HOW TO CLEAN YOUR BUFFING PADS
Cleaning your pads may feel like a hassle, but it does not have to be.
Why should you clean your pad, you ask? Simple, when buffing the paint, you are removing a portion of it so that the bottom of the scratch is leveled out with the top surface. This allows a clean, smooth reflection of light, giving your ride that optimum look. So, if we are removing the paint, where does that paint go? Into your pad! It combines with your compound and creates a layer on top of your pad causing the pad and compound to become ineffective. The pad and compound work together and if there is a layer of junk between them, their performance is diminished. So, how often should you clean your pads? More than you think. For best results, clean the pad before every reapplication of product. Doing so will give you more consistent results.
In the ideal world you will have several pads available when working on a vehicle. Yes, you can do it with only one pad, but it is sure is nice to be able to switch to a fresh, clean dry pad halfway around the car. Even though you are cleaning your pad, moisture and contaminants will soak down into the pad that will require a deeper cleaning to get the pad back to optimum condition.
When you are ready to clean your pad, there are a few simple techniques you can use. The first and most economical way is to use a small brush like the Rupes Bigfoot Claw Tool. Turn your polishing tool where the pad is facing upward and away from the area you are working. Turn your polisher to a medium speed and hold the brush on the surface of the pad. This will allow the brush's bristles to remove any compound residue from the pad's face. If you have an air compressor at your disposal you can blow out the compound residue from the pad. A Tornador blow out tool or The Rag Company’s Ultra Air Blaster are ideal for this because of the vortex air motion these tools produce. For best results, clean the pad before every reapplication of product. Doing so will give you more consistent results.
Let's talk about cleaning multiple pads when you are not currently doing a paint correction on a vehicle. Lake Country’s System 4000 Pad Washer is an excellent tool to clean and preserve the longevity of your pads. The system 4000 pad washer looks like a regular wash bucket at first glance but is equipped with pad cleaning technology in the center of the bucket. Start by removing the lid and putting your preferred detergent concentrate into the bucket, filling the rest of the bucket with warm water. P&S Rags to Riches is a great detergent to use. After you have put the lid back on the bucket, attach the desired pad you want cleaned onto your polisher. Set your polisher to a medium speed and place the face of the pad in the center of the bucket. The combination of the speed of your machine and the plunger technology from the pad washer will allow the detergent water to come to the surface and clean any residue you may have on your pad. After you are finished cleaning your pads, allow them to air dry then you are all set!
Regularly cleaning your pads will increase the lifespan while also removing dirt and debris resulting in a quicker, more efficient correction experience.