Pad cleaning while working?

[wannafbody]

do you guys clean your foam pads with a toothbrush while working or simply keep adding polish?

 

[01bluecls]

Depends....If im working on single stage paint I have to clean the pad almost every half to full panel. On clear coated vehichles I usually do half the car then clean the pad and do the other half.



I clean them by taking the pad off the buffer, spraying some APC on, let soak for about 15-20 seconds, scrub lightly with a stiff brush, rinse off with hose, squeeze the pad between my hands to get a majority of the water out, then put the pad on the buffer, and basically spin dry....Be careful with the last part for the obvious reason of water flying EVERYWHERE...I usually do this outside of the garage no where near the car im working on and hold the buffer when spin drying at an angle to where it wont splash all over me.



whew.. long post

 

[imported_truzoom]

I like to keep mine brushed because as polish builds up, it tends to make it a PITA to remove the residue. It isn't much, just put the PC on 5 and hold an old toothbrush up against it for a minute or so.

 

[imported_Neothin]

I like to keep mine brushed because as polish builds up, it tends to make it a PITA to remove the residue. It isn't much, just put the PC on 5 and hold an old toothbrush up against it for a minute or so.

This is also what I do. After I'm done with the pad, it goes directly into a dish soap solution.

 

[3Dog]

Just had flashbacks of the old days with wool pad and a screwdriver. :nervous2:

 

[SVR]

On clear coat finishes, I never need to clean any while doing it but after each vehicle, they get a machine wash (gentle) with liquid detergent



Single stage after each side

Sometimes just stick them under the tap at full pressure and fold in half and squeeze the crap out then spin dry outside the garage

 

[danwatt]

I have many multiple pads of each grade, so I will usually just toss them into a bucket with soap and water and grab another one. But when I only have one pad to work with, I will agitate it in the bucket and spin dry it off with the rotary/pc. This won't get as much product out as letting it soak, but it will get enough of it off the surface of the pad so it doesn't instantly gum up.

 

[Big Leegr]

If the pad gets gummed up, I usually just spray it with the water hose (taken off of the PC ). Blows off most "gum" and a quick sqeeze and spin and you're good to go again.

 

[White95Max]

I clean mine after every couple panels usually. I have an old toothbrush that I use, while spinning the machine on speed 3.

 

[emetzger]

I only clean mine after each car. Unless its single stage then i may change pads every couple of panels

 

[RAG]

Some polishes build up more than others and require that you remove the excess residue, a toothbrush works well for me when spun via rotary. If the pad really starts to gum up, I simply grab another one as I don't much care for washing pads mid-detail.

 

[benpocock]

I normally just grab another pad, but if I can't for whatever reason, then I use a stiff brush to scrape the build up off. There's no way you'd get me washing a pad half way through a detail - I'm too lazy!



Ben