Review - Buff & Shine Uro-Tec 2 inch Foam Pads

[The Guz]

Disclaimer: Meghan sent me this product along with a few others to review. Thank you Meghan for sending it out to me.

Product: Buff & Shine Uro-Tec Pads

Product link: 2 inch Buff and Shine Uro-Tec Foam Pads

Price: $25.99

Quantity: 4 pack

Product description:

Uro-Tec Foam Pads are the latest innovation from Buff & Shine, a leading manufacturer of foam, wool, and microfiber buffing and polishing pads. The 6 and 7 inch Buff & Shine Uro-Tec Pads are developed specifically for “long throw” orbital polishers such as the Rupes LHR 15 and 21, Griot’s Garage BOSS G15 and 21, and the new FLEX XFE. The smaller pads work perfectly with the RUPES iBrid Polishers and the Griot's Garage BOSS Air Mini. Uro-Tec Foam Pads deliver uncompromised performance on all paint systems and longevity that is superior to anything else on the market.

Buff & Shine has a reputation for manufacturing buffing and polishing pads that can withstand repeated use without failure, and their latest innovation continues this trend. Uro-Tec Foam Pads are constructed out of super durable open-cell foam which allows long cycle times without reduction in performance, and the ability to dissipate heat quickly. This results in a pad that lasts longer without any loss in cutting or finishing abilities.
Uro-Tec Foam Pads were designed and engineered from the ground up for use with long throw orbital polishers. From the unique foam construction to the thickness of each pad, Uro-Tec Foam Pads will blow you away with how smooth they are on your long throw polisher. And with Buff & Shine’s legendary durability, Uro-Tec Foam Pads will be one of the smartest investments you’ll make in car care.

Buff & Shine Uro-Tec Foam Pads are available in heavy cutting (blue), heavy polishing (maroon), polishing (yellow) and finishing (white). From our testing, we’ve found that Uro-Tec Foam Pads are compatible with the leading manufacturers of buffing and polishing compounds, including Menzerna, Meguiar’s, Wolfgang, 3D and more! Use with confidence and enjoy the new-found smoothness of your long throw orbital polisher!

Please note, the 2 inch Buff and Shine Uro-Tec Pads actually measure approximately 2.125 inches and have a 2.125 inch foam face and a 2 inch backing. A 2 inch backing plate is needed to use the 2 inch Buff and Shine Uro-Tec Pads.

I would like to thank Meghan for sending these out to me awhile ago for review purposes.

I put them to use as I was correcting my car. Brief background. I had my 99 Pontiac Grand Prix repainted last year around the September time frame and I received it in October. The entire car was repainted. I will post more info on that on a later review for the Sonax CC36 Ceramic coating.

So I received my car with rotary holograms and swirls on the entire paint. It was not a pretty sight when I saw the guy going to town when I picked up the car. I knew I would have my work cut out for me. Up to this point I have not done any paint correction. The good thing is the paint is silver so it hides defects pretty well.

Ok onto the review of these pads. The pads come in different options and different sizes. Meghan sent me the 2" size that I would pair with the Rupes iBrid Nano.

Pad Descriptions:

Coarse Blue Heavy Cutting Foam Pad
The extremely aggressive foam of the Blue Pad will surprise you with its immense cutting ability, but even more so with the haze-free finish that it provides. On light colors and hard paint systems, the Blue Pad can be used with a one-step compound. Follow with the Yellow or White Pad on softer paint systems and dark colors.

Medium Maroon Heavy Polishing Foam Pad
The dense foam construction of the Maroon Pad makes it perfect for use with one-step compounds and polishes. When the heavy-cutting ability of the Blue Pad is too much, use the Maroon Pad to create a flawless, haze-free finish. Follow with the White Pad to create a dazzling, show-car shine.

Light Yellow Polishing Foam Pad
Use the Yellow Pad with finishing polishes or, for darker colors, one-step polishing compounds. This soft, open-cell foam finishes as well as the White Pad on light colors and metallic finishes. The Yellow Pad will be a popular choice for detailers that frequently use one-step cleaner waxes.

Soft White Finishing Foam Pad
The White Pad is the softest in the Uro-Tec line up. It is best suited for ultra-fine polishes and jewelling waxes. You’ll be glad you have it when you detail a black Tesla or blue Porsche, paint systems that tend to be finicky. The White Pad also works well for applying waxes, sealants and glazes.

I taped off the edges of the door pillars as they are black and would show the correction ability of each pad. I divided the pillar into sections for each pad location.

This is the before photo of the pillars. Notice the lack of gloss and swirls using the scangrip handheld.



First up was the blue coarse heavy cutting pad. The polish of choice was Sonax Cut & Finish. After a few passes with the nano on speed 5, the pillar was left defect free. But there was some marring and hazing left behind by the aggressive combination.



Up next was the maroon heavy polishing pad. Again Sonax Cut & Finish was used as the polish of choice. Speed 5 on the nano as well. This left a good finish with little marring and haze compared to the blue coarse pad. Another option is to use a finer cut polish with this pad. I will try that another time.



Next was the yellow light polishing pad on the adjacent pillar. For this pad I swapped over to Sonax EX 04-06 polish. Again speed 5 on the nano. After a few passes this is the result. It left the finish just right. This would have been my test spot but I was testing these pads for you guys so I had to put them all to use. I ended up using this pad to clean up the pillars after I was done testing these pads.



I did use the white finishing pad but I forgot to take a photo once I was done. But I ended up using essence with these pads as I coated the pillars with the Cquartz UK/TiO2 (aka Classic) combination. The included video shows the pillars after using essence. This combination left the pillars with more gloss.

Final thoughts:

These pads did what they were designed to do. The foams seem to be of durable quality. They fit the backing plate of the Rupes nano just fine. These are a good alternative to the Rupes pads for the nano. One difference between the pads is that the Uro-Tec's are less beveled than the Rupes pads which allows them to get to tighter areas a little better. Other than that the foams feel very similar and perform very similar.

They are also priced a little more friendly at $26 compared to the Rupes which are $40 for a 4 pack.

The only con I have with these is the adhesive separation from the pad and hook and loop interface. The one that went bad on me began to separate after one use and one wash. I have been told that Buff & Shine will replace the pad due to a bad batch of pads with adhesive issues. Contact Buff & Shine if this issue occurs to the pads.



Other than that the pads performed very well and are worth trying.



Video review of the pads.



Thanks for reading and watching. Comments and questions are welcomed.

[adamgayton81]

Great write up Guz! Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[atgonzales]

Nicely done, Mike

[WRAPT C5Z06]

You're then man, Mike!! Thanks!!

[The Guz]

Great write up Guz! Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nicely done, Mike

You're then man, Mike!! Thanks!!

Thanks guys.

[mwoywod]

Thanks for the write up AND the video! There really must have been a bad batch for a uro-tec pad to delaminate after only 1 use!!! I've been using a 6 inch maroon uro-tec pad on my Boss 15 and have washed it 31 times now. The foam is starting to disintegrate especially around the outer edges but the hook and loop backing is still perfectly secure!! I would not be a happy camper if that happened after only one use!!

[VISITOR]

wow, i'm surprised you had one separate from the velcro (or have any problem for that matter). IME, buff & shine pads are virtually indestructible. IMO, they have the best QC although a few here and there (like anything else) may be subject to defect...

[Marc08EX]

Great review Mike! Very detailed and informative.

It sucks that the pad delaminated just after one use. Hope B&S fixes this isssue.

Price seems to be well Positioned compared to the Rupes pads.

[The Guz]

Great review Mike! Very detailed and informative.

It sucks that the pad delaminated just after one use. Hope B&S fixes this isssue.

Price seems to be well Positioned compared to the Rupes pads.

Thanks. I'm sure they would fix it. I've heard B&S will replace it. I'll find another use for the pad.