How long do pads last?

duffman

New member
My waxing pads are fine i was just wondering about the orange lc pads. I have done 2 cars and 1 truck so far and they are really taking a beating
 
My 6.5" LC orange pads last the longest, then the yellow, then the white, then the black.



Dirty paint takes its toll on my pads. Frequent washing hastens the pad deterioration. Only use them on a PC. No rotary. 2 cars and 1 truck is too quick in my estimation.



What size and which mfg pads do you use?
 
Are these LC pads still ok to use. One is a white and the other one ornage (well, were those colors at one point)

padsyt5.jpg
 
noooorb said:
Are these LC pads still ok to use. One is a white and the other one ornage (well, were those colors at one point)

I'd spritz them with some Dawn Power Dissolver and soak in water for awhile before washing them again to see if you can clear them up a little better.
 
velobard said:
I'd spritz them with some Dawn Power Dissolver and soak in water for awhile before washing them again to see if you can clear them up a little better.



I'll pick up Power Dissolver the next time I go shopping.
 
So far I have not killed a pad and been buffing for three years. I must not be working them hard enough.
 
I have had mine for almost 2 years and they have done hundereds of cars. I will have to say that I am overly impressed with the quality of LC pads. The only ones that are taking a little beating are the yellow ones, but are still in great working order. 2 tiny chunks taken out of one, that's all.



I use the XMT pad cleaner and it does an amazing job!
 
I don't know what to do about my Sonus SFX pads. They're so badly stained I'm nervous about using them... but those are so hard to get clean! After the first time I used em, I tried my hardest but they weren't comin perfectly clean. Guess I just have to expect that. But they're like black now. Any suggestions on what I can do aside from buying new pads? I know you can't stick them in a washer but I'd like to salvage them. I'm not sure if there's any mold on them either, I left them partially damp in my bin with the lid on. They seem ok just black and stained.
 
Chris223 said:
I don't know what to do about my Sonus SFX pads. They're so badly stained I'm nervous about using them... but those are so hard to get clean! After the first time I used em, I tried my hardest but they weren't comin perfectly clean. Guess I just have to expect that. But they're like black now. Any suggestions on what I can do aside from buying new pads? I know you can't stick them in a washer but I'd like to salvage them. I'm not sure if there's any mold on them either, I left them partially damp in my bin with the lid on. They seem ok just black and stained.

I know it's not exactly recommended by all, but I toss mine in the washing machine and I know others do as well. For your's try spraying them down well with Dawn Power Dissolver well, toss them in a bucket of water overnight, then put them in the washing machine. There's a chance something nasty could happen in the machine, like the velcro backing coming loose, but from what you're saying you don't have much to lose. Oh yeah, don't put anything else in the machine with them and it's probably best if you run it on gentle cycle.
 
velobard said:
I know it's not exactly recommended by all, but I toss mine in the washing machine and I know others do as well. For your's try spraying them down well with Dawn Power Dissolver well, toss them in a bucket of water overnight, then put them in the washing machine. There's a chance something nasty could happen in the machine, like the velcro backing coming loose, but from what you're saying you don't have much to lose. Oh yeah, don't put anything else in the machine with them and it's probably best if you run it on gentle cycle.



I sprayed my pads with diluted Simple Green and dumped them in a bucket of Woolite/water the other day and let them soak for a 1 day or 2. Afterwards, I massaged the pads with my fingers and was able to get a lot of the product out of the pads.
 
I've had some last years, some, not so long. I find that if I do "bad" cars without claying, the pads tend to sometimes flake of chunks after the 3rd or 4th car. (Usually using a light cut pad)

I've found that an APC or even dish soap and massaging (as others have mentioned) can get pads pretty clean. (*Note*-Megs doesn't recommend washing their pads.)

I have had some backing failures, but that's usually on the ones that have started to flake anyways. I haven't tried using a washing machine yet.

Some pads get stained and just don't seem to be willing to come clean. White pads and pink polishes are especially noticable.
 
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