Problems with machine polishing

**Striker** · 06-08-2015, 11:28 PM

In the middle of polishing a single stage painted vehicle and I notice my pads are leaving behind this glue like residue often.

Polishing w a makita rotary and some 3m pads. The pads are old and I`m starting to question them.

Is it the painters tape I used and maybe the glue from the catches the pad??

When I go to clean it off w some iso and a mf towel, I end up marring the paint more and it`s not fun anymore!

I took pics of my nightmare but I`m using the mobile app and not sure how to post them.

Many thanks I`m advance fellas!

**4u2nvinmtl** · 06-08-2015, 11:37 PM

My pads did that when when I was taking off a lot of clear and when I got glue from the tape on them...

Change pads and avoid the tape in a test spot and see if the pads still get gummed/gunked up.

**Striker** · 06-09-2015, 12:32 AM

Well there is no clear to take off here.

I do know the pads are old, perhaps it`s time to rid of them. They`re annoying to work with considering their 8 inch diameter. I have some 5.5 in mind....

**CG6Lemon** · 06-09-2015, 01:00 AM

Judging from the information above I`m pretty sure it`s the glue residue from the tape. When polishing you may be edging or overlapping the tape and lifted the edge up/off a bit over continuous section passes for the work area. Try to not edge as close to the tape and see if there is any difference next time in order to diagnose the situation.

**Stokdgs** · 06-09-2015, 02:19 AM

So, are the pads foam or what ?
How old is the tape and what color is it ? Who makes it ?
You should always have clean pads that are the correct color for the work.
I would never use anything bigger than the size pad that will fit correctly over a 5" backing plate..
The reason for this is that you have to apply equal pressure and movement over the entire pad and its really hard to do this with those dang big pads you have.. You want to be able to get great results as quickly and efficiently as possible on each section of each panel..

I use a Makita 9227C Rotary all the time and it works great on anything I use it for..
I only use a bigger backing plate and pads for big stuff like Airplanes..
Good luck,
Dan F

**Ronkh** · 06-09-2015, 06:56 AM

Originally Posted by Striker

I do know the pads are old, perhaps it`s time to rid of them. They`re annoying to work with considering their 8 inch diameter. I have some 5.5 in mind....

Sorta think you answered your own question

**Mike lambert** · 06-09-2015, 07:40 AM

Are you sure it is not residue from the paint itself? Use clean pads and clean them often. You may be polishing at to high a speed also?

**Accumulator** · 06-09-2015, 09:57 AM

Huh, I use *old* pads often with no issues. I`d think "tape adhesive". The head from rotary + foam can really get tape adhesive going.

**Striker** · 06-09-2015, 10:13 AM

I`m at speed 2 on the makita. I tool another look where I lightly went over the green tape and I saw a black mark over the tape itself where the smudge was. I`m thinking it may be paint residue.

I`m about to order some smaller pads anyways. These pillow sized units are not fun to work with. I`m thinking 5.5s..?

Also, what do I do with the pads as they will have pigment transfer from.the ss paint.

Are they garbage?

**Accumulator** · 06-09-2015, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by Striker

... what do I do with the pads as they will have pigment transfer from.the ss paint.

Are they garbage?

I just clean them as best I can and ignore the staining from the SS paint, Never been an issue for me. I`ve even used "colorful-stained" pads on white b/c paint, but "don`t try this at home, kids!" probably applies to that.

**Striker** · 06-09-2015, 11:01 AM

Accumulator, directions on how to clean them?

**Accumulator** · 06-09-2015, 12:21 PM

I just use Dawn Power Dissolver or MF Detergent or APC same as with most any pads. The stains remain but have never caused me any trouble.

Now if I used some pads on red or black ss I would *not* use them on white ss, but other than that I just ignore the whole issue.

Way back in the days of all-ss paint, people used red/black-stained pads on white anyhow and teased me for being leery of the idea.

**Striker** · 06-09-2015, 12:26 PM

Soak them in dawn over night and rinse the next day I take it?

**Accumulator** · 06-09-2015, 01:16 PM

I don`t even soak them that long, though it wouldn`t be a bad idea.

Regular Dawn worked OK for me, but after reading about all the "stuff" in it (to make it OK for hands and baby ducks) I switched to the Power Dissolver, which works better anyhow.

**Stokdgs** · 06-09-2015, 01:29 PM

I only use Snappy Clean powder sold in packets probably here..
If not, at Detailed Image..

About half a packet to 3 gallons of water in a 5 gallon bucket..
Soak the pads for awhile, then take them and scrub the foam sides together in the bucket..
See all the gunk come out of the pads..
Rinse the pads in clean water, squeezing them frequently, to get the soap and junk that is embedded out of them as good as possible..
Wring them out as much as possible squeezing them and slightly twisting them..
Then put them on the backing plate and spin them on the Makita to speed-6 to remove more water..
Set pads on the the edge to dry in the sun or overnight, or however long it takes to dry them..
Good luck !
Dan F