singlestage - pads needed?

[dc2_]

hello,

when working on a clearcoat i used 2 polishing pads for the whole car(only for the compounding step) then another for polishing and one finishing for wax

on a single stage paint, how often would u have to change ur pad?along with cleaning ur pad on the fly... about how many pads total would be used?

[HCAD]

Re: singlestage - pads needed?

I don't think you'll need to change the number of pads based on the fact that it's single stage verses clearcoat. You will however have to change pads more often if the paint surface itself is more oxidized/scratched, which older cars with single stage paint generally are. The accumilated amount of residue on your pads just changes color because of the single stage, it doesn't always mean that you're getting MORE residue.

[greg0303]

Re: singlestage - pads needed?

There will be much more paint removal, when using paint cleaners/ polishes,
and your pads will change color to paint's color. Single stage paints (especially older ones) are much softer.

More cleaning will be needed and get more pads than for clear coated car detailing.

[dc2_]

Re: singlestage - pads needed?

alright thanks for the replies

[Ivan Rajic]

Re: singlestage - pads needed?

hello,

when working on a clearcoat i used 2 polishing pads for the whole car(only for the compounding step) then another for polishing and one finishing for wax

on a single stage paint, how often would u have to change ur pad?along with cleaning ur pad on the fly... about how many pads total would be used?

As stated already, ss paints tend to be a bit softer, so you'll probably use a couple more pads per car. However, I'd suggest re-examining your process on clearcoated cars as 2 pads seems very little for an entire car. While you don't see it with clear coated cars, the paint is still being removed and absorbed by the pad. After a few panels, the pad's ability to cut well is reduced and after a certain amount of surface area has been polished, the pad will be all but ineffective. Best way to figure out the best amount of pads is to do roughly the surface area of a hood, then, on an unpolished panel, do a side by side comparison using the pad you just used using on the hood and a fresh, clean pad (obviously same size and type of foam). Compare the performance of each and you'll see if the used pad's effectiveness has decreased to the point where it needs replacing.

I generally use about 5-6 pads on the entire vehicle for one polishing step and this doesn't include the 2-3 small 3" pads I use for tighter areas, bumpers, etc. Obviously the better the condition of the paint, the less pads will be necessary as they won't fill up with removed paint, but I'd highly suggest doing the test above to determine a good estimate.

As I said, ss paint will usually be much softer than cc paint but there are hard ones out there so the concept is the same... test the effectiveness of the pad after you polish a certain amount of surface area, and go from there.

[dc2_]

Re: singlestage - pads needed?

well i read on here before on another thread that u should switch to a fresh pad once u covered about half the car..so 2 pads per car for the first polishing step...lets see wat others think? i think the most id use is 3...i was still getting good cut with both pads except near the end when i switched the pad

but of course all i had was 2 pads that day lol...ill be getting more so obviously ima be switching pads more lol

[Murr1525]

Re: singlestage - pads needed?

Yeah, the more cleaning (defect removal) you need to do the more you'll want to switch pads, and clean on the fly often.

If just removing dirt, or dont have more, you can use one the whole time.

There isnt really a correct answer to an exact number. Keep in mind that as LUSTR is in business, he will have a large stock on hand and keep his work rate as high as possible, and less product use, so the more pads the better. If you have 3 for personal use, then divide in thirds or so. Not going to hurt anything if it takes you a couple minutes longer and a little extra product.

[wOlfy]

Re: singlestage - pads needed?

well i read on here before on another thread that u should switch to a fresh pad once u covered about half the car..so 2 pads per car for the first polishing step...lets see wat others think? i think the most id use is 3...i was still getting good cut with both pads except near the end when i switched the pad

but of course all i had was 2 pads that day lol...ill be getting more so obviously ima be switching pads more lol

Lots of variables in play when talking pads;
if its all you had then yup that's what you could do.
Type of pads (quality), technique used, D/A Vs. rotary, how much product is used, severity of damage to paint's finish, etc., etc., all will contribute to how many pads are used.
In general I would say 2 to 4 pads for a mid sized car, each step, depending on severity of correction needed (lake country 2 to 6).

but again a lot depends on the correction needed and other factors