.html) and these two products take all the work out of cleaning your pads and let you get more use and value out of the pads you already own.

I'll let someone else do the math but when you figure what new pads cost and then compare that to what a pad washer costs and then factor in your time and energy to wash a pad by hand etc, pretty soon the pad washer starts to look pretty good.... Again, this is for someone that knows they're going to be buffing on cars on a regular basis.





Also, after my first project using the WG product, I hand washed my pads using hot water and dish washing soap and left them standing on edge to dry. Is this a acceptable method for cleaning pads? If so. should I use the same method when using the Meg twins?

Thanks!


Yes, or lay them flat with the foam face down and the Velcro up. I've used oven racks, plastic grates with good luck as that way air can flow around the pad and water can drain out. (Wash any racks you use first)

It's actually a combination of 3 primary components to the GG Pad Washer that makes it work so well,

First you need a good soap solution to dissolve and emulsify any compound or polishing residue so it will release off the pad and the Citrus-based DP Polishing Pad Rejuvenator (http://www.autogeek.net/dp730.html) works extremely well.

Water alone won't work very well and dish soap makes SUDS and you don't want suds in your pad washer. So for anyone reading this, when you get ready to step up to a GG Pad Washer be sure to include a jar or two of the Detailer's Pride Polishing Pad Rejuvenator which is more than a rejuvenater, it a citrus-based cleaner for pad washing.


The next primary component that works so well to clean your buffing pads is the spring loaded water pumps that pump the cleaning solution up and into the face of your foam pad. That's why you'll see me pumping my buffer up and down when it's inside the pad washer because I'm working the spring loaded water pumps to force them to pump cleaning solution.


And the next component that plays a huge part in getting your pads clean is the actual Grit Guard Insert and the Baby Grit Guard Insert inserted into the regular Grit Guard Insert,

Here you can see my finger pointing to the Grit Guard Insert inside the bucket. Under it are 4 Spring-Loaded Pumps and on top of it in the center is the Baby Grit Guard Insert. Not you can see compound and polish residue inside of mine because I use it. :D

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/749/GritGuardandPump01.jpg


Here I've grabbed a brand new full size and baby insert to show you up close the grill design.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/749/GritGuardandPump02.jpg


From an angle - As the foam pad spins over the top of the grill opening, residue is squeegeed off and falls through the openings to remove it off the face of the pad.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/749/GritGuardandPump03.jpg

Here I've cycled the pumps by pushing up and down on the Grit Guard Insert and you can see cleaning solution that has been pumped up into the air and captured on in the picture.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/749/GritGuardandPump04.jpg


Again, each person can find a way that works best for them, this thread was to show a basic method of using a clean, terry cloth towel but the best way to clean a pad, in my humble opinion, is to use a Grit Guard Universal Pad Washer with a scoop of citrus based pad cleaning soap.

Click here to get information on how you can get your own Grit Guard Universal Pad Washer or get one as a give for someone else. (http://www.autogeek.net/grit-guard-universal-pad-washer.html)


Works with all buffers and polishers, here's a pad being cleaned using the Flex 3401 Forced Rotation Dual Action Polisher (http://www.autogeek.net/flex-orbital-polisher.html)


Before
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/749/CleaningHydroPadwFlexGGUPW002.jpg

After
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/749/CleaningHydroPadwFlexGGUPW001.jpg



:)