Wool pad cutting.

[ConglomrationAL]

One of my friends tells me that every car needs to be "cut with a wool pad" and that nobody can get the same results without a wool pad, he uses a rotary.

He works at a dealership detailing cars and claims to know everything there is about detailing.

Is this true that one can only get the best results by "Cutting" (his words) with a wool pad first? He also claims that when using a foam pad the swirls come back right after the next rainfall or wash. He says that this doesn't happen with a wool pad (I chalk that up filler polish being used and he doesn't know it)

I'm asking partially because I want to get a makita soon and hopefully you guys can influence my pad choice. The other reason is because I think he's totally wrong and his arrogance annoys me.

[tom p.]

Originally Posted by ConglomrationAL

He works at a dealership detailing cars and claims to know everything there is about detailing.

So, there you have it! An SPE*!!

How does his work look? As refined as your own?


*self-proclaimed expert

[ConglomrationAL]

I haven't seen it but he talks as though he does a great job and his way is the only way cars should be done.

Has anyone used a wool pad like the way he's saying he does?

[bluej511]

A wool pad cuts a lot more then a foam pad, this is true yes BUT you have to end up finishing up with a foam pad anyways because wool is gonna leave swirls all over from cutting (very very aggressive)

As far as when using a foam pad the swirls come back? well thats BS unless your using a polish thats full of fillers

[gmblack3a]

I recently ordered a few wool pads, but will only be using them on hard clear coats like vettes and such. His claims that:

using a foam pad the swirls come back right after the next rainfall or wash

Is total BS! 99% of the time a foam pad is needed to cleanup after wool is used.

[tom p.]

There are some specialty wool pads now. They're made by Presta. Do a search on Presta over the past 6 months...lots of material ! A wonderful tool if you already own a Makita or equiv. w/ 5/8" thread.

[rydawg]

good post! Everyones an expert btw when they have a rotory in hand at a dealership.
I managed dealerships for many years and have re-taught and re trained guys to do cars the right way. At first they think they have the best process and I just laugh. Last year I had a detailer said he was the best and wanted to do a used suv that I had for sale and he was going to prove to me how good he was. So I let him take it home and work his magic.
Next day came back and the interior was amazing, but the exterior was swirled and chaulky. His reply was, it was black and had bad paint . Well next day it rained and it all washed off and had white residue everywhere and looked worst then it did before I had it done.

I ended up doing it my way and showed him it weeks later and he did not know what to say. He was completly amazed and wanted to learn from me. The sad part is that I do not show anyone from my local area what I do or use....only on Autopia!

I know he used a wool to remove defects first and foam to take out the swirls induced from the wool. So the point to this whole story is does not matter what pad you use if you are not using the right polishes and techniques.

[bluej511]

Well here ill post this might as well since a couple people helped me out getting hang of a rotary, its amazing how well a job you can do with just a foam pad, im sure if i would have used a wool pad and OC i would have only needed to make one pass but its a learning experience

http://autopia.org/forum/click-brag/...n-autopia.html

btw id say listen to Rydawg (ryan i think lol) cuz he knows his **** just as good, if not better then most people on here

[rydawg]

I only use wool on hard clears just to regain clarity and remove bigger defects faster. I will then follow up with a foam finish or polish pad and a finish polish to remove any of the light swirls and rifine the surface.

Also on wool, not many polishes these days are designed for wool anymore. I have had the best results using Presta polishes. For foam and removing defects I have had the best luck using menzerna.

Either pad process I use I will get excellent results. It's what I use on the pad in which makes the difference too.

Wool pads and Presta polish will glide over the surface much nicer than a harder compound and a foam cutting pad. But if you use the right polish and a foam polish pad and you will have great results too, but just might take you a tad longer.

If you are only doing one polish step then a foam polish pad and the right polish will be the best route to go no matter what.


Hope this helps!

[Dent's & Details]

Not every finish needs a wool pad. Tell your friend to lay off the pipe.
You have different types of wool pads that have different amounts of cut.
Tell your buddy to get some more training.
I find some of the new clears to swirl very bad with wool and it requires more time to remove
the swirls you induce in to the finish.
A friend owns and trains detailers in NJ. He dose training for dealers if you want more info send me a PM

[rydawg]

Originally Posted by bluej511

Well here ill post this might as well since a couple people helped me out getting hang of a rotary, its amazing how well a job you can do with just a foam pad, im sure if i would have used a wool pad and OC i would have only needed to make one pass but its a learning experience

http://autopia.org/forum/click-brag/...n-autopia.html

btw id say listen to Rydawg (ryan i think lol) cuz he knows his **** just as good, if not better then most people on here

Thanks buddy for the great comment!

Great job on that explorer. All those hoods had paint issues with the cracking paint.

[bluej511]

haha yea and im sure following sand trucks all winter long doesnt help. Funny thing is this is probably just gonna sit (its a spare, dunno why they wanted it detailed but its experience so i took it)