If you use a Surbuf Microfingers Pad with any amount of reason or methedology, they`re going to work pretty well for the task of defect removal. Mount the pad onto an orbital buffer of some sort, apply some compound to the pad or paint, and get to polishing. You should see some pretty nice results, so long as you use a capable compound (Meguiar`s M105 is a great one to start with).
That being said... there`s a lot to discuss in terms of how to achieve maximum cutting potential using these pads. Do I dare get into this? Sometimes, too much info seems to kill a thread. Eyeballs glass over, skim-reading ensues, and not much transfers from screen to brain. Been there myself.
I`ll try to be brief and specific.
When I first wrote about how to use the Surbuf Microfingers Pad for defect removal, the pad was not touted by Surbuf as a pad designed for this task.
Instead, it was presented as a finishing and waxing pad.
Interestingly, the Surbuf`s microfingers are pretty thick, even when compared to the wool strings used to make wool buffing pads. Additionally, out of the box, Surbuf Microfingers Pads tend to shed some of its microfingers (this is a by-product of the manufacturing process), and during use some of the fingers can shear or break away. In theory, the loose fingers could create some nasty scratches, at least when compared to the abilities of a typical foam finishing pad.
My original Surbuf write-up (January 11, 2009) was an attempt to explain how to optimize the performance of Surbuf Microfingers Pads for surface leveling. This means a lot, because leveling refers to elimination of the peaks and valleys of a painted surface. To that end, I recommended the highest speed a typical random orbital could deliver, using very light pressure, and a supplemental wetting agent (water or diluted Last Touch).
Here were some of the topics I was attempting to address:
I still prefer using larger diameter pads. Since the larger pad spreads applied weight and pressure over a larger area, there`s little or no need to lift up on the machine while buffing. Too much pressure or weight can bend the fingers to the point that they are not optimally contacting the surface.
Will the Surbufs work using heavy pressure? Sure.
Expect them to get beat up or worn at a more rapid rate, and be aware that there`s a potential to remove an excessive amount of paint. If you must use added pressure to work a specific area, do so in short bursts. It`ll still get the job done, and the pad won`t suffer all that much.
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