Re-using Pads

[ekkoville]

I have seen many of the pictures posted here after buffer work has been done, and it looks like the pad has a knack for taking on the color of the car when finished. When cleaning the pad, will the color come out, and if not, can I reuse it on another color vehicle? I'd hate to polish my green MDX and then use a green tinted pad on my silver BMW. Is that why it may be wise to have a set of pads for each vehicle?

Erik

 

[RTexasF]

I've done some severely oxidized single stage paints and the pads (Cyclo & PC foam) came clean in the washer. The only stained one is a white pad that is now pink. I used one of Poorboy's products with it and it's there to stay. I forgot which product it was but it has not affected the pad at all, works just like always. Having extras makes great sense but pads dedicated to specific cars does not, not to me anyway.

 

[Way2SSlow]

Most of the time you're going to be working with clearcoated cars. When buffing a clearcoated car, you're probably not going to get any color transfer to your pads. If you're ever dealing with a single stage car and you get that transfer onto your pads....Just give them a good cleaning and you're good to use them again.

If you look at the bottom of the lift in this picture, you'll see one of my white pads has been turned red by this single stage Mustang.

I spent a little time cleaning the pad and it's right back in the rotation. You'd never know that it looked like that a short time ago.

 

[pogo123]

There are also a few products out there that will stain your pads, and some of them really don't want to wash out, but it doesn't seem to affect the pad in any other way that I can see.