Todd@RUPES
Just a regular guy
Closed cell pads such as the Lake Country Cyan and Tangerine H20 pads as well as the Meguiar's Softbuff 2.0 Foam Cutting Pad will hold more water and take longer to dry then comparable open cell foam pads. These pads need to be perfectly dry when used on any type of orbital polisher. It isn't really a problem on a rotary.
What happens with dual-action (spinning and orbiting) orbital polisher is that the pad is quickly moving and changing directions, like the 'Scrambler' ride at the county fair. This internal flexing, compression, and twisting of the pad is the reason why the pad/backing plate gets warm or hot on an orbital and remains cool on a rotary. (consequently most of the heat with a rotary is transferred to the outer edge of the pad, away from the backing plate).
A closed cell pad is just that. If you look at a foam pad under microscope (or just look very closely) you will see that it is really thousands of little cells or pockets inter-twined. On a closed cell pad these pockets are more solid allowing less air and fluid flow through the pad. When these pads become saturated it will consequently take longer for them to dry).
If a pad is wet the constant addition and subtraction of pressure will cause the moisture to work it's way upwards. As heat is created during the polishing process the water will act to 'steam' upwards, which can soften the adhesive bonding the foam to the backing plate material.
You can wash closed celled pads as you do with open celled pads. After you wash your closed cell pads with water it is imperative that they be completely dry before attempting to polish with them on an orbital polisher. Remember that closed cell pads will take significantly longer to dry, so spin on a rotary polisher if applicable and set them in a place where they will have some level of airflow for several days.
What happens with dual-action (spinning and orbiting) orbital polisher is that the pad is quickly moving and changing directions, like the 'Scrambler' ride at the county fair. This internal flexing, compression, and twisting of the pad is the reason why the pad/backing plate gets warm or hot on an orbital and remains cool on a rotary. (consequently most of the heat with a rotary is transferred to the outer edge of the pad, away from the backing plate).
A closed cell pad is just that. If you look at a foam pad under microscope (or just look very closely) you will see that it is really thousands of little cells or pockets inter-twined. On a closed cell pad these pockets are more solid allowing less air and fluid flow through the pad. When these pads become saturated it will consequently take longer for them to dry).
If a pad is wet the constant addition and subtraction of pressure will cause the moisture to work it's way upwards. As heat is created during the polishing process the water will act to 'steam' upwards, which can soften the adhesive bonding the foam to the backing plate material.
You can wash closed celled pads as you do with open celled pads. After you wash your closed cell pads with water it is imperative that they be completely dry before attempting to polish with them on an orbital polisher. Remember that closed cell pads will take significantly longer to dry, so spin on a rotary polisher if applicable and set them in a place where they will have some level of airflow for several days.