When do you throw away your pads?

A

adept

New member
When have your pads had enough? A couple of my pads are starting to look abused and I'm wondering if they would be still be effective if used.



This first pad is a Lake County gray finishing pad. The only product I've used with it is Meguiar's Deep Crystal System Carnauba Wax. I've used it ~6 times. In the pictures it is compared with a brand new pad of the same type.



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This second pad is a Lake County orange light-cutting pad. I've only used this pad with Pinnacle Swirl Remover. It's starting to turn green just like the product. I've used it ~6 times. In the pictures it is compared with a brand new pad of the same type.



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This next shot is a comparison of all pads up close.



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I clean my pads by dropping them in a bucket full of DP polishing pad rejuvenator. I do not agitate. They stay soaking in there for the rest of detail. This is anywhere from 1 hour to 4 hours. When I'm all done with the detail and I'm cleaning up, I drain all the soapy water out of the pads and squeeze them in between my hands. Then I wash them each again and rinse off with the hose. Then I will spin dry with the PC and put them in labeled plastic bags. Sometimes I will later clean them when I get home by agitating them a little in the DP Polishing Pad Rejuvenator solution once more. I've tried cleaning them sometimes at this time with a brush, but it seems to only scuff up the pad.



There are a couple other pads I have that have no problem cleaning out. One is a gray pad that I use with Meg's #80 - Speed Glaze. I wash it exactly the same and it looks close to new. Another one I can think of is another orange pad that I used with DACP. I also clean it the same way and it also looks close to new. The 2 mentioned pads I've used ~3 times.



So, is it a matter of user failure, or product failore, or is everything alright and the pads just look yucky?!? If I'm doing something wrong, what should I do to keep my pads clean in the future? Is the DP Polishing Pad Rejuvenator not a good product? Or, am I just being a little paranoid, and the pads are just fine as they are?
 
Some products wash out easier than others and some leave permanent staining. They look fine to keep using and the finishing pad is so soft that as long as it's not shedding any material it should be fine to use.
 
Cutting (and some polishing) pads wear and lose their "cut"; they become less aggressive. Other than that, I hardly ever throw pads out until there's an issue with the velcro or the foam starts to get *really* chewed up. I'd at least keep worn pads for crappy-job duty. Some of my finishing pads look a *LOT* worse than the one pictured but they still work fine. Some of those are many years old, used dozens of times.
 
When the open cell structure has been compromised due to its use, its time to swap em out unless your still getting/attaining desirable results, I see no need in making a new purchase....
 
I usually throw them away when they fall to the floor or rip on something. Besides that I really don't throw them away.
 
Wash your pads thoroughly! Just soaking and wringing is not enough. Massage them well! Don't fret, good Velcros and adhesives will be stable. Or throw them in the machine and they'll come out perfect. Spinning dry with a PC may not be sufficient. When they turn green, it actually can be mold. Put them into the ziplock bags when they are bone dry!



When my pads are starting to fray badly or lose their cutting power, I re-cut them, exposing a new cell surface. It is very simple, all you need is a long blade knife and something that will guide the blade in the necessary flat & stable way. Use a rotary or drill.



You can also use a Duo Spur.
 
Those pads in your picture are garbage for sure. But make sure you dispose of them properly. Tell you what...I'll do you a favor this one time - send them to me and I'll "recycle" them for you.
 
Honestly, pads should last a long long time. I just through away a cutting pad I probably got 50 hours out of. And I too like to throw them in the washing machine with some APC...no problems yet and they come out as clean as possible (and it is a lot less work).
 
I've never had a need to throw away any of my Propels. The only pad I've disposed of (by ripping it to pieces--useful pieces--with my pocketknife) was the factory PC pad. I now use the chunks for small irregularly shaped applicators for polishing metal/plastic.
 
White95Max said:
I've never had a need to throw away any of my Propels. The only pad I've disposed of (by ripping it to pieces--useful pieces--with my pocketknife) was the factory PC pad. I now use the chunks for small irregularly shaped applicators for polishing metal/plastic.
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Cool idea. I've got to do that.
 
adept said:
Thanks for all the help guys, Ill be keeping these pads. :)



Thanks again
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Unless the velcro comes loose, or the pad suddenly implodes or something, keep using it. If you use the same compound or polish with it every time, you don't even have to wash it (I do though, just to be sure).



I have several acquaintances in the body shop business, and NONE of them ever wash their foam OR wool pads (at least one of them just scrapes the pad surface with a wire brush after use, and the pads are "dimpled" and most def. not anywhere near flat or smooth) - and they look filthy and abused!! But all of them (the body guys) produce beautiful paint finishes with their rotaries, nonetheless. :think:
 
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