Wool vs. foam - who wins???

RyanDe680 · 06-21-07, 10:01

I've been reading a lot about wool lately on here, and a lot people are living by it it seems.

My question is WHY should I, or anyone else, use wool. I currently use the Edge system on the rotary and the PC and it works great. I've had a few PC issues with the Edge system, but I have read a lot about people going to wool from foam.

I was recently in a class with Mike Phillips and he used a Meguiars wool pad to correct wetsanding. It worked great to remove deep imperfections, but he didn't finish with the wool.

Why use wool?
What are the benefits?
What are the downfalls?
Who has successfully finished down with wool?
If so, who's wool did you use?

I figured we could start a discussion. Thanks.

SpoiledMan · 06-21-07, 10:19

When it comes time to remove heavy swirling on hard paint you have two choices:
1) Spend hours fighting a foam cutting pad, follow with a lighter polishing pad and then a finishing pad.
2) Cut that puppy with wool that glides over the surface and finish it out.

Which would you choose?

Coupe · 06-21-07, 11:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpoiledMan

When it comes time to remove heavy swirling on hard paint you have two choices:
1) Spend hours fighting a foam cutting pad, follow with a lighter polishing pad and then a finishing pad.
2) Cut that puppy with wool that glides over the surface and finish it out.

Which would you choose?

Yeah basicly why i use wool for cutting.

I only know of 1 member who finishes with wool but thats with edge/presta wool line, the other people i know who finish with wool are......ummm........hacks.

I believe its possible to cut and finish with edge/presta line but they are the only company i know of who make different cuts of wool. They have a heavy cut wool all the way down to a fine finishing wool.

I use edge/presta wool ONLY for cutting and finish with foam.

SpoiledMan · 06-21-07, 12:35

Lake Country has a *very* robust line of wool pads. I spoke to a rep that indicated that their site only shows about half of what they offer.

Coupe · 06-21-07, 12:56

That dont make a whole lot of sense though, how is anyone to know what they have if they dont have it on their site?

RyanDe680 · 06-21-07, 03:57

Do you strictly use wool because of the heat issue, or because of its quick cutting ability?

warlockid · 06-21-07, 04:41

For me, wool is much easier to use when cutting is needed. Getting through a rough exterior detail with foam alone would take me twice as long

ZoranC · 06-21-07, 04:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coupe

That dont make a whole lot of sense though, how is anyone to know what they have if they dont have it on their site?

My feelings exactly. I will have to give them a call.

Coupe · 06-21-07, 04:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanDe680

Do you strictly use wool because of the heat issue, or because of its quick cutting ability?

I use wool for these reasons (edge/presta wool)

1. Almost no heat, no fear of burning

2. WAY WAY WAY WAY easy to control

3. Cuts fast with little to no holograms/micromarring

Now i use edge/presta wool, they have a complete line of wool from heavy cut all the way down to finishing wool.

What i choose for the job is important to the outcome. If i am working on an audi/vette then i use the yellow medium cut wool or the black heavy cut wool, if im working on a ford then i use the green light cut wool or the blue polishing wool.

That is just a quick example, you never know what you are dealing with regardless of the vehicle so starting at the least aggresive approach still applies.

Coupe · 06-21-07, 04:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZoranC

My feelings exactly. I will have to give them a call.

What i dont get is if they offer such a line of wool and dont have it on their site and none of their distributers carry them then why do they make them? Just to look at them on the shelf? They obviously wont get sold if no one knows about them.

David Fermani · 06-21-07, 05:08

I think there's too many different kinds of wool pads on the market. I really don't see why there should be more than 2 (maybe 3). Cutting and polishing. There's not a big variance between each like there is with foam pads. I don't think I've ever had a need to use more than 1 kind for a single application. There's really no need to use a cutting wool and then follow with a polishing/foamed wool. You'll go to a foam pad instead.

RyanDe680 · 06-21-07, 10:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Fermani

I think there's too many different kinds of wool pads on the market. I really don't see why there should be more than 2 (maybe 3). Cutting and polishing. There's not a big variance between each like there is with foam pads. I don't think I've ever had a need to use more than 1 kind for a single application. There's really no need to use a cutting wool and then follow with a polishing/foamed wool. You'll go to a foam pad instead.

Why would that be though? How come you wouldn't be able to finish with a wool, if it was fine enough?

I've seen some success stories on here....