When has a pad had enough?

[blackf0rk]

When do you all replace your pads? What appearance does the pad have that signals you to replace it? Also, if any deformity starts to appear on the pad(s), how much deformity is too much to start to cause adverse conditions in your paint (swirl marks, buffer trails etc).



I ask because I notice that the LC Orange Pads break down SUPER fast. By the third or fourth usage, the pad looks worn; almost like it has a bad case of fabric pills I also ask because in some of the pads I`ve used (now replaced) I would get gouges, due to accidents, or little nicks out of the foam. At what point (is it even possible?) does the pad become a detriment? Would a pad have to get just so ridiculously far gone for it to do damage or cause marring that it`s not even worth discussing?

[hharvey13]

I haven`t had to yet. I know some wool edge pads have indicators that tell you but I think it is pretty much common sense. When it starts falling apart replace.

[Greg Nichols]

I notice that when my pads fall apart I get pad marring on the paint. My orange CCS pads get a bit worn on the edges and then they marr the paint.

[David Fermani]

With wool cutting pads, you can tell when they loose their cutting ability they originally had. When that happens, they get turned into a great polishing/light duty pad. My EDGE foam pads last forever. They have have to be pretty beat up for me to replace them.

[blackf0rk]

No no one else`s orange LC pads seem to get pitted after a few uses?

[imported_Picus]

Mine do, not after a few uses though; more like 20-ish. I`m actually a pad freak, I won`t use anything but a perfectly formed pad. I just find when you have any sort of imperfection the cut is effected as is the finish. I swap pads during details *a lot*, like almost every panel, so they tend to last longer I guess.