View Poll Results: How do you prep your pads before polishing ? Thank you for your time.

Voters
42. You may not vote on this poll
  • I do nothing, a few drops of polish and I am ready to go.

    5 11.90%
  • I butter it ( cover entire pad ) with the product that I am using.

    9 21.43%
  • I put a few pea size drops 3 or 4 of the product and spread it out.

    18 42.86%
  • I spray it with water. 1 or 2 squirts.

    4 9.52%
  • I soak it in water and wring it out.

    0 0%
  • I use a method not listed here.

    6 14.29%
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  1. #1
    Fishing's Avatar
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    How do you prep your pads.

    What steps do you take to prep you pads ?

  2. #2
    trashmanssd's Avatar
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    Re: How do you prep your pads.

    I do this ->



    I dont want to much product near the center as it doesn`t seem to spin enough there to cut and it just stays wet and holds heat and causes cave ins. But I like an even swath of product on the diameter of the pad so it get the rest the pad working. Or at least thats this one wack jobs theory.
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  3. #3

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    Re: How do you prep your pads.

    Depends on the product and what I`m doing. I voted #1 as that`s usually what I do, but sometimes I use what`s generally called the KevinBrownMethod, which involves priming the pad with quite a bit of product.
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  4. #4
    dansautodetailing.com Stokdgs's Avatar
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    Re: How do you prep your pads.

    I have successfully developed a process for my Rotary where I spray the pad a little with C/G Pad conditioner, rub it in slightly, then apply a little of the compound or polishing product around the pad, not a lot, just a little, rub that in a little bit.

    I would rather have less compound or polish material on the pad than too much, which will then tend to sling all over the place, getting into places as well, that cause you to have to do more work to clean it all out..
    And since I use Rotary Power, I really have to make sure I dont sling stuff with that direct drive, because it can go pretty far..

    Then, go press that pad against the surface to get it all on the paint, soft start the Makita up to 600, get it all over the area Im going to work, and then gradually turn up the speed as Im working the panel, with downward pressure..
    Never had a problem, it just works great..

    With your own process, Fishing, you will have to decide what works best for your needs on that paint that day, knowing, tomorrow, it might have to be adjusted a little as you do it in different areas, if this is more than a day of activity out there..

    But the priming is always the same and I know after doing it this way for years, what to expect from the pads I use ( I only use a couple of pads for the majority of the work), when they are primed this way..
    Dan F
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  5. #5
    dcjredline's Avatar
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    Re: How do you prep your pads.

    ! or 2 spritz of pad conditioner for me. On MF pads I use the product to cover the face though.
    Don

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  6. #6
    rlmccarty2000's Avatar
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    Re: How do you prep your pads.

    On foam I put a few drops on the pad and then smear it onto the panel. When using microfiber pads I will use my finger to coat/Prime the pad. I stopped using a pad conditioning product a few years ago as I couldn’t see the use/advantage.
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  7. #7
    Long Time Member GearHead_1's Avatar
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    Re: How do you prep your pads.

    Quote Originally Posted by Stokdgs View Post
    I have successfully developed a process for my Rotary where I spray the pad a little with C/G Pad conditioner, rub it in slightly, then apply a little of the compound or polishing product around the pad, not a lot, just a little, rub that in a little bit.
    This is pretty much the way I do it though I use Mckee’s pad conditioner.
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  8. #8
    Fishing's Avatar
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    Re: How do you prep your pads.

    Thank you ALL for your responses, now I have a few different methods to try.
    Likes Stokdgs, trashmanssd liked this post

  9. #9
    Farmall-luvr's Avatar
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    Re: How do you prep your pads.

    I voted the 3rd option,when using the orbital I prime the pad somewhat but also use drops and smear it around on panel before triggering the machine so maybe more somewhere between 2 and 3

    when using the rotary I still ribbon it on more or less out of habit but will work the trigger until all the product is spread around before locking the trigger on and I always work from left to right so I am working into most of the splatter that occurs even though I try to minimize it.

  10. #10
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    Re: How do you prep your pads.

    I voted "different method" because I use various

    For HD Polish, I use #1

    For MF pads, I do like Accumulator

    For other polishes on foam, i sometimes do like Stokdgs/dcjredline

    For wool on rotary, 10 and 2 (?) Technique like Mike Phillips
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  11. #11

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    Re: How do you prep your pads.

    Quote Originally Posted by JustJesus View Post
    For HD Polish, I use #1
    HD`s stuff sure works a lot better when you *don`t* use too much.

    For MF pads, I do like Accumulator
    Which version of what I do...(asking since like you I use different approaches with different products)?

    For other polishes on foam, i sometimes do like Stokdgs/dcjredline
    I`ll sometimes smear it around before switching on too.

    For wool on rotary, 10 and 2 (?) Technique like Mike Phillips
    Is that the "picking up a line of product off the panel" method? Gee, I haven`t used a rotary for so long...but yeah, that works well for that as long as you don`t [mess] up, cool Party Trick to impress non-Detailers too

  12. #12
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    Re: How do you prep your pads.

    Quote Originally Posted by Accumulator View Post
    HD`s stuff sure works a lot better when you *don`t* use too much.
    I was pleasantly surprised when I tried that. 3 or 4 drops, and being the polishing. Done. Easy enough and saved product.

    [QUOTE=Accumulator;2148892]Which version of what I do...(asking since like you I use different approaches with different products)?

    The KevinBrownMethod. Though, I learned it from Michael Stoops when I took the Megs class. Also learned that using one of those plastic Bondo spreaders works better than my fingers! It`s what I do for MF pads.


    Quote Originally Posted by Accumulator View Post
    I`ll sometimes smear it around before switching on too.
    Yup. Done this on occasion.

    Quote Originally Posted by Accumulator View Post
    Is that the "picking up a line of product off the panel" method? Gee, I haven`t used a rotary for so long...but yeah, that works well for that as long as you don`t [mess] up, cool Party Trick to impress non-Detailers too
    Yes The first time I tried it, it went well. Out of curiosity, and for sake of testing, I tried putting the compound on the pad, much like I do with foam, and THAT didn`t turn out to be a good idea. That was *my* experience. Have since stuck to picking up the line of product (for the rear times I pull out a rotary)

  13. #13

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    Re: How do you prep your pads.

    JustJesus- Ah, OK...thanks for clarifying. Heh heh, I can just imagine how things went sideways with the rotary`s prep.

  14. #14

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    Re: How do you prep your pads.

    Quote Originally Posted by JustJesus View Post
    The KevinBrownMethod. Though, I learned it from Michael Stoops when I took the Megs class. Also learned that using one of those plastic Bondo spreaders works better than my fingers! It`s what I do for MF pads.
    Craft/popsicle sticks work great for the KBM too.

  15. #15

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    Re: How do you prep your pads.

    mc2hill- Wooden sticks have sooo many (Detailing) uses!
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