speed setting

[hipocket]

Which speed setting should the DA G110 be set to when cleaning a pad on the fly?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: speed setting

Which speed setting should the DA G110 be set to when cleaning a pad on the fly?

The higher speed settings like the 5.0 This is the speed setting most people will want to use to remove swirls and scratches and the cleaning step tends to take the longest since you're in essence trying to remove a little paint.


So the idea behind cleaning your pad on the fly is to have a way to quickly and easily clean your pad while your working, that is you don't want a procedure that causes you to stop or slow down your process, for example, stopping to change the speed setting, then cleaning your pad, the stopping to re-set the speed setting and then starting to work again.

That would not be quick and easy.


It's also the cleaning step where most people run into the Pad Saturation problem when buffing out entire cars because since you're continually applying fresh product as you move around the car you'll find your pad can become wet or saturated with excess product.

Since the cleaning step is usually done on the 5.0 speed setting and since most of the problems which lead to you wanting to clean your pad on the fly happen during the cleaning step, you simply turn your polisher over and press a clean, soft, DRY terry cloth towel against the foam and leave the 5.0 speed setting alone.

If you're using a lower speed setting like below 4.0, you can still clean your pad on the fly but it's not quite as effective as putting some power behind the pad as you're holding the towel against it.

Cleaning your pad isn't as much of an issue when apply a wax because the process is fairly quick and you shouldn't be over using wax as a thick coat just wastes product and makes removal more difficult.

For anyone reading this that is wondering what "Cleaning you pad on the fly" is, check it out...




Cleaning Your Pad On The Fly

The question often comes up,
How do I clean my buffing pads?

Or more specifically,

How do I clean my buffing pads after they become wet or saturated with the product I'm working with?


One way is to do what we call, Cleaning your pad on the fly. This means to take and hold a clean, soft, dry terry cloth towel, hopefully a towel with a thick nap, (the little cotton loops), against the face of the pad while it's still on your polisher and then with your hand that's holding the polisher, use your finger to turn the polisher on and then move the towel around and against the face of the foam pad. This will act to cause the excess product built-up in the foam pad to move out of the pad and saturate into the terry cloth towel. Then you can place the towel down and get back to working on your car.

This is called cleaning your pad on the fly because it's quick and simple and fairly effective for what you're trying to do.


Here's Cisco from one of our recent Saturday Detailing Classes learning how to clean a pad on the fly



After cleaning his pad he's ready to start working on the paint again.




Clean your pad often
Besides knowing how to clean your pad on the fly you also need to remember to clean your pad often, usually after every other application of product to the pad. That is, apply some product to your pad and work it to a section. Wipe off the spent residue and either re-clean the area or move onto a new area. After a second application of product to the pad and after you've worked it to a section, now clean your pad. This is cleaning your pad every other application of product to the pad. You can clean your pad after every application if you like too. Most people don't clean their pads often enough, so err on the side of caution. Cleaning your pad often maximizes your effectiveness and thus your speed and quality of end result.

[hipocket]

Re: speed setting

Thanks Mike for the speedy and instructive answer.