Pads drive me crazy!

rlmccarty2000

rlmccarty2000

Active member
Anyone else have bad pad memory? You know you pick up some pads on sale and you don`t use them for awhile, then you grab one and start scratching your head trying to figure out if it is a cutting or a polishing pad? I`m going to pick on B&S pads. Even within their own line the colors don`t seem to matter, low Pros or Uro-techs, I can`t remember which color does which. I usually use Rupes pads or Lake Country and I think I can remember what those pads do (sometimes), but Rupes pads have been letting me down, as in durability (even with Rupes polishes).

I`m just getting tired of pad manufacturers lack of standardization! Ok, I said it. Pad manufacturers need to get their act together. I don`t know how much color effects pad construction (does it?), but this has to stop. Standardize color, please! Or at the very least screen print the cut level on the back of the pad. They could put a number on the back of the pad denoting cut. Give us detailers something to work with. C`mon man! Pull your head out. Rant over.
 
Standardization would be lovely.

Until then, black and silver sharpie to write the manufacturer and cut on the back of any pad you don`t recognize right away :)
 
It would be nice. It is part of the reason I`ve only bought Lake Country CCS and Flat pads only. I`ve got the "main" colors memorized.
 
cheat sheets. Index cards or what-have-you. I do tend to keep mine sorted in plastic containers with same pads. So there`s usually a new-in-bag pad, making it easier to identify which set that is. And I do refer to cheat sheets as needed to remind me of some of the infrequently used pads.

 
Would be easier to write on the back if they used white Velcro on them instead black. Could get a silver/white paint pen see if that holds up, but normal black permanent marker is easier to get or most have one in there house any ways and that shows up best on white. Also another favorite of mine is when white pads age and turn yellow is.
 
Now imaging having cabinets full of prototype pads and microfiber towels! But I like the idea of using a sharpie on the felt backing.

JustJesus said:
cheat sheets. Index cards or what-have-you. I do tend to keep mine sorted in plastic containers with same pads. So there`s usually a new-in-bag pad, making it easier to identify which set that is. And I do refer to cheat sheets as needed to remind me of some of the infrequently used pads.

Click to expand...

Those cases are beautiful. I`m going to have to copy you!
 
Thanks everyone for the "writing on the back" idea. It was so simple I just didn`t think about it! I`ve got the Rupes system down, all the others throw me a curveball. Great idea!
 
Vega@Autopia said:
Now imaging having cabinets full of prototype pads and microfiber towels! But I like the idea of using a sharpie on the felt backing.

Those cases are beautiful. I`m going to have to copy you!
Click to expand...

I, too, use the sharpie on the back. I mark mine with product used.

Yeah, they are working out great, sizes are spot on for the most part. I get them cheap at Daiso (sort of a fancy, Japanese, version of 99 cent store). Well, like 3$ for the bigger one. (Big case holding 5.5" HexLogics, 2nd big case holding the 5" Hybrids)

By all means, copy away. Sharing is caring. And just an FYI, those bigger containers are CD cases. :D
 
That`s why I get Megs and probably will get Rupes. They are straightforward. Cut, polish, wax or light polishing. Not "this pad has some cut, that pas has a bit of cut but also some polishing while that one is for after polishing in between waxing....


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I have several different brands of pads and it is confusing without a system. I use a number system for my pads and write a number on the back with a Sharpie. Number 1 is heavy cut pad thru number 5 lsp pad, it works good for me.
 
I got so used to Uber pads stamping that info on the back that I started writing it on other pads using a sharpie. Definitely too hard to remember them all.
 
That`s why I love the LC hydrotech, and Meguiar`s pad lines - 3 colors.

In spring of 2013 I chose the green, blue, and red CG Hex Logic pads to use with my PC. I had been using my old Megs rotary pads on it...

Since then I`ve spent hundreds of dollars trying out as many pads as I can get my hands on. I just keep going back to the Hex Logic pads that I bought in 2013. They just get the job done for me. On the occasion I need more cut than the green gives me, I use a microfiber. Now, this is for the Porter Cable. I do like the Hydrotechs too though.

The Rupes only gets paired with Rupes pads.
 
A good system for manufacturers would be similar to Rupes with the lighter the color the less cut(except for the gray). I don`t know if adding color changes the properties of foam. Anyone got any insight on this?
 
That idea about marking with a Sharpie is a great idea.

We use silver at work is good source.

Some manufacturers have started to put information on the plastic bags, so good start.
 
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