buffer pads

[MrSo0h0o]

hey guys, my dad has an older orbital buffer that i plan to use tmrw.. he only has one pad.. question is, does autozone carry extra pads that i need for polish, wax and buff off? or do i need to order them specifically for the unit im using?

[touringcamry]

Is that the one that just spins the pad around?

I think those typically use 8" pads but I don't recall seeing them at Autozone. However, the Autozone here doesn't have 5W-20 motor oil either.

[MrSo0h0o]

it looks like this:




and theres a bonnet pad on it like this:

[MrSo0h0o]

ok just looked at the autozone website and they carry these:

http://www.autozone.com/R,NONAPP848/...ductDetail.htm

http://www.autozone.com/R,NONAPP850/...ductDetail.htm

http://www.autozone.com/R,NONAPP851/...ductDetail.htm

one is microfiber, second is terry cloth, third looks to be like lambs wool.. which should i use? im gonna assume microfiber

[touringcamry]

I usually use foam pads with my PorterCable buffer so I'm not very sure.

My guess is to use the microfibers because the wool pads are for cutting.

[Pb]

This is probably obvious, but I'll mention it anyway. Those kind of buffers are meant to have bonnets on the pad all the time. Don't put the bare pad directly on the paint, like you do with a porter cable buffer.

[MrSo0h0o]

Originally Posted by Pb

This is probably obvious, but I'll mention it anyway. Those kind of buffers are meant to have bonnets on the pad all the time. Don't put the bare pad directly on the paint, like you do with a porter cable buffer.

yea i know that, im just not sure what bonnet to use? the wool, microfiber or terry cloth? like i said above, im assuming the microfiber?

[Pb]

Get rid of the terry cloth.

Can you find a foam bonnet? They're harder to find. A foam bonnet would be the best for polishing.

You can use the wool while polishing, but be careful at first. Some wool can cause swirls. Give it a small try first.

Use a soft Microfiber for removing the polish. But it should also be safe to use while applying wax and polish.

I usually just apply wax by hand.

[MrSo0h0o]

thanks Pb i will check into foam bonnets.. im planning to detail either this coming thurs or next tues.. so if anything i can always order some online.. recommend any places?

[touringcamry]

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/

http://www.autogeek.net/

[Rapid Roy]

Originally Posted by MrSo0h0o

it looks like this:




and theres a bonnet pad on it like this:

I've got one of those types sitting in my garage too. Is it better then nothing, or is nothing better?

[Pb]

They're pretty weak when it comes to polishing. IMO, they're just fast wax applicators.

It takes real speed and power to effectively polish.

But I guess they're better than doing it by hand, maybe.

[akira751]

Originally Posted by Pb

They're pretty weak when it comes to polishing. IMO, they're just fast wax applicators.

It takes real speed and power to effectively polish.

But I guess they're better than doing it by hand, maybe.

I got one free and its sitting in the basement, I'm scared to use it

[Rapid Roy]

I've got an old van sitting in the driveway. I'll use the foam bonnet and see if I can polish it up in a small area.

[PolishAndWax]

Originally Posted by MrSo0h0o

yea i know that, im just not sure what bonnet to use? the wool, microfiber or terry cloth? like i said above, im assuming the microfiber?

Depending on the blend, wool can be pretty aggressive and will generally leave a scratch pattern. This doesn't make wool bad; you just need to consider it's intended application, like polishing to remove heavy oxidation, color sanding scratches or heavy scratches that just seem to be taking too long to remove with foam.

Also, the scratch pattern left by wool will be pretty subtle, depending on the polish and application method. It may be harder to see on lighter finishes.

I only break out the wool when I need the 'big guns' and then I finish with foam.