Pad colors (newby)

D

Domas

New member
Hi Autopians,



Maybe there are the answers to my question in this forum, but Iv'e searched for hours and couldn't find answers... So heres the question:



Could you list what color pad to use for specific job? For example, what to use for rubbing compound and what for final coat waxing?



I'm Lithuanian so here we have no American products but I've seen some made in Lithuania foam pads that are in Orange, Yellow, Blue, Green, White and Dark Grey colors. They had no specifications of usage on the package, but I tried to press them and some of them are harder and others are softer. But, for example, I've seen white pad that is soft while the other white is hard...



I would appreciate if someone could list a 'color-purpose'. Thanks so much.
 
Thanks Setec,



Foam Pad Chart doesn't open...

Lake Country chart is helpful, thank you ;)



However, I'm still a little confused... In the chart it says that white foam pad is for polish, but what if it's white and fairly hard to press? (actually it was hardest of all I found in the store, other were a lot softer). Is white hard pad still for polish only?



Please correct me if I'm wrong - the harder to squeeze pad the more cutting power it has? (I mean, hardest squeezing - for heavy duty compound, softest squeezing - final polish?)



Btw, I'm having one car that has what you call "orange peel" (it was repainted) - what color pad should I use and with what compound? I used orange (quite soft) pad with TurtleWax "heavy duty" compound, but it seems with no big effect (I was using rotary at approx 1500 rpm).



Thanks for your thoughts.
 
Btw, is my notion that harder squeezing pad has more cutting power, correct? Or the hardness of the foam does not necessarily determine it's ability? (sorry for dumb question, I'm a newby)
 
Be careful with Lake Coutry Green CCS pads as there are two different green pads that are very similar in appearance but very different in ability.
 
SpoiledMan said:
Be careful with Lake Coutry Green CCS pads as there are two different green pads that are very similar in appearance but very different in ability.
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As I've mentioned earlier I live in Lithuania (Europe) and I'm unable to find Lake Country or other US made pads, what I can get is Made in Lithuania pads which are in same colors like Lake Country pads. But I just wanted to know if those colors are worldwide standard to determine the purpose of pads?



Can you confirm my "newby theory":



Is my presumption that harder squeezing pad has more cutting power, correct? Or the hardness of the foam does not necessarily determine it's ability?
 
There is no color chart then, every company has different colors for different pads...



LC Yellow-Cutting

Megs Yellow- Polishing



ect...



The firmness of the pad does't directly correlate to its cutting ability. If you have an off brand pad company, then I would contact them as there is no way of telling.
 
Domas said:
...Made in Lithuania pads which are in same colors like Lake Country pads. But I just wanted to know if those colors are worldwide standard to determine the purpose of pads?
Click to expand...



There seem to be only a few mfrs. of foam, so many pad brands have the same color and "purpose", but unfortunately not all, and as mentioned, for some pad suppliers, the same color will have an opposite purpose from the same color at a different pad company.





Domas said:
Is my presumption that harder squeezing pad has more cutting power, correct? Or the hardness of the foam does not necessarily determine it's ability?
Click to expand...



It seems to have to do with the pore size, as well. Certainly a harder pad allows you to apply more pressure without totally compressing the pad, but I had an experience in trying to remove some pretty bad scratches by PC that a very hard yellow cutting pad didn't work as well as a very soft yellow cutting pad from a different supplier (also the soft pad was much easier to control and less fatiguing) :nixweiss
 
Regarding the manufacturer of foam, it seems they're using "Bayer AG" (German) foam, but still, I haven't find out anything about color-purpose... I've sent them an email, hopefully they will tell me what color is for what job...
 
Regarding your theory about pressing on the pad, I believe that its actually the opposite. If I recall correctly, the less dense the pad is (the easier it is to press) the MORE cutting power it has, and vice versa. The white pad you are talking about is most likely and finishing polish pad, which is the least aggressive in comparison the the orange and yellow.
 
Well, I used quite soft orange pad with rotary on orange peel paint, with turtle wax heavy duty rubbing compund (which is quite abrasive), but the clearcoat seems very hard, I almost did nothing to orange peel... In comparison I used that same rubbing compound on my paint and the clearcoat got matt (micro scratches), I guess I will need to correct it with less abrasive compound like "Formula1 Scratch Out", it seems to work wonders for me..



Regarding the orange peel, what is a good way to correct it? Many passes with rubbing compound? I know there also is sanding but can it be bypassed?
 
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