What methods do you use to clean your pad on the fly?

**Tuck91** · 06-01-2009, 07:38 PM

What do you guys do to clean your pad on the fly?

and how often do you do it when working on a car,

every two to three panels?

**Old Pirate** · 06-01-2009, 07:45 PM

I clean mine pads with a Pad Conditioning Brush for foam and with wool I go really old fashion, a wire brush or my fingers (nails). I clean my pads twice on every panel I touch.

**imported_Asphalt Rocket** · 06-01-2009, 07:57 PM

Grab a new one and keep working, do not see the point in stopping to brush the pad when you can use a new one.

**imported_Luster** · 06-01-2009, 08:00 PM

I rarely clean on the fly because I have so many pads, but I have done it in the past.

For a pad that`s not real dirty, I use a very "sticky" microfiber, give the MF a good couple sprays of QD, then turn on the machine and with a couple fingers under the MF, I start at the center of the pad with pressure and work my way out.

A few passes will clean it enough to proceed, provided it doesn`t have a huge amount of build-up.

If the compound is built up pretty bad, I just take tha pad off, use high pressure water from the hose, replace it on the machine, turn on inside a bucket and "Spin Dry"... works very well.

BUT.....

Grab a new one and keep working

That`s what I usually do!!!:cornut:

**Old Pirate** · 06-01-2009, 08:05 PM

I need more pads, Send me some Dana:notworthy:
But after every panel I do get a fresh one too.

**imported_Luster** · 06-21-2009, 09:03 PM

Have you ever seen the guys in a body shop cleaning their pads with a screwdriver?

After the compound gets caked on the pad, they will crank it up and use a large, flat blade screwdriver, lay it right down on the spinning pad and remove the excess compound.

**imported_Asphalt Rocket** · 06-21-2009, 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by Luster

Have you ever seen the guys in a body shop cleaning their pads with a screwdriver?

After the compound gets caked on the pad, they will crank it up and use a large, flat blade screwdriver, lay it right down on the spinning pad and remove the excess compound.

Not my style.

I do that with my wool pads since it works better than a spur. On foam they get changed out and then washed. I do not even brush my foam pads, just wash them.

**imported_Luster** · 06-21-2009, 09:33 PM

Yeah, foam isn`t quite as tough as wool!:wink:

**egoXtension** · 06-22-2009, 12:05 AM

Like to see a pic of a really caked up pad to see how bad it gets to need cleaning or replacing.

Polishing my 2 rides I just didnt see the pads get very caked at all !

**imported_Luster** · 06-22-2009, 08:07 AM

Originally Posted by egoXtension

Like to see a pic of a really caked up pad to see how bad it gets to need cleaning or replacing.

Polishing my 2 rides I just didnt see the pads get very caked at all !

I`m with you on that... my pads have never been "caked" with compound. I just don`t use that much. They DO get dirty, just from oxidadized paint, contaminents, etc. I just swap pads.

**LUSTR Detail** · 06-22-2009, 12:10 PM

After every section, I`ll do this: (foam or wool)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCn2Jw1NVrM

Originally Posted by Asphalt Rocket

Grab a new one and keep working, do not see the point in stopping to brush the pad when you can use a new one.

It`s faster to brush the pad for 5-10 seconds after a section/panel and it cuts down on the time for cleaning the pads after everything`s done. Also, replacing pads every few panels defeat the purpose of priming the pad in the first place...

**imported_Asphalt Rocket** · 06-22-2009, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by ivopivo

After every section, I`ll do this: (foam or wool)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCn2Jw1NVrM

It`s faster to brush the pad for 5-10 seconds after a section/panel and it cuts down on the time for cleaning the pads after everything`s done. Also, replacing pads every few panels defeat the purpose of priming the pad in the first place...

To you it maybe, to me it is alot easier to do it the way I have become accustomed to. It doesn`t take that much if any extra time to remove and replace a pad. Plus how much total time is really going to be lost on a complete job by removing and replacing a few pads. Also I prefer to work with a clean slate as I go. I will not trust a brushed pad to a completely clean pad, to me it is better to be safe than sorry.

**Loggie31** · 06-23-2009, 09:02 AM

I`m old school, I prepare a bucket of autowash soap and as I go along I throw the pad into the bucket and allow them to soak while I keep polishing. Later, I use my fingers tips (nails) to clean the polish off to get the original color back then rinse with my hose and squeeze the water and polish out, do not wring the pad or your may damage the velcro pad then set it out to air dry. After drying put them way in a clean place.

**imported_Bunky** · 06-23-2009, 11:13 AM

I just rub them roughly with a terry cloth towel and then switch out.

**imported_Jokeman** · 06-24-2009, 11:14 AM

I spray the pads down with Meg`s Super Degreaser at 4:1 then rinse them out. They come out like new. Spin them dry on the rotary. If I am home I also hit them with compressed air.